Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G is good value for money. Its solid features, IP67 certification, Knox Vault security architecture, updates until 2031 and its bright AMOLED screen all speak in favor of the stylish and high-quality mid-range smartphone. Its Exynos 1380 delivers enough power for everyday use and is suitable for gaming. The phone's main camera takes decent photos for this price range.
On the flip side, its budget price also entails a few compromises. Its battery life is only average, but should be sufficient for a day of intensive use. It doesn't support eSIM or wireless charging, and its WLAN speed isn't the highest using the outdated WiFi 5. Plus, it's a shame that Samsung has removed the phone's stereo speakers and 3.5 mm jack compared to the Galaxy A25 5G.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
At the time of writing, you can get the 256-GB version of the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G on Amazon for $229.50.
Table of Contents
- Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
- Specifications
- Case - The waterproof and dust-tight Galaxy A phone
- Connectivity - The Galaxy A26 5G with up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage
- Software - Android 15, AI functions and updates until 2031
- Communication and GNSS - Only WiFi 5 on the Galaxy A26 5G
- Telephone functions and call quality - Hybrid dual SIM, but no eSIMs
- Cameras - Triple-camera setup with 50 MP and OIS
- Accessories and warranty - The Galaxy A26 5G without a power supply
- Input devices and operation - Responsive touchscreen
- Display - The Galaxy A26 5G with a Super AMOLED screen
- Performance - The Exynos 1380 for the Samsung phone
- Games - The Galaxy A26 5G can run games too
- Emissions - No more stereo speakers
- Battery life - The Galaxy A26 5G with a 5000 mAh battery
- Notebookcheck total rating
- Possible alternatives compared
Samsung has updated its popular mid-range Galaxy A series. Three new models are available: the Galaxy A26 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and the Galaxy A56 5G. The most affordable entry into the 2025 series is the Galaxy A26 5G.
Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A26 5G has been improved in a number of areas. The new mid-range smartphone has a higher-quality and more durable case with Gorilla Glass Victus+ and IP67 protection, and it has been given some AI functions, which Samsung summarizes under the term "Awesome Intelligence".
Specifications
Case - The waterproof and dust-tight Galaxy A phone
Compared to its 6.5-inch predecessor, the Galaxy A25 5G, the Galaxy A26 5G has grown to 6.7 inches, but it weighs almost the same. Its weight has increased by just 3 grams to 200 grams, meaning the new Galaxy A model again feels quite light when you hold it in your hand. At the same time, it's slimmer than the 8.3-millimeter Galaxy A25 5G, measuring in at 7.7 millimeters thick.
The Galaxy A26 5G has made the biggest leap forward when it comes to case materials. Its frame is made of plastic, but the front and back are now protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+. With its IP67 certification, the Galaxy A26 5G also offers protection against dust and water.
In the EU, the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G comes in black, white and mint green. In countries such as India and the Philippines, the smartphone is also available in pink.
Connectivity - The Galaxy A26 5G with up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G comes with 128 or 256 GB of storage. In the DACH region, where this test was carried out, the small version has 6 GB RAM and the 256 GB version has 8 GB RAM. Depending on the country and region, the smartphone is additionally available in other storage configurations.
- 6/128 GB storage: approx. $300
- 8/256 GB storage: approx. $400
The Galaxy A26 5G features a solid range of connectivity options including Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Hybrid Dual SIM and USB-C 2.0. Furthermore, it supports Knox Vault, Samsung's security solution that allows encrypted storage of passwords and other sensitive information.
However, two features of its predecessor have been dropped: The 3.5 mm jack is no more and instead of stereo speakers, the phone only emits mono sound. Unlike the previous model's hardware proximity sensor, the Galaxy A26 5G uses a virtual sensor that obtains its data from the gyroscope and accelerometer.
The Galaxy A26 5G can transmit screen content wirelessly to external monitors or TVs via Miracast. The DRM also supports Widevine L1 for playing back copy-protected HD web streams. Connected to our Samsung 980 Pro test SSD, the USB port achieved a data throughput of 25.5 MB/s, which is typical for USB 2.0.
microSD card reader
The Galaxy A26 5G accepts microSD cards up to 2 TB in size, which can be formatted using the exFAT file format. Using our Angelbird AV Pro V60 reference card, the microSD reader managed a very good data throughput of 54.7 MByte/s in our copying test.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (Angelbird V60) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (5.72 - 58.9, n=70, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (Angelbird V60) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software - Android 15, AI functions and updates until 2031
The Galaxy A26 5G runs Android 15 and Samsung's OneUI 7 user interface. The manufacturer promises software updates for 6 years from market launch, so until March 2031. During this period, there will be up to 6 operating system upgrades in addition to quarterly Android security updates.
Due to its hardware configuration, the Galaxy A26 5G doesn't support most of the AI functions of OneUI 7, including the daily briefing widget on the lock screen. Still, Google Circle to Search and the object eraser in the Photos app are included.
Sustainability
Samsung delivers the Galaxy A26 5G in plastic-free packaging. The manufacturer provides life cycle assessments on its website, which list the environmental impact of each smartphone during production, use and disposal. For the Galaxy A26 5G, the emissions are 33.6 kgCO₂ eq. (production) and 41.7 kgCO₂ eq. (distribution, use and disposal).
Communication and GNSS - Only WiFi 5 on the Galaxy A26 5G
The Galaxy A26 5G features good cellular frequency support that shouldn't cause any reception problems in Europe. However, when traveling, you should check beforehand whether the smartphone supports the frequencies required in your destination country.
The Samsung smartphone uses the now outdated WiFi 5, but when connected to our reference router, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, the Galaxy A26 5G delivered stable transfer rates. With peak values of around 350 MBit/s, they were on par with most of the competitors, although the majority already rely on WiFi 6.
| Networking | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Average 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
The Galaxy A26 5G uses the single-band satellite navigation systems GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo and QZSS to determine its location. During our test, indoor positioning took quite a long time and didn't deliver particularly accurate results. The phone was much more accurate outdoors.
The Galaxy A26 5G located us almost as precisely as the Garmin Venu 2 fitness smartwatch on a 4-kilometer walk through green spaces and densely built-up areas. This makes the smartphone well-suited for navigation tasks. Even so, you'll have to accept that it's sometimes a few meters off your actual position.
Telephone functions and call quality - Hybrid dual SIM, but no eSIMs
The Galaxy A26 5G delivered good call quality during our test calls and reliably filtered out ambient noise even in loud environments. The Samsung smartphone supports VoLTE and Wi-Fi calls. Its card slot has space for two SIM cards or alternatively one SIM card and one microSD card. eSIMs cannot be used.
Cameras - Triple-camera setup with 50 MP and OIS
The selfie camera has a resolution of 13 MP, uses a fixed focus and takes good photos in daylight with balanced exposure and sharpness. Videos can be recorded in up to 4K at 30 frames per second.
The triple camera on the back consists of a 50 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a macro camera with a 2 MP resolution. Samsung hasn't provided any information on which camera sensors are used.
Thanks to its combination of a 50 MP resolution, fast f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization, the main camera produces detailed and sharp photos. They depict colors quite neutrally and appear somewhat grainy when zoomed in. The autofocus isn't always perfect. Overall, however, its image quality is pretty good for this price range.
Zoom shots look acceptable at up to 2x magnification, and even in low ambient light, the photos are still usable.
The phone's ultra-wide-angle camera shoots snapshots with balanced colors, but they are slightly darker than the main camera and show more image noise. The 2 MP macro camera can be left to one side, as the main camera's zoom almost always produces the better shots.
Its main camera records good-quality videos up to 4K at 30 frames per second. Switching to the ultra-wide-angle camera is only possible up to a maximum of Full HD at 30 frames per second. The video stabilization also only works up to Full HD at 30fps.
Image comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Daylight photoDaylight photoUltra-wide angle5x zoomLow-light photo
In our test lab with optimal lighting, the main camera captured the reference colors of the Colorchecker color chart very precisely. It also performed well with minimal lighting, as both the color chart and the test chart remained fully recognizable.
Accessories and warranty - The Galaxy A26 5G without a power supply
The Galaxy A26 5G comes with a USB-C cable and a SIM tool. Samsung sells matching 25-watt power adapters, such as the EP-T2510N, as well as other optional accessories in its web store.
The Galaxy A26 5G is covered by a standard 12-month warranty. It can be extended via Samsung's Care+ insurance cover, which protects the smartphone against damage and theft for up to two years. Depending on the package, this costs between $40 and $110.
Input devices and operation - Responsive touchscreen
The Galaxy A26 5G responds to inputs on its 120 Hz screen accurately and without any noticeable delay. OneUI 7 runs very smoothly most of the time, but we noted some brief lags with particularly demanding apps. The intensity of the ERM vibration motor can be finely adjusted.
The fingerprint sensor integrated in the device's power button scored highly in our test, achieving a high recognition rate and unlocking the smartphone quickly. With sufficient ambient light, the biometric 2D facial recognition using the selfie camera, which isn't quite as secure, worked similarly reliably.
Display - The Galaxy A26 5G with a Super AMOLED screen
The Galaxy A26 5G's Super AMOLED screen has increased in size by 0.2 inches compared to the Galaxy A25 5G, but displays the same resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. This slightly reduces its pixel density from 396 to 385 PPI, but the display still remains sharp. Its refresh rate is set to 120 Hz by default and can alternatively be switched to 60 Hz.
When depicting an all-white background, the screen reached an average brightness of 731 cd/m² during our test—slightly less bright than the Galaxy A25 5G. However, when displaying evenly distributed bright and dark areas (APL18 measurement), the brightness increased to 1112 cd/m², putting it on par with its predecessor. When showing HDR content, it increased to up to 1265 cd/m². With the light sensor deactivated, you can expect a maximum of 349 cd/m².
The Super AMOLED screen doesn't use high-frequency PWM dimming and flickers at a low 240 Hz across all the brightness levels we measured. For sensitive people, this can lead to discomfort, such as burning eyes.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 99 %
Center on Battery: 735 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.8 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.84
ΔE Greyscale 4 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
100% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 1.98
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G Super AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.7" | Motorola Edge 60 Fusion P-OLED, 2712x1200, 6.7" | Nothing Phone (3a) AMOLED, 2392x1080, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy A25 5G Super AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.5" | Xiaomi Poco X7 AMOLED, 2712x1220, 6.7" | Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G AMOLED, 2712x1220, 6.7" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 49% | 27% | 40% | 49% | 49% | |
| Brightness middle | 735 | 1281 74% | 1287 75% | 912 24% | 1156 57% | 1138 55% |
| Brightness | 731 | 1281 75% | 1274 74% | 928 27% | 1150 57% | 1137 56% |
| Brightness Distribution | 99 | 94 -5% | 97 -2% | 96 -3% | 98 -1% | 97 -2% |
| Black Level * | ||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.8 | 1.47 61% | 1.9 50% | 1.09 71% | 1.1 71% | 1.1 71% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.8 | 3.14 46% | 8.7 -50% | 2.26 61% | 3.1 47% | 2.6 55% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4 | 2.2 45% | 3.4 15% | 1.6 60% | 1.6 60% | 1.6 60% |
| Gamma | 1.98 111% | 2.062 107% | 2.26 97% | 2.251 98% | 2.22 99% | 2.23 99% |
| CCT | 6628 98% | 6628 98% | 7072 92% | 6491 100% | 6304 103% | 6284 103% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 240 Hz Amplitude: 17.81 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 240 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 240 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8360 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness looks flat, but this is due to the scaling. The info box shows the enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness).
Our analysis using a photo spectrometer and the Calman software revealed that the screen's color reproduction isn't all too precise. If you switch from the preset color profile Vivid to Natural, the display delivers the most accurate representation, but it's still above the ideal range of Delta-E < 3 for both colors and grayscale. Although you shouldn't notice much of this during everyday use, the deviations are still worth mentioning because they represent a step backwards, with the Galaxy A25 5G having reproduced colors much more precisely.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.091 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.911 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 9 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 1.97 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.023 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.951 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 8 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.1 ms). | ||
The Galaxy A26 5G does well outdoors. Its viewing-angle-stable display is easy to read even in bright surroundings, as long as you avoid direct sunlight.
Performance - The Exynos 1380 for the Samsung phone
The Galaxy A26 5G has received the mid-range processor that was reserved for the Galaxy A35 5G in last year's Galaxy A lineup, namely the Exynos 1380.
Compared to the Galaxy A25 5G, its increase in performance remains small, but the eight-core SoC delivers enough power to handle everyday tasks with ease. It's roughly on par with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300, which is used in competitors such as the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, Xiaomi Poco X7 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G.
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1267 - 81594, n=151, last 2 years) | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (5835 - 6320, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| Geekbench AI | |
| Single Precision TensorFlow NNAPI 1.2 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (51 - 1501, n=54, last 2 years) | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (n=1) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Half Precision TensorFlow NNAPI 1.2 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (51 - 9453, n=54, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (n=1) | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Quantized TensorFlow NNAPI 1.2 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (123 - 13084, n=54, last 2 years) | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (n=1) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
The Samsung Exynos 1380 relies on the ARM Mali-G68 MP5 GPU as a graphics unit. As a result, the Galaxy A26 5G achieved competitive results during our tests that were again close to the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, Xiaomi Poco X7 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G and their MediaTek Dimensity 7300.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
Surfing the web is quick and easy on the Galaxy A26 5G. Websites load quickly and are displayed in no time. The Samsung smartphone was one of the fastest among the comparison devices in the browser benchmarks, but this was in part due to its more recent browser version.
| Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) (Chrome 134.0.6998.135) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G (Chrome 135.0.7049.111) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (94.6 - 121.8, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (Chrome 122) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 (Chrome 132.0.6834.163) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G (Chrome 133) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) (Chrome 134.0.6998.135) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 585, n=145, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (Chrome 135) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G (Chrome 135.0.7049.111) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 (Chrome 132.0.6834.163) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (70.5 - 127, n=5) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G (Chrome 133) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (Chrome 122) | |
| Speedometer 3.0 - Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1.03 - 34, n=102, last 2 years) | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) (Chrome 134.0.6998.135) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G (Chrome 135.0.7049.111) | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (Chrome 135) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (5.81 - 8.27, n=2) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 (Chrome 132.0.6834.163) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G (Chrome 133) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) (Chrome 134.0.6998.135) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 273, n=158, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G (Chrome 135.0.7049.111) | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (Chrome 135) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (97 - 123, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (Chrome 122) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 (Chrome 132.0.6834.163) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G (Chrome 133) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) (Chrome 134.0.6998.135) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=213, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G (Chrome 135.0.7049.111) | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (Chrome 135) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (33801 - 38939, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (Chrome 122) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 (Chrome 132.0.6834.163) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G (Chrome 133) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G (Chrome 133) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=167, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (Chrome 122) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 1380 (975 - 1209, n=6) | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (Chrome 135) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G (Chrome 135.0.7049.111) | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) (Chrome 134.0.6998.135) | |
* ... smaller is better
Despite its UFS 3.1 storage, the Galaxy A26 5G wasn't one of the fastest mid-range devices in our test, which is why the competition pulled ahead during the storage benchmarks. In practice, however, apps and games still load relatively quickly.
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | Nothing Phone (3a) | Xiaomi Poco X7 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | Average 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 183% | 192% | 139% | 167% | 172% | 335% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 528.54 | 967.4 83% | 1031.34 95% | 947.4 79% | 1009.67 91% | 1581 ? 199% | 2091 ? 296% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 251.43 | 908.8 261% | 1001.28 298% | 915.23 264% | 833.64 232% | 742 ? 195% | 1697 ? 575% |
| Random Read 4KB | 219.57 | 272.1 24% | 245.48 12% | 100.16 -54% | 248.81 13% | 242 ? 10% | 289 ? 32% |
| Random Write 4KB | 61.8 | 286.9 364% | 285.24 362% | 226.88 267% | 266.92 332% | 238 ? 285% | 332 ? 437% |
Games - The Galaxy A26 5G can run games too
Next, we checked how current games run on the Galaxy A25 5G using a small selection of games and the Gamebench test tool, and the smartphone performed pretty well. The graphically demanding adventure role-playing game Genshin Impact hovered above the 30fps mark even using the highest graphics settings. The average was 34.1 frames per second, although the frame rates fluctuated quite strongly. When running the graphically simpler tactical shooter PUBG Mobile, on the other hand, things looked much more consistent, with the phone managing an almost constant 40 frames per second in the HD setting.
Emissions - No more stereo speakers
Temperature
Even under extreme load, which we simulated with a 1-hour stress test using the Burnout benchmark, the Galaxy A26 5G didn't heat up significantly. As the 3DMark stress tests revealed, the smartphone can deliver its full performance at practically any time.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.3 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.7 °C / 84 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Steel Nomad stress test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | |
| Xiaomi Poco X7 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G | |
Speaker
The Galaxy A26 5G does a few things better than the Galaxy A25 5G. Unfortunately, speakers aren't one of them, as its speaker next to the USB-C port is no longer supported by the device's earpiece, meaning stereo sound is no longer available. However, the single speaker does its job quite well and reproduces voices and music in a very differentiated way.
External speakers or headphones can be connected via the USB-C port or Bluetooth 5.3. Its selection of supported Bluetooth codecs isn't particularly large and includes SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC and SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec).
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (92.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 6.5% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 11% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 32% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 60% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.5% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 8% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 86% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 28% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 64% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life - The Galaxy A26 5G with a 5000 mAh battery
Power consumption
The Galaxy A26 5G's 5000 mAh battery can be charged at up to 25 watts, but you'll have to source the right power supply yourself. In our case, it was the 100-watt Anker 317 power supply unit. A full charging cycle took exactly 80 minutes during our test. It took 28 minutes to recharge it to 50 percent and 49 minutes to recharge it to 80 percent.
The Samsung smartphone's power consumption is inconspicuous, but it draws a little more power than the technically similar mid-range comparison devices.
| Off / Standby |   0.02 / 0.21 Watt |
| Idle |  1.17 / 1.94 / 2.03 Watt |
| Load |
4.31 / 11.79 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Edge 60 Fusion 5200 mAh | Nothing Phone (3a) 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A25 5G 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Poco X7 5110 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G 5110 mAh | Average Samsung Exynos 1380 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 31% | 25% | 15% | 26% | 21% | -36% | 4% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1.17 | 1 15% | 0.93 21% | 1 15% | 1.09 7% | 1.17 -0% | 1.085 ? 7% | 0.871 ? 26% |
| Idle Average * | 1.94 | 1.3 33% | 1.67 14% | 1.5 23% | 1.28 34% | 1.38 29% | 2.85 ? -47% | 1.425 ? 27% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.03 | 1.6 21% | 1.68 17% | 1.7 16% | 1.31 35% | 1.41 31% | 2.99 ? -47% | 1.582 ? 22% |
| Load Average * | 4.31 | 2.9 33% | 3.69 14% | 4.6 -7% | 3.25 25% | 3.58 17% | 8.03 ? -86% | 7.13 ? -65% |
| Load Maximum * | 11.79 | 5.6 53% | 4.75 60% | 8.3 30% | 8.62 27% | 8.44 28% | 12.5 ? -6% | 10.7 ? 9% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXbench (150 cd/m²)
Runtimes
The Galaxy A26 5G should last a full day on a single charge, even with intensive use. Even so, its battery test results couldn't quite come close to the values of the competition. However, managing just over 12 hours of simulated web surfing and almost 19 hours of HD video playback, the Galaxy A26 5G lasted a little longer than the Galaxy A25 5G.
| Samsung Galaxy A26 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Edge 60 Fusion 5200 mAh | Nothing Phone (3a) 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A25 5G 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Poco X7 5110 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G 5110 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 18% | 32% | -8% | 42% | 18% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1987 | 1966 -1% | 2567 29% | 1763 -11% | 1754 -12% | |
| H.264 | 1122 | 1161 3% | 1610 43% | 941 -16% | 1423 27% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 739 | 1023 38% | 1233 67% | 770 4% | 1049 42% | 1206 63% |
| Load | 249 | 329 32% | 218 -12% | 228 -8% | 236 -5% |
Notebookcheck total rating
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G is a good mid-range smartphone that scores points for its solid features and long software support. Despite some minor shortcomings, it delivers good performance for everyday use.
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
- 05/13/2025 v8
Manuel Masiero
Total Sustainability Score: Possible alternatives compared
Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Drive | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 75.6%  | Samsung Galaxy A26 5G Samsung Exynos 1380 ⎘ ARM Mali-G68 MP5 ⎘ 6 GB Memory, 128 GB | Amazon: 1. $5.95 Mr.Shield Screen Protector c... 2. $6.89 NEW'C 3 Pack Designed for Sa... 3. $3.99 Bencuku (2 Pack Designed for... List Price: 299€ | 200 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" 2340x1080 385 PPI Super AMOLED |
2. 77.1%  | Motorola Edge 60 Fusion MediaTek Dimensity 7300 ⎘ ARM Mali-G615 MP2 ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 2.1 | Amazon: 1. $7.29 Natbok 2 Pack 3D Compatible ... 2. $6.89 Anoowkoa 2 pack for Moto Edg... 3. $8.98 LXEEOLX [2 Pack Hydrogel Scr... List Price: 329€ | 178 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.67" 2712x1200 445 PPI P-OLED |
3. 79.2%  | Nothing Phone (3a) Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 810 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB | Amazon: 1. $7.99 Supershieldz (3 Pack) Design... 2. $6.99 JETech Screen Protector for ... 3. $7.99 Suttkue for Nothing Phone (3... | 201 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.77" 2392x1080 387 PPI AMOLED |
4. 84.5% v7 (old)  | Samsung Galaxy A25 5G Samsung Exynos 1280 ⎘ ARM Mali-G68 MP4 ⎘ 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | Amazon: $274.99 List Price: 299€ | 197 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.50" 2340x1080 396 PPI Super AMOLED |
5. 77.7%  | Xiaomi Poco X7 MediaTek Dimensity 7300 ⎘ ARM Mali-G615 MP2 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB UFS 2.1 | Amazon: 1. $120.00 AMOLED Screen Compatible wit... 2. $4.99 Suttkue for Xiaomi Poco X7 P... 3. $7.99 Suttkue for Xiaomi Poco X7 P... | 185.5 g | 512 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.67" 2712x1220 446 PPI AMOLED |
6. 77.8%  | Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G MediaTek Dimensity 7300 ⎘ ARM Mali-G615 MP2 ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 2.1 | Amazon: 1. $6.99 Natbok 2+2 Pack 3D Screen Pr... 2. $7.99 Natbok 2+2 Pack 3D Screen Pr... 3. $4.34 Aiziki 2 Pack for Redmi Note... List Price: 400€ | 190 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.67" 2712x1220 446 PPI AMOLED |
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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