Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy A36 5G: Should you spend more for the Fan Edition?
Samsung’s next affordable flagship is here, but it shockingly resembles its cheaper counterpart in several areas.
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Intro
If the newly announced Galaxy S25 FE is Samsung’s best value phone in the upper mid-range segment, then the Galaxy A36 5G is its counterpart in the entry mid-range space.
At $399, the A36 might surprise you with how much it shares with the S25 FE. You’re still getting a big AMOLED screen, dependable battery life, and Samsung’s long-term software support promise. For many buyers, that’s already enough at this price.
The Galaxy S25 FE starts at $649, which is $250 more than the A36. What do you get for that extra cost?
As usual, the biggest differences are in the chipset and camera system. The FE line is meant to be a gateway into Samsung’s flagship experience without going all the way to Galaxy S25 pricing. It packs a faster processor, a more advanced camera setup, and a few extras the A-series still doesn’t offer.
So is it worth paying the extra $250–300 for the FE?
At $399, the A36 might surprise you with how much it shares with the S25 FE. You’re still getting a big AMOLED screen, dependable battery life, and Samsung’s long-term software support promise. For many buyers, that’s already enough at this price.
As usual, the biggest differences are in the chipset and camera system. The FE line is meant to be a gateway into Samsung’s flagship experience without going all the way to Galaxy S25 pricing. It packs a faster processor, a more advanced camera setup, and a few extras the A-series still doesn’t offer.
Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy A36 differences:
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Premium design, thinner, and lighter | Plastic frame, Key Island buttons |
| Much faster and more capable chip | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 |
| 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| A telephoto camera | A macro camera |
| Flagship camera system (main, telephoto, ultrawide) | Basic triple camera (main, ultrawide, macro) |
| 45W wired charging | 45W wired charging |
| 25W wireless charging | No wireless charging |
| 7 years of updates | 6 years of updates |
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
Surprisingly similar
Samsung saves a bit of production cost with the Galaxy A36 5G by sticking to a plastic frame. The phone also has that distinctive “Key Island” camera bump. That said, just like the S25 FE, it uses Gorilla Glass Victus+ for its front and back, and is just 7.4 mm thin, albeit a little taller and wider.
The Galaxy S25 FE is above using plastic as a material, instead equipped with an armored aluminum frame, giving it a more premium feel.
The Galaxy S25 FE is above using plastic as a material, instead equipped with an armored aluminum frame, giving it a more premium feel.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Thickness 7.4 mm | Thickness 7.4 mm |
| Dimensions 161.3 x 76.6 mm | Dimensions 162.9 x 78.2 mm |
| Weight 190 grams | Weight 195 grams |
The Galaxy A36 colors are Black, White, Lavender, and Lime, while the S25 FE colors are Icy Blue, Jet Black, Navy, and White.
Display Differences
Both phones pack 6.7-inch AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates.
The A36 is rated at 1,900 nits of peak brightness, although it topped at around 1,748 nits in our tests, which is still pretty solid for a phone of its caliber.
The S25 FE also comes with a 1,900-nit peak brightness, but we are interested to see whether Samsung was being humble on that. The FE comes thinner bezels, though, so it resembles Samsung’s flagships more.
The A36 is rated at 1,900 nits of peak brightness, although it topped at around 1,748 nits in our tests, which is still pretty solid for a phone of its caliber.
The S25 FE also comes with a 1,900-nit peak brightness, but we are interested to see whether Samsung was being humble on that. The FE comes thinner bezels, though, so it resembles Samsung’s flagships more.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Size 6.7" | Size 6.7" |
| Brightness 1900 nits (peak) | Brightness 1900 nits (peak) |
Both phones use in-display fingerprint scanners and offer face unlock, though the fingerprint reader is the only secure biometric method. Sadly, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that Samsung uses on its flagship series is yet to trickle down to the Fan Edition.
Performance and Software
Two very different chips, two very different experiences
Here’s where the gap between these two mid-ranges is most apparent.
The Galaxy A36 runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a 5nm mid-range chip comparable to the Exynos 1380. It’s fine for casual tasks, but in our testing, it showed slow app loading, frame drops in heavier games, and noticeable lag when multitasking.
The S25 FE is powered by the Exynos 2400, the same 10-core flagship chip used in the Galaxy S24 lineup. Paired with UFS 4.0 storage (vs UFS 2.2 on the A36), it felt dramatically faster and more efficient during our hands-on experience with it. So if you plan on using demanding apps, playing games, or want AI features, the S25 FE is the one to go for.
The Galaxy A36 runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a 5nm mid-range chip comparable to the Exynos 1380. It’s fine for casual tasks, but in our testing, it showed slow app loading, frame drops in heavier games, and noticeable lag when multitasking.
The S25 FE is powered by the Exynos 2400, the same 10-core flagship chip used in the Galaxy S24 lineup. Paired with UFS 4.0 storage (vs UFS 2.2 on the A36), it felt dramatically faster and more efficient during our hands-on experience with it. So if you plan on using demanding apps, playing games, or want AI features, the S25 FE is the one to go for.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Chip Samsung Exynos 2400 | Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 |
| Process 4nm | Process 5nm |
| RAM, Storage 8/128 GB 8/256 GB 8/512 GB LPDDR5X RAM UFS 4.0 storage | RAM, Storage 8/128 GB 8/256 GB --- LPDDR4X RAM UFS 2.2 storage |
Software support is strong on both models, which didn't use to be the case. The S25 FE offers 7 years of updates, while the A36 promises 6 years. Both run Android 16 with One UI 8, but only the FE supports the full Galaxy AI suite (Live Translate, Note Assist, Generative Edit, Circle to Search). The A36 gets a lighter “Awesome Intelligence” package.
Also read:
Camera
A huge difference in camera capability
The Galaxy A36 has three cameras, but the hardware is basic. Photos are acceptable in good light, but HDR is inconsistent, the ultrawide is soft, and the macro is more of a gimmick than a camera that's actually useful. Video performance is also mediocre, with limited stabilization when it comes to challenging conditions.
The Galaxy S25 FE brings a proper flagship camera setup. Even though it hasn't changed from its predecessor, the new FE should still take much sharper images across the board. Not to mention it has a telephoto camera that offers optical zoom, and much stronger low-light performance.
The selfie camera was upgraded to 12 MP, which matches the A36’s 12 MP one. The two even share the same aperture of f/2.2, so it will be interesting to test them side by side and see if they produce the same results.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Main 50 MP, f/1.8 24 mm 1/1.57" sensor size | Main 50 MP, f/1.8 --- 1/1.96" |
| Ultrawide 48 MP, f/1.7 13 mm 1/3.0" sensor size | Ultrawide 12 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/4.0" sensor size |
| Telephoto 8 MP, f/2.4 3X zoom (75mm) 1/4.4" sensor size | Macro 5 MP, f/2.4 --- --- |
Main Camera
Ultra-Wide Camera
Zoom Quality
Selfie
Battery Life and Charging
Similar specs, but the A36 is missing wireless charging
Image by PhoneArena
The A36 has a 5,000 mAh battery, which is only slightly larger than the S25 FE’s new 4,900 mAh battery. Both support 45W wired charging, which gets you to about 50–65% in half an hour.
But only the S25 FE supports wireless charging (25W) and reverse wireless charging. That makes it a bit more flexible, but I wouldn't say it is a dealbreaker for the A36.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Battery size 4,900 mAh | Battery size 5,000 mAh |
Charging speeds 45W wired25W wireless | Charging speeds 45W wired no wireless |
Specs Comparison
Here's a quick overview of the Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy 36 specs:
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Size, weight 161.3 x 76.6 x 7.4mm, 190g | Size, weight 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm, 195g |
| Screen 6.7" OLED 120Hz | Screen 6.7" OLED 120Hz |
| Processor Exynos 2400 4nm | Processor Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 5nm |
| Versions: 8/128 GB 8/256 GB 8/512 GB LPDDR5X | Versions: 8/128GB 8/256GB --- LPDDR4X |
| Cameras: 50 MP main 12 MP ultrawide 8 MP telephoto 12 MP front | Cameras: 50 MP main 8 MP ultrawide 5 MP macro 12 MP front |
| Battery: 4900 mAh | Battery: 5000 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 45W wired 25W wireless | Charging: USB-C 45W wired No wireless |
Summary
Image by PhoneArena
The Galaxy A36 5G is a competent mid-range phone, especially for its price. It gives you a large display, solid battery life, and Samsung’s long software support for just $399. For casual users on a budget, it’s an easy recommendation.
But the Galaxy S25 FE operates on another level. With a flagship-class Exynos 2400 chip, a much more capable camera system with real telephoto zoom, wireless charging, and somewhat sleeker design, it feels like a true premium device.
If you want the best value under $400, the A36 gets the job done. But if you can spend that extra $250 it will likely be a worthwhile investment — as long as you think the better camera system and chip will be of use to you. It's a phone that will still feel powerful and modern several years from now.
But the Galaxy S25 FE operates on another level. With a flagship-class Exynos 2400 chip, a much more capable camera system with real telephoto zoom, wireless charging, and somewhat sleeker design, it feels like a true premium device.
If you want the best value under $400, the A36 gets the job done. But if you can spend that extra $250 it will likely be a worthwhile investment — as long as you think the better camera system and chip will be of use to you. It's a phone that will still feel powerful and modern several years from now.
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