Samsung’s new Galaxy A57 arrives as a surprisingly premium-feeling mid‑range phone that could shake up the 2026 budget Android race. The handset pairs a glass‑and‑aluminium chassis with a notably slim 6.9mm profile and a 179g weight, and ships with several hardware and software upgrades over last year’s A56 that led TechRadar AU’s phones editor to seriously consider using it as a daily Android device. Samsung has nudged the price up to $549 / £529 / AU$749, but the company has also made the phone thinner, lighter and better equipped than its predecessor.
Physically the A57 stands out next to rivals: it is thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A56 (7.4mm, 198g) and far slimmer than Google’s Pixel 10a (9mm). Thin bezels and a metal frame give it a flagship look that contrasts with the Pixel’s plastic back. Inside, Samsung fits an Exynos 1680 chipset, which brings more on‑device AI features to the A‑series without the full Galaxy AI suite reserved for S‑series flagships.
That Exynos boost unlocks practical features such as Live Transcription and enhanced Circle to Search that were once S‑series exclusives. The reviewer framed this as a strength: the A57 offers useful AI functions without the excess of niche features found on some flagships. Battery life is also competitive — a 5,000mAh cell equal to the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s capacity — and the phone supports 45W wired fast charging (the base S26 is 25W). Wireless charging is absent.
Market pricing shifts matter: in Australia the A57’s 128GB model starts at AU$749, undercutting the Pixel 10a (AU$849) and the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro (AU$949 for 256GB). In the US and UK the math is less clear‑cut: the A57’s $549 / £529 sticker sits above the Pixel 10a’s $499 / £499. The Pixel 10a itself offers modest change from the 9a — a flat back and improved battery life via software tweaks — and lacks Qi2 magnets (PixelSnap), leaving it a muted contender in this round.
A third contender, Nothing’s Phone (4a) Pro, impressed the reviewer most. Its all‑metal build, Glyph Matrix camera display and minimalist NothingOS combine design flair with useful features; the device is thicker and heavier (8mm, 210g) but feels premium. Pricing for the 256GB (and only) Australian model sits at $599 / £549 / AU$949. The reviewer concluded that if Nothing had stronger cameras it might even replace their iPhone 16 Pro Max, but overall all three mid‑range phones now offer capabilities approaching those of flagships — so the best pick depends on whether you prioritise design, stock‑like software, AI features or price.
Original Source: https://www.techradar.com/phones/samsung-galaxy-phones/samsungs-new-budget-galaxy-a57-looks-like-a-flagship-but-how-does-it-stack-against-the-other-new-mid-range-android-phones
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Publish Date: 2026-04-25 05:30:00
