Club Benefits
Having spent the last two weeks with Samsung’s Galaxy A57, it’s become clear to me that it’s relatively easy to get by without paying for a flagship in 2026. Phones in the mid-range have improved so much in recent years, both in terms of features and design, and the Galaxy A57 might be at the top of the pack when it comes to value.
It delivers smooth day‑to‑day performance, strong battery life and Samsung’s familiar software polish — all for roughly half the price of the S26 (at least here in Australia). As long as you’re realistic about its camera and performance limits, I can recommend it as a genuinely smart alternative to a flagship.
Currently, retailers like The Good Guys and Amazon are selling the Galaxy A57 at well below the official AU$749 starting price — at just AU$599 for the 128GB model and AU$699 for the 256GB variant, it's a no-brainer for anyone who might be considering the A57 over the entry-level Galaxy S26, even at its currently discounted price of AU$1,345.
Article continues belowIf you’re considering the Galaxy A57, keep in mind there are a few trade-offs compared to the flagship model. However, the money you save makes those compromises worth it, making the Galaxy A57 a solid alternative to the Galaxy S26 — just as long as you're okay with making a few concessions.
Don't expect powerhouse performance
The Galaxy A57 delivers solid performance for everyday use, offering quick navigation and reliable multitasking that makes switching between apps and managing routine tasks feel smooth and seamless.
When it comes to gaming, the Galaxy A57 offers solid performance for its price. It’s not a powerhouse, but it can handle many titles smoothly, especially if you’re okay with lowering the graphics to medium or below.
That said, those looking play graphically intense games on higher settings will want to step up to a flagship like the Galaxy S26, or any other of the best gaming phones of 2026.
The Galaxy S26 delivers far superior photos
On paper, the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy S26 seem to offer similar camera arrays — each phone sports a 50MP wide-angle main sensor with an aperture of f/1.8, a 1/1.56" sensor size and 1.0 µm pixel size.
However, the S26 implements this hardware more effectively through its use of Dual Pixel PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus), superior sensor tuning, and more robust NPU and software processing. That's largely thanks to the S26's Exynos 2600 chipset, which features a significantly more powerful Image Signal Processor (ISP) than the A57.
When it comes to the A57’s camera performance, using a standard PDAF means it takes longer to lock focus compared to the S26 — especially in low-light situations — leading to shutter lag that might make you miss that adorable (or hilarious) shot of your child or pet.
And while both handsets also offer a 12MP ultrawide sensor, they're quite different in ways that can noticeably impact image quality. For starters, the A57's ultrawide sensor doesn't offer autofocus like the S26's equivalent, opting instead for a fixed focus approach. The S26's ultrawide sensor also sports a wider aperture — f/1.9 compared to f/2.2 on the A57 — meaning it can let in more light than its mid-range cousin.
Then there's the elephant in the room: the Galaxy A57 lacks the Galaxy S26's 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, meaning a loss in image quality when zooming in digitally.
Of course, there are trade-offs at this price, but that doesn’t mean the Galaxy A57 can’t take good photos. It’s more than capable for social media posts and shots of still subjects. Just make sure you temper your expectations when shooting at night or trying to capture fast-moving objects.
The Galaxy A57 is missing some of the S26's best AI features
Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A57 has taken a rather large step forward when it comes to its implementation of on-device AI. This is due to the A57's Exynos 1680 chipset, which houses a more powerful integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit).
That means the A57 can locally perform tasks like live voice transcription, AI photo editing and the ability to analyse whatever's on your screen using AI Select. You can also use some basic generative features, like Object Eraser or Sketch to Image.
However, more advanced generative editing features are absent on the A57, as are any of the Agentic AI tools that are exclusive to the S26 series, like the ability to autonomously perform multi-step workflows across apps, or Samsung's proactive Now Nudge and Now Brief features.
That's not to say that the A57 will never get these features — Samsung promises 6 years of software updates, meaning some of these AI features may trickle down over time.
While it's unlikely that the A57 will ever provide the full Agentic AI experience, the phone's ability to perform on-device AI tasks means that features like Now Nudge and Now Brief could conceivably arrive in the future.
Galaxy A57 vs Galaxy S26 — which should you buy?
While there are still some clear advantages to owning Samsung's flagship Galaxy S26 over the mid-range Galaxy A57, the gap between these two smartphone tiers isn't as big as it used to be.
The Galaxy A57 has made impressive improvements in build quality, performance, and AI features, all while keeping its price comfortably low. For casual users looking for an affordable device that handles daily tasks with ease and still offers a premium look and feel, the Galaxy A57 is a fantastic choice.
If you’re still after a flagship-level camera, Agentic AI features and top-tier gaming performance, it might be worth splashing the extra cash on a Galaxy S26 handset.
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