No need for an expensive smartphone anymore: Review of the Galaxy A36 5G, which covers the basics for around 50,000 yen.
On a sunny, hot summer day, while walking along the Chicago River with a friend, I stopped in my tracks and reached for the smartphone in my pocket.
"Hold on a second. I need to take a photo of the drink with the town in the background for the article," I said.
The familiar (half-joking) teasing comment "Is that Android?" came back. However, after seeing the photo, my friend generously remarked, "Wow, it's actually quite good."
The phrase "quite good" succinctly captures Samsung's "Galaxy A36 5G." This smartphone, priced at $400 (or 50,490 yen including tax for the SIM-free version in Japan), offers an all-day battery life, a capable triple-camera system, and excellent durability. Of course, there are some compromises in display quality and overall performance, but if you'd rather not spend nearly $1,000 (about 140,000 yen), the A36 could be the ideal choice.
Photos taken by the river in both portrait and standard mode were bright, sharply focused, and satisfactory overall. Shadows and highlights appeared slightly exaggerated, but generally resulted in pleasing images. Other photos taken during the one-week testing period were similarly vibrant, though colors were somewhat more subdued with slightly less detail compared to the Samsung "Galaxy S25," priced at $800 (129,000 yen including tax in Japan), and the $829 (124,800 yen) "iPhone 16." Nevertheless, at $400 (50,490 yen), its cost performance is certainly sufficient.
The Galaxy A36 5G incorporates some elements from the flagship Galaxy S25 series. It features "One UI 7" and "Android 15," as well as AI functions such as the photo-focused "AI Eraser" and Google's "Circle to Search." By conversing with "Gemini," users can receive more detailed answers to their questions. The AI capabilities are unobtrusive and offer the advantage of easily enhancing photos or quickly obtaining detailed information displayed on screen when needed.
My Galaxy A36 5G Experience
One of the Galaxy A36 5G's major strengths is its 5000mAh battery, which also supports fast charging at 45W. This is close to the $1000 "Galaxy S25+" (not released in Japan), which also supports 45W fast charging and has a slightly smaller 4900mAh battery. However, the A36 does not include an AC adapter in the box.
While the S25 and S25+ feature the more power-efficient "Snapdragon 8 Elite" chip, the A36 uses the mid-range "Snapdragon 6 Gen 3." Nonetheless, the A36's battery performance is sufficient. In CNET's 45-minute endurance test (a mix of streaming, social media browsing, video calls, and gaming), the battery dropped from full charge to 89%. The S25 dropped to 93%, and the S25+ fell to 94%.
In a test where YouTube videos were played for three hours in full screen at maximum brightness via Wi-Fi, the A36 decreased from 100% to 84%. The S25 dropped to 85%, and the S25+ reached 86%, indicating that there wasn't as significant a difference as the price suggests. In a 30-minute charging test, it reached 31%, and took approximately one and a half hours to fully charge.
There are times when you can feel it's a mid-range device. For example, there is a slight delay when switching YouTube videos from portrait to landscape mode, and it takes about one second for the camera to launch. Also, if you press the power button after leaving the phone unused for several hours, you might need to wait briefly before the screen lights up. However, there don't seem to be any serious issues or flaws severe enough to warrant a warning.
Galaxy A36 5G look and feel
A36で最も気に入ったのはデザインだ。虹色に輝くラベンダーの背面は光を受けて魅力的に変化し、思わず見入ってしまう（ハイエンドのモデルにももっと遊び心のある色があればいいのにと思わされる）。控えめな色が好みならブラックも選べる。
When looking at the screen, although the bezel is noticeable, it is thinner than that of the 2024 A35, and the display size has increased from 6.6 inches to 6.7 inches. With a refresh rate of 120Hz, scrolling through social media and videos is smooth and comfortable, making you forget that it's a mid-range device. The peak brightness reaches 1900 nits, ensuring visibility even under the harsh summer sun of the U.S. Midwest.
The use of "Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus" on both the front and back enhances its appearance and gives a sense of durability. It feels secure even without a case (and the low price is also reassuring). With IP67 dust and water resistance, it can withstand being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, so there's no need to be overly concerned in situations like at the beach or when spills are likely.
Galaxy A36 5G camera
In my case, the camera is often the most important feature on my smartphone. The A36 is equipped with a 50MP wide-angle camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 12MP front-facing camera.
Harry Potter Shop Chicago. I took photos of my friend in normal mode and portrait mode, and surprisingly, she was satisfied again, saying "Hmm, not bad." I agree. In both photos, the foreground is sharply focused, and although the colors are slightly too vivid, they make the image look lively.
As a night shooting test, I took some photos of my niece in the backyard around 9 PM, and the results were evaluated as "quite good." The nearly dark scene appears somewhat brightened, and my niece's facial expressions and details of her dress are visible.
Finally, when trying a selfie with the front camera, it applied soft tones and slight smoothing, while sharpness and detail were largely preserved.
The A36 also supports 10-bit HDR video recording, resulting in more vivid colors. When shooting in my parents' garden, it captured the colorful flowers and lush greenery with vibrant detail.
Main specifications of Galaxy A36 5G
• 6.7-inch AMOLED display
・120Hz variable refresh rate
・Maximum brightness 1900 nits
• 5000mAh battery
• Supports 45W fast charging
・Camera: Wide 50MP, Ultra-wide 8MP, Macro 5MP, Front 12MP
・USB-C port
• Weight 195g
・Dimensions: 162.9×78.2×7.4mm
· Dustproof and waterproof IP67 (withstands up to 1m water depth for 30 minutes)
・Storage 128GB + RAM 6GB/8GB, Storage 256GB + RAM 6GB/8GB/12GB
· 6th Generation OS · Security Update Support Guaranteed for 6 Years
・Price: 50,490 yen including tax (SIM-free version)
Purchase advice
If you're looking for a smartphone that prioritizes basic performance without any unnecessary features, the Galaxy A36 5G could be an ideal choice. Positioned exactly in the mid-range of Samsung's A series lineup, it covers key aspects such as a good camera, long-lasting battery, and solid performance and durability. Furthermore, it guarantees six generations of OS updates and six years of security updates, allowing you to maximize the value of your investment. Although its $400 price tag means there are some compromises, such as slightly lower display quality and minor delays in certain functions, it delivers well where it truly matters.
The A36 doesn't have many flashy features, but it offers sufficient AI capabilities for tasks like conversing with Gemini and editing photos. And those photos might just earn some modest praise from family and friends.
This article is published by Ziff Davis overseas. Article Edited by Asahi Interactive for the Japanese market.
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