With a slim and lightweight construct, plus a classy glass-and-metal chassis, Samsung’s reasonably priced new Galaxy A57 is undeniably a great-looking telephone — and never simply in comparison with different funds handsets, however even when it’s up in opposition to different flagships, together with its Galaxy S26 siblings.
Mixed with some notable {hardware} and software program upgrades over its glorious A56 predecessor, that was sufficient for me to significantly contemplate adopting the Galaxy A57 as my fundamental Android telephone — and as TechRadar AU’s fundamental telephones editor, that’s one thing I actually by no means thought I’d be saying a few funds handset.
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Nevertheless, with Google opting to deal with retaining the identical $499 / £499 / AU$849 worth level with its new Pixel 10a (a feat achieved by including only a few upgrades over the Pixel 9a, together with retaining the identical core {hardware}), the tech big has delivered a reasonably underwhelming entrant within the contest for finest funds Android handset of 2026 — in order that crown is now very a lot up for grabs.
(Picture credit score: Future | Nico Arboleda)
Positive, the Pixel 10a now has a very flat again and improved battery life (because of software program tweaks moderately than the next capability), however in any other case the telephone is nearly an identical to the 9a. It doesn’t even have the Qi2 magnets discovered within the Pixel 10 lineup (aka PixelSnap), which might have been a notable differentiator over the Pixel 9a. These causes had been sufficient for me to rule out the Pixel 10a as an actual contender for finest low-cost telephone of 2026.
Samsung, alternatively, has taken a barely controversial method with the A57 by rising the value barely to $549 / £529 / AU$749 (from $499 / £499 / AU$699 for final yr’s Galaxy A56). Nevertheless, it’s additionally packed the machine with loads of upgrades over the A56 — whereas additionally making it thinner and lighter.
The 2026 funds Android race isn’t simply Galaxy vs Pixel. There’s a darkish horse within the type of British telephone maker Nothing, an organization that has at all times excelled within the funds area and whose compelling Nothing Telephone (4a) Professional provides a putting contemporary design, some genuinely distinctive options and, for good measure, a slew of {hardware} upgrades over its forebear.
With simply two actual contenders then, I in contrast the A57 and the (4a) Professional to see which might win me over — particularly for the reason that uber-flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely didn’t.
A skinny and lightweight surprise
The Samsung Galaxy A57 measures a formidable 6.9mm thick and weighs 179g, in comparison with the Galaxy A56’s 7.4mm depth and 198g weight. That thickness distinction is starker versus the Pixel 10a, which measures 9mm.
The A57’s glass again and aluminum chassis make it genuinely really feel like a flagship telephone, particularly in comparison with the plastic-backed Pixel 10a. Including to the flagship look is the A57’s skinny bezels, which stand out when the telephone is subsequent to the Pixel 10a and the Nothing Telephone (4a) Professional.
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(Picture credit score: Future | Nico Arboleda)
Whereas it nonetheless doesn’t have the complete Galaxy AI suite, the Galaxy A57 helps extra AI options than its predecessor because of a beefier Exynos 1680 chipset. Some earlier S-series unique options, like Stay Transcription and enhanced Circle to Search, at the moment are absolutely supported by the funds Samsung. Personally, I rely the less AI options as a optimistic, as each are sensible and probably helpful, not like the flagships which have so many extra AI options that I might doubtless by no means use.
Even with the thinner chassis, Samsung nonetheless managed to stuff a 5,000mAh battery within the A57, giving it the identical capability because the Galaxy S26 Extremely. I also can rapidly cost it up, because of 45W quick charging, which is definitely higher than the bottom Galaxy S26 (25W). There nonetheless isn’t wi-fi charging right here, which admittedly would possibly flip some customers off, however isn’t a deal breaker for me.
In Australia (the place I am based mostly), the Galaxy A57 can be cheaper than its rivals, beginning at AU$749 for the 128GB mannequin, in comparison with AU$849 for the Pixel 10a and AU$949 for the Nothing Telephone (4a) Professional (albeit for 256GB storage and 12GB RAM). A mid-ranger with premium supplies that’s priced decrease than a telephone with comparatively cheaper components like plastic is a no brainer for me. In the event you’re within the US and the UK, nonetheless, the A57 isn’t as a lot of a slam dunk because of being barely dearer at $549 / £529 in comparison with $499 / £499 for the Pixel 10a.
Greater than only a fairly (inter)face
Whereas I like what Samsung has achieved to improve and enhance the Galaxy A57 in comparison with its predecessor, considerably surprisingly, it was the Nothing Telephone (4a) Professional that in the end received me over — and it did so as a result of it introduced collectively a few of the issues I appreciated concerning the Galaxy A57 and the Pixel 10a, and wrapped all of it in a whimsical and enjoyable package deal.
The (4a) Professional’s all-metal industrial design doesn’t simply look good, it additionally feels extra premium than the A57’s glass sandwich, even when it’s not as skinny or gentle (8mm deep and weighs 210g). The Glyph Matrix show on the digicam island provides to its distinctive appears, however can be helpful as a second show for a clock, alerts, and at the same time as a information for taking photographs.
(Picture credit score: Future | Nico Arboleda)
NothingOS jogs my memory a number of the Google Pixel’s clear software program expertise, but it surely takes it to a different degree of minimalism by utilizing monochrome logos, menus and customized widgets. Whereas Samsung’s One UI makes the Galaxy A57 extra customizable, it’s nonetheless comparatively extra cluttered with bloatware, which could be laborious to take away app by app after setup.
Admittedly, the (4a) Professional is the primary Nothing machine I’ve ever used, so I am going to admit {that a} novelty issue is in play right here. Nevertheless, I’ve additionally been on an ongoing quest to chop down my telephone display time, and NothingOS’s minimal UI and the (4a) Professional’s Glyph Matrix are options that I’ve been taking a look at to assist obtain that purpose. Positive, I might manually go about organising an analogous monochrome theme with the Samsung, but it surely’s already applied — and appears nice — on the Nothing telephone out of the field.
Value sensible, the (4a) Professional makes for a greater possibility than both its Samsung or Google counterpart — significantly in Australia — regardless of it being the most costly of the three ($599 / £549 / AU$949 for the 256GB taste, the one possibility out there Down Underneath). The equal 256GB fashions for the Pixel 10a and the Galaxy A57 value $599 / £598 / AU$999 and $609.99 / £529 / AU$849 respectively, whereas having simply 8GB of RAM.
Actually, if the (4a) Professional had higher cameras, I believe it might actually have a good likelihood of changing my iPhone 16 Professional Max as my every day driver. Balancing specs, options, appears and worth remarkably properly, I believe the Nothing simply suggestions the steadiness in its favor within the battle of the funds telephones.
My greatest takeaway whereas evaluating the three mid-range telephones, nonetheless, was that irrespective of which handset you would possibly personally desire, it is pleasantly shocking to see how succesful all of them are in comparison with their flagship brethren.
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