It’s lighter and slimmer, plus it’s just as speedy.

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The Galaxy A57 is the latest addition to Samsung’s mid-range Galaxy A Series line-up, which offers more affordable alternatives to the popular Galaxy S Series.

We managed to get our hands on the device ahead of the release just days ago and laid out our first impressions below. Is it too good to be true?

Note to readers: The Galaxy A57 is currently up to $50 off on Samsung’s website, with the 128GB model now just $709 while the 256GB device is on sale at $799.

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QUICK LINKS1-MINUTE REVIEW: SAMSUNG GALAXY A57

HOW WE TESTED THE SAMSUNG GALAXY A57

I swapped out the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for the Galaxy A57 for the past couple of weeks and used it as my daily driver for most things. This mainly included taking too many photos and videos, doom scrolling the YouTube blackhole for several hours straight, playing some light games, opening an endless amount of tabs on Google Chrome and only plugging the device in once I reached 1% charge.

DESIGN AND FEATURES

It may be an A-series model, but the Galaxy A57 really does feel and look very flagship-like. The 6.7-inch display is stunning, the build feels durable and nice in the hand, plus the device comes with up to six years of security updates.

Performance wise, the A57 provides pretty much the same fast and smooth experience as the latest S26 Ultra and other flagship models.

You can also expect the new-and-improved Bixby, which can help adjust settings easier using natural language (who remembers all the terminology anyway), as well as Gemini for a more seamless experience when you need to use multiple apps (including certain third-party apps) to complete one task.

The latest One UI 8.5 also means updates to Samsung’s Awesome Intelligence, such as my favourite Circle to Search. Although I wouldn’t say features like Object Eraser is as flawless compared to when you’re using it on the S models.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy A57 is slightly pricier than the previous Galaxy A56 (which surprisingly is still the same price) – now starting at $749 for $128GB compared to $699.

BATTERY LIFE

The Galaxy A57 maintains the same 5000 mAH battery capacity as many other Samsung models, and the same expected video playback time of up to 29 hours. I didn’t find any problems with it lasting all day, or experienced massive overheat when playing games or watching videos for several hours.

CAMERA

Honestly, the camera was a bit hit and miss. The photo and video quality can be pretty solid for the price and has left me with some surprisingly nice shots (even during the evening). However, sometimes the quality can be inconsistent and end up blurry, particularly under low lighting.

Macro mode isn’t the best either, although not the worst, and you can forget about flicking to 10x zoom because it’s likely to be just pure noise.

Honestly, the camera on the A57 is fine for updating family and friends on Facebook – but don’t expect anything wow-worthy.

If having a fantastic camera is important to you, as is staying with Samsung, maybe check out the Fan Edition range. Last year’s Galaxy S25 FE starts from $1099 and might be the next best thing without splurging on the S26, S26+ or previous S25 series.

HOW MUCH DOES THE SAMSUNG GALAXY A57 COST?

The Samsung Galaxy A57 retails between $749 and $849, depending on the storage option, in either Awesome Lilac or Awesome Navy.

• Samsung Galaxy A57 (128GB): $749(now on sale for $709)

• Samsung Galaxy A57 (256GB): $849 (now on sale for $799)

IS THE SAMSUNG GALAXY A57 WORTH BUYING?

Samsung’s new affordable Galaxy A57 felt a little too good for a non-flagship phone is and definitely worth checking out if you want something under the typical $1000 mark. It offers fast performance, doesn’t overheat when playing games or watching videos, and generally has the same durable and great quality feel you get with the flagship line-up.

On the downside, the camera is nothing to rave about and the Galaxy A57 is a little pricier compared to last year’s Galaxy A56.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSWhat’s the difference between Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37?

Both A-series devices share some common features, such as a vibrant 6.7-inch FHD+ display. standard Samsung 5000 mAH battery, IP68 rating and maximum 120Hz refresh rate. But the Galaxy A37 has some slight differences, including an 8MP ultra-wide camera (versus a 12MP lens) and only 6GB of RAM compared to 8GB). There’s also just one storage option for the A37 (128GB), while the Galaxy A57 comes in 128GB and 256GB.

How long does the battery last?

Samsung says the Galaxy A57 can last two days without being recharged, and can go from zero per cent charge to 30 per cent within 30 minutes when using Super Fast Charging 2.0.

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*Product was loaned by Samsung for a 100 per cent honest, independent review.

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Tahnee-Jae Lopez-VitoTahnee-Jae Lopez-VitoSenior Shopping Writer

Tahnee-Jae has years of reviewing experience, specialising in all the appliances and products that can help improve your home and life. From finding the best budget sheets to the mattresses that can help you get a better night’s sleep, she does all of the research to save you time and money.
She previously worked as a content producer for one of Australia’s top comparison sites Canstar Blue, where she spent her days learning what Australian shoppers really think by translating detailed national survey data into hundreds of highly respected consumer ratings – helping shed light on how well brands offer value for money and more.
Armed with a Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the Queensland University of Technology, she knows that detail matters and is dedicated to creating in-depth shopping guides to help you find the right product.