Forget the $599 iPhone 16E: Samsung’s New Galaxy A Phones Are Truly Affordable
Samsung It has debuted its latest mid-range phones, the Galaxy A36 and A26, with a larger display, a more powerful processor, and the inevitable new AI capabilities. this Telephone Spend $400 and $300 respectively and start selling in late March.
The company also launched the Galaxy A56 phone, priced at $500, which will be available later this year. The A56 display is bigger than last year Galaxy A55Samsung says new AI features and camera improvements.
Arrival at $599 high heels iPhone 16eApple’s idea about affordable phone calls Far from cheapthese three new Samsung Galaxy A phones seem to prove that phone manufacturers can still make truly affordable devices. and Play new features such as Android 15 and a UI 7. All phones can last for six years of operating system and security updates, Samsung’s OS and security updates Knox Vault For device security and privacy, and IP67 rating for dust and waterproofing.
Samsung’s announcement is here Mobile World Congress In Barcelona. Here’s everything about the Galaxy A36, A26 and A56.
Samsung Galaxy A36: $400
The Galaxy A36 5G costs $400.
The Galaxy A36 5G is 8.2mm thick and 196 grams thick, which is thinner and lighter than last year’s A35 5G, which is 7.4mm thick and weighs 209 grams. Like last year, the phone has a 5,000 mAh battery, but now has a 45-watt super fast charging, and Samsung says it can charge the phone nearly 70% in 30 minutes. (CNET keep watching once we check the device ourselves.)
Thinner bezels hit the display to 6.7 inches compared to the A35’s 6.6 inches. The A36 has a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1,900 column increase in peak brightness, ideally making it easier to see the screen even if you are in a bright environment. There are Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus Plus in front and back, and Samsung says it improves durability. The company says they are all “FHD+” resolutions, which usually means 2,220×1,080 pixels.
The camera can also be upgraded and supports HDR video recording on the 50-megapixel main camera. Like last year’s phones, the A36 also has an 8-megapixel Ultrawide and a 5-megapixel macro camera. The front camera changes from 13 megapixels to 13 megapixels, but supports 10-bit HDR video recording. It is worth noting that more megapixels do not mean better cameras.
HDR support can help images and videos have a greater dynamic range (the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of the image) and look more detailed and colorful. For night shooting, Samsung says larger pixels provide clearer, more vibrant images, with little noise even at extremely low light – larger pixels can collect more light and less image noise. Keep watching CNET’s tests to understand the camera’s performance.
Galaxy A36 5G runs Android 15 and Oneui 7.
You will find AI features on A36 Google’s Circle Searchnow you can also translate text on the screen and recognize music. Samsung debuts these new features on its flagship Galaxy S25 January lineup. AI-powered photo editing tools include an enhanced object eraser that now allows you to select multiple objects to delete, and a filter feature that allows you to create custom filters based on any photo. For example, if you have a sunset shot and like the tone of the image, you can also apply that filter to other photos. Editorial recommendations will use AI to analyze images and provide suggestions to improve images, such as removing shadows or reflections.
The A36 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, not the Exynos 1380 Galaxy A35. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Samsung says there is also a larger cooling system that can better dissipate heat and optimize for gameplay and streaming.
The Galaxy A36 will be available on March 26 for black and lavender prices. Exclusive lime versions are also available through Best Buy.
Read more: Best Android phones in 2025
Samsung Galaxy A26: $300
The Galaxy A26 5H costs $300.
(even cheaper) Galaxy S26 is also thinner than its predecessor Galaxy A258.3 mm. It also has a larger FHD+ display due to the reduced bezel, matching the A36’s 6.5-inch. It has a refresh rate of 120Hz.
Although last year’s A25 had glass front and rear, the A26 went with the Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, both front and rear, just like the A36. The frame keeps plastic. Like last year’s model, the A26 has a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera, an 8-megapixel speeding camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 13-megapixel selfie camera.
The Galaxy A26 5G is the cheapest of Samsung’s new A-series phones.
Despite the low price, you’ll still get AI features like photo editing suggestions and object erasers, as well as the circles you want to search for. The A26 runs the Exynos 1380 chipset and comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has scalable memory up to 2TB and comes with a 5,000 mAh battery.
The A26 will be available on March 28, with only black available.
Read more: These are the best camera phones in 2025
Samsung Galaxy A56: $500
To complete the trio, the Galaxy A56 has a 6.7-inch display and a 5,000 mAh battery, and like the A36, it supports 45-watt charging. Powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset, the A56 also features a larger steam chamber that helps you play games and watch longer videos.
The A56 has a 50-megapixel width camera, a 12-megapixel speeding camera, and a 5-megapixel macro camera. Compared to the Galaxy A55’s 32-megapixel front camera, the selfie camera has a 12-megapixel sensor 12- or 8 megapixels image After the pixel box is finished. Samsung says the selfie camera also gets 10-bit HDR support, and the low-noise mode helps take sharper, low-light photos.
The feature available on the A56 is called Best Faces, which can help you pin a group photo by choosing the best way to express up to five people and then combining them into one image. This is similar to Google’s name and execution – The best Features in the pixel series. The A56 also has enhanced object eraser and filter capabilities.
Samsung has not shared the A56’s color options, and it only says it will be available later this year.
Samsung Galaxy A56, A36 and A26 specifications
Samsung Galaxy A56 5G | Samsung Galaxy A36 5G | Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
---|---|---|---|
Display size, technology, resolution, refresh rate | 6.7-inch AMOLED; FHD+; 120Hz refresh rate | 6.7-inch AMOLED; FHD+; 120Hz refresh rate | 6.7-inch AMOLED; FHD+; 120Hz refresh rate |
Pixel density | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Dimensions (in inches) | 6.39 x 3.05 x 0.29 in | 6.41 x 3.08 x 0.29 in | 6.46 x 3.05 x 0.3o in |
Dimensions (mm) | 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm | 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm | 164 x 77.5 x 7.7 mm |
Weight (g, ounces) | 198G (6.94 oz) | 195G (6.89 oz) | 200G (7.05 oz) |
Mobile software | Android 15 | Android 15 | Android 15 |
camera | 50 megapixels (width), 12 megapixels (super speed), 5 megapixels (macro) | 50 megapixels (width), 8 megapixels (super speed), 5 megapixels (macro) | 50 megapixels (width), 8 megapixels (super speed), 2 megapixels (macro) |
Front camera | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels | 13 megapixels |
Video Capture | TBD | TBD | TBD |
processor | Exynos 1580 | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 | Exynos 1380 |
RAM + Storage | 8GB + 128GB | 6GB + 128GB | 6GB + 128GB |
Scalable storage | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing |
Battery | 5,000 mah | 5,000 mah | 5,000 mah |
Fingerprint sensor | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
Headphone jack | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing |
Special features | Galaxy AI, Oneui 7, Loop Search, Best Surface, Object Rubber, 6th Generation Android OS, 6 years of software and security support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR record, 1,200 Nits Nits Peak Brightness | Galaxy AI, Oneui 7, Loop Search, Object Rubber, 6th Generation Android OS, 6 years of software and security support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR record, 1,900 Nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus Plus | Galaxy AI, OnOUI 7, Loop Search, Object Rubber, 6th Generation Android OS, 6 years of software and security support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR record, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus |
US prices from | $500 (128GB) | $400 (128GB) | $300 (128GB) |
UK prices from | Convert to £400 | Convert to £320 | Convert to £240 |
Prices from Australia | Convert to $805 | Convert to $645 | Convert to $485 |