Following the launch of its newest flagship smartphones, Samsung as we speak is introducing the brand new Galaxy A collection lineup, which incorporates the A36 5G and A26 5G. (There’s additionally an A56 5G, however the firm is holding off on sharing all the small print for now.)
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These new fashions are the primary of their type to characteristic enhanced AI capabilities, extra highly effective chipsets, and a refreshed feel and appear that is akin to the extra premium Samsung fashions — all whereas sustaining a budget-friendly value to supply nice worth. I received an opportunity to go hands-on with the telephones forward of their launch, and listed below are the perfect new options you need to find out about.
A(wesome) I(ntelligence)
A key improve throughout all new A collection fashions is Superior Intelligence, an AI expertise that brings choose options from Samsung’s flagship gadgets to the extra reasonably priced A collection. Powered by One UI 7, it consists of Circle to Search, which permits customers to circle any a part of the display screen for fast help — whether or not it is a internet search, cellphone name, or discovering a music.
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The suite additionally options Object Eraser, an AI software that lets customers take away undesirable objects from pictures by merely tapping the world to be erased, with the AI filling within the background. Moreover, the brand new A collection gadgets will embody Filters, enabling customers to create customized photograph filters.
The A56 mannequin additionally provides Finest Face, a characteristic that permits customers to swap an individual’s expression in a bunch photograph for a extra flattering one. With these AI instruments in thoughts, let’s study every system’s specs.
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
The Galaxy A36 5G options upgrades throughout the board, with enhancements in show, digicam, processor, and battery. The A36’s refreshed design encompasses a linear lens structure with a triple digicam array, which features a 50MP OIS primary lens, 8MP ultra-wide, and 5MP macro. The entrance digicam has additionally been upgraded to 12MP, much like the one on the Galaxy S25 lineup — although post-processing and the way the system presents the captured picture could differr.
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The A36 5G show is a bit bigger and brighter than final yr’s A35, boasting a 6.7-inch Tremendous AMOLED show with a easy 120Hz refresh fee and a peak brightness of 1200 nits, supreme even underneath direct daylight, in line with Samsung. Regardless of the rise in display screen dimension, it has a slimmer and lighter kind issue, weighing 195g in comparison with the 209g on final yr’s A35. Like its predecessor, the cellphone nonetheless has an IP67 ranking for water and mud resistance.
Regardless of being lighter and extra reasonably priced, the cellphone felt surprisingly comparable within the hand to the costlier Galaxy S25. The load and match have been excellent, giving it a premium really feel that you just would not count on at this value.
The cellphone additionally obtained a number of upgrades underneath the hood. It’s now powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, transferring away from Samsung’s Exynos chipset, a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging, up from its predecessors’ 25W ranking, and a bigger cooling system.
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You will get all of this, together with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, for a beginning value of $399. The A36 5G is accessible in Superior Black, Superior Lavender, and Superior Lime, the latter of which will likely be solely out there at Finest Purchase starting March 26. The 2 brighter colours are additionally iridescent and present a rainbow sheen when held at sure angles.
Lastly, Samsung is now promising six years of OS and safety updates, up from 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety updates for previous fashions. This ensures that customers will have the ability to benefit from newer options for longer and, because of this, prolong how lengthy they maintain the cellphone earlier than needing to improve.
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
The mid-tier Galaxy A26 5G additionally obtained a number of upgrades, together with a design much like the A36 5G with a glass again cowl, changing the plastic one on the A25. It encompasses a triple digicam array with a 50MP primary digicam, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro lens, alongside a 13MP front-facing selfie digicam.
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The A26’s show is now a bigger 6.7-inch Tremendous AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh fee, made attainable by decreasing the bezel dimension. It additionally boasts an IP67 ranking for water and mud resistance, a notable characteristic at its value level.
Further upgrades embody the brand new Exynos 1380 chipset (in comparison with the Exynos 1280), six years of OS/safety updates, and comparable Superior Intelligence options as its larger sibling. Priced at $299, the A26 will likely be out there in solely Black beginning March 28.
What in regards to the A56 5G?
The Galaxy A56 5G will launch later this yr, so particulars about colours, availability, and kind issue stay within the air. Samsung did share that it’ll have the identical show, water and mud resistance, cameras, and battery because the Galaxy A36 5G, whereas the reminiscence will likely be a bit larger at 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The cellphone is recommended to retail for $499. We’ll have to face by for what extra Samsung gives with the mannequin to justify the upper value.
