Samsung Galaxy A26 5G: Samsung still serves a range of smartphone customers, and the Galaxy A26 5G works as a prime example of the brand’s ability to offer affordability and quality. So it’s not a powerhouse phone or a flagship, but the A26 5G is designed for users who want a reliable phone without sacrificing the essentials — including 5G connectivity — without breaking the bank.
Design That Is Familiar but Fresh
First impressions At first blush, the Galaxy A26 5G offers familiar design language of Samsung’s A-range. It has a clean, unassuming design with softly rounded corners and a polycarbonate back that feels solid, even if that material doesn’t exactly whisper premium.
The matte finish is fingerprint resistant and offers some grip. It is also available in some girly (or pastel-tinged) colours, and that might appeal to the college-goer or the first-time-smartphone-owner.
Display: It’s Big, It’s Bright, and It’s Smooth Enough
The phone flaunts a 6.5-inch PLS LCD Full HD+ display (1080 x 2400 pixels), which is sharp, colorful and bright. Though it’s not AMOLED’s deep blacks, it still looks good in daylight, and well, for the price, it does the job.
Scrolling and non-game navigation feel nice and fluid too, again thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate, and so everyday use feels that little bit slicker.
This makes for a fine screen for streaming videos from Netflix and YouTube or for browsing social media. It’s not mind-blowing on contrast, but it’s dependable and consistent — which is all you need sometimes.
Performance: Does What is Required
At its core, the A26 5G is driven by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, which comes teamed with 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, further expandable via microSD. It’s not exactly lightning fast, but for apps, messaging, video and light gaming, the performance is perfectly sufficient.
Don’t expect it to be a profiency master at intensive multi-tasking or high-end gaming without some choking, but, it breezes through the things you normally need it to. And, with One UI 6 (built on Android 14) plugged in on top of it, the software side of things is polished, intuitive, and snappy.
Camera: Effortless Point and Shoot
On the back, the A26 5G has a triple camera system with a 50MP primary sensor, 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro lens. Photos taken in daylight are clear and reasonably sharp, in the typical Samsung manner, with the usual oversaturated color profile. But night shots can be a mixed bag, sometimes revealing noise and softness unless you have a lot of light.
The 8MP front facing camera is okay for selfies and video chats but not something a photography buff would count on. But for social media posts and informal snaps, it will suffice.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is one of the bright spots here. With a 5000mAh battery capacity, the Galaxy A26 5G gets you through your day, whether you are a moderate or heavy user.
Assuming you are streaming, browsing or chatting all day, you may not need to charge it until bedtime.
For charging there’s 25W fast charging, which is a plus at this price. It’s not lightning fast, but the phone charges up rather quickly compared to other models in its class.[Samsung Galaxy A26 5G]
Connectivity and Extras
Naturally, you’ve got 5G support on board, which means your network options are future-proof. You’ll also get staples such as dual SIM support, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Samsung Knox security — it’s a nice addition for some extra peace of mind.
Pros:
Vivid FHD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate
Long-lasting 5000mAh battery
Reliable daily performance
Uncluttered stock Android 14 experience
Headphone jack and swappable storage slot
5G at an affordable price
Cons:
No AMOLED display
Average low-light camera performance
Plastic construction might not feel as high-end
They don’t get a ton of miles, the macro, depth cameras upside.
No stereo speakers
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G is no game-changer, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a solid all-arounder that doesn’t cut any corners in the basics. With a strong battery life, 5G support and a good display it has all the right things for those who want reliability over pure flash.
If you’re in the market for an affordable 5G phone from a reliable name in the business, then the Galaxy A26 5G is well worth a second look.