Samsung’s product strategy can be puzzling. From military tanks to unreleased robots, the company’s portfolio is diverse. But perhaps most perplexing is Samsung’s ability to sometimes make its budget phones aesthetically more appealing than its expensive flagships. Leaked renders of the upcoming Galaxy A36 suggest this might be the case again.
The leaked 360-degree renders, courtesy of Evan Blass, showcase the Galaxy A36 in a range of eye-catching colors, including a vibrant lime yellow and a striking iridescent purple, alongside the standard black and white options. These colors aren’t entirely new for Samsung, but their application on the A36 hints at a fresh design approach.
Design Refresh: Subtle Yet Significant
One notable design change is the subtle hump on the right edge housing the power and volume buttons. While not a groundbreaking innovation, it’s a welcome departure from Samsung’s often-repeated design language. The rear camera array also receives a makeover, featuring a sleek, black pill-shaped vertical housing that contrasts nicely with the glossy back panel.
This design, borrowed from the upcoming Galaxy A56, provides a welcome visual differentiation in a market saturated with similar-looking Samsung devices. The A36 and A56 offer a refreshing change of pace, avoiding the homogenous design language that often plagues Samsung’s smartphone lineup.
Performance and Features: Balancing Value and Power
The Galaxy A36, identified by model number SM-A366B, has been spotted on Geekbench with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC. While not the most powerful chipset, it’s a reasonable choice for a phone expected to be priced around $400. However, rumors suggest a potential upgrade to a newer Snapdragon 6 series or even a Snapdragon 7 series processor.
Another surprising feature is the rumored support for 45W fast charging, matching the charging speed of the much more expensive Galaxy S25 Ultra. Other potential features include a 120Hz OLED display and a 50-megapixel primary camera.
A Promising Budget Contender
The leaked information suggests the Galaxy A36 could be a compelling budget smartphone. Combining a fresh design with potentially impressive features and performance, it could offer excellent value for its price. While it remains to be seen if this design language will trickle down to the flagship Galaxy S series, the A36’s aesthetic appeal is undeniable. It could be a pleasant surprise from Samsung later this year.
