If the fancy features and high price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra don’t speak to you, then Samsung‘s new affordable phones might be more up your street.

First up, there’s the Galaxy A37, a low-priced little gem that’ll likely end up in the middle of the eventual Galaxy AX7 series. Then, for a little more power, you’ve got the Samsung Galaxy A57, which could well end up being the top A-series model of 2026. This Galaxy A56 successor steps up the specs — but the price too, so it might be more than some buyers want.

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HDR boosts, and advanced portrait modes. But these just bring it closer to its pricier sibling, instead of giving it an edge.

We’ll be able to give a proper verdict on the camera quality of both phones (and share image comparisons) when we’ve tested them fully.

Winner: Galaxy A57

operating system and security updates to both models.

The phones have Bixby-powered AI, Voice Transcription on calls and in the Recorder app, and shared actions across apps. However, other than enhanced Circle to Search functionality, most of the key S26 tools don’t make their way across to these mid-range devices: there’s no Audio Eraser, Privacy Display, or Finder upgrades.

It’s the performance department that sets these phones apart from one another.

The Samsung Galaxy A37 has an Exynos 1480 chipset, while the Galaxy A57 has an Exynos 1680 chipset. Both are made by Samsung itself, and the numbers give the game away: the Exynos 1680 is, quite simply, a more powerful chipset. If you want more power, the A57 is the way to go.

The A37 certainly won’t stutter during everyday tasks like streaming or scrolling, but as soon as you boot up some demanding mobile games or attempt any form of video editing, the Exynos 1680 chipset in the A57 will reveal its superiority (though if you want real smartphone power, you’ll need to choose one of the best Samsung phones).

Winner: Galaxy A57

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