Samsung A36 : Good budget-friendly 5G smartphone at ₹30k / $200 range
Due to rising hardware costs, many people cannot afford high-quality smartphones from branded sellers. In such a case, purchasing -the Samsung A36 is a good option for a better 5G smartphone within your limited budget.
Samsung A36 was released on March 10, 2025, but it is still available in online stores. As this series is 1 year old, this device is not available in local stores; therefore, the better option is to buy soon before it becomes out of stock overonline marketplaces.
Know the features and check whether the A36 is a better option
Battery: A36 has 5000 mAh battery which can last upto 10-14 hrs on regular usage like social media browsing, watching videos etc. You will get approximately 40 hrs of standby time for travelling. This phone supports 45W fast charging; therefore, it can reach full charge with a minimum charging time of 1hr and 9 minutes. Unlike Chinese brands, this phone does noty have bloatware apps, therefore, you will get a long battery life and can use it seamlessly without annoying advertisements.
Camera: The phone features a versatile triple rear camera system consisting of a 50 MP wide-angle primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture, PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus), and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for sharp, stable photos. It also includes an 8 MP ultra-wide camera with a 123° field of view and f/2.2 aperture, allowing you to capture expansive landscapes and group shots, along with a 5 MP macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture for detailed close-up photography. Additional camera features include Panorama, and HDR modes. The rear camera supports 4K video recording at 30fps, 1080p video at 30fps and 60fps, and Gyro-EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) for smoother video capture. On the front, the device is equipped with a 12 MP wide-angle selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture, ideal for high-quality selfies and video calls. The front camera also supports 4K video recording at 30fps, 1080p recording at 30fps, and 10-bit HDR for richer colors and improved dynamic range in videos.
Memory: The device comes with 128GB storage with 6GB or 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage with 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB RAM, It utilizes UFS 2.2 storage technology, which provides faster app loading, quicker file transfers, and improved overall system performance. The phone does not support expandable storage, as it does not include a microSD card slot.
Sensors: The device is equipped with an under-display optical fingerprint scanner for fast and secure unlocking, an accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass for enhanced navigation and motion tracking. It also features Virtual Proximity Sensing, which intelligently detects when the phone is near your ear during calls to help prevent accidental touch inputs.
Miscellaneous
| Models | SM-A366E, SM-A366E/DS, SM-A366B, SM-A366B/DS, SM-A366U, SM-A366U1, SM-A366W |
| SAR | 1.07 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.53 W/kg (head) 1.29 W/kg (body) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
Colours
Conclusion
A36 is a better budget-friendly option; the 8GB RAM model can work well when multiple applications are open in the background. Samsung has very good customer support with the availability of direct and authorised service centres in every city with -the same-day spares availability.
