Samsung launched a couple of new units in its budget-minded Galaxy A line at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Say good day to the Galaxy A26 ($299.99) and the Galaxy A36 ($399.99), which will probably be accessible beginning March 26 and March 28, respectively. Samsung additionally confirmed off the extra highly effective Galaxy A56 ($499.99), which is slated to reach later this 12 months.
Here is what it’s essential to find out about Samsung’s newest reasonably priced handsets and our first ideas.
Galaxy A36 5G: Colourful and Smooth
The Galaxy A36 succeeds final 12 months’s wonderful Galaxy A35. The general design hasn’t modified an excessive amount of, however there’s quite a bit to put your eyes on. It measures 6.41 by 3.08 by 0.29 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.88 ounces. This cellphone is taller, wider, thinner, and lighter than the A35 (6.37 by 3.07 by 0.32 inches, 7.37 ounces). From the entrance, the units look almost similar with the entrance dominated by the show.
Left to proper: Galaxy A36 in Superior Black, Superior White, Superior Lime, and Superior Lavender (Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
The A36 contains a 6.7-inch display screen with a decision of two,340 by 1,080 pixels, a refresh price of 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. This is identical decision and refresh price because the A35’s 6.6-inch show however brighter than the outgoing cellphone’s 1,000-nit brightness. Samsung additionally made the A36 sturdy, with an IP67 ranking for defense towards mud and water, together with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the back and front (the identical because the A35).
(Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
This machine has a premium really feel and is well-assembled with apparent consideration to suit and end. The slim bezels across the display screen and general design staunchly evoke the Galaxy S aesthetic.
Inside, the A36 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip; the A35 makes use of Samsung’s personal Exynos 1380 processor. Each have a 5,000mAh battery, however the A36 is able to charging at as much as 45W, which is an enormous soar from the A35’s 25W max. The A36 is available in one configuration with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is identical because the A35. Samsung says the A36 has the same-sized cooling system because the $999.99 Galaxy S24+, which ought to let this machine carry out at a excessive stage with out getting too scorching.
High to backside: Galaxy A36 in Superior Lime, Superior Lavender, Superior White, and Superior Black (Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
Within the US, the machine is offered in Superior Black, Superior Lavender, and Superior Lime, which is a Greatest Purchase unique. A white mannequin can be accessible, however not within the US market. The shine on the rear panel makes these colours enjoyable with an iridescent end; Superior Black is principally a mirror.
Galaxy A36 in Superior Lime (Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
As for cameras, the A36 has a 12MP f/2.2 front-facing digicam, which is a tad decrease decision than the A35’s 13MP selfie digicam. The A36 is able to taking pictures video in HDR from the entrance for the primary time. Three cameras are on the rear inside a pill-shaped digicam island, which is a minor change from the island-less A35. There is a 50MP f/1.8 important shooter with optical picture stabilization, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide digicam, and a 5MP f/2.4 macro digicam.
(Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
The A36 will ship with Android 15 together with Samsung’s One UI 7 atop it. This software program layer contains some Galaxy AI options, although not the complete suite accessible to the Galaxy S25 line. It will get an enhanced model of Circle to Search that may search out photographs, textual content, and music. Samsung’s good object eraser can be on board. It may recommend issues to delete from photographs and intelligently take away issues like associated shadows.
Samsung is difficult different cellphone makers as a result of the A36 will obtain six OS upgrades and 6 years of safety patches. The A35 supplied 4 OS updates and 5 years of safety updates (which can be a very long time within the Android world). The A36 looks like a cellphone for the long term.
Galaxy A26 5G: Harder Than Ever
Galaxy A26 (Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
The Galaxy A26 succeeds the A25 and will get a variety of delicate enhancements. The machine feels effectively constructed with good consideration to element. The U-shaped digicam notch and thick bezel under the display screen are the one giveaways that this can be a price range machine.
The display screen is a 6.7-inch panel with a decision of two,340 by 1,080 pixels and a 120Hz refresh price that reaches 1,200 nits (identical to the A36). The outgoing A25 has a 6.5-inch show on the identical decision and refresh price.
Left to proper: Galaxy A26, A36 (Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
The Galaxy A26 is now IP67 rated, which is a gigantic enchancment over the A25, which lacked any IP ranking. The A26’s back and front glass is Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, one other improve over the A25’s Gorilla Glass 5 and plastic again. They each use a plastic body, although.
You will discover the digicam array from the A25 on the A26. Which means a 50MP important shooter with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide digicam, and a 2MP macro digicam on the again, with a 13MP front-facing digicam. The rear cameras are encapsulated in a vertical capsule just like the A36.
(Credit score: Iyaz Akhtar)
Samsung upgraded the processor. The A26 makes use of an Exynos 1380, whereas the A25 makes use of the older Exynos 1280. The A26 additionally comes with Android 15 and Samsung’s One UI 7. It will get entry to all the identical tips the A36 does, with an enhanced Circle to Search, object eraser, and modifying ideas. A 5,000mAh battery powers the machine, although it expenses at a slower 25W by way of wire.
Beneficial by Our Editors
The A26 enjoys the identical assist window because the A36: that is six OS updates and 6 years of safety patches on a sub-$300 cellphone.
It is a scrappy, reasonably priced cellphone that can actually problem different low-cost telephones on worth.
Galaxy A56 5G: A Funds iPhone Killer?
I did not get to see the A56 in particular person, however Samsung shared the required particulars.
This machine is much like the opposite two new Galaxy A telephones. It has the identical 6.7-inch show, an IP67 ranking, the identical glass, a 5,000mAh battery, a six-year assist window, and the identical important 50MP digicam. In any other case, its imaging system features a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide digicam and a 5MP f/2.4 macro digicam on the rear, with a 12MP f/2.2 front-facing digicam.
It is slightly shorter and narrower than the A36, measuring 6.39 by 3.05 by 0.29 inches and weighing 6.98 ounces. The A56 contains 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and may cost at 45W wired. Like the opposite two units, the A56 comes with Android 15 and One UI 7 and has entry to the identical options listed above. The Galaxy A56 may very well be competitor to the $599 Apple iPhone 16e.
We look ahead to reviewing Samsung’s newest reasonably priced handsets within the weeks forward. Within the meantime, learn our Galaxy S25 Ultra assessment to be taught extra about Galaxy AI.
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About Iyaz Akhtar
Cellular Analyst
