Samsung launches a cheaper alternative to the Galaxy S26

Leading the new line-up is the Galaxy A57 5G.

While it looks remarkably similar to last year's model, complete with signature floating triple-camera island and a glossy ceramic-like finish, it’s slimmed down slightly.

The A57 is 0.5mm thinner and 18g lighter than its predecessor.

And the bezels around the 6in super AMOLED+ display have been shaved down for a more premium look.

Under the bonnet, it’s powered by the new Exynos 1680 processor, which offers a modest bump in CPU and graphics performance alongside a massive 42 per cent improvement in neural processing.

That extra NPU power is there to drive Samsung’s new AI features, including voice transcription for recordings, an upgraded ‘Best Face’ mode for group photos, and Google’s handy ‘Circle to Search’ tool, which can now identify multiple objects in a single image.

The camera hardware remains largely untouched from last year – a 50MP main sensor backed by a 12MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro lens – but Samsung promises the upgraded image signal processor will deliver sharper night-time photography and faster shutter speeds.

Starting at £529 for a generous 256GB of storage, the A57 looks to be a highly capable all-rounder, though it faces stiff competition from the £499 Pixel 10a.