The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and Samsung’s latest releases have only added more excitement With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy A17 and its slightly more premium sibling, the Galaxy A36, buyers now have two compelling midrange contenders to choose from Both models share similarities, yet their differences could make or break your decision depending on your priorities.
In this detailed comparison, we’ll examine the Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36 in terms of design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, and overall value so you can decide which device deserves your budget smartphone dollars.
Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36 Quick Highlights
Before diving into the full breakdown, here’s a quick overview of how the Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36 stack up:
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Design: The Galaxy A36 offers slimmer bezels and a hole-punch camera, while the A17 retains a teardrop notch and larger chin.
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Display: Both have 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates, but the A36 delivers higher peak brightness.
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Performance: The A36 uses a Snapdragon chipset, offering a noticeable performance boost over the A17’s Exynos processor.
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Camera: The A36 has a better ultrawide camera; both share the same 50MP main sensor.
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Battery & Charging: Equal 5,000mAh capacity, but the A36 charges faster at 45W vs the A17’s 25W.
Design & Build Quality Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36
When it comes to aesthetics, the Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36 showdown reveals some notable differences. Both adopt Samsung’s newer vertical camera layout reminiscent of the S-series, but the execution is more refined on the Galaxy A36.
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Galaxy A36 has slimmer bezels and a more modern hole-punch selfie camera cutout.
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Galaxy A17 keeps a teardrop-shaped notch and a thicker chin.
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The A36’s back panel is made of Gorilla Glass Victus+, while the A17 uses a glass-fiber composite.
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Dimensions are nearly identical, though the A17 is marginally lighter by 3 grams.
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Color choices differ: The A17 comes in Black, Gray, and Blue; the A36 in Black, White, Lime, and Lavender.
For those who care about a premium feel and sleeker look, the A36 takes the edge.
Display Comparison Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36
Both models impress with their displays, offering flagship-like smoothness at a budget price point.
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Each phone has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels).
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The standout feature: a 120Hz refresh rate for buttery-smooth scrolling.
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The A17 peaks at 800 nits HBM, while the A36 achieves a remarkable 1,748 nits peak brightness.
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Both share a 20:9 aspect ratio and ~358 PPI pixel density.
If you use your phone outdoors often, the A36’s brighter screen makes a noticeable difference.
Performance & Hardware Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36
This is where the gap between the Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36 widens significantly.
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Galaxy A17: Powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1330, the same chip found in the A16.
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Galaxy A36: Equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, delivering around 60% better graphics performance in benchmarks.
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RAM options: The A17 offers standard configurations, while the A36 can be purchased with up to 12GB of RAM.
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Storage: Both offer 128GB or 256GB options.
For gaming, multitasking, and long-term performance, the A36 is clearly superior.
Camera System: Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36
Both smartphones aim for practicality over pro-level photography, but the A36’s setup is slightly more versatile.
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Main Camera: 50MP on both devices.
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Ultrawide: A36 has 8MP; A17 has just 5MP.
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Macro: A36 gets 5MP; A17 has 2MP (largely gimmicky).
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Selfie Camera: Similar front-facing shooters.
While neither will rival Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S series, the A36’s ultrawide offers better results for landscapes and group shots.
Battery & Charging Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36
Both phones house a generous 5,000mAh battery, but real-world endurance differs slightly.
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Galaxy A17: Expected to perform similarly to the A16, which lasted 6h 12m in testing.
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Galaxy A36: Achieved 6h 26m a modest but notable improvement.
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Charging speed: A17 supports 25W wired charging, while A36 doubles that with 45W.
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Neither supports wireless charging.
If faster charging matters, the A36’s 1h 15m full charge time will be a game-changer.
Pricing & Value Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36
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Galaxy A17: Expected around $239, up $40 from the A16.
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Galaxy A36: Priced from $399.
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The $160 difference brings a brighter display, faster charging, a superior chipset, better materials, and a more capable ultrawide camera.
If budget is the priority, the A17 delivers solid value, but the A36 feels more future-proof.
Pros & Cons Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36
Galaxy A17 Pros:
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Lower price point
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120Hz AMOLED display at a budget cost
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Lightweight design
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Solid main camera performance
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Large 5,000mAh battery
Galaxy A36 Pros:
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Premium Gorilla Glass Victus+ back
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Much brighter display
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Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 power
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Faster 45W charging
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Better ultrawide camera
Final Verdict Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36
When weighing the Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36, the choice boils down to budget vs premium features.
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If you’re looking for a low-cost device with a smooth display, decent cameras, and reliable daily performance, the Galaxy A17 is a strong contender.
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If you can stretch your budget, the Galaxy A36 offers a brighter screen, more powerful processor, better build materials, and faster charging making it the smarter long-term investment.
In short with the Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A36, you truly get what you pay for.
