Samsung Galaxy A57 5G Review

Design

Pick up the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G, and the first thing that strikes you is how comfortable it feels. At 179g, Samsung has made this handset 19g lighter than the previous A56 5G model - and even more impressively, without compromising on screen or battery size. Whilst 19g might not seem like much on paper, it makes a real difference when you’re using the phone with one hand or carrying it around all day.

The materials match this sleeker feel, too. Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, and an aluminium frame with almost fully flush side buttons give the whole design a premium and sturdy finish. When it comes to colourways, the options for the A57 5G – Awesome Navy, Awesome Grey, Awesome Icyblue and Awesome Lilac – are on the more understated side. Saying that, we think the glossy glass design actually elevates the colours, giving them a modern, polished finish that wouldn’t look out of place in a flagship range.

Display

Samsung's A-series has always punched above its weight when it comes to display, and as mid-range displays go, the A57 5G is hard to fault. The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen is responsive and sharp, with super slim bezels adding an immersive feel, and a 120Hz refresh rate keeping everything smooth from scrolling to gaming.

Thanks to the Super AMOLED Plus upgrade and Exynos 1680’s improved image processing, colours are richer, crisper and truer to life, whether you’re watching a film or flicking through your camera roll. Vision Booster technology also kicks in when you step into bright sunlight, so the display stays clear and readable – no more squinting at Google Maps on the go.

Performance

The powerful Exynos 1680 chip brings a 15% efficiency improvement to the A57 5G, and you notice it as you’re using the phone. When it comes to everyday use, the A57 5G keeps up without any slowing down; apps open instantly, scrolling is lag-free and switching between tabs is seamless.

It may not be a gaming powerhouse, but performance is still great for a mid-range phone, with high-quality graphics and smooth, responsive gameplay. The larger vapour chamber also helps this handset to stay cool under pressure, so you can rely on consistent performance, even when you’re pushing it to get to the next level.

Software and AI

The A57 5G runs with One UI 8.5, Samsung’s latest software update, and if you’ve never used a Samsung before, you’re in for a treat. It’s one of the cleanest, most intuitive Android experiences out there, and is fully optimised for the phone’s inbuilt AI setup.

These AI features, known as Samsung’s Awesome Intelligence, are a mid-range version of the Galaxy AI suite you’d find on the premium S-series. While you’re not getting the full flagship AI package, the AI tools on the A57 5G are genuinely useful in ways you’ll appreciate day to day, especially when it comes to photo editing. Snapped a great group photo, but someone blinked? Best Face lets you swap in better takes from a burst of shots, so everyone can look their best. Object Eraser has been improved too, making it easier than ever to get rid of photobombers or a pesky lamppost in the background, so every photo can be just as you envisioned.

Last but not least, six OS updates and six years of security patches make the A57 5G the perfect mid-range investment, keeping you up-to-date, secure and covered well into the future.

Battery

The A57 5G’s 5,000mAh battery is one of its most reliable qualities. It's the same capacity as the previous A56 5G, but the more efficient Exynos 1680 chip gets a bit more out of it. Lasting up to two full days of normal use, you can leave your charger at home for that last-minute trip where you’re travelling light or a long festival weekend.

When you do need to top up, 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 charging gets you up to 60% in around 30 minutes, so you’re ready for the day. The one thing missing is wireless charging, which is worth knowing if that's part of your daily routine. At this price though, it's a small trade-off for everything else the A57 5G brings to the table.

Security

The A57 5G takes security seriously, protecting your data with Samsung Knox Vault – building on the same excellent security you’ll find in the premium S-series. Working in the background, it monitors for threats and keeps everything secure without you having to do anything at all. It even stores your most important info, like passwords and payment details, separately for added protection. Six years of security updates keep that protection going long into the future, too.

When it comes to getting into your phone day to day, you’ve got both a display fingerprint scanner and face recognition to choose from, which are equally fast and reliable. Samsung have also levelled up the physical protection of the A57 5G, upgrading to an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. This means your phone can handle being submerged in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes, so in case it slips out of your pocket on a rainy day, you can rest assured it’ll be safe.

Cameras

Featuring a triple rear camera setup, the A57 5G has a 50MP main lens, 12MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro lens, alongside a 12MP front camera. Samsung has stuck with this rear camera configuration for four generations now, and whilst the hardware hasn’t changed, the processing behind it has improved.

The main camera produces shots that are sharp, well-exposed and true to life, and OIS keeps things steady, which makes a real difference when you're shooting on the move. Low-light video has also seen a notable improvement too, with Samsung's enhanced Nightography processing pulling in more light for cleaner, brighter footage – handy for gigs, dim restaurants or anywhere the lighting isn't on your side.

The 12MP front camera now supports Super HDR for selfie videos, delivering better colour and contrast, which is a welcome upgrade if you’re a selfie-lover. Where it falls slightly short is zoom, as without a dedicated telephoto lens, quality drops off beyond 2x. For everyday photography, it's more than capable, but if the camera is your main priority, some mid-range rivals, like the Google Pixel 9a or the Honor Magic 8 Lite have pushed further ahead with camera innovation.

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G might not win any awards for reinvention, but when you’ve got a phone that’s as well-built, reliable and great value as this, why change?

If you’re still exploring your options, our guides to the best Android phones of 2026 and best budget smartphones are the perfect place to start.

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