TECNO POVA 7 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Comparison Review

When choosing between two midrange smartphones, it often comes down to what you value most—performance, battery life, cameras, and overall user experience.

If you want the best bang for your buck, two names worth considering are the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G.

Both devices target users who want solid specs and modern features without crossing into flagship territory. While they share some similarities, their approaches to the midrange market are very different.

So, which one really gives you more for your money? Let’s break them down.

Design and Construction

The TECNO POVA 7 Ultra is clearly built with gamers in mind. It features bold accents, a flashy rear pattern, and RGB lighting that screams “gaming phone.”

It’s a large device, and you’ll definitely feel the bulk in your hand, but the size makes sense given the massive battery inside. The plastic build feels durable, and while it doesn’t exude a premium vibe, it nails the gaming aesthetic TECNO is aiming for.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G, on the other hand, takes a more minimalist and refined approach. It’s sleeker, lighter, and easier to use one-handed. The matte finish gives it a more modern and understated look.

The build feels more refined compared to TECNO’s, making it better suited for those who want something that looks modern and understated rather than loud and aggressive.

Display and Multimedia

Up front, the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra features a large 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with an impressive 144Hz screen refresh rate.

Colors are vibrant enough, brightness is decent, and the smooth refresh rate makes it great for gaming and scrolling. It has a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, making it brighter than the A36.

The stereo speakers are loud, which is great for games and videos, although the bass could be punchier and it isn’t the loudest in volume.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G has a slightly smaller 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, also with a 120Hz refresh rate. Like the POVA 7 Ultra, it can deliver deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, but only has 1,200 nits of peak brightness.

It also has stereo speakers, and the audio quality feels a bit more balanced compared to the TECNO. For pure visual quality, TECNO takes the win here, but Samsung also gets a point for sound profile.

Cameras

The TECNO POVA 7 Ultra features a triple rear camera setup with a 64MP main shooter, 2MP depth sensor, and an AI camera, along with a 32MP front-facing camera.

In good lighting, photos come out with vibrant colors and decent detail, but dynamic range can sometimes be inconsistent. Low-light performance is average, with the AI occasionally boosting brightness at the cost of sharpness. The 32MP selfie camera produces sharp and bright shots in daylight, though skin tones can sometimes look a bit processed.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G sports a 50MP main sensor, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro camera, plus a 13MP selfie shooter. While the main sensor has fewer megapixels on paper, Samsung’s image processing delivers more consistent results, especially in challenging lighting.

Colors are more accurate, details are well-preserved, and the ultrawide lens adds versatility that the TECNO lacks. Low-light shots benefit from Samsung’s Night Mode, which keeps noise levels down while retaining clarity. The 13MP selfie camera produces more natural-looking skin tones compared to the TECNO.

If you prioritize versatility and more polished photo output, the Galaxy A36 5G’s camera system edges out the POVA 7 Ultra, even if the latter has the higher megapixel count.

Performance and Benchmarks

The TECNO POVA 7 Ultra is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate chipset paired with 12GB of RAM. This setup is no joke. It breezes through heavy apps and delivers excellent gaming performance.

Titles like PUBG, Pokémon Unite, and even more demanding games like Wuthering Waves run smoothly with high settings enabled.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G, on the other hand, runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset with 8GB of RAM. Day-to-day performance is decent, and gaming is solid, but it’s not quite as aggressive as the TECNO when it comes to sustained performance under heavy load.

The A36 handles popular games well, but if you want a device that pushes higher frame rates in extended gaming sessions, the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra pulls ahead.

OS, UI, and Apps

TECNO’s HiOS on the POVA 7 Ultra is feature-packed. You get game-focused tools, customization options, and some pre-installed apps that you may or may not use. It’s colorful and functional, though it might feel a bit overwhelming if you prefer a cleaner interface.

Samsung’s One UI on the Galaxy A36 5G is one of the cleanest and most polished Android skins around. It’s relatively easy to go through and well-optimized for smooth performance. If you want a clutter-free, refined software experience, plus a longer software support, Samsung wins this round.

Battery and Connectivity

Here’s where TECNO flexes hard. The POVA 7 Ultra has a massive 6,000mAh battery that can easily last two full days of moderate use. Gaming for hours is not a problem. It supports 70W fast charging, which means you can quickly refill that huge battery when you do run low.

The Galaxy A36 5G has a smaller 5,000mAh battery, which is still good but not on the same level as the TECNO for endurance. It offers 25W fast charging, which is noticeably slower. The A36 will get you through a full day comfortably, but it’s not built for marathon gaming sessions like the POVA 7 Ultra especially with its 70W fast charging.

Pricing and Conclusion

Now, we’ve come to one of the most important factors: the price. The TECNO POVA 7 Ultra has an SRP of PHP 16,999. There’s an Online First Sale exclusive on TikTok Shop available starting August 08-14 which is TECNO Super Brand Day.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G retails for PHP 19,990 with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage. There is also a unit with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage worth PHP 21,990.

The TECNO POVA 7 Ultra is the better choice for gamers who want maximum performance, a big display, and swift charging speed at its price. It’s bulkier and flashier, but it delivers where it counts if gaming is your main priority.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is for those who value better camera performance, cleaner software, and a more compact form factor. It’s not as powerful in extended gaming, but it’s more refined for everyday use.

If your main goal is gaming performance, go for the TECNO POVA 7 Ultra. If you prefer a balanced daily driver with better shots and cleaner interface, the Galaxy A36 5G is the better pick.