The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G delivers vibrant AMOLED display quality and impressive software longevity but falls short with camera performance in low light and plastic construction, positioning itself as a solid yet imperfect contender in India’s mid-range smartphone market.

Design and Display

The Galaxy A36 5G features a slim 7.9mm plastic body in Awesome Black, White, and Lavender. Its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display offers 120Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits of brightness with Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection. While thinner than the Vivo V50, its plastic build feels less premium than the Nothing Phone (3a)’s metal frame.

Operating System

Running Android 15 with One UI 7, the A36 5G promises six years of OS updates, outshining competitors like the Nothing Phone (3a). Recent updates improve camera processing and battery efficiency, while including India-specific apps like PhonePe.

Processor

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 handles everyday tasks well, outperforming the Galaxy M16 5G’s Exynos 1380 but trailing the Vivo T4x 5G’s Dimensity 7300 for intensive multitasking.

Camera

The A36 5G’s triple-camera system includes a 50MP main sensor with optical stabilization, 8MP ultra-wide, and 5MP macro, plus a 12MP selfie camera. Daylight photos are vibrant and sharp, surpassing the Vivo T4x 5G in color accuracy, though the ultra-wide shows edge distortion compared to the Nothing Phone (3a)’s offering.

Low-light performance disappoints with noise and detail loss, lagging behind the Poco X7’s superior night photography. The macro lens works in good lighting but struggles in dim conditions, underperforming against the Redmi Note 14 Pro+’s macro capabilities.

Video reaches 4K/30fps with stable output, though ultra-wide is limited to 1080p. The selfie camera excels in daylight but deteriorates in low light. Despite One UI 7 updates enhancing processing, hardware limitations prevent it from matching rivals in the ₹30,000-₹40,000 segment.

RAM and Storage

Available in configurations from 6GB/128GB to 12GB/256GB, the A36 5G lacks microSD expansion, a disadvantage against the Vivo T4x 5G’s 1TB expansion support.

Sound

Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos deliver balanced audio, outperforming the Poco X7’s mono speaker, though bass is limited and the headphone jack is absent.

Battery

The 5,000mAh battery lasts a full day with 45W fast charging (50% in 25 minutes, charger sold separately). It matches the Vivo V50 but can’t compete with the Vivo T4x 5G’s 6,500mAh capacity.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Stunning 120Hz AMOLED display
• Six-year OS update promise
• Reliable battery with 45W charging
• Durable Gorilla Glass Victus+
• Decent daily performance

Cons

• Subpar low-light camera
• Plastic build feels cheap
• No microSD slot
• No charger included
• Missing headphone jack

Market Buzz

Users praise the A36 5G’s display and battery life, while criticizing camera limitations and the absent charger. Opinions remain divided on its plastic construction.

Pricing

• 6GB RAM/128GB storage: ₹31,999
• 8GB RAM/128GB storage: ₹32,999
• 8GB RAM/256GB storage: ₹35,999
• 12GB RAM/256GB storage: ₹38,999

Final Verdict

The Galaxy A36 5G excels with its brilliant display and industry-leading software support but falls short in camera performance and build quality.