Posted by Mid-range smartphones are all the rave in 2025. Why? Gradually, many people are realising that you do not need to spend $1,000 on a smartphone to get decent performance and features. And more people are dropping the desire for lremium flagship devices and going mid-range. And that is the number one reason to buy Samsung Galaxy A36 5G.
The Samsung A36 is a sub-$500 smartphone. Its base model costs $399.99 only (that’s about ₦475,000) – a price point that isn’t extremely stressful to your pocket, if at all. What that $400 gets you is 6GB RAM which is the absolute minimum amount of RAM you need in a 2025 Android phone to have smooth app launching and switching. It also gets you 128GB built-in storage.
Other key features that you get when you buy Samsung Galaxy A36 5G include a lovely 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, One UI 7 based on Android 15 out of the box, a decent 5000mAh battery, and 45W fast charging.
Video: One UI 7 on the Samsung A36 5G
Do you get decent photography on this mid-ranger? Thankfully, yes. There is a 12MP selfie camera in a punch hole on the display. And it takes decent selfies, too. At the back of the phone is a 50MP main camera, 8MP Ultra wide, and a 5MP macro lens. I recommend that you forget that the 8MP and 5MP units are not there. Or perhaps suit yourself and give them a shot. But I promise you t hat they won’t impress you. Stick with the main camera; it is a good one.
Dust and waterproof
Samsung says the Galaxy A36 5G is rated IP67 for protection against limited immersion in water. Don’t drop it into more than 1 metre depth of water and for no more than 30 minutes. Of course, it will survive splashes and drops, too. There is a sense of peace and confidence that you have from having a phone that you don’t have to worry about that way.
One of the things that I love about the A36 is how slim it is – 7.4mm. Among today’s chunky slabs, that is refreshing. And it weighs 195g only. I wish it was close to 180g and I wish the display were a little smaller, but this is a fair deal. It is comfortable in the hand and does not feel so obstructive in a pocket.
6 years of major Android updates
We all know you are likely to have sold off your phone before it sounds 6 years with you, but 6 years of major Android updates is a big deal. Think about this: you get to buy Samsung Galaxy A36 5G with Android 15 and it gets Android 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. That means software updates till 2031.
Let’s say you sell it after using it for 2 years, the buyer continues to get Android updates for another 4 years, if they keep it that long. If they sell it before 4 years, the next buyer gets software updates too. That is great resale value. We already know this is how it happens with iPhones and we can see the value in it.
In the box
In the sales box is the phone itself, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a SIM card ejector tool, and some pamphlets. This is standard fare for Samsung these days. There is no charger included. If you need one, go for the 45W Samsung charger.
Reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
There is a lot to like about the Samsung A36 5G; here is my short list:
- Premium build, with dual Gorilla Glass and IP67 dust and water resistance.
- Bright and sharp screen with 120Hz refresh rate.
- Fairly handy and lightweight.
- Good performance
- Good battery life.
- Loud stereo speakers.
- eSIM support
- Android 15 plus 6 major Android updates.
Reasons not to buy
This article promises you why you should buy Samsung Galaxy A36 5G and also a few reasons why to not buy it. Up to this point, all I have done is give you reasons to buy; right? So what are the things that might make you reconsider picking this budget smartphone?
Relatively slow 45W fast charging. This might sound like a contradiction to you, but the 45W fast charging of the Galaxy A36 is much slower than the 45W fast charging of the Camon 20 Premier and Phantom V Flip. For some reason, Samsung’s fast charging is left in the dust by fast charging from most of the competition. The only brands that belong with it in the slow camp are Apple iPhone and Google PIxel. Everyone else charges blazing faster. Anyway, I tested the Galaxy A36’s fast charging and it didn’t impress.
Relatively lesser RAM and storage memory. For the same price, and sometimes for less, you will find more RAM and storage on competing devices from other brands.
Price
To buy the 6/128GB variant of the A36 costs $399.99 (US), ₦475,000 (Nigeria).
The 8/256GB variant costs $450 (US) and ₦555,500 (Nigeria).
The competition and Alternatives
If you want something similar to the Galaxy A36 5G but don’t want a Samsung, are there any options? Certainly, there are, though direct competitors are scarce.
There is no direct 2025 competitor to the Galaxy A36 in the US, unless you want to go back in time to 2023 and pick the Motorola Edge+ 2023 which costs exactly $399.99. But for $349, you can buy the 2024 Motorola Edge.
In Nigeria, the Camon 30 5G with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage sells for ₦525,000. On the inside is a Dimensity 7020 chipset, Android 14, a 6.75-inch AMOLED display, 5000mAh battery, and a much faster 70W fast charging. It is also a little thicker at 7.8mm and has a lower IP54 dust and splash protection.
Author: Mister Mobility
Web Developer and Techie with a passion for storytelling. I have owned, used, and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.
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