Samsung Galaxy A36 5G specifications and in-depth review

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

Manufacturer: Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is a mid-range smartphone built around a 6.7″ OLED panel that supports HDR10+ and reaches a typical brightness of 1200 nits, with an Always-On Display option and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Running Android 15, it houses 12GB of RAM alongside 256GB of internal storage, and its IP67-rated chassis measures 7.4 mm thin while weighing 195 g.

Imaging is handled by a triple rear camera system headlined by a 50 MP main sensor with optical image stabilization, complemented by 8 MP and 5 MP lenses, and a 12 MP front camera. Connectivity covers 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC, while the 5000 mAh battery supports 45W wired fast charging. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 SoC, built on a 4 nm process, posts an AnTuTu score of 619,557 and pairs with an Adreno 710 GPU clocked at 800 MHz.

Pros
  • IP67 water resistance provides reliable protection against temporary submersion
  • The 6.7-inch OLED display runs at 120Hz with 1200 nits typical brightness and HDR10+ support, backed by Gorilla Glass Victus for scratch and impact resistance
  • 45W wired fast charging on a 5000 mAh battery means less time tethered to a cable
  • The triple rear camera system includes optical image stabilization and supports 4K video recording at 30 fps
  • Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and flexible dual SIM plus eSIM options cover a wide range of connectivity needs
  • 12GB of DDR5 RAM and 256GB of internal storage offer ample headroom for multitasking and local content
Cons
  • Wireless charging is not supported, limiting charging flexibility
  • No 3.5 mm headphone jack means wired headphone users must rely on an adapter or Bluetooth
  • The USB Type-C port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds, restricting wired data transfer rates
  • No charger is included in the box despite supporting 45W fast charging
  • There is no external memory slot, so the 256GB internal storage cannot be expanded
  • Optical zoom is listed at 0x, meaning there is no true optical zoom capability on the rear camera system
Who is this for?

This device suits everyday users who want a large, vivid screen experience, as the 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display with HDR10+ and 1200 nits brightness makes it well-suited for media consumption, casual gaming, and extended browsing. The IP67 rating and Gorilla Glass Victus protection make it a solid choice for people with active lifestyles or those prone to accidental spills, while the 5000 mAh battery with 45W fast charging caters to users who need reliable all-day endurance without long waits at the charger. Those who value camera versatility will also find the OIS-equipped triple rear system with 4K recording and extensive manual controls a practical tool for everyday photography and video.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who rely on wired audio accessories through a 3.5 mm jack will find no native support here, making the device a poor fit for those who prefer traditional headphones without adapters. The absence of optical zoom means the camera system is inadequate for users who frequently shoot distant subjects and need true telephoto reach. Similarly, power users who regularly transfer large files between a phone and a computer will find the USB 2.0 interface a bottleneck, and the lack of an external memory slot means storage-heavy users — such as those who shoot a lot of 4K video locally — are locked into the fixed 256GB capacity with no option to expand it.

Design:

water resistance Waterproof
weight 195 g
thickness 7.4 mm
width 78.2 mm
height 162.9 mm
volume 94.266972 cm³
Ingress Protection (IP) rating IP67
has a rugged build
can be folded

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G has a non-folding, standard-form design measuring 162.9 mm tall, 78.2 mm wide, and just 7.4 mm thick, with a total volume of approximately 94.27 cm³ and a weight of 195 g. It carries an IP67 rating, meaning it is waterproof against temporary submersion, though it does not feature a rugged build.

Display:

Display type OLED/AMOLED
screen size 6.7"
pixel density 385 ppi
resolution 1080 x 2340 px
refresh rate 120Hz
brightness (typical) 1200 nits
has branded damage-resistant glass
Gorilla Glass version Gorilla Glass Victus
supports HDR10
supports HDR10+
Always-On Display
supports Dolby Vision
Has a secondary screen
has a touch screen

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G features a 6.7″ OLED/AMOLED touchscreen with a 1080 x 2340 px resolution and a pixel density of 385 ppi, paired with a 120Hz refresh rate for fluid on-screen motion. Typical brightness reaches 1200 nits, and the display supports both HDR10 and HDR10+, though Dolby Vision is not supported. It is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus and includes an Always-On Display mode; there is no secondary screen.

Performance:

internal storage 256GB
RAM 12GB
AnTuTu benchmark score 619557
Chipset (SoC) name Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
GPU name Adreno 710
CPU speed 4 x 2.4 & 4 x 1.8 GHz
Geekbench 6 result (multi) 2917
Geekbench 6 result (single) 1007
GPU clock speed 800 MHz
Has integrated LTE
RAM speed 2750 MHz
semiconductor size 4 nm
Supports 64-bit
DirectX version DirectX 12
Has integrated graphics
OpenGL version 3.2
OpenGL ES version 3.2
Uses big.LITTLE technology
CPU threads 8 threads
Has NX bit
Uses HMP
Has TrustZone
maximum memory bandwidth 25.6 GB/s
OpenCL version 2
memory channels 2
eMMC version 5.1
maximum memory amount 12GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 7W
DDR memory version 5
supported displays 1

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, built on a 4 nm process with an octa-core CPU configuration of 4 x 2.4 GHz and 4 x 1.8 GHz across 8 threads, drawing a thermal design power of 7W. It employs big.LITTLE architecture with HMP support and includes integrated LTE, TrustZone security, and an NX bit. Graphics are handled by the integrated Adreno 710 GPU clocked at 800 MHz, supporting DirectX 12, OpenGL 3.2, OpenGL ES 3.2, and OpenCL 2, with output to a single display. The device pairs 12GB of DDR5 RAM running at 2750 MHz across 2 memory channels with a maximum bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, alongside 256GB of eMMC 5.1 internal storage. Benchmark results include an AnTuTu score of 619,557, a Geekbench 6 single-core score of 1,007, and a multi-core score of 2,917, with full 64-bit support throughout.

Cameras:

megapixels (main camera) 50 & 8 & 5 MP
wide aperture (main camera) 1.8 & 2.2 & 2.4f
Has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) main camera
megapixels (front camera) 12MP
has built-in optical image stabilization
video recording (main camera) 2160 x 30 fps
Has a dual-tone LED flash
number of flash LEDs 1
has a BSI sensor
has a CMOS sensor
has continuous autofocus when recording movies
Has phase-detection autofocus for photos
supports slow-motion video recording
has a built-in HDR mode
has manual exposure
has a flash
optical zoom 0x
has manual ISO
has a serial shot mode
has manual focus
has a front camera
Has laser autofocus
Shoots 360° panorama
has manual white balance
shoots raw
has touch autofocus
has manual shutter speed
can create panoramas in-camera
wide aperture (front camera) 2.2f
Has timelapse function
Has a front-facing LED flash
has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) front camera
supports HDR10 recording
supports Dolby Vision recording
has a front-facing camera under the display
Has a RGB LED flash
has 3D photo/video recording capabilities

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G features a triple rear camera system with a 50 MP main sensor (f/1.8), an 8 MP lens (f/2.2), and a 5 MP lens (f/2.4), all built around a CMOS sensor without back-side illumination. Optical image stabilization is included, and autofocus options cover phase-detection and touch AF during shooting, as well as continuous autofocus during video capture, though laser autofocus is absent. The main camera records video at up to 2160 x 30 fps and supports slow-motion recording, while HDR mode, manual exposure, manual ISO, manual focus, and manual white balance offer hands-on control; manual shutter speed, RAW output, HDR10 recording, and Dolby Vision recording are not available. A single LED flash is present on the rear, with no dual-tone or RGB flash, and burst mode and in-camera panorama are both supported, though 360° panorama and 3D capture are not. On the front, a 12 MP single-lens camera with an f/2.2 aperture handles selfies, positioned above the display rather than beneath it, and it lacks its own flash.

Operating system:

Android version Android 15
has clipboard warnings
has location privacy options
has camera/microphone privacy options
has Mail Privacy Protection
has theme customization
can block app tracking
blocks cross-site tracking
has on-device machine learning
has notification permissions
has media picker
Can play games while they download
has dark mode
has Wi-Fi password sharing
has battery health check
has an extra dim mode
has focus modes
has dynamic theming
can offload apps
Has customizable notifications
has Live Text
has full-page screenshots
supports split screen
gets direct OS updates
has PiP
Can be used as a PC
Has sharing intents
has a child lock
Supports widgets
Is free and open source
Has offline voice recognition
has voice commands
Tracks the current position of a mobile device
is a multi-user system
has Quick Start

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G runs Android 15 and includes a broad set of privacy controls, covering clipboard warnings, location privacy options, camera and microphone access management, and app tracking blocking, though Mail Privacy Protection and cross-site tracking blocking are absent. Personalization options span dark mode, dynamic theming, theme customization, and widget support, while productivity is aided by split-screen multitasking, Picture-in-Picture, full-page screenshots, a media picker, sharing intents, and the ability to play games while they download. On-device machine learning is present, alongside offline voice recognition, voice commands, Live Text, and device position tracking. The system supports multiple user accounts, a child lock, customizable notifications with permission controls, an extra dim mode, a battery health check, and app offloading, but does not include focus modes, Wi-Fi password sharing, Quick Start, or the ability to function as a PC. OS updates are not delivered directly from the vendor, and the platform is free and open source.

Battery:

battery power 5000 mAh
has wireless charging
Supports fast charging
charging speed 45W
comes with a charger
has a removable battery
has a battery level indicator
has a rechargeable battery

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is equipped with a 5000 mAh rechargeable, non-removable battery that supports 45W wired fast charging, and a battery level indicator is included. Wireless charging is not supported, and no charger is included in the box.

Audio:

has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
has stereo speakers
has LDAC
has aptX Lossless
Has a radio

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G includes stereo speakers but omits a 3.5 mm headphone jack, LDAC, aptX Lossless, and a built-in radio.

Connectivity & Features:

has 5G support
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
SIM cards 1 SIM, 1 eSIM, 2 SIM, 2 eSIM
Bluetooth version 5.3
has an external memory slot
Has USB Type-C
USB version 2
has NFC
download speed 2900 MBits/s
upload speed 1600 MBits/s
Has a fingerprint scanner
has emergency SOS via satellite
has crash detection
is DLNA-certified
has a gyroscope
supports ANT+
Has a heart rate monitor
has GPS
has a compass
supports Wi-Fi
Has an infrared sensor
has an accelerometer
has a cellular module
Has a barometer
has an HDMI output
Uses 3D facial recognition
Has an iris scanner
Stylus included
supports Galileo
Has motion tracking
Has optical tracking
Has a built-in projector

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G supports 5G connectivity along with Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 6, and offers flexible SIM options covering a single physical SIM, dual physical SIMs, one eSIM, or two eSIMs. Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC are both present, while the USB Type-C port operates at USB 2.0 speeds; there is no HDMI output and no external memory slot. Download speeds reach up to 2900 Mbits/s and upload up to 1600 Mbits/s over the cellular module. Sensors include a fingerprint scanner, GPS with Galileo support, a compass, gyroscope, and accelerometer, though a barometer, heart rate monitor, infrared sensor, iris scanner, and ANT+ are all absent. The device does not support 3D facial recognition, motion or optical tracking, DLNA, crash detection, emergency SOS via satellite, or a built-in projector, and no stylus is included.

Miscellaneous:

has a video light
Has sapphire glass display
Has a curved display
Has an e-paper display

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G includes a video light for use during video recording, while its display is flat rather than curved and uses neither sapphire glass nor an e-paper panel.

Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G delivers a well-rounded specification set centered on a bright, smooth OLED experience and dependable all-day battery performance, making it a capable everyday smartphone for users who prioritize display quality, camera versatility, and practical durability. Its IP67-rated build paired with a 120Hz HDR10+ OLED panel and 45W fast charging form a cohesive package that covers the needs of most general users reliably. Those with demands beyond its scope — such as wireless charging, lossless wired audio, or high-speed data transfers — will find certain gaps, but within its intended use cases, the A36 5G presents a technically coherent device that covers the essentials without notable compromise.

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