Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (128GB / 6GB RAM) VS TCL 60 NxtPaper

The most meaningful difference in this group is water protection. The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G carries an IP67 rating, meaning it can be fully submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes — qualifying as genuinely waterproof. The TCL 60 NxtPaper, rated IP54, is only water resistant, protecting against splashes and light spray but offering no submersion tolerance whatsoever. In practical terms, the A36 can survive an accidental drop in a sink or pool; the TCL cannot. For users who use their phone near water or in unpredictable conditions, this is a significant real-world gap.

On physical dimensions, the two phones make different trade-offs. The A36 is slightly thinner at 7.4 mm versus 7.85 mm and has a notably smaller overall volume (94.27 cm³ vs 99.15 cm³), making it the more compact and pocket-friendly device. The TCL is taller (167.3 mm) but narrower (75.5 mm), giving it a more elongated profile, while the A36 is shorter but wider — a subtler ergonomic distinction that comes down to personal grip preference. Weight is nearly a wash: the TCL edges out a marginal 5 g advantage at 190 g versus 195 g, a difference most users will never notice in daily use.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G holds a clear advantage in this group. Its superior IP67 waterproofing is a durable, tangible benefit over the TCL's basic splash resistance, and it achieves a more compact form factor simultaneously. The TCL's slightly lighter weight and narrower grip are minor positives that do not offset the meaningful protection gap.

Despite sharing the same 6.7″ screen size and 120Hz refresh rate, the two displays are worlds apart in quality. The A36 5G uses an AMOLED panel, which delivers true blacks by switching off individual pixels, vivid contrast, and power-efficient rendering of dark content. The TCL 60 NxtPaper relies on an IPS LCD, a fundamentally older technology that cannot match AMOLED for contrast depth or color saturation — an important distinction for anyone who watches video or values visual richness on their phone.

Resolution is where the gap becomes hard to ignore. The A36 5G resolves at 1080 x 2340 px with a pixel density of 385 ppi, while the TCL manages only 720 x 1600 px at 262 ppi. That 123-ppi difference is perceptible to the naked eye — text looks noticeably crisper and images sharper on the A36, particularly when reading small print or browsing detailed content. The TCL's 720p output is considered below par for a modern smartphone at this screen size. Additionally, the A36 supports HDR10+, meaning compatible streaming content renders with expanded brightness and dynamic range — a feature entirely absent on the TCL.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G wins this category decisively. It outclasses the TCL 60 NxtPaper on panel technology, sharpness, HDR support, and durability (branded damage-resistant glass). The only spec the two share equally is screen size and refresh rate, neither of which closes the substantial quality gap. For display-conscious buyers, the A36 is the clear choice.

Raw processing power firmly favors the A36 5G. Its Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, built on a 4nm process, posts Geekbench 6 scores of 1007 (single-core) and 2917 (multi-core), compared to the TCL 60 NxtPaper's Dimensity 6300 — a 6nm chip — which scores 782 and 2012 respectively. That translates to roughly a 29% single-core and 45% multi-core advantage for the A36. In everyday use, single-core performance drives app launches, UI responsiveness, and general snappiness, so this gap is tangible rather than just a benchmark stat. The smaller 4nm node also tends to run more efficiently, generating less heat under sustained load.

Memory architecture reinforces the A36's performance lead. Its DDR5 RAM running at 2750 MHz delivers up to 25.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, versus the TCL's DDR4 at 2133 MHz and only 17.07 GB/s. Higher bandwidth means the processor can feed data to active tasks faster — relevant for multitasking, gaming, and anything that moves large amounts of data rapidly. Where the TCL pushes back is in raw capacity: it ships with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage versus the A36's 6GB RAM and 128GB — meaningful advantages for users who juggle many apps simultaneously or store large libraries of media locally.

On balance, the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G holds the clear performance edge. Its chipset is faster by a wide margin, its memory architecture is a full generation ahead, and its manufacturing process is more efficient. The TCL's larger RAM and storage allocation offer some practical utility, but they do not compensate for a substantial deficit in processing speed. Users who prioritize performance should lean toward the A36; those who need raw storage without upgrading should note the TCL's advantage there.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (128GB / 6GB RAM) features a triple-lens main camera setup with 50 MP, 8 MP, and 5 MP lenses, while the TCL 60 NxtPaper has a dual-lens main camera with 50 MP and 5 MP lenses. Both devices offer phase-detection autofocus for photos and continuous autofocus when recording movies. However, the Samsung Galaxy A36 supports video recording at 2160 x 30 fps, while the TCL 60 NxtPaper records at 1080 x 30 fps.

In terms of front cameras, the Galaxy A36 has a 12 MP front camera with a wide aperture of 2.2f, compared to the TCL 60 NxtPaper’s 8 MP front camera with a 2f aperture. The Samsung device also has more advanced features, such as optical image stabilization, slow-motion video recording, and a timelapse function, which the TCL lacks. Both devices support HDR and manual exposure, but only the Galaxy A36 supports slow-motion video and timelapse recording.

Other camera features include a single LED flash on both devices, though the TCL has two flash LEDs. Neither device has a dual-tone LED flash, front-facing LED flash, or 360° panorama shooting. Both devices can create panoramas in-camera, but only the Galaxy A36 has manual controls for white balance, ISO, and shutter speed. Neither device supports HDR10 or Dolby Vision recording, and both lack raw photo support and 3D photo/video recording capabilities.

Both the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (128GB / 6GB RAM) and the TCL 60 NxtPaper run on Android 15 and share many similar software features. They both offer clipboard warnings, location and camera/microphone privacy options, theme customization, the ability to block app tracking, and on-device machine learning. Both devices also support notification permissions, media picker, dark mode, and the ability to play games while they download.

For additional customization, both phones offer dynamic theming, customizable notifications, and full-page screenshots. They also support split screen and PiP (picture-in-picture) mode. Neither device provides direct OS updates, and both can offload apps. Other common features include Live Text, offline voice recognition, voice commands, and the ability to track the mobile device’s current position.

Differences are minimal, with both devices lacking Wi-Fi password sharing, focus modes, and Quick Start. Neither can be used as a PC, but both support widgets and have a multi-user system. Both phones are free and open-source, and both have a child lock. However, neither device offers Mail Privacy Protection or blocks cross-site tracking.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (128GB / 6GB RAM) has a 5000 mAh battery, slightly smaller than the TCL 60 NxtPaper's 5200 mAh battery. Both devices support fast charging, but the Galaxy A36 offers a faster charging speed of 45W compared to the TCL's 18W. Neither device supports wireless charging, and neither has a removable battery.

Both devices come with a battery level indicator and have a rechargeable battery. The Galaxy A36 does not come with a charger, while the TCL 60 NxtPaper does include a charger with the device.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (128GB / 6GB RAM) does not have a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack, whereas the TCL 60 NxtPaper does include this feature. The Galaxy A36 is equipped with stereo speakers, while the TCL 60 NxtPaper lacks stereo speakers. Neither device supports LDAC or aptX Lossless audio technologies.

Additionally, the Galaxy A36 does not have a radio, while the TCL 60 NxtPaper includes a radio feature. Both devices lack advanced audio features like LDAC and aptX Lossless, and neither offers a 3.5 mm audio jack for wired audio listening on the Galaxy A36.

Both the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (128GB / 6GB RAM) and the TCL 60 NxtPaper support 5G connectivity, but the Galaxy A36 supports a wider range of Wi-Fi versions, including Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), while the TCL 60 NxtPaper only supports Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5. The Samsung device has Bluetooth version 5.3, while the TCL features Bluetooth version 5.4. The Galaxy A36 also offers faster download speeds at 2900 MBits/s, compared to the TCL's 3300 MBits/s.

In terms of SIM card options, the Samsung Galaxy A36 can accommodate multiple configurations, including 1 SIM, 1 eSIM, 2 SIM, or 2 eSIM, while the TCL 60 NxtPaper supports up to 2 SIM cards. The Galaxy A36 lacks an external memory slot, while the TCL device does include one. Both devices come with a USB Type-C port and support NFC.

Both phones include features like a fingerprint scanner, GPS, and a compass, and they have a gyroscope and accelerometer. The Galaxy A36 also supports Galileo, while the TCL 60 NxtPaper has a barometer, which the Galaxy A36 lacks. Neither device offers a barometer, infrared sensor, HDMI output, 3D facial recognition, iris scanner, stylus, motion tracking, optical tracking, or built-in projector. Additionally, both devices support the cellular module and are multi-user systems.

Both the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (128GB / 6GB RAM) and the TCL 60 NxtPaper are equipped with a video light. However, the two devices differ in display technology. The Samsung Galaxy A36 does not feature an e-paper display or sapphire glass, nor does it have a curved display. In contrast, the TCL 60 NxtPaper includes an e-paper display, but it also lacks sapphire glass and a curved display.

Both devices have a flat display design, without any curvature, and neither features sapphire glass for added durability.