Samsung Galaxy A36 5G: Elevating the Mid-Range Experi

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is designed to be a highly competitive mid-range offering, boasting several features typically found in higher-end smartphones. Its release in March 2025 establishes it as a strong contender, appealing to users who seek a balance of performance, camera capabilities, and durability without a premium price tag.

1. Design and Build Quality: The Galaxy A36 5G features a refined and more premium design. It comes with a glass front (Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+) and, notably, a glass back (Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+) — a significant upgrade from the plastic back of its predecessors. The frame remains plastic for durability and cost efficiency. It has dimensions of approximately 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm and weighs around 195g, making it relatively slim and comfortable to hold.A standout feature for its price segment is the IP67 dust and water resistance, allowing it to be submerged in up to 1 meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. This significantly enhances its robustness for everyday use. It’s available in stylish colors like Lavender, Black, White, and Lime. The camera module design is also refreshed, featuring a unified island for the triple cameras.

2. Immersive Display:The Galaxy A36 5G sports a large and vibrant 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display. It offers a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels) with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, ensuring sharp images and vivid colors. The display’s highlight is its 120Hz refresh rate, providing incredibly smooth scrolling and a highly fluid user experience. It also boasts impressive brightness levels, reaching up to 1200 nits (High Brightness Mode) and a peak brightness of 1900 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, offering enhanced scratch and drop resistance. It also features an optical under-display fingerprint sensor for secure and convenient unlocking.

3. Performance and Hardware:The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) octa-core processor. This chipset, with its configuration (e.g., 4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) and Adreno 710 GPU, delivers strong performance for daily tasks, seamless multitasking, and a capable gaming experience. Samsung has also included a larger vapor chamber (15% larger than its predecessor) for improved heat dissipation, ensuring sustained performance even under heavy workloads.

RAM Configurations:

• 128GB Internal Storage: Typically paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM.
• 256GB Internal Storage: Generally comes with 8GB or even 12GB of RAM. This higher RAM is beneficial for heavy multitasking, demanding applications, and smoother overall system performance.

Storage Options:

• 128GB Internal Storage: This is a good starting point for most users, providing ample space for essential apps, photos, and some videos.
• 256GB Internal Storage: This variant is ideal for users who store a large volume of media, download many games, or work with larger files. It provides more breathing room for long-term usage without worrying about running out of space.

Important Note on Storage Expansion: Unlike many previous A-series models, the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G does NOT feature a microSD card slot for expandable storage. This is a significant change, so users must choose their internal storage capacity carefully based on their needs.

4. Camera System: The Galaxy A36 5G features a capable triple-camera setup on the rear and a high-resolution front camera:

• Rear Camera:
  • 50MP main sensor (f/1.8, wide, PDAF, OIS): The primary camera benefits from Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for sharp, clear photos and stable videos, particularly in challenging lighting conditions or when handheld.
  • 8MP ultrawide sensor (f/2.2, 123˚ FoV): For capturing wider scenes like landscapes, architecture, or group photos.
  • 5MP macro sensor (f/2.4): For detailed close-up shots of small objects.
  • Features: LED flash, panorama, HDR.
  • Video Recording: Supports 4K@30fps and 1080p@30/60fps, with gyro-EIS for electronic image stabilization.
• Front Camera:
  • 12MP wide-angle lens (f/2.2): For high-quality selfies and video calls.
  • Video Recording: Capable of 4K@30fps and 1080p@30fps, with 10-bit HDR for improved dynamic range in videos.

The camera system is designed to deliver vivid and detailed shots, making it suitable for capturing everyday moments and social media content. It also includes some “Awesome Intelligence” AI features like Object Eraser and Custom Filters for photo editing.

5. Battery Life and Charging:The Galaxy A36 5G is equipped with a large 5000mAh (typical) Li-Po battery, ensuring excellent all-day battery life, even with heavy usage. It offers up to 29 hours of video playback.A notable upgrade is its support for 45W wired Super Fast Charging, allowing for very rapid recharges. Samsung claims it can reach approximately 65% charge in just 30 minutes, and a full charge in about 68 minutes. (Note: The 45W charging brick is sold separately, and you’ll need a 5A-rated USB-C cable to achieve the full 45W speed).

6. Software and Updates:The Galaxy A36 5G ships with the latest Android 15 out of the box, integrated with Samsung’s intuitive One UI 7.A major selling point and a significant advantage for the A36 is Samsung’s industry-leading commitment to up to 6 generations of Android OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates. This ensures the phone remains modern, secure, and compatible with new features and apps for an exceptionally long period (potentially receiving updates up to Android 21 and security patches until 2031).

7. Connectivity and Other Features:

• Network: Comprehensive 5G support (GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G) for high-speed mobile data.
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 (Wi-Fi 6), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct.
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.4 with A2DP, LE.
• NFC: Yes (market/region dependent) for contactless payments and quick pairing.
• USB: USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG (On-The-Go) support.
• Audio: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support for an enhanced audio experience.
• No 3.5mm headphone jack: Like many newer smartphones, this model does not include a traditional headphone jack.
• SIM: Dual SIM support (Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM or up to two eSIMs at a time).
• Sensors: Under-display optical fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, compass, virtual proximity sensing. It also supports “Circle to Search” functionality powered by Galaxy AI, bringing premium AI features to the mid-range.

Which Storage Option is Right for You?

• Samsung Galaxy A36 5G 128GB: This variant (typically with 6GB or 8GB RAM) is suitable for users who:
  • Primarily use their phone for essential apps, social media, messaging, and web Browse.
  • Don’t store an excessive amount of photos and videos locally.
  • Are comfortable using cloud storage services (like Google Photos, OneDrive) for media backups.
  • Play casual games. Given the lack of a microSD card slot, 128GB might feel limiting for some users over time if they accumulate a lot of data.
• Samsung Galaxy A36 5G 256GB: This variant (usually with 8GB or 12GB RAM) is highly recommended for:
  • Users who take many photos and videos (especially 4K videos).
  • Gamers who download large, graphics-intensive games.
  • Individuals who store a lot of offline media (movies, music).
  • Users who prefer to keep a large number of apps installed without worrying about storage.
  • Those who plan to keep the phone for several years, as software updates and personal data will gradually consume more space. The higher RAM often included with the 256GB model also contributes to a smoother and more responsive user experience, particularly for heavy multitasking.

Price and Availability in Nairobi, Kenya:

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is currently available in Nairobi, Kenya, having been released in March 2025.

Estimated Price Range in Kenya (as of July 2025):

• Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (6GB/8GB RAM, 128GB storage): KSh 31,000 – KSh 38,000
• Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (8GB/12GB RAM, 256GB storage): KSh 37,000 – KSh 45,000

Prices can vary based on the specific retailer, ongoing promotions, and the exact RAM configuration bundled with the storage. As per your saved information, Mobihub Electronics is an excellent place to inquire about the latest pricing and availability for the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G, along with other major electronics retailers in Nairobi.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is a strong contender in the mid-range market, offering a premium feel with its glass back and IP67 rating, robust performance, a vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display, fast charging, and an impressive software update policy. The key consideration for potential buyers will be the absence of a microSD card slot, making the choice between 128GB and 256GB internal storage more critical.