Samsung Galaxy A36 2025 Review: ₹33,000 Steal or Skip in India?
Samsung Galaxy A36 Review: A Premium Mid-Ranger or Overpriced Average Joe?
Samsung kicked off 2025 with its latest A-series offerings, the Galaxy A36 and A56, targeting India’s bustling mid-range smartphone market. Priced at ₹33,000 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant (around $400 globally), the Galaxy A36 isn’t exactly budget-friendly. In fact, it’s 15-20% pricier than what its specs suggest, especially when stacked against competitors like the OnePlus 12R, Realme 14 Pro Plus, and the newly launched Nothing Phone 3a Pro—all available under ₹35,000 on Amazon or Flipkart. So, what’s the deal? Does this phone justify the premium with its Samsung badge, or should you look elsewhere? Let’s break it down.
Design: A Premium Look That Turns Heads
The Galaxy A36 doesn’t skimp on style. It retains the boxy, bold form factor from last year but upgrades the camera module, giving it a sleek, almost flagship-like vibe. With Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back, it feels sturdy and upscale—perfect for those Instagram-worthy unboxing moments. The IP67 dust and water resistance is a bonus, especially for India’s unpredictable monsoons. However, unlike the aluminium-framed A56, the A36 sticks to plastic frames, making it slightly lighter but less luxurious. Still, for a mid-ranger, it’s a solid A- in the design department—premium enough to flaunt at your next chai meetup.
Display: A Visual Treat for Indian Eyes
The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display is a standout, delivering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re bingeing IPL highlights on YouTube or scrolling X for the latest Bollywood gossip, this screen shines. It peaks at 1200 nits with auto-brightness, making it surprisingly usable under India’s harsh sunlight—a big leap from the A35. Paired with decent stereo speakers, it’s a multimedia win. However, there’s no HDR10+ support for Netflix or Prime Video yet (unlike the A56), and those chunky bezels feel a tad dated for 2025. Still, it’s an A+ display that rivals pricier phones.
Check Samsung Galaxy A56 Review: A Premium Mid-Ranger That’s Almost Worth ₹42,000
Performance: Smooth Software, Sluggish Hardware
Samsung’s One UI 7, built on Android 15, is the star here. The refreshed visuals, slick animations, and six years of promised updates (until 2031!) make it a dream for software lovers. It’s miles ahead of the cluttered UIs on some Chinese rivals. But here’s the catch: the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset under the hood feels underpowered for ₹33,000. Compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R or the 8s Gen 3 in the iQOO Neo 10R, it lags in app launches and multitasking. Casual gamers can enjoy PUBG at 60 FPS (better than the A56’s Exynos 1580, which caps at 30 FPS), but hardcore gamers will find it lacking. Add a slow in-display fingerprint scanner and a buzzy vibration motor, and it’s clear Samsung cut corners here.
Cameras: Same Old
Photography fans, brace yourselves—the Galaxy A36 recycles the A35’s camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, 8MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro. No upgrades, no telephoto lens. At this price, that’s disappointing when the Realme 14 Pro Plus offers a 3x periscope lens for stunning portraits. The main camera delivers natural tones and decent daylight shots, but images can be underexposed with crushed shadows—a recurring Samsung quirk in 2025. The ultrawide struggles with dynamic range, while low-light shots are solid but not as bright as Realme’s punchier output. The 12MP selfie camera nails skin tones, a Samsung strength, but video recording (4K 30 FPS on main and front) can’t switch to ultrawide in 4K. It’s a decent camera, but rivals are pulling ahead.
Battery: Stuck in the Past
Battery life is another letdown. The 5,000mAh unit offers about 7 hours of screen-on time—fine, but Chinese phones like the Realme 14 Pro Plus pack 6,000mAh+ batteries, hitting 8-9 hours easily, thanks to silicon-carbon tech. The A36’s upgrade to 45W charging is welcome (up from 25W), but you’ll need to shell out extra for a compatible charger—adding to the cost. For a phone pushing ₹33,000+, this feels stingy.
Full Specifications: Samsung Galaxy A36
Here’s a detailed look at what the Galaxy A36 brings to the table:
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | March 2, 2025 (India) |
| Price in India | ₹33,000 (8GB + 128GB), ₹35,999 (8GB + 256GB), ₹38,999 (12GB + 256GB) |
| Display | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED, 1080 x 2340 (FHD+), 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM), Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm), Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB (LPDDR4X) |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB (UFS 2.2), no microSD slot |
| OS | Android 15, One UI 7, 6 years of OS updates + 6 years of security updates |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (f/1.8, wide, OIS), 8MP (f/2.2, ultrawide), 5MP (f/2.4, macro) |
| Front Camera | 12MP (f/2.2) |
| Video | 4K 30 FPS (main & front), 1080p 60 FPS, gyro-EIS (no ultrawide 4K) |
| Battery | 5,000mAh, 45W fast charging (charger sold separately) |
| Build | Gorilla Glass Victus+ (front & back), plastic frame, IP67 dust/water resistant |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, NFC |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack |
| Sensors | In-display fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Dimensions & Weight | 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm, 195g |
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Lavender |
Verdict: Who Should Buy the Galaxy A36?
The Galaxy A36 banks on Samsung’s brand power, offline availability, and EMI offers—perfect for loyalists who value One UI’s polish and long-term updates. It’s a good pick if you want a premium design and a stellar display without breaking the bank. But at ₹33,000, it’s overpriced for what it delivers. The OnePlus 12R is a performance beast, the Realme 14 Pro Plus excels in cameras and battery, and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro brings unique flair—all for less. If you’re a Samsung fan, the Galaxy S23 FE or A55 (available at similar prices) offer better value. For everyone else, shop around—this one’s average at best.
What do you think—does the A36 win you over, or are you eyeing the competition? Drop your thoughts below!