Samsung Galaxy M36 5G: The Budget King Gets a Refresh

Design and Build Quality: Slim is In

The first thing you’ll notice about the M36 5G is how dramatically Samsung has refined the design language. Coming from the M35, this feels like a generational leap in terms of aesthetics. At just 7.7mm thin, it’s remarkably slim for a budget device — thinner than most pencils, which makes it comfortable to hold for extended periods.

Samsung has moved from the punch-hole display of the M35 to a waterdrop notch design, which might seem like a step backward on paper. But honestly? It doesn’t feel that way in practice. The overall screen-to-body ratio still feels immersive, and the design language is more cohesive now. The back panel features a polycarbonate build with an upgraded camera module that looks more sophisticated than its predecessor.

Available in three color options — Orange Haze, Black, and Green — the M36 5G manages to look premium despite its budget positioning. The clean, modern aesthetic makes it one of the better-looking phones in the M series lineup. During my drop test, the phone survived without any major damage, though I wouldn’t recommend making it a habit.

Display: Bright and Beautiful

The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display is where Samsung’s expertise really shines through. With Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling feels buttery smooth, and colors pop with that signature Samsung vibrancy. The screen size has increased by about an inch compared to the M35, giving you more real estate for content consumption.

What impressed me most was the brightness levels. With 800 nits of peak brightness, outdoor visibility is excellent — something that’s often compromised in budget phones. The display is HDR certified, which means your Netflix binges will look surprisingly good. I tested various content types, and the color reproduction felt natural without being oversaturated.

For protection, Samsung has included Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, which is typically found in flagship devices. This is a significant upgrade that shows Samsung’s commitment to durability in the budget segment. The display feels premium to touch and should withstand daily wear and tear quite well.

Camera Performance: The Star of the Show

This is where the M36 5G really justifies its existence. The camera system, led by a 50MP main sensor with OIS, delivers results that surprised me. Samsung’s M series has always been known for solid camera performance in the budget segment, and the M36 continues that tradition admirably.

The main camera produces sharp, detailed photos with excellent color reproduction. What struck me most was how natural skin tones appear in portraits — Samsung has clearly fine-tuned their processing algorithms. The AI depth mapping works well, creating convincing background blur in portrait mode. Even in challenging lighting conditions, the camera maintains good detail and color accuracy.

The 8MP ultra-wide camera is decent for its class, though it’s clearly not the star. The 2MP macro lens is… well, it’s there. The 13MP front camera takes surprisingly good selfies with natural-looking skin tones and good detail retention. For video, you can shoot 4K at 30fps from both front and rear cameras, and 1080p at 60fps, which is impressive for this price range.

Night photography gets a boost with Advanced Nightography features. While it won’t match flagship phones, it’s certainly usable for social media and casual photography. The addition of AI features like Object Eraser, Photo Remaster, and Shadow Eraser adds practical value for everyday users.

Performance and Gaming: Solid but Not Spectacular

The Exynos 1380 chipset makes a return from the M35, built on a 5nm process. While this might disappoint those hoping for an upgrade, the performance remains solid for daily tasks. With an AnTuTu score hovering around 600,000, it handles multitasking, social media, and light gaming without breaking a sweat.

Gaming performance is respectable for the price point. PUBG Mobile runs smoothly at 60fps on smooth settings, and you can push graphics to HDR Ultra if you don’t mind some frame drops. The vapor cooling chamber helps manage thermals, though the phone does get warm during extended gaming sessions. CPU throttling tests show about 74% performance retention, which is decent for sustained workloads.

The phone comes with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, starting with 6GB/128GB configuration. There’s also an 8GB variant with 256GB storage available. Multitasking feels smooth, and apps stay in memory reasonably well. For most users, this level of performance should be more than adequate.

Battery Life and Charging: Marathon Runner

The 5000mAh battery is standard fare for Samsung’s M series, and it delivers excellent endurance. During my testing, the phone easily lasted a full day of heavy usage, including gaming, camera testing, and video streaming. Light users can probably stretch it to a day and a half without issues.

Charging speeds are capped at 25W, which feels conservative in 2024. A full charge takes about an hour and a half, which isn’t terrible but isn’t exciting either. Samsung includes the charging brick in the box, which is becoming increasingly rare, so that’s a plus point.

Software and AI Features: The Modern Touch

Running One UI 7 based on Android 15, the M36 5G offers Samsung’s latest software experience. The interface feels polished and responsive, with all the premium Samsung features you’d expect — Samsung Wallet, Voice Focus, Secure Folder, and the new Circle to Search functionality.

The AI integration feels genuinely useful rather than gimmicky. Circle to Search works as advertised, built-in Gemini responds well to queries, and features like Object Eraser and Photo Remaster add practical value. Samsung has clearly put effort into making these features accessible and functional.

Perhaps the biggest selling point is the software support promise: 6 years of OS updates and 6 years of security updates. In the under ₹20,000 segment, this is unprecedented and shows Samsung’s confidence in the longevity of this device. This alone makes it a compelling choice for long-term users.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The connectivity suite covers all the basics well. Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G support, and NFC are all present. The hybrid SIM slot lets you choose between dual SIM or single SIM plus microSD card expansion. Physical buttons feel tactile and well-placed, with the power button and volume rocker on the right side.

Audio comes through a single bottom-firing speaker, which gets reasonably loud but lacks depth. There’s no headphone jack, which might disappoint some users. The in-display fingerprint sensor works reliably, though it’s not the fastest I’ve used.

Samsung Galaxy M36 5G Specifications
Display	6.7-inch Super AMOLED, Full HD+, 120Hz, 800 nits peak brightness
Processor	Exynos 1380 (5nm)
RAM/Storage	6GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB (LPDDR4X RAM, UFS 2.2 storage)
Rear Camera	50MP (OIS) + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro
Front Camera	13MP
Battery	5000mAh with 25W charging
Software	One UI 7 (Android 15)
Connectivity	5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
Build	7.7mm thin, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, polycarbonate back
Colors	Orange Haze, Black, Green

Who Should Buy This Phone?

The Galaxy M36 5G makes sense for a specific type of buyer. If you’re a Samsung fan who values long-term software support and wants a reliable daily driver under ₹20,000, this phone ticks most boxes. The camera quality alone might justify the purchase for photography enthusiasts on a budget.

It’s also ideal for users who prioritize display quality and don’t mind sacrificing cutting-edge performance for a more polished overall experience. The 6-year update promise makes it particularly attractive for those who plan to keep their phone for several years.

However, if you’re looking for the absolute best performance per rupee or want the latest processor, you might want to look elsewhere. Gaming enthusiasts who demand flagship-level performance should also consider alternatives. The conservative charging speed might also be a dealbreaker for some users.