Samsung Galaxy A36 5G review: Missed the memo that mid-range can be exciting

The Galaxy A collection is the place you flip whenever you need a few of that Samsung Galaxy S most important character power, however are unwilling or unable to pay high greenback for the privilege.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G sits proper in the course of this most mid-range of collection, providing a broadly comparable expertise to the Galaxy A56, however for £100 much less.

We discovered the Samsung Galaxy A56 to be a reasonably modest addition to the market, and one which didn’t fairly do sufficient to carry it into the elite mid-range tier. Can this cheaper different obtain a greater mixture of worth and efficiency?

Notice: Our Galaxy A26 evaluate pattern was equipped by Three UK, but it surely had no say in how we reviewed the machine.

Design & Construct

• Plastic body and rear
• Gorilla Glass Victus+
• 195g
• IP67 rated

The Samsung Galaxy A36 broadly follows the design of final yr’s Samsung Galaxy A35. Other than the brand new joined-together digital camera module, as seen on the Samsung Galaxy A56, it appears to be like and feels a lot the identical as its predecessor.

It’s slimmer than earlier than at simply 7.4mm thick (in comparison with the 8.2mm A35), whereas at 195g it’s a not inconsiderable 14g lighter. The show bezel, too, is a little bit slimmer than earlier than, although it nonetheless incorporates a telltale thicker chin that tells you you’re coping with a less expensive cellphone.

Speaking of which, you’re as soon as once more coping with an all-plastic building. The Galaxy A36 lacks the extra premium really feel of the Galaxy A56, which has a metallic body.

Samsung has stored the IP67 certification, which is nice to see. It implies that the Samsung Galaxy A36 is extra watertight than most telephones at this value. The Honor 400, for instance, solely manages an IP65 score.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

It’s very troublesome to make out from my images, however my check mannequin is available in a color referred to as ‘Superior Lime’. This isn’t a deep inexperienced, however reasonably a type of off-white with a slight greenish tinge from sure angles.

You may as well specify it in Superior Lavender, Superior Black, and Superior White, although I might have favored to have seen some bolder color choices.

Display screen & Audio system

• 6.7-inch AMOLED show
• 1200 nits (HBM) and 120Hz
• Respectable stereo audio system

Samsung has improved the show with its newest mid-ranger, which is all the time good to see. It’s a (barely) bigger 6.7-inch AMOLED with an FHD+ decision and a 120Hz refresh charge.

One of many points I had with the Galaxy A35 was that its display didn’t fairly get vivid sufficient. Samsung has addressed this by bumping the utmost brightness (auto-brightness mode) of 1200 nits – up from 1000 nits within the Galaxy A35.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Sections of the display can even hit 1900 nits throughout HDR content material. Picture high quality is robust, with Samsung’s normal vibrant colors (which I toned down by switching from Vivid to Pure) and deep blacks.

All in all, it seems to be a lifeless match for the costlier Galaxy A56, which is all the time good to see.

That vibrant image is accompanied by a correct set of stereo audio system. They’re wonderful for a cellphone at this value, providing first rate readability and quantity, and robust separation between the channels.

Specs & Efficiency

• Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB storage

Samsung hasn’t equipped fairly as a lot of a efficiency enhance as I might have favored for the Galaxy A36.

There’s a brand new Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor onboard, however our benchmark checks didn’t reveal a very pronounced enhance over the Galaxy A35 and its Exynos 1380.

You do get 8GB of RAM with the only UK mannequin, up from 6GB, which is welcome. Nonetheless, the uncooked numbers counsel that this yr’s mannequin is treading water.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Provided that we weren’t significantly impressed with the efficiency of final yr’s mannequin, this isn’t a really optimistic factor to be reporting.

Certain sufficient, I discovered the Samsung Galaxy A36 to be a little bit wallowier than I might have favored, with a noticeable diploma of stutter when waking the cellphone or mentioning a timer by Bixby.

We’re not speaking about large quantity of slowdown right here, however I discovered the frequent micro-stutters noticeable and considerably off-putting. After all, I’m coming from the place of somebody who makes use of quite a lot of flagship telephones, so that is unlikely to trouble potential Galaxy A36 consumers to fairly the identical extent.

Nonetheless, with the likes of the Poco X7 providing a buttery-smooth efficiency for simply over £300, it’s not preferrred.

One notable omission this yr in comparison with final yr’s mannequin is microSD help. You’ll should make do with the 256GB of inner storage that comes with the only UK mannequin.

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G benchmarks

Cameras

• 50Mp most important sensor
• 8Mp ultrawide
• 5Mp macro
• 13Mp selfie digital camera

Samsung has gone with an unchanged triple digital camera system for the Galaxy A36. Which means the identical 50Mp f/1.8 most important digital camera, the identical 8Mp ultra-wide, and the identical 5Mp macro because the Galaxy A35 earlier than it.

This isn’t an issue, because the Samsung Galaxy A35 took among the greatest photos in its weight class. So too does the A36.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Samsung’s picture processing generally is a little bit of a hinderance in flagship telephones such because the Galaxy S25 the place, relying in your style, it could possibly produce photographs that aren’t as pure or nuanced as their high-end rivals.

Right here within the mid-range class, nonetheless, Samsung’s vibrant colors and wonderful dynamic vary assist masks any {hardware} deficiencies, producing crisp and contrasty photographs. It additionally allows efficient portraits, whereby the topic actually pops from the blurred out background.

Night time mode brightens pictures up properly, although there’s nonetheless a notice of grain to the skies.

Samsung’s picture processing additionally helps with ultra-wide photographs. Whereas they’re not significantly sharp at 8Mp, few producers know the best way to match the tone of the principle digital camera fairly so nicely.

It’s a disgrace there’s solely a 5Mp macro digital camera, reasonably than a devoted telephoto. Photographs look first rate at 2x by cropping in on the principle sensor, and aren’t horrible at 4x. I wouldn’t even each zooming all the best way into 10x, although.

As for that macro digital camera, it predictably lacks the element and pop of the opposite cameras, although it does facilitate some good arty snaps, if that’s your bag.

The entrance digital camera is a little bit totally different on this yr’s mannequin. You’re getting a 12Mp unit reasonably than the Galaxy A35’s 13Mp entrance digital camera. It nonetheless produces strong selfies, nonetheless, with pure pores and skin tones and first rate colors. It’s good and extensive, too, enabling you to seize group selfies and landscapes extra simply.

Video is as soon as once more restricted to 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps. Footage is sweet and {smooth} and even, with the OIS doing job of steadying issues.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 45W charging
• No charger included

There aren’t any surprises on the battery entrance, which is nice information. Samsung has as soon as once more gone with a 5000mAh cell which, along with that low-power Snapdragon chip and an FHD+ OLED show, produces exemplary stamina.

I used to be routinely in a position to undergo a full day of reasonable to heavy utilization, with round 4 hours of display on time, and be left with nicely over 50% within the tank. Typically greater than 60%, if the community surroundings was good.

By way of some mixture of that larger, brighter show and the brand new chip, the Galaxy A36 really carried out worse than the Galaxy A35 in our normal PCMark Work 3.0 battery check, scoring 11 hours and 27 minutes. That falls about 50 minutes wanting its predecessor.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

For me, nonetheless, it’s all about that sensible utilization, and on that entrance I’ve completely no points with the Samsung Galaxy A36’s endurance.

Certainly, Samsung wins further brownie factors for upping the charging charge from 25- to 45W. You’ll want to provide your individual charger, however whenever you do you’ll be capable to get from empty to 63% in round half-hour. A full cost took me an hour and quarter-hour.

You continue to received’t discover wi-fi charging right here, however on condition that the Samsung Galaxy A56 additionally lacks this provision, that’s no shock.

Software program & Assist

• One UI 7
• Android 15
• 6 years of software program help

The Samsung Galaxy A36 runs on Android 15 out of the field, but it surely’s Samsung’s customized One UI 7 UI that you just’ll be partaking with.

For many individuals, Samsung’s therapy of Android IS Android, given the South Korean producer’s dominance of the smartphone market over the previous decade and extra. As somebody who has tasted the options, and who leans closely on Google’s apps and companies, it’s not my favorite Android pores and skin.

One UI 7 deviates from inventory Android quite a bit. There’s Samsung’s signature icon design and menu animations, in addition to its regrettable (to me not less than) determination to separate the notification pane in two, like iOS (and a bunch of different Android skins, to be truthful).

Jon Mundy / Foundry

My most important drawback is the best way it will get in the best way of a Google person, regardless of Samsung’s shut partnership with the Android maker. It’s the best way you need to obtain Google Pockets after which give it desire over Samsung’s personal cost app. Ditto for Google Calendar. I’m undecided why we want Samsung’s personal internet browser on high of Chrome, whereas getting Google’s password supervisor up and operating on a Samsung cellphone is all the time a ache.

With that stated, One UI 7 is undoubtedly quick and fluid, when you get a deal with on its quirks. Whereas the Settings menu continues to be a little bit of a warren, there’s a robust search operate to get you the place you should be.

What you don’t get is Samsung’s in depth suite of AI instruments, which is current on the Galaxy S collection. You get a lighter number of ‘Superior Intelligence’ options, with no place for the good new Now Bar with its helpful heads-up data.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

On the optimistic facet, Samsung has up to date the Galaxy A36 in order that Google’s Gemini Assistant, not its personal poor Bixby, now responds to a protracted press of the ability button.

The bloatware state of affairs deserves a minor grumble reasonably than a full-on grievance. I might do with out Pinterest, Spotify, Netflix, TikTok, and Amazon Buying being put in out of the field, however these are undoubtedly in style apps.

The place Samsung wins unabashed reward is with its improved software program help, now extending to 6 years of OS and safety updates.

Value & Availability

The only real mannequin of the Samsung Galaxy A36 prices £399 right here within the UK, and $399.99 within the US. It’s obtainable direct from Samsung, in addition to from the same old assortment of on-line retailers and community operators similar to Amazon.

That seems like a value hike when the Samsung Galaxy A35 launched for £329 final yr. Nevertheless, you get double the storage with this yr’s mannequin – 256GB reasonably than 128GB – and 2GB of additional RAM at 8GB.

It will have been good to have obtained a 6/128GB possibility on this nation at a lower cost, as that is clearly a cellphone make with the budget-conscious in thoughts.

At this value, the Samsung Galaxy A36 can depend the Honor 400 as a direct rival. For £449 you may seize the Nothing Telephone (3a) Professional with its trendy design and telephoto digital camera, whereas the Motorola Edge 60 provides a tough-yet-curvy physique and a good brighter show for £379.

You may also contemplate the Google Pixel 9a at £499/$499 in case your finances stretches.

You possibly can see all our high suggestions among the many A36’s rivals in our round-up of one of the best mid-range telephones.

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is one other strong, inexpensive mid-ranger that received’t allow you to down. Nevertheless, it additionally received’t excite you in any manner.

There’s a brand new breed of mid-range telephones that dare to strive one thing totally different, whether or not it’s the Nothing Telephone (3a) Professional’s telephoto digital camera and memory-aid button, or the Motorola Edge 60’s unusually sturdy design and super-bright display.

When taken on this context, the Samsung Galaxy A36 can’t assist however really feel a little bit protected and drab.

What it does provide is a good display, digital camera, strong stamina, and exemplary software program help. Whether or not that’s sufficient to set your pulse racing is one other matter. You need to really feel that Samsung needs to be doing extra in efficiency and design phrases.

Specs

• Android 15 with One UI 7
• 6.7in, FHD+, OLED, 120Hz, flat show
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
• 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
• 256GB storage
• 50Mp, f/1.8 most important digital camera
• 8Mp ultra-wide digital camera
• 5Mp macro digital camera
• As much as 4K @ 30fps rear video
• 12Mp front-facing digital camera
• Stereo audio system
• Twin-SIM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
• Bluetooth 5.4
• 5000mAh battery
• 45W charging
• 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4mm
• 195g
• Launch colors: Superior Lavender, Superior Black, Superior White, Superior Lime