Samsung continues to refine its midrange lineup and the Galaxy A36 5G is the latest to show just how much progress the company has made. It’s positioned as a step up from the Galaxy A26 5G and the successor to the A35 from last year. This phone brings more premium design, a brighter display, improved performance and better cameras.
At Ksh 31,800, it aims to be the best everyday smartphone for users who want Samsung reliability, good camera performance, Galaxy AI support and future-ready 5G connectivity without breaking the bank.
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy A36 5G adopts Samsung’s sleek, minimalist design language, looking nearly identical to its higher-end siblings in the A-series and even borrowing a few cues from the Galaxy S24. The back is made of smooth matte plastic with a glass-like finish and the phone feels solid in the hand.
The device features flat edges, slightly rounded corners and three vertically aligned camera lenses that sit flush with the body. You get an under-display fingerprint scanner that’s fast and reliable, plus an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
Available in colors like Ice Blue, Navy, and Lilac, the A36 looks modern and refined, easily one of the best-looking phones in its price category.
Display
Samsung has always excelled at displays and the A36 5G continues that tradition. It comes with a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels) and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is punchy, bright and extremely fluid. This display is perfect for media consumption be it streaming YouTube, scrolling on TikTok or through websites.
I could easily comfortably use the phone under direct sunlight as it has peak brightness of around 1000 nits. The screen also supports Vision Booster. This dynamically enhances contrast and colors outdoors for improved visibility.
Performance and Software
The A36 5G is powered by the Exynos 1380 processor. This is the same chip found in the Galaxy A54 5G. This means you’re getting efficiency and multitasking performance in a midrange device. Apps open quickly, animations are smooth and switching between tasks feels effortless.
Samsung has paired the processor with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. Gaming performance is quite good with titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG running well at medium to high settings. This happens without frame drops or heating issues.
The phone runs on Android 15 with One UI 7 and Samsung promises up to four years of OS updates and five years of security patches. This is something few competitors can match in this segment. You also get access to Galaxy AI features such as Live Translate, Note Assist and Circle to Search.
Cameras
The 50MP main camera with OIS is the highlight of the Galaxy A36 5G’s triple-camera setup. It captures detailed, well-balanced photos with good dynamic range, even in mixed lighting. Samsung’s image processing is still one of the best among midrange phones. It helps produce natural skin tones and vibrant colors without being overly processed.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera is good for landscape shots. The 2MP macro lens on the other hand is mostly there for close-up shots.
Selfies from the 13MP front camera come out sharp and social media-ready. Portrait mode performs admirably and blurs the background naturally.
Low-light photography is where the A36 impresses most. Samsung’s improved Night Mode delivers clean, bright shots with minimal noise. This is something competitors like Xiaomi or Infinix still struggle to match at this level.
Battery and Charging
The Galaxy A36 5G has a 5,000mAh battery. This battery easily lasts a full day of heavy use whether you are streaming, browsing and scrolling through social media. On moderate use, you can push it close to two days.
Charging is supported at 25W, which is a bit slow in my opinion. You’ll go from 0–100% in about 1 hour and 15 minutes with a compatible charger.
Samsung’s power optimization in One UI helps extend battery life further. This makes the phone reliable phones for users constantly on the move.
Connectivity and Extras
The Galaxy A36 5G supports 5G connectivity in Kenya, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC. You also get dual SIM support and expandable storage.
The stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos deliver surprisingly rich audio. This is good for streaming or gaming without headphones.
Price and Availability in Kenya
You can get the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G in Kenya starting at Ksh 31,800. This is for the 8GB RAM model with 128GB of storage. You can find it at Samsung Experience Stores, official dealers, and online retailers like Gadgets Leo.
Verdict
The Galaxy A36 5G is proof that Samsung knows how to balance price and performance. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it perfects the essentials: design, display, cameras, battery life and the software.
If you’re upgrading from an older A-series phone or looking for a device that will last several years with reliable updates and solid everyday performance, the Galaxy A36 5G is one of the best options in Kenya right now and should be on your list.
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