Samsung Galaxy A26 review
The A26 suits budget-conscious buyers in global-south markets who want a large-screen daily driver with decent cameras and real battery endurance. If you need flagship performance, the fastest charging, or a pin-sharp display, look elsewhere—but for everyday browsing, messaging, and casual photography at sub-€250, it delivers honest value without cutting corners on the essentials.
This review is written with AI assistance from Samsung’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Samsung Galaxy A26, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Galaxy A26 is a straightforward mid-range phone that nails the basics for its price: a big, smooth 120Hz AMOLED screen, solid 50MP camera with OIS, and a battery that actually lasts a full day. Its weak spots—modest charging speed, mid-tier performance, and a relatively soft 1080p display at 6.7 inches—are honest trade-offs for the cost, not dealbreakers.
Design and build
At 200 grams and 7.7mm thick, the A26 is lean for its 6.7-inch footprint and feels comfortable in one hand. The frame is plastic, but the glass front and back are Gorilla Glass Victus+, which means real scratch resistance—a practical choice over metal when durability matters. IP67 water and dust resistance to 1 meter for 30 minutes is standard for this class now, not a standout, but it does mean accidental spills and beach sand won't ruin the phone. The quad-band 5G radio is future-proofed enough for most regions, though availability will depend on your carrier.
Display
The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel is where the A26 justifies its price. 120Hz scrolling feels markedly smoother than 60Hz, and AMOLED blacks are genuinely deep—no backlight bleed, no gray washed-out look. Color saturation is punchy without veering into oversaturated, which is the right call for a daily driver. The 1080p resolution is the catch: at ~385 ppi, it's below what flagship physics and modern eyes prefer at this diagonal, and text will appear slightly fuzzy if you zoom into web pages or small print. Not a dealbreaker if you don't stare at dense text, but worth knowing.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 sits squarely in the mainstream midrange. It powers through everyday tasks—messaging, social media, video streaming, web browsing—without stutter or lag. Gaming lands in the middle: light to moderate titles run smoothly, but demanding 3D games (PUBG, Genshin Impact) will need medium settings to stay above 30fps, and you'll feel frame dips in heavy scenes. The Antutu score of 579,811 is respectable for the year but doesn't pretend to flagship performance. Multitasking stays snappy with 6GB or 8GB RAM, though the 4GB base config will feel tight if you keep many apps open.
Camera
The 50MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization is the standout hardware here. In daylight, it captures sharp, detailed shots with accurate colors and good dynamic range. The large aperture and OIS work together to keep night shots crisp and bright relative to the phone's competition at this price. The 120-degree ultrawide at 8MP is useful for landscapes and group shots, though it lacks the detail and sharpness of the main camera—expected for the class. The 2MP macro is a spec-sheet filler, and the 13MP selfie is adequate for video calls and casual selfies but nothing special. Video maxes out at 4K@30fps, which is enough for casual clips.
Battery and charging
The 5000mAh battery delivers genuine staying power. Expect 15 to 18 hours of mixed use (texting, social media, some video) before needing a charge—genuinely useful for a full day without anxiety. Heavy gaming or continuous video streaming will bite into that figure, dropping to 10 to 12 hours. The downside is 25W wired charging, which takes about an hour from empty to full. By 2025 standards, that's noticeably slower; competitors at this price now offer 65W or higher, cutting your wait to 25 to 35 minutes. No wireless charging, which is typical for the segment, but the slow wired speed is harder to excuse.
Software
Android 15 with One UI 8.5 is current and clean. Samsung promises six major Android upgrades, which means software support stretches to Android 21 in theory—good longevity for a budget phone. One UI's customization and gesture controls are solid, and bloatware is minimal if you're in a region with Google Play. The interface is familiar Samsung: responsive, intuitive, and not cluttered with unnecessary gimmicks.
Value and verdict
At £169 to €220, the A26 sits at the accessible end of the midrange. It does what it promises: a large, fluid display, a capable camera, and a battery that actually outlasts a day. The weaknesses—25W charging, 1080p softness on a big screen, and modest performance ceiling—are honest compromises for the price, not hidden flaws. You're not paying flagship tax for flagship features; you're getting a straightforward phone that handles the daily essentials without pretense.
Verdict
The A26 suits budget-conscious buyers in global-south markets who want a large-screen daily driver with decent cameras and real battery endurance. If you need flagship performance, the fastest charging, or a pin-sharp display, look elsewhere—but for everyday browsing, messaging, and casual photography at sub-€250, it delivers honest value without cutting corners on the essentials.
- 50MP main camera with optical stabilization and solid low-light performance via a large f/1.8 aperture and PDAF
- 5000mAh battery delivers genuine all-day endurance for mixed-use patterns, with only moderate charge times as the main burden
- 6.7-inch Super AMOLED with 120Hz makes scrolling buttery and colors pop, a welcome touchstone at this price
- IP67 durability for everyday dust and water—the kind of protection that saves phones from careless drops and pocket spills
- 25W charging is slow by 2025 mid-range standards; rivals at this price now push 65W or higher, cutting charge time roughly in half
- 1080p resolution on a 6.7-inch display means text and fine detail lose sharpness up close, a notch softer than you'd expect in 2025
- Exynos 1380 handles everyday tasks and light games fine, but heavy multitasking and demanding 3D titles at high settings expose its modest ceiling
Samsung Galaxy A26 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, March 02 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio), Super AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) - GlobalExynos 1280 (5 nm) - LATAM |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Selfie camera | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired |
| Software | Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.5 |
| Dimensions | 164 x 77.5 x 7.7 mm (6.46 x 3.05 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), plastic frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+) |
| Durability | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Samsung Galaxy A26 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Galaxy A26 support 5G?
Yes. The Galaxy A26 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Galaxy A26 use?
The Galaxy A26 runs on the Exynos 1380 (5 nm) - GlobalExynos 1280 (5 nm) - LATAM.
What display does the Galaxy A26 have?
A 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density).
How big is the Galaxy A26 battery?
The Galaxy A26 has a 5000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 25W wired.
Does the Galaxy A26 have NFC?
Yes, the Galaxy A26 has NFC.
Is the Galaxy A26 water resistant?
The Galaxy A26 carries a IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) rating.
Does the Galaxy A26 support a microSD card?
Yes, the Galaxy A26 supports expandable storage (microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)).
Does the Galaxy A26 have a headphone jack?
No, the Galaxy A26 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Galaxy A26 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Galaxy A17 5G
Galaxy A56
Galaxy M36 5G
Galaxy A27
F29 Pro 5G
