Samsung has officially unveiled its latest Galaxy A series smartphones—the Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A26. Designed to offer premium features at mid-range pricing, these new devices boast 6 years of OS updates, AI-powered functionalities, and high-refresh-rate AMOLED displays. With IP67 water resistance, 5G connectivity, and large 5,000mAh batteries, the new A-series lineup is poised to dominate the mid-range smartphone market.
Let’s dive deep into the specifications, features, pricing, and availability of these three smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy A56: Premium Mid-Range Powerhouse
Display and Design
The Samsung Galaxy A56 comes with a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate. This ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations, making it an excellent choice for gaming and multimedia consumption. With a peak brightness of 1,900 nits, the display remains crisp and clear even under direct sunlight.
The device sports a sleek and modern design, featuring an in-display fingerprint scanner for secure unlocking. It also carries an IP67 rating, making it resistant to dust and water (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes).
Performance and Hardware
At the heart of the Galaxy A56 is Samsung’s Exynos 1580 processor, paired with the AMD Xclipse 540 GPU. This combination ensures excellent gaming performance and efficient multitasking. The device offers two RAM and storage configurations:
- 8GB RAM + 128GB storage
- 12GB RAM + 256GB storage
For those needing additional storage, the A56 supports microSD expansion up to 1TB.
Camera System
Samsung has equipped the Galaxy A56 with a triple-camera setup:
- 50MP primary sensor with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for sharp, stable shots
- 12MP ultra-wide lens for capturing more in a single frame
- 5MP macro lens for detailed close-ups
On the front, there’s a 12MP selfie camera, perfect for video calls and selfies.
Battery and Charging
The 5,000mAh battery ensures all-day usage, and the 45W fast charging support enables quick top-ups. However, no charger is included in the box, following Samsung’s recent trend.
Software and Features
The Galaxy A56 runs on One UI 7.0, based on Android 15, with 6 years of OS and security updates. It also features AI-driven enhancements, including improved camera processing, AI-powered text recognition, and smart battery optimizations.
Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A56 is available in Awesome Light Gray, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Olive, and Awesome Pink color options.
- 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage: $499 (~₹44,000)
- 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage: $549 (~₹48,000)
Samsung Galaxy A36: The Balanced Performer
Display and Build
Like the A56, the Galaxy A36 features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,900 nits peak brightness. It also has an IP67 rating and an in-display fingerprint scanner.
Performance and Internals
Powering the Galaxy A36 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, built on a 6nm architecture. This chip is paired with the Adreno 710 GPU, making it a great choice for gaming and multitasking.
Storage and RAM options include:
- 6GB RAM + 128GB storage
- 8GB RAM + 256GB storage
Camera Setup
The A36 also features a triple-camera system, but with a slight downgrade in the ultra-wide camera compared to the A56:
- 50MP primary sensor with OIS
- 8MP ultra-wide lens (instead of 12MP on the A56)
- 5MP macro lens
The selfie camera is a 12MP sensor, ensuring high-quality self-portraits and video calls.
Battery and Charging
The 5,000mAh battery supports 45W fast charging, but again, no charger is provided in the box.
Software and AI Features
Running on One UI 7.0 based on Android 15, the A36 also benefits from Samsung’s 6-year update promise and AI-powered optimizations.
Pricing and Color Options
The Galaxy A36 comes in Awesome Lavender, Awesome Black, Awesome White, and Awesome Lime color variants.
- 6GB RAM + 128GB Storage: $399 (~₹35,000)
- 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage: $415 (~₹37,000)
Samsung Galaxy A26: Affordable Yet Feature-Packed
Display and Durability
The Galaxy A26 also sports a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display but with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner instead of an in-display one. It retains the IP67 rating, making it water and dust-resistant.
Processor and Storage
Under the hood, the A26 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1380 processor, paired with the Mali-G68 MP5 GPU. It comes in two storage configurations:
- 6GB RAM + 128GB storage
- 8GB RAM + 256GB storage
Unlike the A36 and A56, the A26 features a microSD slot for expandable storage and even includes a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Camera System
The Galaxy A26’s camera setup includes:
- 50MP primary sensor with OIS
- 8MP ultra-wide lens
- 2MP macro lens
The front camera is a 13MP shooter, slightly higher than the A56 and A36.
Battery and Charging
The 5,000mAh battery supports 25W fast charging, which is slower than the other two models. Like its siblings, no charger is included in the box.
Software and Features
The Galaxy A26 also runs on One UI 7.0 with Android 15, ensuring smooth performance and AI-powered optimizations.
Pricing and Color Options
The Galaxy A26 is available in Black, White, Mint, and Peach Pink colorways.
- 6GB RAM + 128GB Storage: $299 (~₹27,000)
- 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage: $375 (~₹32,000)
Final Thoughts: Which Galaxy A Series Phone Should You Choose?
Samsung’s latest Galaxy A-series lineup caters to different segments of mid-range buyers:
- The Galaxy A56 is the most premium option, offering top-tier performance, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and 45W fast charging.
- The Galaxy A36 provides a balance between performance and affordability with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset.
- The Galaxy A26 is the most budget-friendly, offering microSD expansion and a headphone jack, making it ideal for cost-conscious buyers.
With 6 years of OS updates, powerful AI features, and top-notch displays, the Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 are set to redefine the mid-range smartphone experience.
Stay tuned for Samsung’s official Indian pricing and availability announcement.
