There was a time when buying a cheap phone meant resigning yourself to a second-rate experience. Slow processors, lifeless screens, cameras that blurred and washed out every detail. A device that felt out of date from the moment you unboxed it.

But each year, mid-range phones get better and better – no longer an afterthought. Samsung's A Series range has long been one of the leaders in mid-range phones. Last year's improvements meant that, visually, the A Series is just as sleek as any flagship phone. And this year’s models – the Galaxy A26, A36, and A56 – come with even more impressive features. They’ve been redesigned, re-engineered, while still priced the same as last year.

What’s new in the 2025 Galaxy A Series?

At first glance, the A Series follows a familiar pattern — an entry-level model (A26), a mid-tier device (A36), and a more premium option (A56). But this year’s lineup is more than a spec bump. Samsung has made a series of smart refinements, pushing the A Series closer to flagship territory without overcomplicating what makes these phones work.

Design: looks (and feels) more expensive

The A Series has always borrowed elements from Samsung’s flagship S Series, but this year, the resemblance is stronger.

Slimmer bezels make the 6.6-inch display feel larger when you’re using it (without bumping up the cost or making the phone larger). The new colours and a sleek matte finish bring the look in line with the high-end Galaxy S25 models. The glossy plastic backs of earlier A Series models disappeared in favour of aluminium in 2024, and this year the devices feel even more premium. There's even a new lilic-esque pearlescent colourway.

The devices are also lighter and thinner – for example, the A56 is 15g lighter and 0.8 mm thinner. The A36 is 14g lighter. When you pick the device up, the difference is noticeable.

Samsung isn’t trying to reinvent mid-range phone design, but these changes make it clear that cheap doesn’t have to look cheap.

Screen: brighter, smoother, yet cheaper

Samsung’s OLED displays are some of the best in the business, and while the A Series doesn’t get the ultra-high-end screens of the recently-released hero S25 Ultra, this year’s A Series screens are here to prioritise your eyes.

They’re up to 20% brighter than last year’s models, making them easier to use in direct sunlight. They also feel smoother as you scroll around your digital life thanks to a bumped-up “refresh rate” on the A56 and (for the first time) the A36.

The screens also get more pixels thanks to a proper AMOLED panel. It’s a big upgrade from LCD screens that used to define the cheap and not-so-cheerful mid-range Samsung phones of the past.

It’s these everyday improvements that make the A Series feel more rewarding. Lower price point, higher satisfaction.

Camera: upgrades that matter

Camera technology in mid-range phones used to be an afterthought. Back in 2021 you’d snap a photo with a mid-range phone and get slightly better quality than you might see in the early 1800s. But with the new A Series updates, even budget-friendly devices are benefitting from smarter AI and better sensors.

This year, the A56 gets the biggest leap in camera tech:

There’s a 50MP main sensor with improved HDR processing for more balanced shots in mixed lighting.

Images shoot faster with reduced shutter lag so you don’t miss the action. And there’s a boosted front-camera that takes sharper, more natural-looking selfies, even in lower light.

The A36 and A26 get more incremental updates—better night mode processing, slightly improved dynamic range—but the core experience remains consistent. A phone that doesn’t suck for a price that doesn’t suck your funds.

Battery and processor: more power, faster charging

This is where you see the key differences in the A26, A36 and A56 – processing power. The A56 being the most powerful and the A26 being the least.

2025's iteration of the A36 and A56 have made the switch to more efficient chipsets. Put simply: more power, less power suck. New, faster processors make multitasking smoother, particularly on the A56. And the presence of a few nifty AI tools means there’s jump in RAM (now up to 12GB on the A56) for smoother performance over time.

Even if your phone does manage to go flat on you, fast-charging has you covered. A 45 Watt charger would fill the battery from empty to 50% in under 30 minutes. You’d get to 100% just after an hour and a few minutes ticked by.

Samsung has chosen to remove the capability for an external memory card, but as as result its added a 256GB variant to help with all that photo storage.

Who is the A Series for?

Not everyone needs a flagship. If you want something good-looking and reliable – one-size-fits-most – the Galaxy A36 is a safe bet. If you care about cameras, performance, and bang-for-every-buck, the A56 is the standout.

If you just need something simple and solid (think for your Nonna), the A26 covers the essentials without feeling like a downgrade.

Price: it’s affordable

This might be the biggest surprise of all. All three models are under $700 AU, with a price unchanged from last year, despite improvements and inflation.

• A26: $499
• A36: $549
• A56: $699

For further context, in 2021, the top-end A Series model cost $749. Adjusting for inflation, that’s even more expensive today. And the A Series is designed to last longer, too. Rather than relegate your phone to the scrap heap after just a few years, Samsung is promising six years of software updates for all three models. That means you can hang onto your phone for longer, reducing the amount of electronic waste that rots in our landfills.

The Samsung Galaxy A26, A36, and A56 launch in Australia on 27 March 2025.