Samsung Galaxy A36 5G – Full Review and Specifications

Samsung continues to lead the mid-range smartphone segment with its Galaxy A series, and the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to delivering balanced performance, striking design, and long-term software support at an affordable price. Introduced in early 2025, the Galaxy A36 combines high-end features with budget-friendly appeal, making it an ideal choice for users who want more without spending a fortune.

In this article, we’ll explore the Galaxy A36’s design, display,Samsung continues to lead the mid-range smartphone, software, connectivity, and more in-depth to help you understand whether this smartphone fits your needs.

Key Features

Display

• 6.7″ Super AMOLED, FHD+ (1080 × 2340), 120Hz refresh rate
• Peak brightness: 1900 nits (HDR), 1200 nits (HBM)
• Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection
• Always-on display

Camera

• Rear: 50MP main (OIS) + 8MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro
• Front: 12MP
• Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, gyro-EIS

Processor

• Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm)
• Octa-core CPU, Adreno 710 GPU

RAM & Storage

• 6GB / 8GB / 12GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 128GB / 256GB UFS 2.2 storage
• No microSD card slot

Battery

• 5000mAh battery
• 45W wired fast charging
• No wireless charging

Software

• Android 15, One UI 7
• Galaxy AI features: Circle to Search, Object Eraser, Edit Suggestions, Read Aloud, Now Bar

Security

• Optical under-display fingerprint sensor
• Facial recognition
• Samsung Knox Vault

Build

• Ultra-slim, 7.4mm thickness
• Glass front and back, plastic frame
• IP67 water and dust resistance

Audio

• Stereo speakers
• Dolby Atmos
• No 3.5mm headphone jack

Connectivity

• 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4
• NFC, USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
• Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM)

Samsung Galaxy A36-Special Features

Attributes	Details
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Announced	2025, March 02
Status	Available. Released 2025, March 10
Dimensions	162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm (6.41 x 3.08 x 0.29 in)
Weight	195 g (6.88 oz)
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), plastic frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Type	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak)
Size	6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ Always-on display
OS	Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm)
CPU	Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55
GPU	Adreno 710
Card slot	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM UFS 2.2
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.96″, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0″, 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Single	12 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jack	No
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth	5.4, A2DP, LE
Positioning	GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)
Radio	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass Virtual Proximity Sensing Circle to Search
Type	5000 mAh
Charging	45W wired, 66% in 30 min, 100% in 68 min
Colors	Lavender, Black, White, Lime
Models	SM-A366E, SM-A366E/DS, SM-A366B, SM-A366B/DS, SM-A366U, SM-A366U1
SAR	1.07 W/kg (head)
SAR EU	0.53 W/kg (head)     1.29 W/kg (body)
Price	$ 260.00 / € 274.99 / £ 259.00 / ₹ 28,898
Performance	AnTuTu: 613492 (v10) GeekBench: 2917 (v6) 3DMark: 912 (Wild Life Extreme)
Display	1233 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker	-26.2 LUFS (Good)
ery (new)	Active use score 11:38h

Design and Build Quality

The Galaxy A36 5G carries the premium design language that Samsung has refined over the years. It features a glass front and back, both protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, and a durable plastic frame that ensures longevity without adding too much weight.

With dimensions of 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm and a weight of 195 grams, the A36 feels slim, lightweight, and easy to handle. The phone is IP67 certified, meaning it can withstand dust and water immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes, offering peace of mind for users with active lifestyles or those prone to occasional spills.

Samsung offers the Galaxy A36 in a range of attractive colors, including Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Lime, and Awesome Lavender, giving users stylish options to match their preferences.

Display

The Galaxy A36 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, resulting in crisp visuals, vibrant colors, and deep contrast. The bezels are minimal, providing an immersive viewing experience for watching videos, gaming, and browsing content.

One of the standout features of this display is its 120Hz refresh rate, which ensures smooth animations, fast touch responses, and fluid scrolling. Whether you’re navigating social media, playing games, or switching apps, the interface feels snappy and responsive.

Furthermore, with a peak brightness of 1900 nits, the screen remains legible even in bright sunlight. The phone supports HDR content, delivering deeper blacks and more vibrant highlights, making it ideal for content consumption.

Performance and Hardware

At the heart of the Samsung Galaxy A36 lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, a 4nm octa-core processor designed for efficient multitasking and strong everyday performance. The CPU architecture includes:

• 4x Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz for high-performance tasks
• 4x Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz for efficiency
• Accompanying the chipset is the Adreno 710 GPU, which handles graphics with ease, allowing moderate gaming and smooth video playback. The combination ensures that the A36 performs well in real-world scenarios such as app switching, web browsing, video conferencing, and casual gaming.

The A36 comes in three memory configurations:

• 6GB RAM + 128GB Storage
• 8GB RAM + 128GB/256GB Storage
• 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage

One notable drawback is the lack of microSD card support, so users must rely on internal storage and cloud backups.

Camera System

Samsung equipped the Galaxy A36 with a versatile triple rear camera setup and a capable front-facing camera, making it suitable for photography enthusiasts and social media users alike.

Rear Camera Setup:

1. 50 MP main sensor (f/1.8) – Delivers detailed and vibrant images with excellent color accuracy and sharpness. It includes Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), ensuring stability and clarity in every shot.
2. 8 MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2) – Offers a 123-degree field of view, ideal for capturing landscapes, group photos, and architecture.
3. 5 MP macro camera (f/2.4) – Designed for extreme close-ups, it captures textures and small subjects like flowers, insects, or accessories.

Front Camera:

The 12 MP front camera offers wide-angle selfies and supports 4K video recording at 30fps, ensuring clear video calls and high-resolution content creation for vloggers and influencers.

Video Recording:

The rear camera supports:

• 4K at 30fps
• 1080p at 60fps
• Gyro-EIS for enhanced video stabilization
• This makes the Galaxy A36 ideal for recording content on the go.

Battery and Charging

The Galaxy A36 houses a non-removable 5,000 mAh Li-Ion battery, offering enough power to last a full day of moderate to heavy use. Whether you’re streaming videos, making calls, playing games, or browsing the internet, the phone holds up reliably throughout the day.

Charging is equally impressive, with support for 45W wired fast charging. The phone can recharge:

• Up to 66% in just 30 minutes
• Fully charged in around 68 minutes

This rapid charging capability is excellent for users who are constantly on the move and need quick top-ups.

Software and User Interface

The Galaxy A36 ships with Android 15, skinned with Samsung’s One UI 7.0, providing a smooth, feature-rich, and highly customizable user experience. One UI has matured into one of the most polished Android interfaces, with user-friendly features such as:

• Edge Panels
• Gesture navigation
• Customizable home screens
• Built-in screen recorder
• Split-screen multitasking
• Samsung also brings Galaxy AI features to the A36, including tools like Circle to Search, Live Translate, and AI image editing tools such as Object Eraser. These features enhance productivity and creativity, making the device more than just a communication tool.

Importantly, Samsung promises 6 years of security updates and 4 major Android OS upgrades, meaning the A36 will be supported well into the future — a major advantage over competitors in this segment.

Connectivity and Audio

Network & SIM

• 5G, 4G LTE, 3G, 2G support
• Dual SIM support (Nano-SIM + eSIM or Dual Nano-SIM)
• VoLTE and VoWiFi capabilities

Wireless Connectivity:

• Wi-Fi 6 for fast and stable internet
• Bluetooth 5.4
• NFC for mobile payments
• GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS support for precise navigation

Ports & Audio:

• USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG support
• Stereo speakers with immersive surround sound
• Dolby Atmos support
• No 3.5mm headphone jack (wireless or USB-C headphones recommended)

Security and Additional Features

Security is enhanced with both biometric and software options:

• Under-display optical fingerprint sensor
• Face recognition
• Samsung Knox for enterprise-grade protection
• Secure Folder for locking apps and personal data

Other sensors include

• Accelerometer
• Gyroscope
• Compass
• Proximity sensor
• Virtual light sensor

These contribute to enhanced usability across various apps and system functions.

Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is competitively priced in the mid-range category. Pricing may vary depending on region and configuration, but the average cost falls around:

• PKR 119,999 in Pakistan
• USD $349 – $399 globally

Availability spans most international markets through Samsung’s official website, retail stores, and e-commerce platforms.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Stylish and durable design
• Vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display
• Capable Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor
• Excellent battery life with fast charging
• Long software support (up to Android 21)
• High-quality camera system
• IP67 water/dust resistance

Cons

• No microSD card slot
• No 3.5mm headphone jack
• Plastic frame (less premium than metal)

Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is a well-rounded smartphone that blends performance, aesthetics, and future-proof features into one attractive package. It’s ideally suited for students, professionals, and everyday users who want a phone that delivers consistently in real-world use.

With its vivid AMOLED screen, strong battery life, fast charging, 5G support, and long-term software updates, the Galaxy A36 offers exceptional value in the mid-range market. While it skips a few premium features like expandable storage or a headphone jack, these are minor trade-offs in what is otherwise a standout smartphone for 2025.