The Galaxy A57 5G is Samsung’s attempt to make a mid-range phone feel premium: a 6.9 mm glass-and-metal body, IP68, a bright 120Hz AMOLED screen and six OS upgrades plus six years of security updates. The measured results so far show a phone that lasts well and looks the part, held back by modest gaming power and slow charging.
This is a documented review: I brought together Samsung’s official specs and the measured results published by GSMArena and Tom’s Guide, then added my own verdict.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | USD 549.99 in the US; EUR 520 in Europe (per GSMArena) |
| Arab market availability | Officially sold by Samsung Gulf through its UAE online store (128GB, 256GB and 512GB); no official AED or SAR price could be confirmed |
| TechKahwa rating | 7.6/10 |
| Best for | Buyers who want a slim, durable phone with years of updates and a solid screen |
| Skip if | You play demanding games, want wireless charging or need a telephoto camera |
Samsung announced the phone on March 25. It went on sale in the US on April 9, and Samsung’s global newsroom lists April 10 for select markets.
Design and display
This is where the A57 impresses most. It measures 161.5 x 76.8 x 6.9 mm and weighs 179 g, with an IP68 rating for dust and water. For a phone at this price, a body under 7 mm is unusual, and reviewers single out the slim glass-and-metal build as a highlight.
The screen is a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED+ panel with up to 120Hz and Samsung’s Vision Booster for outdoor use. GSMArena measured 427 nits at maximum manual brightness, 1,259 nits in auto mode and 1,869 nits at peak on a 10% patch. In practice, that last figure matters for reading the screen in harsh sun, which will be familiar to anyone in the Gulf in summer.
The cameras are more ordinary: a 50MP f/1.8 main camera, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide and a 5MP f/2.4 macro, with a 12MP f/2.2 selfie camera. Reviewers like the main camera for the class, but the macro is weak and there is no telephoto.
Performance, battery and charging
Samsung’s press release does not name the chip, but GSMArena and Tom’s Guide identify it as the Exynos 1680, built on a 4nm process. Tom’s Guide measured 1,375 single-core and 4,417 multi-core in Geekbench 6, and 6,275 in 3DMark Wild Life. Those numbers are fine for everyday apps, social media and photos. For heavy games, reviewers call the chip weak.
Memory depends on the market: globally there are 8GB and 12GB versions with 128GB to 512GB of storage, while the US gets 8+128GB and 8+256GB. The phone ships with Android 16 and One UI 8.5. GSMArena notes that some S-series Galaxy AI features and DeX are missing.
The 5,000 mAh battery tested well. GSMArena gave it an Active Use rating of 13:59h. In Tom’s Guide’s three-hour YouTube test at 50% brightness, the battery dropped by only 15%. Both outlets describe battery life as improved or strong.
Charging is the weak spot. Samsung claims about 60% in about 30 minutes with its Super Fast Charging 2.0, and the charger is sold separately; GSMArena lists the speed as 45W. In GSMArena’s test, the phone reached 36% at 15 minutes, 64% at 30 minutes and full in 1 hour 9 minutes. Tom’s Guide measured 28% at 15 minutes, 59% at 30 minutes and 93% at 60 minutes. There is no wireless charging.
| Test | Result | Reviewer |
|---|---|---|
| Active Use rating | 13:59h | GSMArena |
| YouTube for 3 hours (50% brightness) | 15% battery drop | Tom’s Guide |
| Charging at 30 min | 64% | GSMArena |
| Charging at 30 min | 59% | Tom’s Guide |
| Full charge time | 1 h 9 min | GSMArena |
| Peak brightness (10% patch) | 1,869 nits | GSMArena |
| Geekbench 6 single / multi | 1,375 / 4,417 | Tom’s Guide |
| 3DMark Wild Life | 6,275 | Tom’s Guide |
What reviewers agree on
Strengths:
- Slim, light glass-and-metal body with IP68
- Bright 120Hz AMOLED screen
- Six years of OS upgrades
- A good main camera for the class
- Strong battery life in GSMArena’s and Tom’s Guide’s tests
Weaknesses:
- The price is USD 50 higher than the A56
- The Exynos 1680 is weak for gaming
- Slow charging and no wireless charging
- A weak 5MP macro camera and no telephoto
- Some flagship Galaxy AI features and DeX are missing (GSMArena)
Who should buy it
The A57 makes sense for people who keep a phone for a long time. Six OS upgrades means the phone should keep getting new Android versions for years, which changes the value calculation in its favor. Add a thin, water-resistant body and a screen that stays readable outdoors, and it is an easy phone to live with.
If you play demanding games, the chip will hold you back. And if fast charging matters, I would look elsewhere, because both GSMArena and Tom’s Guide found it slow for 2026, and you have to buy the charger yourself.
In the Arab market, Samsung Gulf sells the A57 officially through its UAE online store in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB versions, alongside card and trade-in offers. I could not confirm an official AED or SAR price, so compare Samsung’s store with authorized retailers before buying.
Verdict
For me, the Galaxy A57 is a well-rounded phone rather than an exciting one. Its design, display, battery and update policy are all strong for the money, and GSMArena’s and Tom’s Guide’s figures support that. Its compromises, the chip, the charging and the camera extras, are the usual mid-range ones, but a USD 50 price increase makes them harder to overlook.
My rating is 7.6/10: a sensible, long-lived choice for most people, less so for gamers.
Sources
- Samsung US Newsroom, “Samsung unveils Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G”, March 25, 2026, https://news.samsung.com/us/samsung-unveils-galaxy-a57-5g-galaxy-a37-5g-pro-level-features-awesome-price/
- Samsung Global Newsroom, “Samsung unveils Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G packing pro-level features at awesome price”, March 25, 2026, https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-unveils-galaxy-a57-5g-and-galaxy-a37-5g-packing-pro-level-features-at-awesome-price
- GSMArena, Galaxy A57 review, display and battery, April 8, 2026, https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a57-review-2950p3.php
- GSMArena, Galaxy A57 review, verdict and features, April 8, 2026, https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a57-review-2950p6.php
- Tom’s Guide, Tom Pritchard, Samsung Galaxy A57 review, April 18, 2026, https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/samsung-phones/samsung-galaxy-a57-review
- Samsung UAE, Galaxy A57 5G buy page (undated), https://www.samsung.com/ae/smartphones/galaxy-a/galaxy-a57-5g/buy/