Samsung has launched various mid-rangers phones in 2025. After announcing Galaxy A56 & Galaxy A36, the next to debut without much fanfare is the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G. Samsung is offering some upgrades with this one, which weren’t seen on its predecessor Galaxy A25 launched in 2024. This time around, Galaxy A26 comes with a big 6.7-inch AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, 5000mAh battery, IP67 certification, along with a premium design and a faster processor, and all this for under 25,000 INR.
Moreover, even at a price point of under 25K, Galaxy A26 is packed with Samsung AI features. Above all this, it comes with some other capabilities that make it an impressive mid-ranger. So, how does all this hold up in real-time performance? Will the Galaxy A26 5G be able to make its mark in the under 25K segment of smartphones? Let us find out in this review.
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Samsung Galaxy A26 Price & Availability
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G comes in Awesome Black, Awesome Mint, and Awesome Peach hues. It comes in two storage configurations-
- 8GB RAM+128GB storage- Rs. 24,999
- 8GB RAM+256GB storage-Rs. 27,999
It can be purchased via Flipkart and Samsung India stores online and is available offline too. HDFC and SBI credit card holders will get Rs. 2000 off, bringing the price down to Rs. 22,999 and Rs. 25,999.
Pros
- 120Hz AMOLED display
- Premium build & design
- Good selfie camera
- 6 years of software support
- IP67 certification
Cons
- Old-fashioned waterdrop notch
- The camera setup needs improvement
- Slow charging speed
- No adapter inside the box
- Mono speaker
Samsung Galaxy A26 Review: Design and Build
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G showcases a sleek yet durable design. Upon unboxing, it feels ordinary at first, but gradually provides a premium feel. The back panel and frame are constructed from plastic, yet Samsung has delivered an exceptionally refined finish, giving it an appealing appearance.
The glossy back panel resists smudges and fingerprints effectively. Additionally, despite being made of polycarbonate, it offers a secure grip and does not easily slip from the hand. The rear panel is equipped with three camera sensors positioned at the top-left corner, without a protruding camera module, resulting in a streamlined aesthetic for the smartphone’s back.
In recent months, companies have prioritized creating slimmer devices, and this trend is evident in the Galaxy A26, which measures just 7.7mm in thickness. Samsung has also included ingress protection with an IP67 rating, ensuring durability against water and dust. Although the device weighs approximately 200 grams, which may give it a bulkier feel, this weight contributes to a solid and sturdy grip.
The front features a flat display surrounded by thick bezels, particularly a more pronounced bottom chin compared to the other sides, giving the design a conventional appearance. It includes a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera, which has largely disappeared from many modern smartphones, making it seem somewhat outdated. Nevertheless, these minor issues do not affect the overall daily usage experience, and the display performance remains satisfactory.
Overall, the Galaxy A26’s design is ideal for users seeking a durable device at a reasonable price, without a focus on aesthetics.
Samsung Galaxy A26 Review: Display
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G features an exceptional display within its category, boasting a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED screen that provides a luxurious feel and experience. This iteration not only enhances the display size but also improves color quality. Whether you’re watching videos or gaming, the display delivers sharp visuals and vibrant colors for all activities.
The device features a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring that scrolling and animation transitions are exceptionally smooth. Whether you’re rapidly scrolling through social media or experiencing quick page loads while browsing, this smooth refresh rate enhances your experience across the board. While you can select between 60Hz and 120Hz, the Super AMOLED panel provides deep blacks and impressive contrast.
Samsung has not specified the brightness level supported by the A26, but the device faces challenges in bright outdoor environments. Reading text or viewing content on the screen becomes difficult in direct sunlight, although it is still possible with some effort. Nevertheless, considering its price of under 30k, this seems acceptable. The Full HD+ resolution provides good visual quality and detail for videos. You can enjoy HD content on streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video, and it also comes with Widevine L1 certification.
Overall, the display of the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G is decent, but due to thick bezels and a low brightness level, it isn’t the best in the segment.
Samsung Galaxy A26 Review: Software
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G comes pre-installed with One UI 7 on Android 15. A standout feature of this device is Samsung’s commitment to providing 6 OS and security updates, a rarity in its price range. Additionally, the Galaxy A26 includes several advanced AI features, which, while fewer than those found in the Galaxy A56 and A36, are still quite impressive.
The AI Select and Object Eraser features, previously available on the Galaxy A56 and A36, are now also present on the A26, albeit with restricted functionality. AI Select enhances on-screen content, while Object Eraser allows for the removal of unwanted objects and individuals from images. Additionally, it includes Google’s Circle to Search and Filters features, which improve color and visual quality. However, due to its limited capabilities, the effectiveness of these features is somewhat diminished.
When discussing software, the Galaxy A26 provides a sleek and efficient user interface that operates effectively, though there are areas that could be enhanced. Overall, within this price range, the standout feature is the Awesome Intelligence, which offers users AI functionalities at a reasonable cost.
Samsung Galaxy A26 Review: Performance
The Galaxy A26 is equipped with the older Exynos 1380 chipset, which was also used in the Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A35. This chipset features 4 Cortex-A78 cores operating at 2.4GHz and 4 Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz. For graphics, it utilizes the Mali-G68 MP5 GPU with a clock speed of 950MHz. The device comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 2TB via a microSD card. Samsung has implemented UFS 2.2 storage technology, providing average performance.
The Galaxy A26 demonstrates solid performance in daily activities. My experience involved social media browsing, video streaming, multitasking, making calls, and photography, all of which were smooth without any noticeable lags. However, I did encounter minor delays when opening multiple apps at once or playing resource-intensive games. Additionally, benchmark tests indicated that it does not rank among the top performers in its price category.
The Galaxy A26 5G may not be the ideal choice for gamers. While games such as COD Mobile and BGMI perform well on medium graphic settings, enabling high graphics can lead to noticeable frame drops. Below are the results from benchmarking tests.
Samsung Galaxy A26 Review: Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy A26 retains the same camera configuration as its predecessor, the Galaxy A25. It boasts a triple-lens arrangement on the rear, distinguishing it from many competitors in this category that typically offer a dual-camera setup. The rear cameras include a 50MP main lens, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. For selfies and video calls, it is equipped with a 13MP front-facing camera.
The primary sensor performs effectively for daylight photography, capturing good images in bright conditions. However, it struggles in indoor or low-light environments, resulting in reduced detail and sharpness. While color reproduction is generally satisfactory and HDR functions well, focus issues can occasionally arise. There is also a 50MP mode available that provides slightly more detailed images, though the difference compared to the standard mode is not significant.
Photos taken with 2x zoom exhibit less detail, appear softer, and contain more noise, but given the price point, such performance is to be expected.
When transitioning from the main sensor to the ultrawide sensor, there is a noticeable shift in color. Although the 8MP images maintain reasonable color and contrast, they lack the sharpness of the main sensor and exhibit a limited dynamic range.
Macro camera is for namesake only. This 2MP sensor with fixed focus takes average shots in good lighting conditions, still its photos aren’t detailed at all.
Regarding the selfie camera, I was pleasantly surprised by the 13MP sensor. It takes impressive selfies with natural color representation. The sensor effectively captures skin tones, resulting in detailed images. It also performs admirably in slightly low-light conditions.
When discussing low-light photography, the main sensor of the Galaxy A26 automatically activates night mode, which enhances brightness and minimizes noise compared to standard mode. However, the outcomes are not particularly remarkable. Nighttime shots exhibit slight color alterations, and a noticeable softness is present in these images. Additionally, the performance of the 2x zoom and ultrawide sensors also declines in low-light situations.
For video recording, the primary sensor can record 4k videos at 30fps, but without EIS, 4K videos look shaky. In 1080p mode, stabilization is better.
Overall, the Galaxy A26 features a satisfactory primary sensor, particularly appealing to selfie enthusiasts. However, if your focus is on photography, this camera configuration may not fully meet your expectations.
Samsung Galaxy A26 Review: Battery Life and Charging
The Samsung Galaxy A26 features a 5000mAh battery, which appears quite standard given current market trends. In this price segment, there are other smartphones equipped with larger batteries. Samsung had the opportunity to include a more powerful battery in this 7.7mm device. Although the Exynos 1380 is recognized for its energy efficiency, the battery still provides approximately 6 hours of screen time on a single charge.
Under normal usage, the battery lasts throughout the day; however, with intensive use, it will require charging sooner. My activities included benchmark testing, browsing WhatsApp, scrolling through Instagram, and playing Call of Duty for an hour, after which 10% of the battery remained.
The charging speed of the A26 is notably slower than that of its competitors in the same segment, which is disappointing. It offers 25W wired charging support, significantly lower than the 80W charging speeds available in rival models. Using a standard adapter, the Galaxy A26 takes approximately 1.5 hours to fully charge from 0 to 100%.
One positive aspect is the inclusion of battery health features, such as the option to limit charging to 80% or 90%, which promotes a healthier and more durable battery life. However, Samsung has not included a charger in the packaging, unlike competitors like Realme, Motorola, Redmi, and Poco, who continue to provide an adapter with their smartphones.
The battery performance of the Galaxy A26 is satisfactory for everyday tasks; however, it falls short during gaming, extensive browsing, or prolonged streaming. Additionally, its charging speed is not as competitive as other devices in its category.
Review Verdict: Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy A26?
The Samsung Galaxy A26 has been launched, featuring notable enhancements such as a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, an IP67 rating, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, support for micro SD cards, and additional improvements. Furthermore, the company has committed to providing six software updates, ensuring its readiness for the future.
Nonetheless, even with the enhancements, the Galaxy A26 falls short when compared to its competitors in the same price bracket. For instance, the POCO X7 Pro and Moto Edge 50 Fusion offer superior performance, quicker charging, an included adapter, and additional features.
The Samsung Galaxy A26 has its own set of drawbacks, which cannot be overlooked by all users. These issues include a waterdrop notch, insufficient brightness, mediocre camera quality, average battery life, slower charging speeds, and more. Additionally, the Galaxy A26 5G lacks stereo speakers. Collectively, these disadvantages make the Galaxy A26 appear less appealing to many potential buyers.
If you appreciate dependable Samsung software, the brand’s AMOLED display, and extended software updates, the Galaxy A26 offers all these features, providing the reliability associated with Samsung, making it suitable for brand-conscious consumers.
Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 8.0/10
- Design and Build:7.5/10
- Display: 8/10
- Speakers: 7/10
- Software: 8/10
- Haptics: 7/10
- Biometrics: 8/10
- Performance: 9/10
- Cameras: 8/10
- Battery Life & Charging: 9.5/10
First reviewed in April 2025.
