Samsung Galaxy A36 5G A Series, 128GB Unlocked Android Smartphone, AMOLED Display, Rugged Design, 5G Connectivity, Affordable Performance, US Version, 2025, US 1 Yr Warranty, Awesome Black

I'm far from a phone enthusiast. My phones have all been relatively mid range Moto G phones over the years and I've been reasonably happy with them. My Moto G Stylus (2022) was working fine after almost three years, but was done with security updates and started exhibiting some quirky behaviors like extremely long restarts, a finicky fingerprint reader, and a bit of slow down overall. Given that electronics are about to skyrocket in price, I figured rather than waiting until it was completely unusable, I'd be proactive in getting a new phone until (hopefully) all this instability calms down. My wife's Moto G Power from 2020 was in rough shape, so I looked at the new mid range Moto G line and was somewhat unimpressed, especially at the continued lack of longer support. When I stumbled upon the A36 for the same price as the Moto G Stylus 5G from the previous year, I figured I'd give it a shot. With a decent SOC, camera, etc. and six years of OS and security updates from Samsung being promised, it seemed like it was time to move away from Moto. We both have Samsung tablets we've been happy with, so I wasn't concerned about One UI being much different from the more vanilla Android the Moto phones have. She loved her A36 so much right out of the box, I figured I'd get one too. Once I had (painlessly) moved everything over from my old phone using the transfer app, I was equally happy. The fast charging is awesome. The battery hasn't even dipped below 50% for my average day, and I now get 5G with my carrier, which has some speed perks with it. This thing also syncs up much quicker with our wireless Android Auto. I use an adapter with my Honda--ironically the Moto one--and my wife's newer Subaru has wireless natively, but was hit or miss and ran so slow with her old Moto, but no more! She opted for the purple color, which is nice, and I just went for black because I'm boring. They're nice looking phones. The sound is loud and clear and I have no complaints, though I have probably heard better. In general, this is a solid mid-range phone that will hopefully last me the full six years it has for support. I've already recommended it to my my brother who still uses a flip phone but can't stand how terrible it is since he had to switch with the 3G shutdown. For those that don't need latest and greatest, this is a solid pick.

If you are looking fot the latest and greatest, this may not be the phone for you. If you are looking for an affordable phone that does everything you want a phone to do, this is the one. Large screen, fantastic battery life and with 6 years of updates from Samsung you won't be looking for a replacement for years.

I got 2 of these SAMSUNG Galaxy A36 5G devices (one BLACK, one LAVENDER) to replace my 2 2021 SAMSUNG Galaxy A32 5G devices (ONLY because the A32 security updates ended and the A36 purportedly provides 6 years of Android OS upgrades and security updates). Overall, I’m adequately satisfied and recommend the A36 (despite its weaknesses and frustrations). Hereinbelow I’ve provided ratings (based on 5 stars) for each individual aspect of my PROS & CONS. PROS: 1. (4/5) My 2 A36 devices perform exactly as described in Samsung’s technical specifications and in 4 critical reviews. 2. (5/5) The 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display is AWESOME (super-bright, crisp, clear). 3. (4/5) For the A36, Samsung provides BOTH 6 years of Android OS upgrades AND 6 years of security updates (which may NOT be realistic IN ACTUALITY for the reasons detailed hereinbelow in CONS). CONS: 1. (2/5) Battery drain is much faster/greater in A36 than A32 when both are used in exactly the same way (even though all background actions are turned OFF in both the A32 & A36 and all unused apps are in DEEP SLEEP). -- When brand new, the A32 lasted 3-4 days. -- Used exactly the same way, the brand new A36 lasts only 1-2 days (even though the A36 CPU and GPU are somewhat more energy-efficient than the A32 CPU and GPU). -- INEXPLICABLE 2. (2/5) Even though Samsung advertises/features 45W fast charging in the A36, it is NOT sensible to use 45W fast charging on a regular basis. WHY NOT? A. I used a Samsung 45W FAST charger and another Samsung 15W charger to charge my new Samsung Galaxy A36. -- With the 45W charger, it took ca. 39 minutes to charge my A36 from ca. 30% to 100%. -- With the 15W charger, it took ca. 67 minutes to charge my A36 from ca. 29% to 100%. B. 45W/15W = 3 times the NOMINAL charging rate 67minutes/39minutes ==> ONLY 1.72 times the ACTUAL charging rate [i.e., the 45W charger took 58% (NOT 1/3) of the time needed by the 15W charger]. C. ALSO, 67minutes - 39minutes ==> 28 minutes saved. That minimal time-saving is not significant for me, especially when one considers the potentially-disastrous BATTERY-LIFESPAN DAMAGE from charging a lithium battery at 45W vs 15W (SEE SUMMARY TABLE hereinbelow), especially if the A36’s NON-user-REPLACEABLE battery were to die before the 6 years of ANDROID OS and security updates (viz., long after the 1-year warranty will have already expired and one is forced to buy another new device). =============== SUMMARY TABLE: =============== Charging Rate_____(20–85% @ 45W)___(0–100% @ 45W)___(20–85% @ 15W)___(0–100% @15W) Charging Cycles_____~1600–2000_________~500–700________~1800–2200________~600–900 Lifespan (years)______~4.5–5.5_____________~1.5–2.5__________~5–6______________~2–3 =============== Bottom-line REASONS why it’s OPTIMAL to use ONLY a 15W charger to charge ANY Lithium-ion BATTERY from 20%–85% ONLY: -- Avoids high-voltage wear (85–100%) -- Avoids low-voltage stress (<15–20%) -- Provides solid use (1-2 days between charges) -- Maximizes BATTERY lifespan without requiring micromanagement -- Well-matched with adaptive charging features -- Minimal risk of lithium plating 3. (1/5) A36 warranty is ONLY 1 year (even though Samsung purportedly provides 6 years of ANDROID OS upgrades and security updates) AND the battery is NOT user-replaceable. Consequently, one MUST effectively buy a new device if A36 battery dies after 1st warranty year. Moreover, as is self-evident in the SUMMARY TABLE above, the advertised/featured 45W fast charging SHORTENS battery lifespan to approximately 1-2 years, especially since 45W fast charging generates heat and accelerates battery wear, especially if used daily and/or in warm environments. -- PLEASE NOTE that ALL the latter realities are INCOMPATIBLE with 6 years of REAL A36 support by Samsung. WHY/HOW? A. Samsung officially supports the A36 with 6 years of Android OS upgrades and 6 years of security patches. Consequently, this creates a user expectation of device longevity (i.e., that the phone will remain usable for at least 6 years). B. However, in ACTUALITY, the reality of having ONLY a 1-Year Warranty AND a Non-user-Replaceable Battery is that after 1 year, the non-user-replaceable battery is no longer covered under warranty. Moreover, even though the battery can technically be replaced in service centers, Samsung does not make this convenient or affordable. Consequently, if the A36 battery degrades or dies (which seems highly likely in 1-2 years with 45W fast charging), Samsung's solution seems to be “buy a new phone”. SO WHAT'S THE INCOMPATIBILITY? C. Samsung is advertising 6 years of software support for a device whose core hardware component (battery) may realistically fail in 1-2 years (especially with 45W FAST charging). Without a convenient or affordable official battery replacement program, most users will have to replace the device entirely, thus making the 6-year support promise UNrealistic. 4. (1/5) Samsung’s “Easy Setup” is NOT easy (it’s GLITCHY and UNRELIABLE and cost me a LOT OF WASTED TIME). Consequently, I gave up and started over again by using the trivially-EASY Samsung and Google and WhatsApp BACKUP/RESTORE functionalities to quickly/easily MIRROR onto each new A36 EVERYTHING that I have on each A32. 5. (2/5) The A36’s SETTINGS’ sub-sub-sub-submenus are CONVOLUTED and UNNECESSARILY complicated compared to the A32’s SETTINGS’ functionalities. -- In order to ensure everything is setup as one wishes in the A36, one MUST click EVERY setting to locate functionalities that are now HIDDEN/BURIED in the A36 but were immediately visible/findable in the A32. -- WHY? Samsung? 6. (1/5) Digital assistants (like Google’s Gemini, Samsung’s Bixby, etc.) are SECURITY RISKS. Consequently, I don’t use them at all, BUT Google has made it almost impossible to deactivate Gemini in Android 15 without adversely affecting functionality. The best I could do is to NOT give Gemini a voice by selecting Google Assistant instead AND canceling all their active listening.

Great phone. Takes great pictures. Good speed. Still learning to use the different features. I am happy with it.

It’s a solid everyday phone with smooth performance and a clean user experience. Apps run well, the display looks good, and battery life easily lasts through the day with normal use. Overall, it feels reliable and well-balanced for the price. Great choice for anyone who wants a dependable phone without paying flagship prices.

Hands down one of the best phones I ever owned. Replaced my aging IPhone 11. Brought this device like new it came here still sealed. It was easy to switch from iPhone to android. This phone is fast and gorgeous looking. I love it so much I'm comtinplating on a selling my iPad Air M2 13 inch for a galaxy tablet due android and Samsung getting me freedom and customization. NOTE: to recive messages on android and not have them be stuck on imessage. After switching devices on you carrier. before inserting the sim card into the new phone deactivate your phone number and email from apple in the FaceTime and Imessage settings of the Iphone. All Apps - FaceTime. All Apps - Imessage. Click your phone number and email it'll ask if you want to remove them from Imessage and will no longer be used for Imessage but you're still receive SMS Messages. Hit yes then turn off imessage and facetime by toggling the green switch. Turn off the iphone. Once the Sim is in the android phone restart it to get service then register the android device in Google messages. This is IMPORTANT hit the notification that says finish setting up your android device and you are off to the races. Samsung Switch made it easy to transfer my data from my old phone.

Samsung makes a great product. All of my old phones files and apps transferred across to the new phone. Very Happy with it!

The phone works but if you want to do any content creation this is not the phone for you. Glitches out sometimes and has horrible camera quality. I returned it and swapped it for an iPhone. I’m not saying it’s a bad phone, I just hated it.