Who said budget-friendly devices don't deserve stellar software support?
Not Samsung, that's for sure, as the company is almost treating its cash-strapped fans the same as power users in possession of the latest Galaxy flagships.
The Galaxy A36 is obviously not the world's most powerful phone, but in the long run, it might hold up better than a lot of high-enders. | Image Credit -- PhoneArena
Released around six months ago "internationally" and a little later in markets like the US, these are obviously the first members of the Galaxy A family to receive this great honor, as well as likely the first mid-end products from any brand to be offered the chance to leave Android 15 behind.
How important are software updates for mid-range phones?
The most important thing
37.5%
They're among the key selling points for me
50%
Less important than a few other specs
0%
Not important at all
12.5%
As if that wasn't already an incredible achievement, Samsung had initially planned to spread the One UI 8 love to these two non-flagship handsets in October, which might still be a realistic delivery time for certain countries like the US. But in Brazil, for instance, a September 25 kickoff seems possible, and if that happens, over-the-air updates across South America, Asia, and Europe could also be on the cards this week.
Are the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 the best mid-range phones you can currently get?
If software updates are important to you, then absolutely. Now, it is equally important to be perfectly honest and point out that One UI 8 is not exactly Samsung's most transformative update, borrowing from a far too simplistic Android 16 version developed by Google to change very few things on the surface and instead focus more on stability and subtle performance improvements.
The Galaxy A56 offers amazing value at a reasonable price right now. | Image Credit -- PhoneArena
But the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 are both guaranteed to score a grand total of six major OS promotions over the next half a decade or so, so if you plan to hold on to your new phone for more than two or three years, these are clearly your top affordable options right now... alongside Google's Pixel 9a.
I obviously can't predict the future, but something tells me one or several of the Android 17, Android 18, Android 19, Android 20, and Android 21 (!!!) updates Samsung's mid-rangers are set to get through 2030 or 2031 will bring more radical changes to the table. That means the company trusts these devices greatly, which is what a lot of you should do as well.
Why is this update such a big deal?
Well, it's not. Not at a first glance, at least. But it's a statement from a brand that took great pride in its fast and steady updates for all types of devices... until the One UI 7 fiasco happened.
Clearly, the One UI 8 delivery is going well, marking not just a return to Samsung's One UI 6 form, but perhaps setting a new benchmark for the mobile industry as a whole. Of course, it might be a little too early to call this the most successful rollout in Android's history, so let's at least wait for the Galaxy A56, A36, S24 family, Z Flip 6, and Z Fold 6 to spread the love outside South Korea and escape (serious) bugs in the process. Fingers crossed, everybody!
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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