I Got a Look at Samsung’s New Affordable Galaxy A Phones at MWC
Samsung It has debuted its latest mid-range phone, the $500 Galaxy A56, the $400 A36 and the $300 A26. All three devices have larger displays, more powerful processors, and inevitable new AI capabilities. My first time looking at my phone Mobile World Congress In Barcelona, my first impression was that they were more expensive than the label due to their bright display, support for glass and the use of Samsung’s latest products. One UI 7.
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 one Cheap phone This is indeed affordable and Play new features such as Android 15 And Google’s Circle search tool. All phones can last for a while and have been underway for six years of operating system and security updates, Samsung’s Knox Vault For device security and privacy and IP67 rating, for dust and waterproofing.
Here’s everything about the Galaxy A36, A26 and A56.
Read more: MWC 2025: All phones, wearables, robots and AI from Barcelona
Samsung Galaxy A36: $400
The Galaxy A36 5G costs $400.
Galaxy A36 5G is 8.2mm thick and 196g, thinner and lighter than last year Galaxy A35 5G7.4 mm thick and 209 grams weight. 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 will test this once we review the device, so stay tuned.)
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.
In person, the display looks nice and bright, with the bezels still obvious, but not shocking. The phone has enough weight to help it feel more than its price suggests, but it is still completely lightweight.
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 a UI 7.
You will find AI features on the A36, such as Google’s Circle Search, which can now 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 has 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 A26 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.
The bezels on the A36 are more pronounced than those on the A26 and A56, especially on the bottom of the phone and around the camera. The monitor is also a little dim.
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. Despite the upgraded glass lining, the A26 is not as good as the A36 and A56. But it has a smooth interface and is highly responsive, just like its series sisters.
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
In 2025, the Galaxy A series comes in three models: the Galaxy A36 (left), the Galaxy A26 (right), and the Galaxy A56 (not shown).
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 hasn’t shared the A56’s color options yet, but the version I’ve viewed quickly is white. It feels similar to the A36 in terms of weight, thickness and feel, and the screen brightness is comparable.
The A56 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, 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, 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 |
Australian prices from | Convert to $805 | Convert to $645 | Convert to $485 |