Samsung's #1 best cheap phone just scored a 25% discount during Amazon's Black Friday sale

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G in front of battery shape segmented into lifestyle images

(Image credit: Samsung)

You won't find any shortage of cheap phone deals this time of year, just as some retailers have started offering their initial Black Friday discounts. For example, Amazon's Black Friday Week sale has officially begun, with deals including $100 off the price of the Samsung Galaxy A36.

Samsung launched the Galaxy A36 earlier this year alongside the A26 and A56, all offering a more affordable take on the company's tech than its flagship and premium phones. As such, the A36 isn't going to offer flawless performance, but it does come with an AMOLED display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate. This particular deal is for the 128GB version of the phone, though Samsung also offers a 256GB configuration.

Our top pick for the best cheap Samsung phone, the A36 also comes with the user-friendly One UI 7, three rear cameras, a front camera, and a 5,000mAh battery. It also boasts an improved processor from the previous generation version, while it also comes with "Intelligent Features" such as access to Bixby, the AI Select tool, and more. The A36 also normally retails at $400, so the $300 Black Friday price tag represents a solid 25% discount.

✅Recommended if: you're looking for a phone under $300 and you've liked other Samsung Galaxy ecosystem devices; you want a phone with an AMOLED display; you want a phone with a design that's both durable and aesthetically pleasing, without breaking the bank.

❌Skip this deal if: you need a phone that offers wireless charging in addition to fast charging; you'd prefer a phone with an especially bright display that can easily be used outside in direct sunlight; you're looking for a phone with powerful performance and you have the budget to upgrade.

While you won't find the Samsung Galaxy A36 in our list of the best Android phones, it's still a solid device for the price tag. Performance is definitely on the economy side of the spectrum, with 6GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, both of which are plenty capable for most casual users.

The 6.7-inch AMOLED display does feature a 120Hz refresh rate, while the A36 also sports a 12MP front camera and three rear cameras: a 50MP main lens, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro. It also comes with useful "Intelligent Features" such as the useful AI Select tool, and the ability to have Bixby read documents and web pages out loud. It's worth noting that this phone doesn't include Qi wireless charging, though you won't find that on many phones around this price point.

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