Samsung silently releases new affordable smartphone with 6 years of software updates

Samsung has quietly launched its latest A-series smartphone, the Galaxy A18 4G, in Europe. The smartphone comes as a direct successor to last year’s Galaxy A17 4G (curr. at $224.99 on Amazon), bringing minor upgrades, such as a new chipset, improved water resistance, and longer software support. However, there’s no word on its 5G variant. It remains to be seen when Samsung will introduce the 5G model in Europe. 

This time around, Samsung ditched the MediaTek Helio G99 processor found on the last-generation model. Instead, the brand has opted for its in-house Exyos 1610 chipset for the A18 4G. It packs 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage with room for storage expansion via a micro-SD card. 

Dimension-wise, the 4G-enabled smartphone is slightly thicker and weighty than the A17 4G, which comes in at 7.5 mm (0.29 inches) and 190 grams (6.7 ounces). The A18 measures 7.7 mm (0.30 inches) in thickness and weighs 196 grams (6.9 ounces). Furthermore, it boasts a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. 

A 5,000 mAh battery powers the smartphone and supports only 25 W wired charging. Software-wise, the device runs Android 17-based One UI 9 out of the box, and Samsung promises six years of major Android upgrades (up to Android 23) and security patches until the end of October 2032. As for lenses, you get a triple rear camera setup at the back, featuring a 50 MP main camera complemented by a 5 MP ultrawide lens and a 2 MP macro shooter. There is a 13 MP selfie camera at the front. 

Available in light blue, black, and gray color options, the Samsung Galaxy A18 4G is priced at €280/NOK 3,290/SEK 3,290. Buyers can now purchase the smartphone in France, Norway, and Sweden via Samsung’s official website.