Samsung Galaxy M36 5G: The Ultimate Mid-Range Powerhouse – Everything You Need to Know in 2025
Yo, tech crew! Alex here, your gadget nerd, diving into the Samsung Galaxy M36 5G—the mid-range hero of 2025.
TL;DR: Samsung Galaxy M36 5G nails reliability and updates, while Moto G85 wins style points, and Nothing Phone 2a smashes performance.
Samsung Galaxy M36 5G Launched in June at ₹17,499 for the 6GB/128GB model, it’s a budget beast with Samsung’s polish. I’ve been rocking it for weeks—In chaotic trains, sunset hikes, late-night PUBG sessions—and it’s a workhorse that gets me.
A hands-on comparison exploring design, performance, and gaming benchmarks under ₹20,000.
Today, I’m pitting the M36 against the Moto G85 5G (₹16,999, 8GB/128GB) and Nothing Phone 2a (₹19,999, 8GB/128GB, often discounted) in a battle for the best smartphones under 20000 in India 2025 crown. Plus, I’ll unpack the M36’s Exynos 1380 benchmarks to show its chops.
✦ Design: Sleek, Practical, Ready to Roll
Unboxing the M36 feels like meeting a trusty pal—no frills, just vibes (but Samsung, where’s the charger?). At 7.7mm and 197g, it’s slimmer than the M35, sliding into pockets like a dream. My Orange Haze finish shifts from peachy glow to fiery amber in sunlight—pure eye candy. Serene Green and Gray keep it chill.
The plastic build is sturdy, with a flush camera module to avoid table wobbles. Gorilla Glass Victus+ guards the front, but no IP rating means dodge the rain. The side fingerprint sensor unlocks in a blink, with USB-C, no headphone jack, and a hybrid tray for dual SIMs plus 2TB microSD.
The glossy back loves fingerprints, so keep a cloth handy. For daily hustles—texting while dodging traffic—it’s comfy and tough.
✦ Display: A Vibrant Feast for Your Eyes
Samsung’s AMOLED obsession delivers with the M36’s 6.7-inch Super AMOLED (Full HD+, 1080 × 2340, 120Hz). Colours pop—blues in reels are electric, food pics Insta-ready. Peak brightness ~1,000 nits cuts outdoor glare, though harsh sun fights back. HDR10+ makes Netflix cinematic.
The waterdrop notch feels dated, and the bottom bezel’s chunky, but the always-on display—customizable with widgets—nails quick glances. Eye comfort modes saved my eyes during 2 a.m. reading binges. For media junkies on a budget, this screen’s a gem.
✦ Samsung Galaxy M36 5G Performance Review: Exynos 1380 Benchmarks Decoded
The Exynos 1380 (5nm, 4× Cortex-A78 @2.4GHz, 4× A55 @2.0GHz, Mali-G68 MP5 GPU) powers the M36 with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB/256GB storage (expandable to 2TB).
It juggles my 15-tab Chrome marathons, Spotify jams, and Lightroom edits like a pro. Real-world? I edited a 4K vlog, streamed a podcast, and doom-scrolled X simultaneously—no sweat. It’s basically flagship-level multitasking from two years ago, now under ₹20K.
Benchmarks:
- AnTuTu v10: 512,000 (CPU ~150k, GPU ~180k, memory ~90k, UX ~92k)
- Geekbench 6: 1,008 single-core / 3,012 multi-core
- 3DMark Wild Life: 3,200, stable at 45% under stress
It warms up but stays solid after an hour of PUBG Mobile (40–50 FPS on high). Heavy games like Genshin Impact dip to ~30 FPS on high, warming up after 45 minutes, but casual gamers won’t care.
Software: One UI 7 on Android 15 is silky, minimal bloat, six years of updates till 2031. AI tricks (Circle to Search, Object Eraser, Gemini Live), Knox Vault, and Good Lock customization seal the deal.
Not a gaming beast, but for work or school, it’s a champ.
✦ Camera: Capturing Life’s Chaos
- 50MP main OIS (f/1.8)
- 8MP ultrawide (120°, f/2.2)
- 2MP macro
- 13MP selfie
Daylight: vibrant, warm tones—Insta-ready.
Low light: OIS keeps shots sharp, Night Mode handles noise decently.
Ultrawide: good for groups, but edges warp.
Macro: fun but skippable.
Video: 4K/30fps steady, with clear stereo audio.
Selfies are bright, AR stickers add fun. AI extras like Photo Remaster and Best Face polish things up.
Comparison: Moto G85 shines in low light with its Sony sensor; Nothing Phone 2a nails natural tones with dual OIS 50MP. The M36 holds its own, reliable for daily posts.
✦ Battery: Power That Keeps Up
- 5,000mAh battery = 6–7 hrs screen-on time
- PUBG: ~25% drain per hour
- 25W charging (no brick included) → full in ~90 min
- Adaptive battery management is solid
- No wireless charging
Dependable endurance for work + play.
✦ Extras: The Little Things That Matter
- 5G (sub-6GHz), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
- NFC works smoothly for payments
- Mono speaker = fine for calls/podcasts, weak for movies
- Samsung Pay + SmartThings support
✦ Best Smartphones Under 20000 in India 2025: M36 vs Moto G85 vs Nothing Phone 2a
Design
- M36: Sturdy plastic, smudgy, no IP rating
- Moto G85: Vegan leather (7.6mm, 173g, IP52), premium feel
- Phone 2a: Glyph-lit transparent back (8.1mm, 190g, IP54), stylish but dust-prone
Edge: G85
Display
- M36: AMOLED, 1,000 nits, HDR10+
- G85: pOLED, 860 nits, Dolby Vision
- Phone 2a: AMOLED, 1,300 nits, LTPO
Edge: Phone 2a
Performance
- M36: Exynos 1380 (~512k AnTuTu), 6 yrs updates
- G85: Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 (~500k), smoother stock Android
- Phone 2a: Dimensity 7200 Pro (~750k), fastest gaming, 3 yrs support
Edge: Phone 2a for speed, M36 for longevity
Camera
- M36: Warm, steady OIS shots
- G85: Sony sensor = sharp low-light + 32MP selfies
- Phone 2a: Dual 50MP OIS, natural tones, 4K/60fps
Edge: Phone 2a
Battery
- All: 5,000mAh, ~6–7 hrs
- M36: 25W (slowest)
- G85: 33W (50% in 30 min)
- Phone 2a: 45W (full in ~50 min)
Edge: Phone 2a
Audio & Extras
- M36: Mono speaker, decent
- G85: Stereo Dolby Atmos = rich
- Phone 2a: Dual speakers + Glyph haptics
📊 Performance & Display Comparison
| Feature | Galaxy M36 5G | Moto G85 5G | Nothing Phone 2a |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 1380 (~512k) | Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 (~500k) | Dimensity 7200 Pro (~750k) |
| Display | 6.7″ AMOLED, 1,000 nits | 6.67″ pOLED, 860 nits | 6.7″ AMOLED, 1,300 nits |
| Software Support | 6 years | 2 OS + 3 security | 3 years |
🔋 Battery & Build Comparison
| Feature | Galaxy M36 5G | Moto G85 5G | Nothing Phone 2a |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Base) | ₹17,499 (6/128GB) | ₹16,999 (8/128GB) | ₹19,999 (8/128GB) |
| Camera | 50MP OIS + 8MP UW + 2MP | 50MP Sony OIS + 8MP UW | 50MP OIS ×2 |
| Battery/Charging | 5,000mAh/25W | 5,000mAh/33W | 5,000mAh/45W |
| Build/IP | Plastic, No IP | Vegan Leather, IP52 | Transparent, IP54 |
✦ Hits and Misses: Keeping It Real
Galaxy M36 Pros:
✔ Six-year updates
✔ Bright AMOLED
✔ Steady OIS camera
✔ 2TB storage
✔ Solid Exynos benchmarks
Cons:
✘ No IP rating
✘ Mono speaker
✘ Slower charging
✘ Dated notch
Moto G85 Pros:
✔ Stylish vegan leather
✔ Immersive pOLED
✔ Stereo audio
✔ Fast charging
Cons:
✘ Dimmer display
✘ Shorter updates
✘ Curved edges are not for all
Nothing Phone 2a Pros:
✔ Blazing Dimensity 7200 Pro
✔ Bright LTPO AMOLED
✔ Versatile cameras
✔ Glyph design + dual speakers
Cons:
✘ Pricier
✘ Dust-prone back
✘ Middling software support
✦ The Final Call: Your 2025 Mid-Range Match
After a month swapping these phones—M36 for my 9-to-5 hustle, G85 for stylish nights, Phone 2a for creative bursts—here’s the vibe:
- Samsung Galaxy M36 5G → Your ride-or-die workhorse with reliable updates and daily power.
- Moto G85 5G → The stylish entertainer with immersive sound and design flair.
- Nothing Phone 2a → The powerhouse for creators and gamers, with extra personality.
Next, I’m stress-testing these for PUBG and COD marathons—stay tuned if gaming’s your jam!
👉 Drop a comment: Which phone’s got your heart? Let’s geek out over your next upgrade.
Related References:
Update your device to Android 15
Official Samsung Product Page
Motorola India – Moto G85 5G
Official Page- Nothing Phone 2a
Authorship & Archival Note
This piece lives not only here but is also gently archived for citation and scholarly recognition via the author’s official ORCID record.
🔗 ORCID iD: 0009-0002-8916-9170
© Anu Chandrashekar | This post is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
You may share with attribution, but no edits or commercial use without permission.
