Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Review: Worth the Upgrade?

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G: Key Takeaways

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G enters the budget arena at £399 with minor upgrades but significant compromises. Our testing reveals a phone with strong display quality and impressive software support but hampered by mediocre performance and a controversial storage decision. Compared to last year's A35, you get slight screen size improvements and faster charging, yet lose microSD expansion – a critical consideration at this price point.

Design and Build Quality

Samsung retains the A35's core design language with subtle tweaks. The Galaxy A36 features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display (up from 6.6 inches) thanks to marginally slimmer bezels. Its plastic frame sports a brushed metal finish that resists fingerprints, while Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protects both front and back. The redesigned "linear camera layout" (dubbed "camera schlong" in the video) houses the triple-lens system.

Available in four colors (Black, White, Lime, Lavender), our Lime unit shows subtle iridescence under light. Crucially, Samsung maintains IP67 water/dust resistance – rare at this price. However, the glossy back attracts smudges, and the removal of pre-installed screen protection is disappointing given the Victus+ glass's vulnerability to scratches.

Software and AI Features

Running One UI 7 over Android 15, the A36 delivers industry-leading update support with six years of OS upgrades guaranteed through 2031. Bloatware remains a pain point with pre-installed Facebook, Pinterest, and Microsoft apps consuming storage. Samsung's duplicate apps (browser, health suite, store) add unnecessary clutter.

Notable AI features include:

Google Gemini integration (outperforming Bixby)
Circle to Search
AI photo editing tools
Object eraser (currently buggy in testing)
Gaming Mode and Split Screen functionality work smoothly, while eSIM support simplifies travel connectivity. Missing premium AI tools like Best Face and video trimming highlight cost-cutting measures.

Performance and Battery Testing

Powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset and 8GB RAM, the A36 struggles with intensive tasks. Our real-world testing showed:

Noticeable UI lag during camera operations
Genshin Impact frame rates dropped to single digits during combat
App launches slower than competitors like Nothing Phone 3a

Thermal management proves competent thanks to an upgraded vapor chamber, preventing overheating during extended gaming. Battery life shines with the 5,000mAh cell delivering 1.5 days of moderate use. The upgrade to 45W wired charging (70-minute full charge) is welcome, though no wireless charging remains a drawback.

Camera Capabilities

The triple-camera system mirrors the A35's specs:

50MP primary sensor with OIS
8MP ultrawide
5MP macro (largely useless)

Daylight photos show Samsung's signature vibrant saturation and contrast boost. Low-light performance suffers from visible noise, despite OIS stabilization. The camera app's redesign simplifies one-handed use with bottom-aligned controls.

Video recording maxes at 4K/30fps (no 60fps option) with decent stabilization. The 12MP front camera (downgraded from A35's 13MP) handles selfies adequately, matching rear camera video capabilities. Unique features include:

Customizable photo filters
Pro mode manual controls
Single Take multi-output capture

Is It Worth Buying?

After side-by-side testing with the A35 and rivals, the Galaxy A36 presents a questionable value proposition:

Key Advantages

Superb 6.7" AMOLED display
Class-leading software support
IP67 water resistance
45W fast charging

Significant Drawbacks

Mediocre gaming performance
Removed microSD slot (despite 256GB base storage)
Excessive pre-installed bloatware
No HDR Netflix support

Alternatives to Consider

Samsung Galaxy A35 (£349): Nearly identical experience with microSD support
Nothing Phone 3a (£319): Superior performance with Glyph interface
Google Pixel 8a (expected): Better cameras and AI at similar pricing

Buyer's Decision Checklist

Before purchasing, verify:

Do you need microSD expansion? (A35 is better)
Is mobile gaming a priority? (Choose Nothing Phone 3a)
Are long-term updates critical? (A36 excels here)
Do you use HDR streaming? (Netflix HDR unsupported)

The Galaxy A36 makes the most sense for Samsung loyalists prioritizing software longevity over raw performance. For others, competing devices deliver better value.

What feature compromise would hit your usage hardest? Share your dealbreakers below!