Samsung Galaxy A36: Solid Budget Phone, Great Display & Battery Life

By: Jessica Miller

3 Minute read

Category: tech

Samsung Galaxy A36 Review: A Solid Budget Phone with Room to Grow

The Samsung Galaxy A36 is the latest entry in Samsung’s popular A-series, aiming to deliver a compelling experience at a budget-friendly price point. Tom's Guide's review highlights a phone that largely succeeds in this goal, but isn't without its compromises.

Key Specs & Features:

Display: 6.6-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1080 x 2340 resolution. The display is a standout feature, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling.
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6800. Performance is generally good for everyday tasks, but struggles with more demanding games.
RAM: 6GB or 8GB.
Storage: 128GB or 256GB, expandable via microSD.

Cameras: 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro. The main camera performs well in good lighting, but low-light performance is average.
Battery: 5,000 mAh. Battery life is excellent, easily lasting a full day of moderate to heavy use.
Software: Android 14 with One UI 6. Samsung’s One UI is feature-rich and well-optimized, but comes with pre-installed bloatware.
Durability: IP67 water and dust resistance.
Other: 5G connectivity, in-display fingerprint sensor.

What's Good:

The A36’s display is a major highlight. The Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate provides a visually pleasing experience, making it enjoyable for streaming videos, browsing the web, and playing games.

Battery life is also excellent, consistently delivering all-day performance. The inclusion of IP67 water and dust resistance is a welcome addition at this price point, offering peace of mind. Samsung’s commitment to software updates (7 years of OS and security updates) is a significant benefit, ensuring the phone remains secure and up-to-date for years to come. The design is also a step up from previous A-series models, looking more premium.

What's Not So Good:

The MediaTek Dimensity 6800 processor, while capable for everyday tasks, struggles with more demanding applications and games. This can lead to noticeable lag and stuttering. The camera performance, while decent in good lighting, is average in low-light conditions.

The pre-installed bloatware is also a drawback, requiring users to spend time uninstalling unwanted apps. While the 7 year update commitment is good, the processor may become a bottleneck before that time is up.

Overall:

The Samsung Galaxy A36 is a solid budget phone that offers a compelling combination of features and performance. Its excellent display, long battery life, and IP67 rating make it a strong contender in its price range. However, the processor's limitations and the presence of bloatware are areas where Samsung could improve. If you prioritize display quality and battery life over raw performance, the A36 is a good choice. However, gamers and power users may want to consider alternatives with more powerful processors. It represents a good value, but isn't without its compromises.