Samsung’s Galaxy A series has long been one of the most dependable choices in the mid-range smartphone segment, consistently offering a strong balance between performance, display quality, and long-term software support. The new Samsung Galaxy A57 5G continues that formula, refining the experience rather than reinventing it.
Positioned between affordability and premium aspirations, the Galaxy A57 5G brings a familiar design language, a vibrant AMOLED display, solid day-to-day performance, and Samsung’s increasingly valuable software longevity promise. While it does miss out on some flagship-level features, it remains a compelling option for users who value practicality over flashy extras.
Here’s our full review of the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G.
Design

The Galaxy A57 continues Samsung’s minimalist design philosophy that has defined the A-series over the years. It is clean, understated, and unmistakably Samsung.

This year, the bezels are noticeably thinner, giving the device a more premium and modern appearance from the front. Measuring just 6.9mm thin and weighing only 180g, the phone feels impressively slim and light in hand, making it comfortable to use for extended periods, whether for browsing, gaming, or content consumption.

At the rear, Samsung keeps things simple with a clean panel and a subtle camera bump design that closely resembles the flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 series. It gives the phone a more premium visual identity without trying too hard.
Colour options include Awesome Navy, Awesome Gray, and Awesome Icyblue — all of which lean towards a more mature and elegant aesthetic rather than overly flashy finishes.
Durability is also a strong point here. Both the front and back are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, paired with an aluminium frame for added structural rigidity. Samsung also includes IP67/IP68 water and dust resistance, which is still a valuable feature that many competitors in this price segment continue to overlook.
Display

One of the strongest highlights of the Galaxy A57 is its display.
It features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED Plus panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering the kind of visual experience Samsung is known for. Colours are vibrant without appearing overly saturated, while blacks remain deep and true, making everything from Netflix sessions to social media scrolling feel immersive and enjoyable.
The high refresh rate also keeps the experience fluid, especially when navigating through One UI or switching between apps. Animations feel smooth and responsive, adding to the overall premium feel of the device.
That said, while the panel is excellent, it does not quite offer the same efficiency and optimisation seen on Samsung’s newer flagship displays. This is largely because it relies on an older, albeit mature and reliable panel technology. For most users, however, the difference will be negligible in daily use.
Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy A57 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1680 octa-core chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
For everyday tasks such as messaging, video streaming, multitasking, and social media usage, the phone performs very well. Apps open quickly, background processes are handled efficiently, and the overall experience feels smooth and dependable.
Samsung also includes the XClipse 550 GPU with AMD RDNA graphics, which helps improve gaming and graphical performance. Casual gaming runs comfortably, and even more demanding titles remain playable with decent settings.
However, once you begin pushing the device harder with graphically intensive games or heavier workloads, some minimal lag can still be noticed. It is not a performance powerhouse like a flagship device, but for a mid-range smartphone, it strikes a good balance between efficiency and capability.
One UI 8.5

The Galaxy A57 runs the latest One UI 8.5 on top of Android 16, and this is arguably one of the biggest reasons to consider the device.
Samsung’s software remains one of the most polished Android experiences available, with a clean interface, excellent ecosystem integration, and plenty of useful features.
There are some compromises compared to the flagship Galaxy S series — most notably the absence of full Galaxy AI support. However, Samsung still includes useful AI-powered tools such as Object Eraser, smart photo editing, and intelligent search functions.
Support for Google’s Circle to Search and Perplexity is also included, adding more convenience for users who rely on quick information access and productivity tools.
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, however, Quick Share does not work with AirDrop-style functionality across Apple devices, which may be a minor disappointment for users in mixed-device environments.
What truly stands out is Samsung’s commitment to longevity. The Galaxy A57 will receive up to six years of software support, including both major Android upgrades and security patches. In a market where long-term support is becoming increasingly important, this adds genuine long-term value.
Camera

The Galaxy A57 features a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP macro lens.
For selfies and video calls, there is also a capable 12MP front-facing camera that performs well enough for social media content and daily communication.
In daylight conditions, the main camera delivers sharp photos with good detail retention and balanced colours. Samsung’s image processing still leans slightly towards vibrant output, which many users may actually prefer for social-ready images.
The ultra-wide camera performs reasonably well too, although colour consistency between the main and ultra-wide sensors remains one of the weaker points. This becomes more noticeable when switching between lenses in the same shooting environment.
Low-light performance sees some improvement thanks to better image processing from the Exynos chipset. Night shots are cleaner than before, but images can still appear softer with reduced fine detail compared to more premium devices.
Overall, the camera system is dependable rather than exceptional — good enough for most users, but not necessarily a standout reason to buy the phone.
Battery Life

Battery life on the Galaxy A57 is exactly what most users would hope for.
It packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0, allowing the device to comfortably last through a full day of moderate to heavy usage without major concerns.
Whether it is work, entertainment, or gaming, the phone manages power efficiently enough to keep up with demanding daily routines.
The only disappointment here is the lack of wireless charging, especially as more phones in this price range are beginning to include it. While not essential, it would have helped the Galaxy A57 feel even more complete.
Still, for practical everyday use, battery performance remains one of its strongest strengths.
Final Words

Retailing at RM2,399 for the 256GB model and RM2,699 for the 512GB variant, the Galaxy A57 enters one of the most competitive segments in the smartphone market.
It may not be the most exciting phone in its class, nor does it attempt to be. Instead, Samsung focuses on delivering a well-rounded, dependable smartphone backed by strong software support, solid hardware, and the reliability of a trusted ecosystem.
The Galaxy A57 is ultimately a move towards practicality — a device built for users who value consistency over gimmicks.
If your priorities are excellent display quality, reliable day-to-day performance, strong battery life, and long-term software support, the Galaxy A57 5G remains one of the safest and smartest choices in its category.
Yay
- Great build quality
- Impressive display
- Long and reliable software support
Nay
- No Galaxy AI
- No wireless charging
