Samsung Galaxy A26 Review: Keeping Up With the Times

Samsung’s system for mid-range smartphones has not likely modified for the higher over the years. Year after 12 months, we preserve seeing barely refreshed designs, which feel and appear acquainted, filled with {hardware} that powers a software program expertise, which additionally feels… very acquainted. This is not “familiar” in a great way, however extra in stagnated type, that a few of its prospects may very well desire. Indeed, many go to Samsung for his or her software program replace dedication and the new Galaxy A26 doesn’t disappoint on that entrance. It additionally will get design and show upgrades. While all of this sounds nice, it is nonetheless caught behind the rising competitors and this is why.

Samsung Galaxy A26 Design

The Galaxy A26, the most reasonably priced mid-range mannequin in its A collection, appears to be like and feels premium. Samsung has used Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus+ for each the entrance and rear panels. Of the two, solely the rear panel is sweet at rejecting smudges.

The telephone’s total design has not modified and seems acquainted to the Galaxy A25 launched final 12 months. The small raised bump on the proper facet of the flat body, highlighting the quantity and energy buttons, continues to be there, making them straightforward to seek out given the telephone’s measurement.

The raised bump round the quantity and energy buttons makes it simpler to seek out them

The Galaxy A26’s total design makes an impression, giving a way of high quality and premium-ness, however flip it over, and the feeling goes away immediately.

Despite the measurement improve from 6.5 to six.7 inches, the Super AMOLED panel retains the thick borders from its predecessor, together with the ugly water drop notch and thick backside edge. It undoubtedly feels misplaced on a mid-range smartphone in 2025, and it actually makes one marvel why they’re paying a lot for a tool with an outdated show—extra on this in the efficiency part.

The show glass on the Galaxy A26 will get smudged simply

The shiny rear panel mixed with the matte-finish polycarbonate mid-frame does make the telephone very slippery. It’s good to placed on a case (not included in the field) if you’re clumsy. On that observe, Samsung additionally gave the A26 an IP67 mud and water resistance score. Going by the normal, this telephone can stand up to immersion in freshwater (as much as 1 meter). However, similar to all producers, harm as a result of water ingress is just not coated below guarantee. So, use it in water provided that it’s important to.

Samsung Galaxy A26 Performance

Despite the measurement improve, not a lot has modified in comparison with the earlier mannequin. The show’s colors seem a bit saturated even in the Natural display color mode. Viewing angles are nice although the brightness ranges aren’t the greatest at school. So, it is not perfect for viewing content material outdoor although it is sufficiently shiny indoors. Naturally, you aren’t getting HDR10+ help, not like some smartphones at this worth level. But I’m pleased to see Widevine L1 streaming high quality supported.

There’s only one bottom-firing speaker and it doesn’t sound good

Given that it is a mid-range system, I used to be a bit shocked to see only one bottom-firing speaker on the Galaxy A26. The speaker is sort of poor with regards to sound copy and produces very treble-heavy audio, which sounds extra irritating than wealthy at excessive quantity. Some smartphones provide a lot better audio high quality at this worth level.

The system runs Samsung’s One UI 7 out of the field. Based on Android 15, it affords loads of customisation together with the new look that model 7 delivers. Software operation is sort of clean. Samsung’s optimisations apart, that is additionally right down to the 120Hz panel, which at all times sticks to the 120Hz refresh charge when set to High movement smoothness. This has different implications with regards to battery life.

The SuperAMOLED panel affords deep blacks however are you able to get previous these thick borders and that notch?

There are tons of AI instruments to mess around with however I discovered the language translation instrument fairly helpful. The picture modifying instrument was up for the job however couldn’t deal with barely advanced object-erasing queries like the high-end Galaxy fashions. The Now Bar relays Live Notifications from varied apps (together with system apps) to the lock display making it fairly helpful.

There’s the common Samsung suite of apps but additionally a couple of third celebration apps from Microsoft, a VPN app and a few pre-installed video games. Out of those, the VPN app couldn’t be uninstalled. One annoying factor I seen when utilizing the telephone is the lock display advertisements (from Samsung) being relayed by way of the Glance Lockscreen integration. The setting to disable this annoying default has been moved to the Wallpaper and elegance menu in Settings, the place it’s important to select ‘None’ as a substitute of Dynamic, Glance or Samsung Global Goals.

Samsung’s One UI 7 affords loads of AI instruments

Gaming efficiency may be very mid-range. With most video games, you’re going to get entry to mid-level graphics choices as a result of the telephone’s chipset and RAM limitations. Still, I might play fast-paced video games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt Legends Unite easily at default settings, which defaulted to medium settings with most results turned off. Cranking up the settings didn’t make the Galaxy A26 sweat both. It’s simply that the warmth (regardless of the graphite sheets) finally builds up, which is whenever you begin to see slowdowns or skipped frames. Touch-sampling is passable and there isn’t any noticeable touch-input lag when taking part in video games.

Samsung has nonetheless accomplished an excellent job dealing with warmth, so I didn’t see any pop-ups or notifications when utilizing the digicam outdoor or when taking part in video games. As for benchmarks, the telephone’s efficiency is just like what different telephones have achieved at this worth level, save for the gadgets with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC, which carried out higher.

Like the earlier mannequin, the Samsung Galaxy A26 affords three rear-facing cameras. The 50-megapixel major (OIS), 8-megapixel ultra-wide and 2-megapixel macro setup stay the identical as earlier than. The selfie digicam additionally retains the previous 13-megapixel sensor.

Samsung Galaxy A26 Primary digicam samples (faucet pictures to broaden)

The major digicam produces respectable pictures at greatest. The picture high quality is sub-par even in daylight (with barely overcast circumstances). The pictures come out a bit overexposed, dynamic vary is a bit off, however my largest drawback with this digicam is that it is not capable of pull out particulars from a scene. Images are sometimes low on resolved element. In many cases, I additionally seen random blurred patches the place the digicam appeared to have given up on processing finer patterns. Foliage seems like an oil portray. Colours seem pure however there is a barely bluish tone to all of them. Indeed this was surprising provided that this digicam has optical picture stabilisation (OIS).

There’s a really noticeable watercolour impact in low gentle, that means the textures appear as if work, regardless of switching to the auto-night mode. (faucet picture to broaden)

Selfies present good color element and have good distinction. However, there’s a noticeable halo-like ring round the topic, hinting at common edge detection. (faucet picture to broaden)

Portraits from the major digicam got here out nice. Skin tones are correct, however textures are low on resolved element, edge detection is a bit too aggressive. (faucet picture to broaden)

The macro digicam produces very poor pictures with very low decision, making it ineffective. I managed higher footage from the major digicam because it let me get near the topic. (faucet picture to broaden)

Samsung Galaxy A26 ultrawide digicam pattern (faucet picture to broaden)

Photos from the ultrawide digicam come out a bit darker, and have much less element and restricted dynamic vary, that means it is arduous to identify any particulars in the shadows and darker colored objects even in daylight. There’s additionally very noticeable purple fringing in the brighter spots and loads of lens barrel distortion. Low-light pictures are fairly poor with the digicam barely capable of handle noise.

4K video recordings managed the greatest particulars however tended to skip focus whereas panning. The 4K 30 fps footage additionally lacks stabilisation and seems wobbly when panning or strolling. 1080p video captured at 60 fps has a gradual body charge but additionally exhibits some wobbling when panning. 1080p 30 fps recordings managed the greatest stabilisation with barely watered-down high quality. When capturing in low gentle, 1080p video recorded at 30 fps managed the most secure footage however with very low element. 4K 30 fps video recordings appeared wobbly and had numerous noise.

Despite packing a 5,000mah battery, the Galaxy A26’s display time figures aren’t spectacular

Charging speeds and battery capability have not modified since the Galaxy A25. So, we now have a regular 5,000mAh battery that prices 30 p.c in half-hour and completes the cost at a really leisurely tempo in 1 hour and 57 minutes when plugged right into a third-party 100W PD charger.

Battery life is not nice both. Our PCMark Battery Life take a look at, which runs a collection of each day duties in loop, returned a low rating of 8 hours and 53 minutes. The Nothing Phone 3a with a similar-sized battery managed 17 hours and 40 minutes with the identical take a look at. As for our HD video loop battery take a look at, the Galaxy A26 managed an equally poor 17 hours and 11 minutes, which is a number of hours lower than what most telephones at this worth level handle. Simply put, our testing signifies that the telephone will barely final a piece day (9AM to 6PM) with heavy and steady utilization. Casual customers ought to get a day’s battery life supplied the telephone is not pushed to its limits.

Samsung Galaxy A26 Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A26’s standout options are at present restricted to its software program dedication and IP67-rated design. Everything else falls quick or is a step behind competing smartphones at this worth level. And so, it is actually arduous to suggest except all you need from a smartphone is AI options and nice software program help.

There’s additionally a sea of competing smartphones to select from. Nothing’s Phone 3a is a succesful and snazzy smartphone for these in search of one thing completely different or particular at this worth level. Those in search of higher uncooked efficiency can have a look at the Poco F6 and the lately launched iQOO Neo 10R, that are priced beneath and above the Galaxy A26. If you need mega battery life, then the Vivo T4 with its large 7,300mAh battery is a perfect alternative. And if you’re considering of spending upwards of Rs. 26,000, then OnePlus’ Nord 4 is a strong all-rounder.