Will get the job accomplished, however solely simply

Samsung’s Galaxy A sequence has lengthy been the secure wager amongst mid-range Android phones for patrons who need one thing reliable with out diving into lesser-known manufacturers. In markets just like the US, the place mid-range choices are surprisingly scarce, that popularity carries much more weight. The Galaxy A36 5G continues that custom — however solely simply. It seems the half, ticks many of the standard containers, and on paper, it appears like a wonderfully cheap purchase for $399. However after utilizing it for just a few weeks, I discovered myself questioning if reliable has quietly turn into disappointing.

When you’ve seen a Galaxy A sequence telephone in the previous couple of years, you’ll really feel proper at residence with the A36 5G’s rectangular slab construct with a flat again and flat aspect rails. That stated, there are just a few noteworthy refinements. The A36 5G now options Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on each the back and front, a welcome improve that provides a layer of sturdiness. It’s additionally IP67 rated, which implies it might probably deal with splashes, rain, and unintentional submersion with out bother.

The A36 5G is sort of similar in top and width to its predecessor, the Galaxy A35 5G, nevertheless it’s noticeably thinner (by nearly a millimeter) and about 10 grams lighter. It’s a small distinction, however one you’ll be able to really feel. The telephone sits higher within the hand and doesn’t really feel overly cumbersome. That stated, it’s nonetheless an enormous telephone total, and never one I’d name snug for one-handed use.

There’s one apparent design change, although: the rear digital camera structure. As a substitute of Samsung’s now-standard floating digital camera rings, the A36 5G brings again the older, elongated digital camera island. It’s the identical look Samsung moved away from a few years in the past. Possibly recycling designs is sweet for the planet, too?

The Superior Black shade possibility I’ve, sadly, lives as much as its identify solely in irony. The shiny end attracts fingerprints relentlessly, as you’ve in all probability already observed from the photographs to this point — this makes the telephone look perpetually smudged until you carry a cleansing material with you. When you’re planning to slap a case on it, this received’t matter a lot. However in the event you like your telephone bare, I’d recommend going for the Lavender variant as an alternative, which must be simpler on the eyes and the smudges.

The A36 5G continues the development of Samsung quietly trimming away beloved options from its A sequence telephones. The headphone jack’s lengthy gone, however now the microSD card slot has joined it within the graveyard. You’re locked into 128GB of inside storage within the US (some areas do have a 256GB possibility obtainable, too), with help for one bodily SIM and an eSIM.

The entrance of the Galaxy A36 5G is dominated by its 6.7-inch Tremendous AMOLED show, which is a slight bump up from the 6.6-inch panel on the A35 5G. It’s a 1,080 x 2,340 decision display screen with a 120Hz refresh fee, and there’s a small punch-hole cutout for the selfie digital camera. Samsung has made one significant improve right here: the height brightness is now rated at 1,200 nits, up from 1,000 nits on the A35 5G.

In real-world use, that’s sufficient to make the telephone completely usable outside, though the extremely reflective floor did bother me at instances. The display screen itself isn’t flagship-level vibrant, nevertheless it was sufficient for studying messages or checking Google Maps once I was out and about. Indoors, the AMOLED panel delivers wealthy distinction and punchy colours, and whereas HDR isn’t formally supported in apps like Netflix, the display screen nonetheless makes streaming content material look vibrant and crisp.

The stereo speaker setup (combining a bottom-firing driver with the earpiece) enhances the multimedia expertise, delivering respectable audio for informal viewing.

The telephone comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner, which technically “works,” however that’s concerning the nicest factor I can say about it. We’re speaking a full two-second delay each single time, which sounds minor till you’re standing at a crosswalk desperately making an attempt to verify Google Maps whereas the sunshine counts down. After just a few days with the A36 5G, I began instinctively reaching for my sample earlier than even making an attempt the fingerprint sensor.

I’ve been testing the Galaxy A26 5G alongside the A36 5G, and its side-mounted bodily fingerprint scanner has all the time felt considerably quicker and extra dependable. I get that in-display scanners nonetheless really feel extra futuristic, however I’d somewhat have one thing that simply works. There’s additionally 2D face unlock if you would like it, nevertheless it’s software-based, so it’s not notably safe.

Efficiency is the place issues actually begin to crumble

Sadly, that sluggish unlock expertise was just the start. The deeper I bought into every day use, the extra I spotted that sluggishness is baked into nearly each a part of the Galaxy A36 5G.

Virtually each interplay, whether or not it’s swiping by way of the UI, scrolling in apps, or launching one thing as primary because the digital camera, comes with a noticeable delay. Animations usually stutter, apps routinely take three to 5 seconds to load, and even mild multitasking (like leaping from Google Maps to Spotify to choose a track) could cause the telephone to stutter or freeze up momentarily. When you’re hoping to shortly snap a photograph of one thing you simply handed on the road, chances are high the A36 5G received’t sustain.

Samsung has swapped out its in-house Exynos 1380 for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm), paired with an Adreno 710 GPU. It’s an eight-core setup, very like final 12 months’s chip, and on paper, it really provides a weaker CPU setup. That performs out within the benchmarks, with the real-world PCMark take a look at and the CPU-based Geekbench 6 exams coming in at decrease scores than the A35 5G.

I’ve additionally been utilizing the cheaper Galaxy A26 5G alongside the A36 5G, and if I didn’t know which was which, I’d have a tough time telling the distinction in efficiency. The A26 is $100 cheaper, but the day-to-day expertise felt practically similar. In reality, there have been moments when the A26 5G felt extra responsive throughout primary duties.

I lately reviewed the Moto G Power (2025), which runs on a technically weaker chipset, and even that felt extra fluid in day-to-day conditions like swiping away your notifications or clicking footage. Samsung’s One UI 7 could be too heavy for a mid-range chip like this, or perhaps it merely hasn’t been correctly optimized for budget-tier gadgets but.

Given how sluggish the telephone felt throughout primary duties, I wasn’t anticipating a lot from gaming, however that’s the place the A36 5G really stunned me in a great way. I loaded up PUBG Cellular and located the telephone might run the sport at 60fps with graphics set to HD. That’s not one thing I anticipated, contemplating how a lot the system struggles elsewhere. Much more shocking was how clean the expertise was: no overheating, no vital body drops, and no indicators of thermal throttling throughout my 40-minute session. GPU efficiency is one space the place the A36 5G is an enchancment over its predecessor in benchmarks, too, however I’m unsure the minor bump is well worth the basic sluggishness elsewhere, particularly when different telephones within the worth tier are getting higher and higher.

Battery life stays a dependable power

The Galaxy A36 5G packs a 5,000mAh cell, one thing that has turn into the usual for funds and mid-range Android telephones over the previous a number of years. Whereas a much bigger battery would’ve been welcome, it’s value highlighting that Samsung managed to take care of the identical capability whereas making the telephone thinner and lighter than its predecessor.

The telephone comfortably lasted greater than a full day throughout reasonable to heavy use in my exams. On a very busy day involving an Instagram livestream, some 4K video recording, and prolonged Google Maps navigation throughout a visit by way of Oakland, I nonetheless made it residence with about 20% left — and a screen-on time of nearly 4 hours.

On lighter days, I averaged round 5 hours of display screen time throughout roughly a day and a half. It’s not excellent by trendy requirements, nevertheless it’s reliable sufficient that you simply received’t be reaching for the charger earlier than bedtime.

One function you received’t discover right here is wi-fi charging. The excellent news is that wired charging has gotten a notable enhance: the Galaxy A36 5G now helps 45W charging. That’s greater than you get on the bottom Galaxy S25 and even the $1,800 Galaxy Z Fold 6.

The A36 5G takes simply over an hour to completely cost utilizing a appropriate 45W charger. For comparability, utilizing a regular 25W Samsung adapter stretched that point out by round 20 additional minutes. As anticipated, there’s no charger within the field, so that you’ll want to choose up a compatible Power Delivery PPS charger individually.

It was a pleasing shock to see the Galaxy A36 5G transport with One UI 7 proper out of the field, particularly when Samsung’s 2024 flagships are nonetheless caught on One UI 6. And whereas the general efficiency didn’t do it any favors, I genuinely loved getting my first correct have a look at what One UI 7 has to offer.

It is without doubt one of the extra noticeable updates to Samsung’s software program lately, and whereas it nonetheless seems and feels very very like One UI,  there are considerate refinements all through. You get all of the acquainted customization choices — themes, widgets, shade palettes — and some new tips as nicely. The fast settings and notifications panels have been cut up, so swiping down from the left brings up notifications whereas the best aspect exhibits toggles. If that appears like overkill, there’s a setting to merge them again.

Samsung’s new “Now Bar” additionally makes an look. It really works a bit like Apple’s Dynamic Island, exhibiting you reside updates on the lock display screen if you’re utilizing different apps, music playback, or background duties. It seems recent, and it’s really helpful.

What I appreciated most, although, is how the UI has been reworked for simpler one-handed use. The search bar within the app drawer is now on the backside, and core Samsung apps just like the Digital camera have had their controls pulled nearer to your thumb. It makes the telephone really feel just a bit extra considerate in day-to-day use.

You don’t get the total set of Galaxy AI instruments right here, however Samsung is providing a trimmed-down batch beneath the “Superior Intelligence” label. You can even set Google Gemini as your default assistant, which implies entry to all the same old Gemini-powered options baked into Android.

Samsung is promising six years of software program help for the Galaxy A36 5G, together with OS updates and safety patches. It’s a formidable update promise at this worth and a step above what you get from manufacturers like Motorola. Google now provides related help for the Pixel A sequence, however Samsung nonetheless deserves credit score for bringing that degree of longevity to its mid-range gadgets.

That stated, with the best way this telephone at the moment runs, I’m unsure anybody would need to maintain onto it for six years. Two or three appears extra sensible, until you’re planning to make use of it as a secondary telephone down the road. As for normal telephone duties, I had no points. I examined the A36 5G with a T-Cellular SIM within the Bay Space, and reception, name high quality, and Wi-Fi efficiency had been all stable all through.

Samsung hasn’t modified a lot within the digital camera division on the Galaxy A36 5G. It’s virtually the identical budget phone camera setup because the A35 5G — a 50MP major digital camera, 8MP ultrawide, and a 5MP fixed-focus macro lens that continues to serve extra as spec filler. The one actual change is a brand new 12MP selfie shooter, changing the 13MP unit from final 12 months.

The first and entrance cameras are each stable, even when there’s nothing notably standout about them. Pictures come out well-detailed with well-balanced dynamic vary, and that basic Samsung shade tuning — barely boosted, however not cartoonish. It’s not aiming for lifelike tones, however the outcomes are punchy and pleasing to the attention. The first sensor holds up decently in low mild too, particularly with Night time Mode enabled, though the enhancements are refined at finest.

The ultrawide digital camera, as anticipated, is a noticeable step down. It really works positive in vibrant daylight however shortly loses sharpness in something lower than very best situations. As for the macro lens… nicely, let’s simply say Samsung hasn’t meaningfully improved its macro cameras since I first noticed them in 2020, and it exhibits. It’s there, it exists, and that’s about it.

The telephone takes actually good portrait photographs as nicely, with nice pores and skin tones and convincing background blur. I miss the choice to shoot 2x portraits, one thing which many telephones can do now while not having a devoted telephoto lens.

Video is one other space the place the A36 5G holds its floor. The principle and selfie cameras can shoot at 4K 30fps, and pictures from the primary sensor seems good in daylight, with secure outcomes and stable dynamic vary. There’s a Tremendous Regular mode too, which makes use of the ultrawide digital camera to scale back shake, nevertheless it drops decision to 1080p, and picture high quality takes a major hit.

I additionally ran some side-by-side comparisons with the Galaxy A26 5G, and actually, the outcomes had been surprisingly shut. The A36 5G generally leans hotter in its shade science, whereas the A26 5G tends to supply cooler-looking pictures, so your choice may come all the way down to the scene you’re capturing. Though the A36 5G has a barely bigger fundamental sensor and does seize marginally extra element in the event you’re the type of one who zooms in to pixel peep. It additionally has a slight edge in 4K video high quality.

My solely gripe with the A36 5G’s cameras wasn’t the photographs it takes, however how lengthy it takes to take them. I often prefer to verify my photographs proper after I take them and snap a follow-up if wanted. Nonetheless, on the A36 5G, tapping the picture preview after taking a shot takes a stable 5 seconds to load. Then, leaping again to the digital camera app provides one other few seconds. That lag provides up shortly and makes the entire course of really feel unresponsive, particularly if you’re making an attempt to shoot one thing on the transfer.

You may take a look at all of the full-res digital camera samples I took from the Galaxy A36 5G here.

The Galaxy A36 5G checks many of the containers that Samsung’s mid-range telephones are recognized for. It has a big AMOLED display screen that’s nice for watching content material, a dependable all-day battery, respectable cameras, and even sufficient energy to run graphically intensive video games.

You additionally get IP67 water resistance, quicker 45W wired charging, and a barely thinner, lighter physique in comparison with 2024’s A35 5G. And naturally, the standout speaking level is six years of software program help, which is undeniably spectacular for a telephone on this worth vary. However right here’s the issue: the expertise simply doesn’t maintain up in every day use.

All through my time with the Galaxy A36 5G, the sluggish efficiency was actually exhausting to disregard. Routine duties like scrolling by way of notifications and swiping between residence screens really feel like they’re too heavy for the telephone, opening and switching apps take a number of seconds longer than they need to, and all of it provides up.

Utilizing the A36 5G made me perceive why Samsung nonetheless will get teased for having laggy software program. It’s irritating as a result of One UI has come a great distance through the years. On Samsung’s higher telephones, even a few of its cheaper ones, it’s quick, fluid, and customarily satisfying to make use of. However this telephone doesn’t mirror that. If that is somebody’s first Samsung expertise, I actually wouldn’t blame them for being scared off for good.

There are transient moments when the A36 5G runs smoother, however these are the exception. That inconsistency doesn’t encourage a lot confidence, particularly when that is how the telephone behaves recent out of the field. Hopefully, that is only a software program optimization concern that Samsung can enhance in a future replace, however the underperformance in CPU benchmarks doesn’t go away me satisfied that Samsung made the best selection to change to a chip that may deal with video games higher, however isn’t working for primary multitasking.

If somebody outdoors the US requested me whether or not to purchase the Galaxy A36 5G, the reply could be a agency no. At this worth level, you’ll discover a number of better-performing choices from manufacturers like OnePlus, Motorola, Xiaomi, realme, and others — a lot of which provide stronger cameras and snappier efficiency for a similar and even much less cash.

Within the US, nonetheless, the story’s a bit extra difficult. The Galaxy A36 5G prices $400, and selections in that vary are pretty restricted. The Nothing Phone 3a ($379.99 at Amazon) is an fascinating different, nevertheless it’s not simple to get stateside. When you can stretch your funds, I’d strongly suggest the Pixel 9a ($499 at Amazon) and even final 12 months’s Pixel 8a ($499 at Amazon) if you will get one on sale. Each telephones provide a lot smoother efficiency, higher cameras, and equally sturdy software program help, although you’ll should stay with a smaller (however brighter) show and slower charging.

When you’re dedicated to Samsung, attempt searching for reductions on the Galaxy S24 FE ($552.54 at Amazon). It received’t value an entire lot extra in the event you watch for the best sale and can ship a significantly better expertise total. And in case your funds can’t budge, the Galaxy A35 5G ($359.99 at Amazon) continues to be value contemplating. It provides a near-identical expertise to the A36 5G, minus the prolonged replace help and the most recent One UI model. Alternatively, maintain out for the Galaxy A56 5G — in contrast to in 2024, Samsung is bringing its top-end A sequence telephone to the US in 2025, nevertheless it hasn’t confirmed when on the time of this writing.

Total, the Galaxy A36 5G isn’t a nasty telephone, however its sluggish efficiency holds it again in an enormous means. It’s able to doing the fundamentals and can attraction to customers who worth Samsung’s ecosystem and long-term help. However until you’re extraordinarily affected person or solely want a really primary system, there are higher choices on the market.