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Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Review: Design and Build
The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is the successor of the Galaxy A35, a popular mid-range smartphone in the company’s lineup. Both gadgets have comparable footprints. The A36 is 7.4mm thinner than the A35 (8.2mm) and weighs 195g less than the A35 (which was at 209g), making it lighter to hold.
In terms of construction, the handset seems sturdy and well-made, with hardly any chassis flex. It has Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on the front and a plastic centre frame between two panes of glass. Unlike the A35, which had a plastic rear panel, the A36 this year also has a Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the back side.
However, the most significant design shift is visible at the back, where Samsung has replaced the Galaxy A35’s individual camera lens architecture with a single pill-shaped camera island that houses all three camera lenses.
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Unlike other phones like the Galaxy S25 and S24, which employ separate camera lenses, Samsung’s Galaxy A series has a distinctive appearance. This design modification stands out for its originality, even if it may not have been intended for any particular reason. This provides the phone a unique appearance, but it also causes it to wobble when placed on a flat surface.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is available in the colours Awesome Black, Awesome Lavender, and Awesome White. We were sent the Awesome Lavender for review.
The phone comes with an IP67 build, which is a good thing.
The power and volume keys are unified by the Key Island design feature, which has a tiny bump and is intended for good. On the other hand, the smartphone’s base has a speaker grille, a USB Type-C connector, and a SIM tray.
All things considered, the A36 has a more elegant design.
Although there isn’t much of a difference, the Samsung Galaxy A36’s display has slightly increased in size from the A35’s 6.6-inch to a 6.7-inch screen. Compared to the previous generation, the side bezels are less apparent.
The 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen of the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is packed with features. The panel has a maximum brightness of 1,200 nits and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
Both panels, the A36 5G and the predecessor, are OLEDs with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and FHD+ resolution. The main distinction between the two models is that the current model’s peak brightness is noticeably brighter than the previous one. In general, this translates to a more immersive experience, enhanced HDR video watching, and greater visibility outdoors.
Although both screens have a refresh rate of 120 Hz, the A36 is a better choice for people who like to watch a lot of media or who regularly use their phones in brightly lit situations due to its higher brightness. The compatibility for a refresh rate of 120 Hz makes navigating the screen feel fluid. Thus far, we have seen that the screen is bright, has strong contrast, and has excellent white balance.
In addition, the Galaxy A36 5G has an optical fingerprint scanner built into the screen, however, it is not as quick as ultrasonic ones. It works effectively, but if a fingerprint is misplaced, inaccurate readings are provided.
One end of the Galaxy A36’s hybrid stereo speaker system has an amplified earpiece, while the other end has a dedicated bottom-firing speaker. The sound quality is also good; it’s clear and powerful.
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Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Review: Performance and Cameras
Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 CPU powers the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G. Speed and power savings will undoubtedly be well-balanced by the 5nm chipset. Up to 256GB of internal storage and 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB of RAM are attributes of the Galaxy A36. This device lacks a microSD card slot, in contrast to the Galaxy A35. Bluetooth 5.4 is supported on the A36 instead of Bluetooth 5.3, and it supports two eSIM cards instead of the A35’s one. The device tends to heat up a bit, particularly while charging or using demanding apps. Geekbench 6 scores:- Single-Core Score- 1014
- Multi-Core Score- 2806
OneUI 7.0, which operates on the Android 15 operating system, is pre-installed on the phone. Additionally, Samsung has pledged six years of OS upgrades and six years of security fixes, ensuring that the device receives extended software updates. Circle to Search, Auto Trim, Best Face, AI Select, and Read Aloud are among the AI capabilities that the phone offers. Keep in mind that the Samsung flagships have some of the same AI functions, but here they cost half as much!
Thus, even when playing games like Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact, we haven’t experienced any insane issues on this phone. On this gadget, you will be able to play such games.
Because One UI 7 is installed, you also receive a new notification tray, a new quick settings shade, and the now bar on the always-on display.
The photography department is handled by a triple rear camera unit that includes a 50-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) capability and an f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultrawide shooter, and a 5-megapixel macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The handset also has a 12-megapixel selfie camera on the front.
The cameras on the phone have been well optimised. The images have brighter, more brilliant hues and a much more realistic appearance. Additionally, the focus is really strong. There is room for improvement in dynamic range. In other words, the shadows were being squashed in certain spots.
On the other hand, the 8 MP ultrawide pictures offer a broad perspective, producing good and vibrant photographs; however, they lose clarity when enlarged.
The separation of the subject and backdrop appears natural in portraiture as well. The background colours and skin tone seem more vibrant.
In selfies, the skin tone seems natural even after skin optimisation. The front camera also met our expectations with no issues, and the edge awareness and details are perfect.
The phone’s night mode can assist to somewhat improve photographs that aren’t very good in the evening or low light. However, the images look good in artificial lighting.
Finally, let’s discuss battery life. There is a 5,000 mAh battery in the Galaxy A36 5G. 45w wired fast charging is supported. A fast charger would have been an excellent addition from the company. The phone’s battery lasts around a day when used heavily, and up to a day and a half when used moderately.
Verdict
The phone has a good overall design and performance. The build seems high-end for the price tag, the display is vivid, and the user interface is smooth for routine tasks. It is a good phone for daily usage because it manages media consumption and the majority of apps effectively. The fingerprint sensor could have been better. It’s not particularly quick or precise. Additionally, take notice that it is not compatible with HDR Netflix content, and that its refresh rate is fixed at 120 Hz, which means it is not variable because it lacks an LTPO display. The phone’s camera is of a decent calibre. Primary and ultra-wide photos offer great exposure and vibrant colours. Compared to the more costly Galaxy smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G offers comparable features. It definitely is a better buy starting at Rs 30,999. You can buy the Samsung Galaxy A36 here. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Pros- Higher refresh rate display
- Lightweight
- OneUI 7 AI features
- Decent cameras
- Does not support HDR viewing on Netflix
- Heats up when gaming
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