Key points
- Samsung’s newest A series phones include the Galaxy A26 5G (from RRP $499), the Galaxy A36 5G (from RRP $549) and the Galaxy A56 5G (from RRP $699).
- The three phones are the first in the Galaxy A Series to offer AI, called Awesome Intelligence.
- Each device will be available to buy in Australia from March 27, 2025.
Samsung’s latest additions to its mid-range Galaxy A Series family are official, with the tech giant announcing three new specs-packed devices. The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G, Samsung Galaxy A36 5G, and Samsung Galaxy A56 5G are the first-ever Galaxy A phones with integrated AI, a feature previously only available on higher-end Samsung phones such as the Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series.
With pricing ranging from $499 to $699, the 2025 Galaxy A range is considerably cheaper than Samsung’s flagship phones. If you’re looking for a more affordable device that still includes must-have Samsung features, find out what the A56, A36 and A26 have to offer below.
Samsung Galaxy A56 5G
Design and display
Samsung’s newest A series devices each come with a bright 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, big enough for enjoying video or gaming on the go. Samsung has included a smooth 120Hz refresh rate across its entire 2025 A range, and the A56 and A36 each feature a maximum screen brightness of 1,200 nits.
The Galaxy A56 5G is crafted with tough Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back over its aluminium frame, and the phone itself features a slimmer, sleeker look with thinner bezels than previous models. The series comes with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, and can be submerged in up to one metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
Performance and battery
Under the hood, the Galaxy A56 5G is powered by an Exynos 1580 chipset, offering an enhanced performance when compared to last year’s A series. Both the A56 and A36 come with larger vapour chambers for longer gaming sessions, plus a 5,000mAh battery with 45-watt charging and SuperFast Charge 2.0 capability.
The improved processor helps to power what’s likely to be the hero feature on the 2025 Galaxy A range: Awesome Intelligence. This incorporates some of Samsung’s most popular AI tools, including:
- Circle to Search: Search from your phone’s screen by tapping or circling items in photos, emails, websites and more
- Song Search: Identify music from a song or even your own voice humming/singing
- Object Eraser: Remove people and objects from photos
- Best Face: Use in group photos to combine multiple shots to ensure all participants look their best
- Filters: Create custom filters for photos
It’s important to note that this isn’t the same as the supercharged Galaxy AI found on Samsung’s Galaxy S25 and Galaxy Z Fold 6/Z Flip 6 smartphones; think of it as a ‘lite’ version that’s easier for the smaller specs of the A series to process. If you’re looking for more heavy-duty AI features, such as Live Translate and Interpreter, you’ll need to splash out on Samsung’s premium devices.
Alongside Galaxy AI, Samsung is introducing another first to its A series: One UI 7 integration. This gives your device increase security and privacy through Samsung Knox Vault, with features such as Theft Detection and Auto Blocker. All of this year’s A series phones come with six generations of Android OS/One UI upgrades and six years of security updates.
Cameras and extras
The Galaxy A56 includes a 12-megapixel front lens with 10-bit HDR for brighter selfies, along with a triple camera system in the back. You’ll get a 50-megapixel main lens, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 5-megapixel macro lens for detailed close-up shots. This refreshed camera line-up comes with improved Nightography for better and crisper low-light pics, plus several new AI enhancements mentioned above.
Rounding out the Galaxy A56 5G’s key specs, you’ll get the choice of 128GB or 256GB storage sizes, along with 8GB of RAM. The device also includes 5G connectivity and eSIM, and is available in Awesome Olive and Awesome Graphite.
Recommended pricing is $699 for the 128GB model and $799 for the 256GB version — that’s $200-$300 cheaper than the also-newly announced Apple iPhone 16e. You’ll be able to pick up the phone from Samsung and selected retailers from March 27, 2025.
Samsung Galaxy A56 5G: Key specs
- $699 AUD RRP
- 5G connectivity
- Samsung Exynos 1580 processor
- 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display
- Up to 120Hz refresh rate
- Triple rear-camera setup (50MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro)
- 12MP front-facing camera
- 5,000mAh battery
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB or 256GB internal storage
- IP67 water and dust resistance
- Android 15 operating system with One UI 7
- Available in Awesome Olive and Awesome Graphite colours
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Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
The middle option in this year’s A lineup, the A36 has much of the same features as the A56 5G, with some slight differences. You’ll get the same 6.7-inch screen and 120Hz refresh rate, along with a maximum brightness of 1,200 nits.
The rear cameras include the same 50-megapixel main lens as the A56, along with a 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and 5-megapixel macro. You’ll also get the selfie-ready 12-megapixel front-facing camera, plus a range of updated photography features including AI extras and night mode.
Samsung has included the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor for improved multi-tasking and gaming, and battery capacity is a hefty 5,000mAh. The A36 5G also comes with Awesome Intelligence features, plus Android 15 and One UI 7. You’ll also be able to connect to 5G on a compatible phone plan.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G comes with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, is eSIM-ready, and is priced at $549 RRP. You can pick up the phone in Awesome Lavender and Awesome Black colours, beginning March 27, 2025.
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G: Key specs
- $549 AUD RRP
- 5G connectivity
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor
- 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display
- Up to 120Hz refresh rate
- Triple rear-camera setup (50MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro)
- 12MP front-facing camera
- 5,000mAh battery
- 6GB RAM
- 128GB internal storage
- IP67 water and dust resistance
- Android 15 operating system with One UI 7
- Available in Awesome Lavender and Awesome Black colours
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
The most budget-friendly option in this year’s lineup is the Galaxy A26 5G, coming in a under $500 outright. The A26 offers the same slimmed down design and Gorilla Glass build as the A56 and A36, plus a big 6.7-inch screen and 120Hz refresh rate.
While not as powerful as other devices in the 2025 A series, the A26 does come with the Exynos 1380 processor, which is fast enough for everyday multi-tasking. It also has the same 5,000mAh battery size and supports 25W charging. Buyers will also get Awesome Intelligence, Android 15 and One UI 7.
Like the A56 and A36, the Galaxy A26 includes a triple camera rear lineup, plus a front-facing camera with a slightly-larger 13 megapixels. The back cameras include a 50-megapixel main lens, 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro lens.
As with the other 2025 A series phones, the Galaxy A26 is IP67 certified, includes eSIM and 5G, and comes with six generations of security upgrades and six years of Android updates. You’ll be able to buy the 128GB A26 from March 27 for $499 from Samsung and selected retailers, in a single Black colour option.
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G: Key specs
- $499 AUD RRP
- 5G connectivity
- Samsung Exynos 1380 processor
- 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display
- Up to 120Hz refresh rate
- Triple rear-camera setup (50MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro)
- 13MP front-facing camera
- 5,000mAh battery
- 6GB RAM
- 128GB internal storage
- IP67 water and dust resistance
- Android 15 operating system with One UI 7
- Available in Black
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Images: Samsung Australia
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