Samsung Unveils Galaxy A36 and A26: 6 Years of Software Updates
Samsung has kicked off budget phone season with the announcement of its latest affordable smartphones for 2025 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G, successors to last year’s models, promise an exciting array of features at competitive prices, challenging other market contenders like Motorola and Apple.
Affordable Innovation
The highlight of Samsung’s latest Galaxy A-series launch is the promise of 6 years of updates, a significant improvement from the previous offering of four Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates. This extended software support sets these devices apart in their price category, ensuring users stay up-to-date with the latest features and security enhancements for years to come.
In addition to the software upgrades, Samsung has made subtle design changes to the new models. The phones now feature a distinct camera module with a linear lens layout, slimmer and lighter profiles, and a glossy finish on the back. They also boast Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus+ for enhanced scratch and shatter resistance, as well as IP67-rated water resistance for added durability.
Shared Specifications and Unique Features
All three devices in the Galaxy A-series share several key specifications, including a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 120-Hz refresh rate, a 5,000-mAh battery, and a camera setup consisting of a main 50-megapixel sensor, an ultrawide lens, and a macro lens. While the megapixel counts may vary, the cameras promise impressive performance for budget-friendly devices.
One standout feature of the Galaxy A36 is its 12-megapixel selfie camera, capable of capturing 10-bit HDR footage up to 4K at 30 frames per second. This enhancement allows for stunning color representation in selfie videos, setting it apart from its competitors in the same price range.
Performance and AI Enhancements
Where the Galaxy A26 and A56 differentiate themselves is in their performance capabilities. The A26 5G and A56 5G are powered by Samsung’s Exynos processors, offering varying RAM configurations for optimal speed and efficiency. The Galaxy A36 5G, on the other hand, features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, promising comparable performance to other international phones equipped with the Snapdragon 7S Gen 2.
Samsung has also integrated AI enhancements into the Galaxy A-series, allowing users to take advantage of features like Circle to Search and Object Eraser. These advanced capabilities enable users to translate on-screen text, identify music, and remove unwanted objects from photos with ease, enhancing the overall user experience.
Looking Ahead
The Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G are set to be available for order in the US by the end of March, with the Galaxy A56 5G expected to follow later in the year. As Apple exits the sub-$500 market with the iPhone 16e, Samsung’s latest offerings aim to capture a larger share of the budget-friendly smartphone market, providing consumers with innovative features and extended software support at competitive prices.
With the launch of the Galaxy A-series, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of affordability and innovation in the smartphone industry, setting a new standard for budget-friendly devices with their latest offerings.
