Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Review - Best Mid-Range Samsung with OIS Under 35,000 BDT
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Review - Best Mid-Range Samsung with OIS Under 35,000 BDT
The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G sits between the A35 and A55, offering a sweet spot of features including OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and Samsung's 4-year OS update promise. This review covers whether the A36 is the best mid-range Samsung phone for Bangladeshi users.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Details | Display | 6.6-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED | Processor | Exynos 1480 | RAM | 6GB / 8GB | Storage | 128GB / 256GB | Rear Camera | 50MP OIS + 8MP ultrawide + 5MP macro | Front Camera | 13MP | Battery | 5000 mAh, 25W | OS | Android 14, One UI 6.1 | 5G | Yes | Updates | 4 years OS, 5 years security |
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Unboxing and First Impressions
The Galaxy A36 5G comes in Samsung's standard slim box. Inside, you get the phone, a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool, and some documentation. No charger is included (Samsung has followed Apple's lead on mid-range phones too). The phone feels good in hand, with a flat display and a matte plastic back that resists fingerprints.
Design and Build Quality
The A36 5G features a flat 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display, a plastic frame, and a plastic back with a matte finish. The phone measures 161.7 x 77.9 x 8.2mm and weighs 190g. The design is clean and modern, with the camera lenses arranged vertically. The phone has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, which is rare at this price.
The phone is available in four colors: Awesome Iceblue, Awesome Lilac, Awesome Navy, and Awesome Lemon.
Display
The 6.6-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display is excellent. With 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution (FHD+), 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 1000 nits peak brightness, it's bright, vibrant, and smooth.
Display highlights:
- 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling
- Super AMOLED panel with deep blacks
- Vision Booster for better outdoor visibility
- Eye comfort shield for reduced blue light
- Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Performance
The Exynos 1480 processor is a capable mid-range chip. It handles daily tasks smoothly and gaming performance is decent for most games.
Performance test results:
- AnTuTu score: Approximately 550,000-600,000
- Geekbench 6 single-core: ~1,100
- Geekbench 6 multi-core: ~3,300
Gaming performance is solid. BGMI runs at 40-50 FPS on smooth graphics, and casual games run flawlessly. The phone stays cool during extended use.
Camera
The triple camera system with OIS on the main camera is the highlight. OIS is rare at this price and significantly improves low-light photography and video stabilization.
50MP Main Camera with OIS
The 50MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture and OIS captures excellent photos. OIS allows for sharper low-light shots and smoother video. Colors are natural (Samsung's signature vibrant look) and detail is good.
8MP Ultrawide Camera
The 8MP ultrawide camera with 120-degree field of view is decent for landscapes and group photos. Quality is good in daylight but drops in low light.
5MP Macro Camera
The 5MP macro camera is useful for close-up shots but is limited by the low resolution.
13MP Front Camera
The 13MP front camera takes good selfies with natural skin tones.
Battery Life
The 5000 mAh battery provides excellent battery life, easily lasting a full day of heavy use and up to 1.5 days with moderate use.
Battery test results:
- Video playback: 15+ hours
- Web browsing: 12+ hours
- Mixed usage: 1.5 days
Charging is a weakness. The 25W charging takes about 30 minutes to reach 50% and about 80 minutes for a full charge. No charger is included.
Software - One UI 6.1 with 4 Years of Updates
The A36 5G runs Android 14 with One UI 6.1. One UI is feature-rich, polished, and highly customizable. Samsung promises 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches, which is excellent for a mid-range phone.
Connectivity
The phone supports dual 5G SIMs, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and has a USB-C 2.0 port. No headphone jack.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons | OIS on main camera (rare at this price) | 25W charging is slow | IP67 water and dust resistance | No charger included | 4 years OS + 5 years security updates | Exynos 1480 not as powerful as Dimensity 7200 | 120Hz Super AMOLED display | No headphone jack | One UI is feature-rich and polished | Macro camera is low resolution |
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Comparison with Competitors
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G vs realme 15 5G
The realme 15 5G costs 27,990 BDT, about 2,000 BDT less. The Samsung offers OIS, IP67 water resistance, and 4 years of OS updates (vs 2 years on realme). The realme offers more RAM (12GB vs 6/8GB), more storage (256GB vs 128GB), and faster charging (67W vs 25W).
Verdict: Choose Samsung for OIS, water resistance, and long-term updates. Choose realme for specifications and faster charging.
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite
The OnePlus costs 29,990 BDT, about the same. The Samsung offers OIS, IP67 water resistance, and 4 years of OS updates. The OnePlus offers a larger battery (5500 vs 5000 mAh), faster charging (80W vs 25W), and cleaner OxygenOS.
Verdict: The Samsung is better for camera (OIS) and durability (IP67). The OnePlus is better for battery and charging.
Who Should Buy the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
- Photography enthusiasts on a budget: OIS is a game-changer for low-light photos
- Users who want water resistance: IP67 is rare under 35,000 BDT
- Users who keep phones for 3-4 years: 4 years of OS updates
- Samsung ecosystem users: Great integration with Galaxy Buds and Watch
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Users who want fast charging: 25W is slow; consider realme 15 5G with 67W
- Gamers: Dimensity 7200 or Snapdragon 7 series offer better performance
- Users who want a headphone jack: The A36 has no headphone jack
Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is the best mid-range Samsung phone under 35,000 BDT. The inclusion of OIS on the main camera is a significant advantage at this price, improving low-light photography and video stabilization. The IP67 water resistance provides peace of mind, and Samsung's 4-year OS update promise ensures longevity. The 25W charging is slow, and the Exynos 1480 isn't the most powerful processor, but those are acceptable trade-offs for OIS, water resistance, and long-term software support. If you want a reliable Samsung phone with good cameras and durability, the A36 5G is an excellent choice.
Rating: 9.0/10
Price: 29,999 BDT (6GB/128GB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Does the Galaxy A36 5G have OIS?
Answer: Yes, the 50MP main camera has OIS (Optical Image Stabilization).
Question 2: Is it waterproof?
Answer: Yes, it has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.
Question 3: Does it come with a charger?
Answer: No, only a USB-C cable is included. You'll need a 25W USB-C PD charger.
Question 4: Does it have a headphone jack?
Answer: No, the Galaxy A36 5G does not have a headphone jack.
Question 5: How many updates will it get?
Answer: Samsung promises 4 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security patches.
Question 6: Is the A36 better than the A35?
Answer: Yes, the A36 has a better processor (Exynos 1480 vs Exynos 1380), OIS on the main camera, and better update policy.