Introduction
The Indian 5G budget smartphone market remains red-hot in 2025, and Samsung is taking its biggest swing in the budget 5G space yet with the Samsung Galaxy F36 5G. Targeted directly at Gen Zers, budget warriors, and first-generation smartphone upgraders, the Samsung Galaxy F36 5G packs flagship-level looks, a Super AMOLED display, and AI-driven intelligence for a price that starts at merely ₹17,499. But does it deliver where it matters—or is it simply another spec sheet soldier?
Let’s dissect all the details of this phone—performance, design, camera, software experience, and long-term value—so you can determine if the Samsung Galaxy F36 5G is your next daily driver.
At a Glance: Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
| Display | 6.7″ FHD+ Super AMOLED, 120Hz, Vision Booster |
| Processor | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| RAM & Storage | 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB UFS 2.2 |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (OIS) + 8MP (ultrawide) + 2MP (macro) |
| Front Camera | 13MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 25 W fast charging |
| OS & UI | Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Build | 7.7 mm thickness, Vegan leather finish |
| Software Support | 6 years (4 OS + 2 security) |
| Price in India | ₹17,499 to ₹21,999 |
Design & Build: A Premium Vibe in a Budget Body
The first thing you’ll notice about the Galaxy F36 is its premium vegan leather back panel, which comes in Luxe Violet, Coral Red, and Onyx Black. It feels and looks chic and new-age—far from your run-of-the-mill ₹17K smartphone.
Despite housing a 5000 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy F36 5G is remarkably slim at just 7.7 mm and weighs around 180 g. The frame is plastic, yes, but it feels sturdy. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front adds much-needed scratch protection. The tactile buttons and subtle camera bump round out a design that screams more A-series than F-series.
Verdict on Design:
- ✔ Looks and feels premium
- ✔ Comfortable in-hand grip
- ✔ Thin and minimalist with that touch of modernity
- ✘ Lacking official IP rating (though rudimentary water-resistance is present)
Screen: Samsung’s Signature AMOLED Brilliance
Samsung did not skimp on the screen. The Samsung Galaxy F36 5G features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and Vision Booster technology—providing superior sunlight legibility.
The colors are rich, blacks are deep, and brightness levels are high enough even for summer afternoons. Scrolling and animations feel super smooth thanks to the high refresh rate, and HDR playback is supported on platforms like YouTube.
If you’re binge-watching, gaming, or just casually doom-scrolling, this display does not disappoint.
Verdict on Display:
- Crisp AMOLED panel with deep blacks
- A 120 Hz refresh rate makes everything fluid
- Excellent brightness outdoors
- No HDR10+ support (capped Netflix playback to FHD)
Performance: Able Everyday Performer
The Samsung Galaxy F36 5G comes with Samsung’s Exynos 1380—a 5 nm octa-core processor that includes four Cortex-A78 performance cores and a Mali-G68 MP5 GPU. It’s accompanied by 6GB or 8GB of RAM and UFS 2.2 storage.
In normal usage, the performance is really good:
- App Launches: Fast and smooth
- Multitasking: Flawless up to 7–8 apps running
- Gaming: Apps like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile operate on high graphics + medium frame rate configurations
- Thermals: The device features a vapour chamber cooling system, which manages heat well under heavy usage
Benchmarks are not industry-leading, but Samsung’s optimizations within One UI 7 make the phone respond faster than competitors on the same chip.
Verdict on Performance:
- Smoother multitasking & UI transitions
- Good for gaming at moderate settings
- Effective thermals due to vapor cooling
- Not a flagship-grade chip (but good enough for the price)
Camera: Mid-Range Sensor, AI Beast
Samsung focuses on photography in the Samsung Galaxy F36 5G—and it pays off. The 50MP main camera with OIS guarantees smooth shots even in jittery hands. Complemented by an 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro, it offers an overall experience.
AI Camera Features:
- Object Eraser: Erase unwanted background items or people
- Image Clipper: Crop and share people/objects quickly
- Photo Remaster: Low-quality photos are enhanced
- Edit Suggestions: Auto-enhance in one tap
- Nightography with Auto Night Mode: Improved low-light photographs through AI stereo depth maps
- Portrait Video with AI Blur Correction: Ideal for reels and vlogs
Camera Samples (Performance):
- Daylight Shots: Highly detailed, vivid colors, good dynamic range
- Ultrawide: Not as detailed as main lens, but colour consistent
- Macro: Suitable for close-up flowers or tiny things
- Selfies: 13MP is good enough; AI beautification is a matter of choice
- Video: 4K at 30 fps front and back, smooth video with OIS
Camera Verdict:
- Excellent main sensor with OIS
- Great software AI features
- Top-end selfie camera in this category
- Ultrawide and macro are merely fine
Battery & Charging: All-Day Juice with Reasonable Top-Up Speed
Battery performance is dependable. The 5000mAh cell easily powers the phone through a full day of:
- 2 hours of video
- 1 hour of gaming
- 3 hours of browsing/social apps
- Mixed calling and standby
You’ll still have 25–30% juice by bedtime.
Charging is handled via 25W wired charging. It’s not blazing fast (0 to 100% takes about 75–80 minutes), but it’s reliable and safe—especially considering Samsung’s long-term battery health focus.
Verdict on Battery:
- Lasts 1.5 days easily with normal use
- Effective standby drain
- No charger pack in box (standard for Samsung)
- No wireless or reverse charging
AI-Powered Features: Samsung’s Smartest F-Series Ever
This is where the Samsung Galaxy F36 5G truly comes into its own. Samsung has added a number of its most advanced AI features from Galaxy AI into this budget device:
AI Tools Included:
- Circle to Search: Press home button for a long time and trace circle to search anything you observe
- Live Translate (in update): Language translation in real time during calls
- Voice Focus: Cancels background noise while calling
- Photo Remaster & Eraser: Super image editing without 3rd-party apps
- AI Performance Optimization: Automatically optimizes performance and power consumption according to usage
- Smart Suggestions: App usage, clipboard, and reminders according to context
Software, UI & Updates: One UI 7 with Android 15
Galaxy F36 5G comes with Android 15 pre-installed along with Samsung’s newest One UI 7, a tidy yet powerful UI with useful enhancements.
- No Ads or Bloatware (unlike most Chinese competition)
- Samsung Wallet with Tap to Pay
- Knox Vault Security for sensitive documents
- Samsung SmartThings integration
- Link to Windows, Quick Share, Secure Folder
And the cherry on top—Samsung is guaranteeing 6 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches, carrying you through all the way to Android 21 in 2031. That’s class-leading support at this price level.
Connectivity, Audio & Extras
- Dual 5G SIM (India bands supported)
- Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, and VoNR support
- Dolby Atmos support (through wired/wireless)
- Stereo speakers: Good loudness, good stereo separation
- No 3.5mm jack, but includes USB-C to 3.5mm adapter
- No microSD card slot—base 128GB is your minimum
Pricing & Variants
| Variant | Launch Price |
| 6GB + 128GB | ₹17,499 |
| 8GB + 128GB | ₹18,999 |
| 8GB + 256GB | ₹21,999 |
Available on Flipkart and Samsung.com from July 29, 2025.
Launch offers: ₹1,000 discount on bank cards & EMI from ₹2,999/month.
Samsung Galaxy F36 5G vs Competitors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy F36 5G | Realme Narzo 70 Pro | iQOO Z10R | Redmi Note 14 5G |
| Display | 6.7″ AMOLED 120Hz | AMOLED 120Hz | AMOLED 120Hz | LCD 120Hz |
| Chipset | Exynos 1380 | Dimensity 7050 | Dimensity 7400 | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 |
| Camera (Main) | 50MP (OIS) | 50MP (OIS) | 64MP (OIS) | 50MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 25 W | 5000 mAh, 67 W | 5100 mAh, 44 W | 5000 mAh, 33 W |
| Software Support | 4 OS + 2 Sec | 2 OS + 1 Sec | 2 OS + 3 Sec | 2 OS + 3 Sec |
| AI Features | Extensive | Basic | Moderate | Minimal |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 14 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
- F36 triumphs on software life and AI features
- iQOO triumphs on gaming performance
- Realme triumphs on charging speed
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Flagship-quality AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate
- OIS camera + intelligent AI photo features
- Clean One UI with 6 years of support
- Premium, stylish leather-like finish
- AI features typically found on flagships
- Good value with competitive price
Cons:
- No box charger included
- Ultrawide and macro lenses are middling
- Charging could be quicker
- No IP rating or microSD card slot
Final Verdict: Who Should Buy the Samsung Galaxy F36 5G?
Samsung’s Galaxy F36 5G is probably the best cheap phone Samsung has come out with in years. It gets the basics right—performance, screen, battery life—and adds to them with truly helpful AI features, better software endurance, and a designer look.
Buy it if:
- You desire AI capabilities without making it expensive
- You appreciate Samsung’s solid updates and UI
- You require a reliable every-day phone with excellent camera tools
- You’re in the market for a phone that’ll last 3–4 years
Pass it if:
- You desire peak gaming performance under ₹20K.
- You want quicker charging and bundled charger
- You require expandable storage or 3.5mm audio jack
Final Rating: 8.8 / 10
Style, intelligence, and Samsung care—packaged in a budget-friendly bundle. If you’re purchasing your next phone under ₹20K, the Galaxy F36 should be at the top of your shortlist.
