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Following the annual trend of introducing successors to its existing models , Samsung has unveiled the latest Galaxy A36, carrying over its predecessor, the Galaxy A35. The presence of new intelligence and AI features along with slight upgrades in the display size and a new design for the camera placement sets Galaxy A36 apart from its dethroned sibling. Starting at ₹32,999, the new Galaxy A36 fits into an interesting price segment where there’s Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus and Vivo to compete with.
So, let’s find out in detail if the phone has enough catch to emerge as a user’s favourite. Design There isn’t a major shift in design philosophy when comparing the Samsung Galaxy A36 to its predecessor. The biggest change is in the camera module, which moves from individual camera rings to a vertically stacked pill-shaped layout.
While this new design gives the phone a fresh look, it does cause some wobbling when placed on a flat surface. The phone comes in a few different colours, and the Awesome Lavender variant looks particularly appealing. The back panel features a subtle gradient that catches the light nicely, adding a bit of flair to the overall look.
The device retains the IP67 water and dust resistance like its predecessor, which is good, although competitors are catching up by offering IP68 and even IP69 ratings now. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today’s Cache) Samsung has also managed to make the Galaxy A36 lighter than its previous model by about 7 grams, which makes it more comfortable to hold and operate. The button placements and port selections remain unchanged.
Display Samsung has gone with a slightly larger 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel on the Galaxy A36, featuring an FHD+ resolution (2340 x 1080p), a 120 Hz refresh rate, 1,200 nits of brightness, and HDR10+ support. The display remains one of the phone’s strongest aspects, offering vibrant colours, deep blacks, and excellent sharpness.
The high brightness levels ensure good visibility even under direct sunlight, while the smooth 120 Hz refresh rate enhances the scrolling experience. Whether watching content or playing games, users will appreciate the immersive and fluid experience that the Galaxy A36’s display provides. OS and AI The Galaxy A36 ships with the latest One UI 7.
0 based on Android 15, making it one of the longest partnerships for software support in the industry. Samsung has promised six generational OS upgrades and up to six years of security patches, which is a huge advantage for those who prioritise longevity in a smartphone. Samsung has also integrated several AI-driven features into the device.
The AI Select feature enhances Smart Select by offering actions based on screen content. Users can grab text from photos, create GIFs, and even design wallpapers directly from images. Google’s Circle to Search is also present, allowing users to search for information on any object they see on the screen.
These AI capabilities add a new layer of functionality, making the phone smarter and more intuitive to use. Performance The Galaxy A36 runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) chip, a departure from Samsung’s Exynos platform. It features an 8-core processor with 4x Cortex-A78 @ 2.
4GHz and 4x Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz, paired with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Performance-wise, the Galaxy A36 feels fairly average for its price segment.
It handles everyday tasks such as social media browsing, texting, and video calls smoothly. While the phone can manage games like COD: Mobile and BGMI, it is not designed for high-end gaming. The Adreno 710 GPU performs decently but is not the most powerful in this segment.
Benchmark scores reflect its positioning as a mid-range performer. The device scores 1014 in single-core, 2923 in multi-core, and 2230 in GPU tests. While these numbers indicate adequate performance, several competitors in this price range offer more powerful chipsets.
Camera The Galaxy A36 retains the same camera setup as its predecessor, featuring a 50 MP primary camera, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and a 5 MP macro lens. The selfie camera, however, has been downgraded to 12 MP from the A35’s 13 MP sensor. In daylight, the primary and ultra-wide cameras produce good-looking images with decent dynamic range, realistic colours, and solid edge detection.
The ultra-wide shots also maintain good detail without excessive distortion. The 5 MP macro camera, while better than many 2 MP shooters, remains a niche feature. Galaxy A36 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan Portrait shots on the Galaxy A36 look clean, with excellent subject separation, natural skin tones, and a high-quality background blur.
Samsung has done a good job here, making it a reliable option for portrait photography enthusiasts. Samsung Galaxy A36 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan Night photography sees improvements with the manual Night Mode, which preserves highlights, reduces noise, and prevents light blowouts. While the automatic night mode is conservative in its detection, manually enabling it results in significantly better images.
I personally liked the output after enabling Night mode. Samsung Galaxy A36 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan Selfies on the Galaxy A36 are solid, with good detail, natural facial features, and pleasant skin tones. Depending on the crop setting, images come out at either 12 MP or 7.
6 MP, both of which deliver good results for social media use. Battery The Galaxy A36 houses a 5,000 mAh battery, similar to its predecessor, but now supports faster 45W charging. However, Samsung does not provide a compatible charger in the box, requiring users to purchase one separately which might sting target buyers.
On the charging front, the device takes just over an hour to go from 20 percent to full charge. While this is decent, some competitors offer larger batteries with faster charging speeds. Still, for a mid-range device, the battery life is reliable and should last a full day with moderate usage.
Verdict The Samsung Galaxy A36 offers a balanced approach. While it provides a great display, long-term software support, and reliable camera, it faces stiff competition from other brands offering better raw performance and faster charging. For Samsung enthusiasts who prefer the brand’s ecosystem, UI, and software longevity, the Galaxy A36 is a good choice.
However, if the pricing had been slightly lower, it would have presented a much stronger case in the competitive premium segment with phones like Vivo V50, Nothing Phone 3a Pro, Motorola Edge 50 Pro and OnePlus Nord 4 . Published - April 01, 2025 12:59 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Motorola Edge 50 Pro Review | A right balance between features and price iQOO Neo 10R Review: A performance-oriented smartphone Nothing Phone 3a Pro Review | Essential and progressive smartphone to flaunt Vivo V50 Review | Can be an enticing option technology (general) / gadgets (general) / PDAs and smartphones.
