Samsung Equips Budget-Friendly Galaxy A-Series Phones with "Impressive Intelligence" Features
It's that time of the year again where budget-friendly smartphones are battling it out for your attention and wallet. This time, we're looking at Samsung's Galaxy A-series, set to be refreshed next month. The lineup includes the Galaxy A36 for $400, the Galaxy A26 at $300, and the Galaxy A56, starting at $500 with a yet-to-be-released bump. All three devices boast "Awesome Intelligence," Samsung's new term for its lower-cost devices' AI capabilities.
Samsung's Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 all share a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a feature not commonly found at this price point. They also come with a 5,000 mAh battery, ensuring long-lasting usage. Each device starts with 128GB of storage, with Samsung's Exynos 1580 chipset powering the Galaxy A56, while the Galaxy A26 and A26 run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 platform. Only the Galaxy A56 offers 8GB of RAM.
Apple, we’re expecting
The camera systems in the A-series vary. The Galaxy A56, the "highest" tier, features a 12-MP ultrawide camera, a 50-MP primary camera, a 5-MP Macro camera, and a 12-MP front-facing camera. The Galaxy A36, starting at $300, has the same primary camera but offers an 8-MP ultrawide and a 5-MP macro camera. The Galaxy A26, the cheapest, includes all that except a 20-MP macro camera and a 13-MP front camera.
Google, and Samsung just threw its roster into the ring. The Galaxy A-series is set to be refreshed next month. It starts with the Galaxy A36 starting at $400, then the Galaxy A26 at $300. The Galaxy A56 starts at $500 and will also get a bump, though there’s no expected release date yet. All three devices have “Awesome Intelligence,” which seems to be Samsung’s rebranding of Galaxy AI for its lower-cost devices.
Now, let's talk about "Awesome Intelligence." It's Samsung's attempt to rebrand AI for its budget lineup. It includes Google Gemini abilities like Circle to Search, allowing you to interact with on-screen information with a single tap. You'll also get access to Galaxy AI features like Object Eraser. Beyond these key features, Awesome Intelligence offers Nightography algorithms in the camera app. However, it falls short compared to advanced features found in Galaxy AI-equipped flagship models like Live Translate and Instant Slow-mo.
Circle to Search, including the new ability launched to the Galaxy S25 series that helps you identify a song. It’ll also give you access to Galaxy AI features like Object Eraser. Beyond a few other key Samsung features, like Nightography algorithms in the camera app, that’s about it. It’s enough Awesome Intelligence to make you say, “Awesome!” or something like that.
In conclusion, Samsung's Galaxy A-series is a decent budget-friendly option, offering a decent camera, a sleek design, and AI capabilities. But it falls short compared to flagship devices, which offer more advanced AI features. If you're looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with AI capabilities, the Galaxy A-series might be worth considering. But if advanced AI features are a must, you might want to explore other options.
The upcoming Galaxy A-series refresh, featuring the Galaxy A36, A26, and A56, is likely to surge in popularity due to their budget-friendly prices and tech innovations. The A56, with its Exynos 1580 chipset, excels in night photography, thanks to its implementation of Awesome Intelligence's Nightography algorithms. Samsung is also expected to adopt Circle to Search, a new feature from Galaxy S25 series, in the Galaxy A56, enhancing user interaction. Despite the lack of advanced AI features compared to flagships, the Galaxy A-series offers promising potential, particularly in the realm of nightography and AI-assisted photography.