Samsung Galaxy A57 review

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Introduction

The annual refresh of the Galaxy A series has kicked off with the new A57 and A37 models. Today we are going to meet the Galaxy A57, which is now thinner and lighter and available in new "Awesome" colors.

The Galaxy A55 and the Galaxy A56 were some of the most solid mid-range phones specs-wise that had (and still have) super attractive prices that made them not only good competitors, but often winners. So, it's only natural to expect the Galaxy A57 to be at least at the same level.

The new model looks a lot like the previous one with a flat Gorilla Glass Victus+ panels and a metal frame with the signature elevation around the control buttons. The phone is now IP68-rated for complete dust and water resistance.

The A57 has shrunk in size, has slimmer screen bezels, and has lost 20g of weight. That's quite an achievement for a phone that kept the same screen size and battery capacity as last year's model.

Indeed, the Galaxy A57 relies on what appears to be a similar display to the Galaxy A56's - a 6.7-inch AMOLED with 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. There is a new chip underneath - the Exynos 1680, with an improved processor and graphics. And the Galaxy A57 is now available with 512GB storage, in addition to the more basic 128GB and 256GB versions.

As for the camera department, it hasn't changed one bit spec-wise. There are still three cameras on the back - a 50MP primary, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro. You get a 12MP shooter for selfies, too. But we discovered a notable improvement in image quality, which you will read about in the Camera section.

Finally, the Galaxy A57 has the same battery and charging specs as the A56 - a 5,000mAh battery capable of up to 45W fast charging. Lackluster as these specs may sound, there are, in fact, improvements in battery life too.

Samsung Galaxy A57 specs at a glance:

• Body: 161.5x76.8x6.9mm, 179g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+); IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min).
• Display: 6.70" Super AMOLED+, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak), 1080x2340px resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 385ppi.
• Chipset: Exynos 1680 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-720 & 4x2.6 GHz Cortex-720 & 3x1.95 GHz Cortex-520); Xclipse 550.
• Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM; UFS.
• OS/Software: Android 16, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.5.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 1/3.06", 1.12µm; Macro: 5 MP, f/2.4.
• Front camera: 12 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 10-bit HDR.
• Battery: 5000mAh; 45W wired.
• Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 6e; BT 6.0; NFC.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers.

Yes, the Galaxy A57 is a minor update over the Galaxy A56, even over the Galaxy A55. The chip got its incremental update, so did the design. But that's about it, and looking at the specs, we can imagine many reasons for any Galaxy A56 or even Galaxy A55 owner to upgrade. But if you are in the market for a good mid-ranger, you might be in the right place.

Unboxing the Galaxy A57

The Galaxy A57 arrives in a thin white box with a color-matching print on the outside. We got the Icyblue version, and the box has the same version on top of it.

The retail package is as basic as they come - you get a 3A-rated USB-C cable and a SIM ejector. That's it.