Samsung Galaxy A36vsiQOO Z9s
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
iQOO Z9s wins
Verdict
iQOO Z9s wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
iQOO Z9s is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 239, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- iQOO Z9s takes Performance — led by ram (8 GB).
- iQOO Z9s takes Display — led by peak brightness (1,800 nits).
- Samsung Galaxy A36 takes Camera — led by video score (82 pts).
- iQOO Z9s takes Battery — led by battery (5,500 mAh).
- iQOO Z9s takes Price — led by price (239 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 if you want better video quality — 82 pts vs 60 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 if you want a better camera — 116 pts vs 92 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 44 W.
Choose iQOO Z9s if you want…
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 700,000 pts vs 620,000 pts.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want more apps open at once — 8 GB vs 6 GB.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a bigger screen — 6.77 in vs 6.7 in.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a sharper screen — 388 ppi vs 385 ppi.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,800 nits vs 1,200 nits.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want longer battery life — 5,500 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose iQOO Z9s if you want a lower price — 239 USD vs 349 USD.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy A36
- iQOO Z9s
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
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?
Samsung Galaxy A36
Choose Samsung Galaxy A36 if camera matters most. It costs USD 349.
iQOO Z9s
Choose iQOO Z9s if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 239, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy A36
- 45 W charging
- 6 years of updates
- Good value
- Mid-range chipset
- No telephoto
- Plastic frame
iQOO Z9s
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Dimensity 7300
- 5,500 mAh battery
- No ultrawide
- Plastic frame
- No telephoto