Nothing Phone (2a)vsSamsung Galaxy A36
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Nothing Phone (2a) wins
Verdict
Nothing Phone (2a) wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Nothing Phone (2a) is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 349, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Performance — led by ram (8 GB).
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Display — led by pixel density (394 ppi).
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Camera — led by selfie camera (32 MP).
- Too close to call between Nothing Phone (2a) and Samsung Galaxy A36.
- Too close to call between Nothing Phone (2a) and Samsung Galaxy A36.
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 700,000 pts vs 620,000 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want more apps open at once — 8 GB vs 6 GB.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a sharper screen — 394 ppi vs 385 ppi.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,300 nits vs 1,200 nits.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 if you want a better camera — 116 pts vs 112 pts.
At a glance
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Samsung Galaxy A36
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Best price now
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Nothing Phone (2a)
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 349, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy A36
Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 if price matters most. It costs USD 349.
Pros & cons
Nothing Phone (2a)
- Unique Glyph design
- Clean software
- Good price
- Mid-range chipset
- No telephoto
- 45 W charging
Samsung Galaxy A36
- 45 W charging
- 6 years of updates
- Good value
- Mid-range chipset
- No telephoto
- Plastic frame