I reviewed the Galaxy A57, and it is a better option than the Pixel 10a

I’ve spent a few weeks with the Galaxy A57 to determine if Samsung’s bread-and-butter telephone is definitely worth the $550 asking worth.

There’s numerous pageant, however I’ve been received over through the svelte newcomer. Let’s cross into element about why it’s value your cash, equipped you don’t disregard to test any offers on its typically dearer S collection stablemate first.

8.5/10

SoC

Exynos 1580

Show dimensions

6.7-inches

Battery

5,000mAh

RAM

8GB / 12GB

The Samsung Galaxy A57’s trendy taste separates it from the Pixel 10a, and a few key basic upgrades make it a fascinating mid-range telephone.

Execs & Cons

• Colourful, sharp display
• Digital camera takes amusing, colourful pictures
• Rapid charging
• Skinny chassis and bezels

• Can get uncomfortable to grip
• Hardcore avid gamers will need extra energy
• No wi-fi charging

Specifications, worth, and availability

The Samsung Galaxy A57 is available for purchase now. It prices $550 for the 128GB model, and $610 for the 256GB fashion. There are 4 colours to be had; Superior Army (a Samsung unique), Superior IcyBlue (noticed in our pictures), Superior Grey, and Superior Lilac.

Samsung has executed away with the 6GB RAM choice noticed at the Galaxy A56, and the Galaxy A57 now has a base 8GB of RAM, with the choice to select 12GB in some areas.

Its closest competitor is the $500 Google Pixel 10a, carefully adopted through the $500 Not anything Telephone 4a Professional, and the $500 Motorola Moto G Stylus. Outdoor america, the Honor 600 is a newcomer value consideration. Samsung has additionally introduced the Galaxy A37 for any individual on a stricter funds.

Spend somewhat extra, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE comes into play. It begins at $650, and also you get a telephoto digital camera, wi-fi charging, DeX improve, and a couple of different further options.

Samsung Galaxy A57 design

Skinny bezels become the glance

The Galaxy A57 is significantly skinny, and I’m no longer simply speaking in regards to the telephone itself, as Samsung has diminished the dimensions of the bezel across the display — a Galaxy A56 ache level — to offer the telephone a graceful, trendy taste that’s as attention-grabbing as it’s svelte on your hand.

Conserving the sort of skinny telephone, it’s simply 6.9mm thick, does pose a slight factor as the sides are somewhat sharp, and as it’s mild at 179 grams, I to find I grip it reasonably tightly, so that you do really feel it dig in after some time.

It seems like a high quality piece of kit because of the steel chassis, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the back and front, plus the upgraded IP68 mud and water resistance will have to make it sturdy too.

It’s a telephone you are going to be pleased with on account of Samsung’s resolution to stay robust circle of relatives design ties between it and the S collection, and on account of the delicate form and bezels, it seems so a lot more 2026 than the Pixel 10a.

Samsung Galaxy A57 digital camera

Colourful and amusing pictures

There are 3 cameras at the again of the Galaxy A57. First is the 50-megapixel major digital camera with an f/1.8 aperture and optical symbol stabilization, adopted through a 12MP wide-angle digital camera and a 5MP macro digital camera. At the entrance is a 12MP selfie digital camera.

The digital camera embodies what Samsung is absolute best identified for, as the primary digital camera pictures are shiny, colourful, and energetic and colour. Be expecting bright blues, vegetables, and reds, and a powerful HDR impact in the precise prerequisites, making the digital camera preferrred for any individual short of to proportion pictures on-line.

Footage aren’t filled with element, and be afflicted by muddiness while you crop them down, however this isn’t an issue distinctive to the A57. I’ve spotted identical problems with the Galaxy S26 Extremely, which is greater than two times the associated fee.

There’s just right consistency throughout the primary and wide-angle cameras, and even though the 2x zoom shortcut within the app isn’t an optical zoom, the pictures it takes are nonetheless first rate, so don’t be afraid to make use of it. Even the utmost 10x zoom does effectively, as you’ll see from the picture of the clock within the gallery under. Selfies generally is a little washed out, however pores and skin tones seem reasonably correct, and the portrait mode works effectively.

Many will suppose the Pixel 10a would be the digital camera telephone to select at this worth, however in a small back-to-back take a look at, the Pixel 10a’s pictures regarded drab and useless subsequent to the bright Galaxy A57’s pictures.

The Galaxy A57’s digital camera is amusing and strangely flexible regardless of no longer having a telephoto digital camera, and any individual posting to social media gets a lot of enjoyment from it.

Samsung Galaxy A57 tool

Take your time atmosphere it up

One of the most greatest benefits of opting for a Samsung telephone over some others round the similar worth is the six-year tool replace dedication, which covers each the working machine and safety updates. Handiest the Pixel 10a improves on it.

Android 16 and Samsung’s newest One UI 8.5 interface are on board, making it proper up-to-the-minute in Samsung’s catalog, and for probably the most phase, it’s a pleasure to make use of.

Setup is reasonably painless, however I nonetheless to find it unusual that Samsung insists on defaulting to Android buttons for navigation, protecting the All the time-on display off, blasting the bleak Over the Horizon ringtone out as usual. This, and more than a few different issues, imply it is value taking time with Samsung’s in depth customization equipment to make the telephone your individual.

One UI 8.5 is superb while you’ve customized it. I like using area, the delicate colours, and logical menus. Redesigned buttons right through the machine are transparent and glaring, the Fast Panel may also be totally custom designed, and the wallpaper editor can in point of fact give your lock display a singular glance.

Frustratingly, Samsung DeX, its desktop mode, isn’t to be had at the A57. Galaxy AI is restricted to symbol enhancing and transcription, and equipment just like the Now Temporary and Now Bar aren’t provide. You’ll have to shop for an S26-series telephone to get all of the productiveness and AI options.

Samsung Galaxy A57 efficiency

Totally good enough

The Exynos 1580 processor is undoubtedly no fire-breathing monster. It’s good enough, however by no means feels find it irresistible’s easily transferring thru apps and menus, extra find it irresistible’s giving all it’s got always. The fingerprint sensor is a superb instance of general efficiency, because it’s dependable however a little bit sluggish.

It’s the similar tale while you obtain apps from the Play Retailer, the place even with robust Wi-Fi, the A57 takes its candy time. That stated, it holds directly to a 5G connection reliably right here in the United Kingdom, and calls sound very good.

I’ve come to the Galaxy A57 from the Honor 600, and no longer most effective is the process for answering calls logical, however the audio all over them is clearer too. The Galaxy A57 is a greater telephone telephone than the Honor, and this does topic.

Samsung Galaxy A57 display, video, and video games

Shocking visuals

The Galaxy A57’s 6.7-inch Tremendous AMOLED Plus display has a 120Hz refresh fee and a 2340 x 1080 pixel solution. It’s shiny sufficient to be simply noticed in daylight, and I like its bright colours and sharp element.

Video seems nice. It’s sharp, colourful, and thrilling. It’s all enhanced through the stereo, Dolby Atmos audio system, that have respectable bass and beautiful, transparent vocals. There are plenty of quantity too.

Whilst the Exynos 1580 would possibly not in an instant lend itself to in depth gaming, it nonetheless does the activity. Asphalt 9 Legends performs effectively, however it doesn’t seem as rapid because it does on dearer {hardware}, plus there’s a sluggish build-up of warmth across the digital camera module and the highest of the chassis, which would possibly turn into a subject matter if you happen to play extra hardcore video games for lengthy sessions of time.

Samsung Galaxy A57 battery and charging

Two days of use

It’s a 5,000mAh battery within the Galaxy A57, which is recharged the usage of a USB-C cable at speeds as much as 45W, supporting Samsung’s Tremendous Rapid Charging 2.0 generation. It’s the similar because the Galaxy A56 sooner than it.

As soon as previous the primary few days, the place Android’s optimization in point of fact pushes the battery laborious, it settles all the way down to a cast two-day lifestyles on a unmarried payment, equipped your use doesn’t cross some distance past 3 or 4 hours of display time.

The Exynos 1580 and 5,000mAh battery are an effective pairing, with a 20-minute 3DMark benchmark take a look at taking 8%, and a 30-minute YouTube video at 1440p over Wi-Fi taking most effective 3%.

Plug the telephone in, and it takes about 80 mins to completely payment, with a fast-charge function bringing 60% in most effective half-hour. It’s a cast general efficiency, however the persisted loss of wi-fi charging will hassle the ones on the lookout for a reason why to improve from a up to date A-series telephone. It does have opposite charging, although.

Will have to you purchase the Samsung Galaxy A57?

Sure, the Samsung Galaxy A57 is a smart purchase. The display seems implausible, from the skinny bezels to the bright colours; the digital camera is perfect for colourful, amusing photographs. The battery lifestyles is enough that many received’t wish to payment it every day, and it fees temporarily, too. It is in those spaces that the Galaxy A57 is a better option than the Pixel 10a.

The tool is well-designed and simple to make use of, plus it’ll be supported for years, and the telephone feels pricey and sturdy, which means you received’t in an instant glance to improve it subsequent yr. It makes the $50 building up in worth over the Galaxy A56 more straightforward to simply accept.

Should you personal the Galaxy A56, it’s no longer dramatically stepped forward, so that you would possibly not wish to improve, but when the Pixel 10a seems too just like the Pixel 9a, and the Not anything Telephone 4a Professional is simply too daring, the Galaxy A57 will have to be on the most sensible of your buying groceries checklist.

Purchase it with self assurance, however have a just right take a look at to look if the Galaxy S25 FE is to be had at a cut price sooner than committing.

8.5/10

SoC

Exynos 1580

Show dimensions

6.7-inches

Battery

5,000mAh

Rear digital camera

50MP major / 12MP wide-angle / 5MP macro

The Samsung Galaxy A57 is a smart telephone to shop for. It makes the Pixel 10a’s design glance dated, and the digital camera takes even higher pictures, plus the basic attraction of the A chain — battery lifestyles, sturdiness, tool updates — stays to offer it robust attraction.