Samsung Galaxy A26 Review: Budget-Friendly with Premium Touches, But Is It Enough in 2025?

The Samsung Galaxy A26 is Samsung’s latest effort to bring mid-range power and design to budget-conscious buyers. Priced to be affordable yet promising several upgrades over its predecessor, it inherits some of the features from the Galaxy A35 and even the A54, making it look more appealing than your average low-cost smartphone.

One of the standout aspects of the A26 is its use of Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both front and back—something we rarely see in this price bracket. It also gets IP67 certification, meaning you get some form of water and dust resistance—a win for durability.

With Samsung’s latest One UI 7 layered on Android 15, a better front camera setup, and a promise of six years of updates, it feels future-proofed in some areas. The display remains a 120Hz AMOLED, but not everything is a step forward. The A26 ditches the stereo speakers and headphone jack, and it actually has a dimmer screen than the A25. These trade-offs make this review a little more nuanced than usual.

Can Samsung justify these decisions with refinements elsewhere? And how does it stand up to competition from Xiaomi, Realme, or even its own sibling, the Galaxy A35?

We’ve tested the A26 across every category from display to camera performance to software usability and battery life.
If you’re eyeing the A26 as your next daily driver—or maybe a phone for a student or casual user—this in-depth review will help you figure out if it’s worth your cash.

Let’s dive into the design and build quality to see what kind of physical improvements Samsung has brought to the table.

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Design and Build Quality:

Premium Glass, Budget Frame
The Galaxy A26 delivers a surprisingly premium feel for a budget-friendly phone, largely thanks to the inclusion of Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back. This is a rare feature in this price category and gives the device a solid first impression. It not only improves the scratch resistance but also lends a more flagship-like feel to the overall construction.

The frame, however, is made of plastic, which is expected at this price point. Samsung has used a brushed texture along the sides, which helps with grip and adds a bit of visual interest. Despite the plastic, the build doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy. It feels dense enough to suggest good internal design and component layout.

Refined Aesthetics and Durability Upgrades
Compared to last year’s A25, the Galaxy A26 is slightly larger in size but has been slimmed down a bit, making it more comfortable in hand. The phone has a clean, minimalist look with Samsung’s signature vertical triple-camera array in the upper-left corner. There’s no excessive branding, and the matte finish helps reduce fingerprints and smudges.

The color variants include subtle and stylish shades, though nothing overly flashy. These tones complement the understated design language of the device. One of the biggest improvements in durability is the new IP67 water and dust resistance rating—a feature completely absent in the A25. This means it can survive accidental splashes and short submersions in water, which makes it far more practical for everyday use.

Buttons are tactile and well-placed, and the side-mounted fingerprint scanner doubles as a power button, blending in well with the aesthetic. On the back, the curved edges allow for a more ergonomic grip, making the phone feel natural during one-handed use.

Overall, the A26 takes a noticeable leap forward in both look and protection. Samsung has clearly invested effort into making this device feel like more than just a cheap compromise—though some sacrifices still show up in other areas.

Display Specs and Biometrics:

 

A Bigger Canvas, But Not the Brightest

The Galaxy A26 is equipped with a 6.7-inch OLED display, which is slightly larger than the 6.5-inch panel found in the previous A25 model. It retains a 1080p resolution that keeps text and visuals sharp, and colors are vibrant thanks to the nature of OLED. Contrast is deep, and blacks look inky, giving a pleasant viewing experience for media consumption and general use.

Samsung has also kept the 120Hz refresh rate, which makes swiping, scrolling, and navigating through One UI feel fluid. This is especially helpful for smoother animations and more responsive touch feedback. Unfortunately, this refresh rate isn’t adaptive—it only toggles between 60Hz and 120Hz, which could slightly affect battery efficiency.

Subpar Brightness for Outdoor Use

One of the major letdowns is brightness. The A26 peaks at around 780 nits in auto mode, which is lower than its predecessor. This makes the screen less visible under direct sunlight, which is disappointing for users who frequently use their phones outdoors. With manual brightness, you get about 370 nits, which is considered just adequate for indoor use.

There’s no HDR10+ or Dolby Vision support, which is expected at this price range, but colors and contrast still make video content look fairly rich and enjoyable. Bezels are moderately slim, with a slightly thicker chin at the bottom—common for phones in this bracket.

Samsung removed the 3.5mm headphone jack, which may upset some users who still rely on wired audio. More notably, the stereo speakers have been cut—leaving the phone with just a single bottom-firing speaker, which is a big step down in audio immersion.

Biometrics are handled by a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that’s embedded in the power button. It works reliably and quickly, though not as seamlessly as the under-display scanners in more expensive models.

Software Updates and Apps:

One UI 7 on Top of Android 15

Out of the box, the Galaxy A26 runs One UI 7 based on Android 15, giving it the latest Samsung experience from day one. Despite being a budget phone, it comes with a clean and modern software layout, and most flagship features have trickled down—except for a few premium offerings like Samsung DeX.

The interface is user-friendly with well-organized settings, smooth transitions, and minimal bloatware. Samsung has also integrated AI Select, which allows you to grab text or photos from the screen or even generate GIFs. The built-in Object Eraser in the Gallery app is another smart tool, although it’s not as accurate as it is on Samsung’s premium phones.

Google Integration and Long-Term Support

You’ll also have access to Google Gemini, which is rapidly becoming a valuable tool across Android devices. The combination of Samsung’s AI and Google’s ecosystem creates a well-rounded smart assistant experience.

One of the most impressive aspects of the A26 is its update policy. Samsung has committed to six major OS upgrades and six years of security patches, which sets a new standard in the budget segment and surpasses even some mid-tier flagships from other brands.

Overall, while you miss out on flashy features like Samsung DeX or Galaxy AI, the software experience here is clean, fast, and surprisingly long-lasting.

Performance and Chipsets:

Exynos 1380 Brings a Modest Boost

The Galaxy A26 is powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset in most regions, the same silicon used in last year’s Galaxy A54 and the recent A35. This makes it a respectable upgrade over the Exynos 1280 that powered the Galaxy A25, though some markets still receive that older chip—so check your region before buying.

Built on a 5nm process, the Exynos 1380 provides more efficient performance and slightly better thermal handling. While it’s not a flagship-class chip, it handles daily tasks like social media, messaging, browsing, and video streaming without significant lag.

Multitasking is handled decently, especially in the 6GB or 8GB RAM variants, and One UI 7 runs fairly smoothly with minimal stutters. App opening times are quick enough for regular users, and animations are fluid thanks to the 120Hz screen.

In Geekbench 6, the phone posts moderate scores, outpacing the Exynos 1280 but still falling behind Snapdragon-powered midrangers in this price range. But the real win here is 5G support, which makes it a future-ready phone.

However, the chipset does exhibit some throttling during sustained heavy use. It’s not severe enough to affect daily tasks, but those looking for consistent peak performance should take note.

Gaming Performance and Tests:

Smooth for Casual Titles, Some Limits for Heavy Games

The Exynos 1380 inside the Galaxy A26 offers mid-tier gaming performance—perfectly fine for casual gamers and light sessions. Games like Subway Surfers, Mobile Legends, and Pokemon Unite run well at medium to high settings with little to no frame drops.

For heavier games like Call of Duty Mobile, the A26 defaults to medium graphics settings with high frame rates. Gameplay remains mostly smooth, though you might notice occasional hiccups during explosions or fast movement.

In Genshin Impact, performance is more mixed. The game defaults to low settings, and even then, frame rates can drop during combat-heavy sequences. It’s playable, but not ideal for long or competitive sessions.

Samsung’s Game Launcher includes tools like FPS monitoring and performance boosting, but you won’t find advanced gaming features like in higher-tier Galaxy models.

Thermal throttling does occur during long sessions, but it’s mild and doesn’t cause overheating. Just expect some performance dips after 20+ minutes of intensive gaming.

In short, the Galaxy A26 can game—but it’s best suited for casual or moderate gamers, not those pushing max settings in high-end 3D titles.

Battery Life and Charging Speed:

Decent Endurance, Familiar Charging Routine

The Galaxy A26 packs a 5,000mAh battery, which has become the standard for midrange smartphones. On paper, it should easily last a full day—but in real-world testing, it falls slightly short.

It earned an active use score of 10 hours and 44 minutes, which is noticeably lower than many other budget rivals. Heavy users might find themselves reaching for the charger by evening, especially with the 120Hz display enabled full-time.

Samsung includes 25W fast charging support, though—like most Galaxy phones now—there’s no charger in the box. With a compatible adapter, you’ll get from 0% to around 51% in 30 minutes.

A full charge takes just under 90 minutes, which is standard but unremarkable. There’s no wireless charging support, which isn’t expected at this price point anyway.

Overall, battery life is fine for most users, but don’t expect multi-day endurance.

Connectivity:

Well-Rounded But Missing One Classic Port

The Galaxy A26 comes equipped with all the modern connectivity standards you’d want at this price point. That includes 5G support, making it ready for next-gen networks in supported regions.

Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.3 are both present, ensuring fast wireless connections and low-latency performance with accessories like earbuds and smartwatches. The A26 also includes NFC for mobile payments, which is increasingly important in budget and midrange phones.

Navigation is supported via GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BDS, and we found location locking to be fast and reliable during testing.

Samsung has also included a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfers. However, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, a disappointing removal for users who prefer wired audio.

On the plus side, there’s still a dedicated microSD card slot, letting you expand the phone’s storage up to 1TB, which many users will appreciate.

Mobile network reception and call clarity were solid across the board. Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi calling are supported depending on carrier compatibility.

While not feature-packed, the A26’s connectivity is reliable, modern, and practical for the average user.

Cameras Specs and Performance:

Triple Lens Setup with Mixed Results

The Samsung Galaxy A26 continues Samsung’s tradition of packing in multiple cameras even on budget phones. On the back, it sports a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro sensor. On the front, there’s a 13MP selfie camera. It sounds like a versatile setup, but let’s break down how each performs in real-world conditions.

Main Camera: Good Color, Inconsistent Sharpness

The 50MP primary camera captures pleasant daytime shots with accurate color tones and reasonably good contrast. It handles exposure well in bright environments, and dynamic range is fairly wide for a phone in this category.

That said, sharpness can be inconsistent, especially if lighting isn’t ideal. When shooting indoors or in shaded areas, there’s noticeable softness and a slight lack of fine detail. Shadows often introduce grain, and highlight retention isn’t always reliable.

We also noticed some focusing issues. The A26 occasionally struggles with subject detection and may hunt for focus more than expected—both in photo and video modes.

Portrait mode works relatively well, especially for a budget phone. Edge detection is decent, and background blur looks natural. However, zoomed-in portrait shots—using the 2x digital crop—suffer a visible drop in detail.

Low Light and Night Mode: Soft but Bright

At night, the Galaxy A26 defaults to auto night mode, which enhances brightness and reduces noise. This results in more visible scenes, even without switching modes manually.

However, details remain soft, and colors sometimes drift toward cooler or inaccurate tones. White balance can be off under artificial lighting, producing pale skin tones or odd hues in city lights. Still, for casual nighttime shots, it performs about as expected for its class.

Ultrawide Camera: Usable but Limited

The 12MP ultrawide lens gives you a wider perspective, which is great for landscapes or large group shots. In daylight, it delivers good colors and balanced contrast. It isn’t especially sharp, though, and details drop off quickly near the edges.

At night, the ultrawide struggles. Photos are grainy, soft, and often exhibit distortion around the corners. There’s no dedicated night mode for this sensor, so results vary greatly depending on available light.

Macro Camera: There… but Why?

The 2MP macro lens is functional but very limited. You can take close-up shots of flowers or small objects, but detail is minimal, and focus range is extremely narrow. It’s more of a novelty than a reliable feature.

Selfie Camera: Surprisingly Strong

The 13MP front camera is a pleasant surprise. It takes sharp, colorful selfies in both daylight and indoor settings. Dynamic range is impressive for a front camera, and skin tones look natural.

Portrait mode on the front camera is also decent. Edge detection sometimes misses fine hairs or glasses, but overall the results are very usable for social media or video calls.

Video Performance: Good in 1080p, Not Quite 4K

The A26 can shoot 4K video at 30fps using the main camera. Unfortunately, this mode lacks sharpness and often produces video that looks more like upscaled 1080p. Exposure is on the darker side, but colors and dynamic range are acceptable.

The ultrawide and selfie cameras max out at 1080p video, and quality is average. Stabilization is available at 1080p across all lenses and performs well for casual handheld recording.

Nighttime video is passable, with the main camera producing decent footage in lit environments, though with visible noise and motion blur. It’s not cinematic, but it gets the job done for the price range.

Overall Camera Verdict

For its budget class, the Galaxy A26 offers a versatile and feature-rich camera setup, even if performance is hit-or-miss depending on the lighting. The selfie camera and daylight portraits are standouts, while night shots and video need work. Still, it delivers more than many would expect for its price.

Price and Availability:

The Samsung Galaxy A26 is priced at around $299 USD, making it one of the more affordable smartphones in Samsung’s A-series lineup. It’s widely available in most regions, including Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa, with online and in-store options through Samsung’s retail partners and carriers.

Buyers can choose between 128GB or 256GB storage variants, with expandable microSD support still available. Color options typically include Graphite Black, Light Blue, and Olive, offering subtle variety without flashy finishes.

While it doesn’t compete with flagship phones, the A26 delivers solid specs and long-term software support at a reasonable price point.

Conclusion:

The Galaxy A26 proves that Samsung continues to refine its budget and mid-range offerings. This phone brings meaningful improvements over its predecessor, especially in areas like build quality, software support, and the addition of IP67 water resistance.

Its OLED display, though not the brightest, is still enjoyable to use for daily tasks, and the 120Hz refresh rate adds smoothness to every swipe. The Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and back is a rare inclusion at this price level, offering extra peace of mind.

Performance is reliable for day-to-day use, and One UI 7 ensures a clean and feature-packed Android experience. The extended six years of software support is a huge win for budget users looking for longevity.

On the downside, the camera system is hit-or-miss, the speaker setup feels like a step back, and battery life is underwhelming compared to rivals. Still, for $299, the A26 manages to check a lot of boxes.

If you’re seeking a durable Samsung phone with long-term support, a decent display, and a good front camera, the Galaxy A26 is a smart pick in the budget segment. Buy Samsung Galaxy A26 now!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does the Galaxy A26 have wireless charging?

• No, the Galaxy A26 does not support wireless charging — only wired 25W fast charging.

Is the Galaxy A26 waterproof?

• Yes, it has an IP67 rating, meaning it’s protected against dust and can survive submersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

Can I expand the storage on the A26?

• Yes, the phone has a microSD card slot, which supports additional storage expansion.

Is the Galaxy A26 good for gaming?

• Light gaming is fine, but the Exynos 1380 chipset may struggle with high-performance, graphics-heavy titles over time.

Does the A26 come with a charger in the box?

• No, Samsung does not include a charging brick in the box. You’ll need to buy one separately.

What Android version does the Galaxy A26 ship with?

• It ships with Android 15 and One UI 7 out of the box.

How many OS updates will the A26 receive?

• Samsung promises 6 major OS updates and 6 years of security patches — the best in its segment.

Does the A26 support 5G connectivity?

• Yes, the Exynos 1380 version supports full 5G compatibility.

How does the A26 compare to the Galaxy A35?

• The A35 has a brighter display, stereo speakers, and a better chipset. The A26 is more affordable but lacks some of these refinements.

Is the Galaxy A26 worth buying in 2025?

• Yes, if you’re looking for a reliable, long-supported phone with a great build and clean Samsung UI, it’s a solid option for under $300.
• Buy Samsung Galaxy A26 now!