The mid‑range smartphone crowd is crowded, yet the Samsung Galaxy A36 stands tall. Released in March 2025, it brings features often found on pricier devices to an accessible price point. With its sturdy design, smooth Super AMOLED screen, balanced performance, and versatile cameras, the A36 proves that value and quality can coexist. For anyone in Kenya seeking a reliable daily driver that feels more premium than it costs, this phone demands your attention.
Durable Design
The Galaxy A36 feels solid from the moment you pick it up. Its dimensions, 162.9 × 78.2 × 7.4 mm, strike a sweet spot between a large display and one‑handed comfort. At 195 g, it’s substantial without weighing you down. Samsung chose Gorilla Glass Victus+ for both front and back panels, protecting against scratches and minor drops. A robust plastic frame ties it all together, keeping the weight manageable.
What sets the Samsung Galaxy A36 apart in its class is its IP67 rating. It stands up to dust and survives immersion in 1 m of water for 30 minutes. That means you can snap quick photos by the pool or keep working in a sudden rainstorm. Even dusty rural roads won’t clog up its internals. For Kenyan lifestyles, where weather and environments shift rapidly, this level of durability offers real peace of mind.
Stunning 120 Hz Super AMOLED Display
A key highlight is the A36’s 6.7‑inch Super AMOLED display. With a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 × 2340, it achieves about 385 ppi. Colors look vibrant, contrast is deep, and blacks appear true. The adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate delivers silky‑smooth scrolling and responsive gaming. When you’re reading static content, it drops down automatically to save power.
Under bright sunlight, the screen shines, peaking at 1,900 nits in Outdoor mode and 1,200 nits in high‑brightness mode. You won’t struggle to see maps, messages, or videos. Gorilla Glass Victus+ sits atop the panel, guarding against bumps and scratches. This combination of brightness, smoothness, and durability gives you a truly premium viewing experience on a mid‑ranger.
Balanced Mid‑Range Performance
Inside the Samsung Galaxy A36 lives Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, built on an efficient 4 nm process. Its octa‑core CPU pairs four high‑speed Cortex‑A78 cores at 2.4 GHz with four efficient Cortex‑A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. This mix handles daily tasks—like browsing, social media, and video calls, without hiccups. The Adreno 710 GPU powers casual gaming and smooth animations.
You can choose from 6 GB, 8 GB, or even 12 GB of RAM, and 128 GB or 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Although there’s no dedicated microSD slot, the fast internal storage ensures quick app loading and file transfers. Benchmarks around 613,000 on AnTuTu and 2,917 multi‑core on GeekBench confirm its strong mid‑range standing. In real life, you’ll notice responsive navigation, near‑instant app launches, and reliable multitasking—even with multiple browser tabs and messaging apps open.
Amaizing Triple‑Camera System
Samsung didn’t skimp on cameras. The rear array begins with a 50 MP main sensor (f/1.8) featuring optical image stabilization (OIS). Daytime shots capture plenty of detail, while the OIS helps steady low‑light photos. Next is an 8 MP ultra‑wide lens (123°), ideal for landscapes, group shots, and architecture. A 5 MP macro sensor lets you explore close‑up subjects—flower petals, textures, or tiny insects.
Samsung’s AI scene optimizer kicks in to adjust color, contrast, and exposure across common scenarios. Night Mode merges multiple frames for cleaner, brighter low‑light photos. Video recording spans 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at up to 60 fps, and 720p slow‑motion at 480 fps. Gyro‑EIS keeps footage steady. On the front, a 12 MP selfie camera (f/2.2) captures crisp portraits and records 4K@30 fps video. Whether you’re vlogging in a café or snapping group selfies at a wedding, the A36’s cameras cover you.
Battery with Quick Charging
A large 5,000 mAh battery powers the A36 through long days. Mixed‑use tests, covering social media, video playback, navigation, and gaming, push screen‑on time well past seven hours. You’ll still have juice left when bedtime arrives.
When you do need a refill, the 45 W wired charger brings the battery to 66% in just 30 minutes. A full charge takes around 68 minutes. Fast top‑ups let you grab a quick power boost between errands or during lunch breaks. For many, this means you never have to hunt for an outlet early in the day.
One UI 7 on Android 15
Out of the box, the A36 runs Android 15 with Samsung’s One UI 7 skin. Samsung guarantees six major Android upgrades and extended security patches, so this device will stay current until at least 2031.
One UI 7 refines core features. A unified control center puts toggles in one place. System‑wide dark mode eases night‑time viewing. Virtual Proximity Sensing prevents unwanted touches during calls. Circle to Search lets you tap any on‑screen text, an address, phone number, or URL, to look it up instantly without switching apps. Split‑screen and pop‑up view modes boost multitasking, letting you reference documents while chatting or surf the web while watching video.
Incredible Reach
The Samsung Galaxy A36 supports flexible SIM configurations: dual Nano‑SIM plus dual eSIM, with two active at once. It works across GSM, HSPA, LTE, and full 5G bands—ideal for urban and rural coverage in Kenya. Wi‑Fi 6 keeps home and office connections fast. Bluetooth 5.4 handles wireless calls and audio with low latency. NFC (market dependent) powers tap‑to‑pay and digital transit tickets. Multi‑constellation GPS, including Galileo, GLONASS, BDS, and QZSS—delivers precise positioning for navigation apps. A USB Type‑C 2.0 port with OTG support lets you connect external storage or wired peripherals. Stereo speakers provide clear, loud audio for calls and media, even without a headphone jack.
Value on PhonesGallery Kenya
On PhonesGallery Kenya, the Galaxy A36 starts at around KSh 35,500 for the 6 GB + 128 GB option. Upgrading to 8 GB + 256 GB raises the price to about KSh 39,000. Seasonal promos, trade‑in credits, and bundled accessories can reduce that further. When you consider its glass Gorilla Glass Victus+ build, IP67 protection, smooth 120 Hz Super AMOLED display, strong mid‑range performance, capable cameras, and fast charging, the A36 offers a package that is hard to beat at this price point.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A36 proves that mid‑range doesn’t have to mean compromise. Its durable design and water resistance suit real‑world use. A smooth, bright display enhances every interaction. Solid performance keeps apps and games running smoothly. A versatile triple‑camera system handles all shooting scenarios. And a marathon‑grade battery with fast charging keeps you going. Combined with six years of software support, the A36 delivers shockingly great value. For Kenyan buyers who want premium features without a premium price tag, the Galaxy A36 is a must‑see smartphone.
FAQs
- What chipset does the Galaxy A36 use?
Snapdragon 6 Gen 3.
2. How does the A36 perform in low‑light photography?
OIS plus Night Mode for cleaner, brighter shots.
3. Does the A36 have good audio without a headphone jack?
Yes—stereo speakers and Bluetooth 5.4 support.
4. What Android version and update promise does the A36 have?
Ships with Android 15 and One UI 7, with six major OS upgrades.
5. How long does the battery last and how fast does it charge?
5,000 mAh lasts all day; 45 W charging gets to 66% in 30 minutes.