Discover Samsung’s Exciting New Affordable Galaxy A Phones Unveiled at MWC!

Samsung has just introduced three new midrange phones: the Galaxy A56 for $500, the A36 for $400, and the A26 for $300. These phones come with bigger screens, faster processors, and new AI features. I checked them out at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and they felt surprisingly upscale for their prices. The bright screens, glass backs, and Samsung’s latest software, One UI 7, really stand out.

In contrast to Apple’s recent $599 iPhone 16E, which is aimed at budget shoppers, the new Galaxy A series shows that Samsung can offer truly affordable phones loaded with features like Android 15 and Google’s Circle to Search tool. All three models come with six years of OS and security updates, robust security through Samsung’s Knox Vault, and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

Here’s what you need to know about the Galaxy A36, A26, and A56.

Samsung Galaxy A36: $400

The Galaxy A36 is sleek at just 8.2mm thick and weighs 196 grams. It has a solid 5,000 mAh battery with 45-watt quick charging, which can top up the phone to about 70% in just 30 minutes. The display is now 6.7 inches with thinner bezels and a 120Hz refresh rate, making it smoother to use. Samsung claims a peak brightness of 1,900 nits, so it should be easy to see even in bright sunlight. The front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus Plus for added durability, and it boasts a resolution of 2,220×1,080 pixels.

The cameras also get a boost with a 50-megapixel main camera that supports HDR video recording. It’s joined by an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 5-megapixel macro camera. The front camera is now 12 megapixels and can shoot 10-bit HDR video. More pixels don’t always equal better photos, but Samsung says that low-light performance improves with larger pixels that minimize noise.

The A36 features AI enhancements like Circle to Search, which can translate text and identify music. It also comes with photo editing tools like an Object Eraser that lets you remove multiple objects from a picture and customizable filters.

This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and has 6GB of RAM with 128GB of storage. Samsung has added a larger cooling system for better heat management during gaming and streaming. The Galaxy A36 will be available on March 26 in black and lavender, along with a special lime version at Best Buy.

Samsung Galaxy A26: $300

The Galaxy A26 offers great value at $300 and is also thinner at 7.7mm, compared to last year’s model. It sports a 6.5-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, although it’s slightly dimmer than the A36. The bezels are a bit more noticeable here, especially at the bottom of the phone.

Like the A36, both the front and back feature Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, enhancing durability. However, the A26 doesn’t feel as premium due to its plastic frame. It’s still smooth and responsive, though.

The A26 runs on the Exynos 1380 chipset, features 6GB of RAM, and has 128GB of storage. You can also expand the storage up to 2TB. The phone packs the same 5,000 mAh battery and will be available on March 28 in black.

Samsung Galaxy A56: $500

The Galaxy A56, priced at $500, also has a 6.7-inch display and a 5,000 mAh battery with 45-watt charging. It’s powered by Exynos 1580 and has a larger cooling system for better performance during extended use.

In terms of cameras, the A56 includes a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 5-megapixel macro camera. The front camera has a 12-megapixel sensor and supports 10-bit HDR. An added feature on the A56 is Best Face, which lets you select the best expressions from multiple people in a single group photo. Samsung also upgraded the Object Eraser and Filter features on this model.

Details on color options haven’t been shared yet, but the A56 I previewed was white. It feels similar to the A36 regarding weight and screen brightness. The A56 will be available later this year.

Samsung Galaxy A56, A36 and A26 specs

	Samsung Galaxy A56 5G	Samsung Galaxy A36 5G	Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
Display size, tech, 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 (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 0.30 in
Dimensions (millimeters)	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 (grams, ounces)	198g (6.94 oz.)	195g (6.89 oz.)	200g (7.05 oz.)
Mobile software	Android 15	Android 15	Android 15
Camera	50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 5-megapixel (macro)	50-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultrawide), 5-megapixel (macro)	50-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultrawide), 2-megapixel (macro)
Front-facing camera	12-megapixel	12-megapixel	13-megapixel
Video capture	TBD	TBD	TBD
Processor	Exynos 1580	Snapdragon 6 Gen 3	Exynos 1380
RAM + storage	8GB + 128GB	6GB + 128GB	6GB + 128GB
Expandable storage	None	None	None
Battery	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	TBD	TBD	TBD
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	None	None	None
Special features	Galaxy AI, One UI 7, Circle To Search, Best Face, Object Eraser, 6 years of software support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR recording, 1,200 nits brightness	Galaxy AI, One UI 7, Circle To Search, Object Eraser, 6 years of software support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR recording, 1,900 nits brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus	Galaxy AI, One UI 7, Circle To Search, Object Eraser, 6 years of software support, IP67 water and dust resistance, 10-bit HDR recording, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus
US price starts at	$500 (128GB)	$400 (128GB)	$300 (128GB)
UK price starts at	Converts to £400	Converts to £320	Converts to £240
Australia price starts at	Converts to AU$805	Converts to AU$645	Converts to AU$485