The best Samsung A-series phones (2026)
It’s common for many smartphone brands to pair their premium range with a more affordable set of options. For Samsung, that is the Galaxy A Series: its budget-friendly offering that sits alongside the Galaxy S Series range. But which is the best Samsung Galaxy A-series phone for you?
In this guide, we’ll run down the best Samsung A-series phones you can buy, so you can find the ideal handset to match your needs.
How to choose an A-Series phone
Many A-Series handsets share similar features, so when deciding which is the best option for you, consider what it is you need from your device. If you want a sizeable display, all of the phones below feature a 6.7” screen. If overall size is important, the A57 5G is the slimmest of the bunch and a joy to carry around.
Connectivity and budget should also be considerations. The A16 doesn’t support 5G wireless, so if you’re used to browsing the internet or streaming with ultra-fast speeds, one of the other phones might be better for you. The A16 and A17 are the most budget-friendly A-Series handsets on this list, however, making them excellent choices for kids or those who don’t need all the bells and whistles.
1 - Samsung Galaxy A57 5G
• Choose this phone if: You’re willing to spend a bit more for leading A-series specs
• Things to consider: The A57 is one of the pricier A-series phones on this list, so keep this in mind when considering your budget
Our pick for the best Samsung A-Series phone is the Galaxy A57 5G: a sophisticated handset that brilliantly balances affordability and performance. Images burst to life on the 6.7” Super AMOLED Plus display, with a 120Hz refresh rate for silky-smooth gaming, streaming and browsing.
Lighter and slimmer than its predecessor, the refreshed camera setup takes centre stage, comprised of 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP wide and 5MP macro cameras for capturing detailed photos, all in Super HDR for enhanced colour contrasts. Photography buffs will love the snappier shutter speed, too.
Powered by an octa-core processor and featuring an advanced cooling system, the Galaxy A57 5G can seamlessly manage demanding tasks such as switching between apps and long gaming sessions. There’s also Awesome Intelligence, which comes with AI-powered features such as Circle to Search and AI Select. The latter enables the Galaxy A57 to provide suggestions based on what you’re looking at on the screen, be it to create a GIF or note down a recipe.
Rounding out the excellent A57 5G is the 5,000mAh battery, providing up to 29 hours of video playback. Not even the Galaxy S25 or S25 + match the A57 5G for sheer battery capacity.
2 - Samsung Galaxy A37 5G
• Choose this phone if: You don’t want or need the A57’s extra features
• Things to consider: The A37 uses an older Exynos 1480 processor, so don’t expect similar levels of performance
If you want a capable budget-focused Samsung phone but don’t need the best-of-the-best, the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G might be the top A-series phone for you.
The 6.7” Super AMOLED display serves up immersive visuals and supports 1,900 nits peak brightness for exceptional visibility, particularly in direct sunlight. The Galaxy A37’s brightness level makes it a great travel companion, enabling you to clearly see the screen while outdoors. It’s worth noting that the A37’s screen is surrounded by chunkier bezels compared to the A57 at the top of our list, so whilst the display is equally stunning, it’s not quite as immersive.
In the performance department, the Galaxy A37 5G holds its own. The Exynos 1480 processor can handle most gaming and streaming tasks with ease. This processor also supports the A37’s Awesome Intelligence features, providing the horsepower necessary to ensure they run efficiently.
Speaking of Awesome Intelligence, it can have a profound effect on photo editing. Features such as Object Eraser are ideal for aspiring photographers and help maximise the 50MP wide-angle and 12MP front camera’s capabilities. Overall, we loved the A37’s camera features; particularly for the price.
The Galaxy A37 5G is an exemplary handset where the battery is concerned, too, sporting a 5,000mAh unit. On the off-chance you make full use of the 29 hours of video playback, 45W Super-Fast Charge ensures you can power it back up in no time.
3 - Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
• Choose this phone if: You want long-term software support and don’t need the performance power of phones like the A57
• Things to consider: The A26 is a delight to use, but it’s not as water-resistant as other phones on this list. Keep that in mind if you’re after a truly durable handset
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G packs in a range of impressive features comparable with more premium handsets. Its slim design is not too dissimilar from the A56 5G, with a raised camera bump and glossy exterior. On the front, you have a stunning 6.7” Super AMOLED display that delivers on-screen visuals in brilliant detail.
Durability on the Galaxy A26 5G is comparable to the A57, with IP67 dust and water resistance and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protecting the handset from scuffs and scratches. Whilst its CPU isn’t as fast, the Exynos 1380 is still a reliable processor, so streaming and gaming are consistently a joy. Samsung’s built-in security system, Knox Vault, is also included to safeguard sensitive data, supported by operating system upgrades for lasting security.
Powering the Galaxy A26 is a similar 5,000mAh battery, with up to 17 hours of streaming time. The charging speeds don’t quite match other A-series handsets, but 25W wired charging is nothing to sniff at.
4 - Samsung Galaxy A27 5G
• Choose this phone if: You’re after an effective balance between features and price
• Things to consider: The A27 isn’t the lightest or smallest phone here, weighing in at 200g
Next up in our recommendations is the Galaxy A27 5G, which matches most of the A-Series for size and excels with a fantastic set of cameras.
The key to why the A27 impresses as a camera phone is its versatility. The camera array consists of a 50MP main lens, a 2MP macro camera and 5MP ultra-wide lens, which enable you to take a variety of photos with impressive detail. Higher pixel counts are essential if you’re capturing large images that will be cropped when editing, and so whilst the A27’s macro and depth lenses don’t usurp more premium camera phones, at this price you’re still getting fantastic image quality.
There’s also minimal lag when taking photos, thanks to the Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset’s image processor. This continues the trend of A-series phones including fast and powerful chipsets that don’t break the bank.
If you’re looking for an exceptionally portable A-series phone, we’d suggest looking at the Galaxy A17. The A27 is on the heavier side at 200g, so it isn’t as comfortable to carry around for long periods of time.
5 - Samsung Galaxy A17 5G
• Choose this phone if: You want a Galaxy phone that can easily fit into most pockets, but doesn’t come with a flagship price tag
• Things to consider: The A17 is even less dust and water-resistant than the A26, sporting a IP54 rating
One of the slimmest – and most affordable - handsets in the A series is the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G, which is just 7.5mm thick. With no camera bump on the back either, this phone is incredibly pocket-friendly; ideal if you frequently travel.
Visually, the Galaxy A17 5G is a beauty thanks to the 6.7” Super AMOLED display. Games, films and everything in-between are showcased in vibrant detail, further boosted by the use of OLED technology that significantly enhances colour levels.
The triple camera set-up on the Galaxy A17 5G also impresses, featuring 50MP main, 5MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro lenses for capturing daily life. You won’t find many phones that are capable of producing excellent photos for a budget price.
Given the A17’s price range, it does come with some caveats. Galaxy AI features here are very limited, and you’re getting an IP54 ingress protection rating that doesn’t give the A17 a ton of durability.
6 - Samsung Galaxy A16 4G
• Choose this phone if: Budget is your main consideration, and you don’t need the best-of-the-best
• Things to consider: This is a 4G phone, so you’re limited to that older wireless technology
The oldest handset on this list is the Samsung Galaxy A16: a budget phone that packs a punch. This handset comes in three colours with a 6.7” FHD+ display which, with a 1080x2340 resolution, makes few sacrifices to visual quality.
We enjoyed our time with the A16 and were particularly impressed by the camera setup, which comprises a 50MP main camera for capturing stunning landscapes and a 2MP macro lens for extreme close-ups. This is a remarkable level of quality and versatility for such an affordable phone.
You’re getting generally similar performance here as on the A17, so you can use your phone for gaming, streaming or browsing with minimal lag. You can also get plenty of use out of the A16 thanks to the 5,000mAh battery, which can then be recharged via 25W charging support. Again, for the price you’re paying, this is an exceptional amount of battery life.