Samsung Galaxy M36 Review: What you gain and what you lose

If the Galaxy A36 feels a bit out of reach, Samsung now has a familiar trick up its sleeve — say hello to the Galaxy M36. It brings a lot of the A-series DNA down to a more wallet-friendly level, borrowing the core specs while shaving off a few extras to keep costs in check.

Sure, some sacrifices had to be made — the finish isn’t quite as premium, and you’re missing a few bells and whistles. But on paper, it still hits most of the essentials. So, the real test is: can the Galaxy M36 hold its own where it actually counts — in daily use? Let’s break it down.
Samsung Galaxy M36 5G pricing in India

Samsung is keeping things fairly affordable with the Galaxy M36 5G. The base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage comes in at ₹17,499. Stepping up to 8GB RAM with the same storage will cost you ₹18,999, while the top-tier 8GB + 256GB model is priced at ₹21,999. It's a sensible price ladder, especially if you’re eyeing long-term use with that six-year update promise.

Design that plays it safe — but throws in a few surprises

The Galaxy M36 might not scream premium at first glance, but it’s got a certain understated charm — especially from the back. Samsung seems to be taking more creative risks with the M series, and the Orange Haze finish on our unit feels like a welcome departure from the usual safe colour palette. Yes, the back is polycarbonate, but it holds its own — it feels solid, doesn’t creak, and doesn’t immediately betray its budget positioning. Just be ready to deal with some fingerprint smudges.

Samsung’s also given the camera module a minor refresh. It still sits in a vertical strip, but the layout’s been slightly tweaked to break the visual monotony. The phone is impressively slim at 7.7mm, and the flat sides lend it a more modern silhouette. While the sides and back are all plastic, it doesn’t feel overly cheap — though you’ll know you’re not holding a flagship.

Where the M36 loses a bit of its polish is on the front. The waterdrop notch is starting to feel dated, and that hefty bottom bezel could really use a trim. That said, the 6.7-inch display offers plenty of screen to work with. And here's a curveball: Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front — a feature you’d rarely expect at this price point. It's a standout addition that gives the M36 some serious durability cred, even if the overall design doesn't quite scream "cutting edge."

Same specs, bigger screen

Samsung hasn't reinvented the wheel with the Galaxy M36’s display — but honestly, it didn’t need to. You’re now looking at a slightly larger 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel, up from the M35’s 6.6 inches, and while the size bump is minimal, it does give you a bit more real estate for binge-watching or endless scrolling.

The rest of the display specs are carried over from last year: FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1000 nits. Nothing groundbreaking on paper — until you actually see it in action. This is Samsung we’re talking about, and few brands do AMOLED panels quite like they do. Whether you're indoors or out, the M36 delivers punchy colours, deep blacks, and smooth visuals that are genuinely among the best in this price bracket.

If there’s one place Samsung flexes its experience, it’s right here — the screen alone might be reason enough for some people to choose the M36 over its competitors.

Performance that holds up — just don’t expect fireworks

Samsung’s Galaxy M36 doesn’t take any bold leaps under the hood. It sticks with the Exynos 1380, the same chip found in last year’s M35. While that might disappoint those hoping for a performance upgrade, the processor still gets the job done — especially if your daily use doesn’t involve pushing the phone to its limits.

Our review unit came with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, though you also get 8GB RAM variants with either 128GB or 256GB of storage. The best value? Likely the 8GB + 128GB combo — especially since Samsung still includes a microSD slot that supports up to 2TB. So if storage is a concern, you can comfortably skip the top-tier model and expand later.

In benchmarks, the M36 performs as expected: roughly 600,000 on AnTuTu, with a stable CPU throttling test graph and GeekBench scores of 1013 (single-core) and 2911 (multi-core). Not bad, considering the hardware hasn’t changed.

Gaming is where things get interesting. The Exynos 1380 won’t wow you, but it can handle titles like BGMI at 60fps and Call of Duty: Mobile at around 55–60fps with minimal stutters. Heat management is impressive too — even after extended sessions, the phone never feels uncomfortably warm.

Genshin Impact, however, is more demanding. It runs at 60fps on low settings, but frame rates drop to around 40fps during intense combat scenes. Still, the phone maintained a steady 41°C after 30 minutes — warm, but well within safe limits.

For everyday tasks — scrolling, messaging, video streaming, and light multitasking — the M36 handles everything smoothly. No noticeable lag, no freezing, just a reliable and consistent experience across the board.

Same cameras, solid shots

The Galaxy M36 keeps things simple in the camera department — maybe a little too simple. You get a 50MP main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro lens that feels more like filler than a feature. Up front, there’s a 13MP selfie camera. And if all of that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the exact same setup as the Galaxy M35.

That said, the main camera does a decent job. Shots come out detailed and balanced, with natural-looking colours — especially on skin tones. There’s a 2x digital zoom option, and while the results aren’t exactly crisp, they’re good enough for casual sharing.
In low light, OIS pulls its weight. Night Mode kicks in to brighten up darker scenes and boost colour a bit, though it manages to avoid going full neon. It’s not flagship-level night photography, but for the price, it’s more than acceptable.

Portrait mode is where the cracks show. Edge detection is inconsistent — especially around hair and other fine details. You’ll get usable photos, but don’t expect clean, pro-level subject separation.

On the upside, the ultra-wide lens does a good job matching the main camera’s colour profile, so switching between the two doesn’t feel jarring. Selfies from the 13MP front cam are surprisingly solid too — skin tones look real, detail is sharp enough, and there's no excessive smoothing to erase your personality.
Video recording lands right where you'd expect in this segment: 4K at 30fps on both front and rear cameras. Footage is stable and looks good, though colours tend to be a little too vibrant — the visual equivalent of turning the saturation slider up just a bit too far.

Polished software, smart AI, and a promise built to last

Out of the box, the Galaxy M36 runs One UI 7 on top of Android 15, and the experience is as clean and fluid as you'd expect from Samsung in 2025. Yes, there are a few preloaded apps you’ll probably want to uninstall, but nothing that feels overwhelming. The UI is smooth, animations are snappy, and day-to-day use feels effortless.

Samsung Wallet is fully supported, so you can tap to pay without hassle. And perhaps the biggest long-term win here? Samsung is promising six years of software and security updates — which, in this segment, is practically unheard of. That makes the M36 a rare mid-ranger you won’t feel pressured to upgrade any time soon.

Where Samsung really flexes is with its smart AI features. Tools like Circle to Search let you look up anything on your screen instantly, without jumping between apps. And Image Clipper — which turns objects in your photos into shareable stickers — is one of those little things you didn’t know you needed until you have it. These aren't gimmicks — they actually add value to the experience.

All-day battery, but still stuck with slow charging

The Galaxy M36 delivers reliable battery life — but not without a small asterisk. It packs a 5,000mAh battery, which easily powers through a full day, even if you're pushing it. No real complaints on endurance. But compared to last year’s 6,000mAh cell in the Galaxy M35, this feels like a slight downgrade. Sure, the phone is slimmer and lighter now, but giving up that extra battery cushion might not sit well with power users.

Where the M36 really falls behind is charging speed. Samsung sticks to 25W wired charging, and in 2025, that feels sluggish. A full top-up from 0 to 100% takes around 90 minutes — which isn’t terrible, but it’s definitely slower than much of the competition offering faster speeds in the same price bracket.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy M36 is smooth, reliable, and well-priced for everyday use — but let’s be honest, it’s not a dramatic upgrade over last year’s M35. You’re still getting the same processor, the same camera setup, and ironically, even a smaller battery this time around.

If you’re a Samsung fan trying to stay under budget, the M35 still holds up — especially with Android 18 support on the horizon. So, what does the M36 bring to the table? A cleaner design and an extended software update promise that stretches into the next six years.

If those two things matter more to you than spec bumps, the Galaxy M36 might be worth the few extra bucks. Otherwise, the M35 remains a smart and slightly more battery-rich alternative.