Samsung has added two new additions to its A-series, and I must say the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G has really upped its game compared to its predecessor. A smartphone that is ‘Almost Flagship’, comes at a starting price of Rs 56,999 in India for the 8 GB RAM + 256 GB variant. Its 12GB + 256GB model costs Rs 62,499. This device offers long-term software support, a premium design, and everything that your daily driver needs. It has a presence in this price range you cannot ignore. But why did I call it an almost flagship? Let’s find out.
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: What’s Inside The Box
I received my review unit in the Awesome Navy colour option (12GB + 256GB variant). Apart from the device, the box has a SIM ejector tool, USB Type-C to C cable, and user manual. It does not come with an adapter or any case.
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G Display And Design
If you are looking for a super-thin device, then the Samsung Galaxy A57 definitely ticks the box. It measures only 6.9mm in thickness and looks very premium in hand, offering a perfect size, shape, and feel. With a large display and round corners, the device is fit for one-handed usage and does not feel heavy at all. Though it comes with a familiar design, it still offers a clean and simple look. Just like the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, this one also gets a flat frame and vertically aligned cameras at the back. If you are someone who does not like flashy and bulky phones, you will like it.
On the front side, the smartphone gets a 12MP front sensor and the earpiece, which doubles as the secondary speaker. Notably, the punch hole is also quite small and does not cover the top of the screen. At the bottom, it gets the in-display fingerprint sensor. Honestly, I am not happy with it. Out of 10 times, it worked almost four times at once. Speaking of the ports and buttons, the device gets the power button and the volume rockers on the right. The left side is empty. At the bottom, the device gets the dual SIM slot, USB Type-C port, microphone, and speaker grille.
This mobile comes in three different colours: Awesome Lilac, Awesome Icy Blue, and Awesome Navy. I received my review unit in the Awesome Navy colour. Just like its name, the colour option stands out for a royal yet effortless appearance. Since the device gets a glass finish, it is quite evident that you will not be able to keep smudges away from it for long.
For display, it features a 6.7-inch FHD+ flat AMOLED panel with super-thin bezels, making it a strong driver for your content consumption needs. It offers up to a 120Hz refresh rate, along with up to 1,900 nits of peak brightness, HDR10+, Vision Booster, and Gorilla Glass Victus+ support. Undoubtedly, Samsung has offered a good, punchy, and vibrant display with the Galaxy A57. Even in the harsh outdoor lighting conditions, the smartphone does not disappoint, performing decently well. At this price point, the FHD+ resolution is still doing justice to the device; however, a higher 1.5K resolution could have made more sense for browsing and streaming. Moreover, I did not find any flickering issues with the screen, and the device does not support a notification LED.
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G Performance And Software
Samsung claims that this smartphone has got a 15 per cent improvement over the Galaxy A56 5G. It is powered by the company’s own Exynos 1680 chipset, based on the 4nm process. Whether it is about multitasking, scrolling reels and YouTube Shorts, streaming videos or even light gaming, the handset performs decently. If you are comparing its performance with the Exnos 2600, then there is obviously a wide gap between the chipsets, but it will not disappoint you.
While multitasking, the phone was quick enough to open and switch between several apps. There was no major lag seen during the day-to-day usage. However, the Galaxy A57 5G is not primarily a gaming device. I played BGMI and realised that it can still work fine on this device if you stick to lower settings for a better lag-free experience. If you need a power-packed device, then there can be alternatives in the similar price segment that you can check, like the Motorola Signature, OnePlus 15R, and Vivo X200T. The benchmark score does not stand out the highest among its competitors, but it still manages to get your job done if you are not looking for a performance-oriented device.
The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G recorded a score of 1,481 in the single-core test and 4,424 in the multi-core test on Geekbench 6. On AnTuTu, the device achieved a score of 1,393,781. In comparison, the OnePlus 15R posted an AnTuTu score of 2,882,001, while the Vivo X200T scored 2,735,484 on the same benchmark.
When it comes to the software, the Galaxy A57 5G runs on Android 16 with One UI 8.5. Samsung has confirmed six major software updates and six years of security updates on this smartphone. Compared to the flagship S-series devices, the A-series phone gets fewer AI features such as generative wallpapers, voice features in the Voice Recorder app AI select, Object Eraser tools for background removal, an auto-trim tool for video editing, multi-window layouts, and more. Supporting your daily tasks, the device offers customised insights and suggestions through AI information using the One UI 8 Now Bar.
Speaking of the pre-installed apps, the device comes with basic utility apps and Google apps. It also comes with Spotify, Snapchat, Netflix, Truecaller, and Microsoft 365 apps. You can install these apps when you are setting up the device, which you can clearly skip. It does not have ads, but it is possible that the device may show you notifications on new Samsung products sometimes. For content streaming, the device gets Widevine L1 support to run Netflix, JioHotstar, and other streaming platforms. It also gets HDR playback for YouTube and Netflix.
The Galaxy A57 5G supports N1, N3, N5, N7, N8, N20, N28, N38, N40, N41, M66, N77, and N78 bands in India. It also supports dual SIM. In terms of other connectivity features, it supports Wi-Fi 802.11 6E ax (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), Wi-Fi calling, Bluetooth 6.0, and GPS with GLONASS along with NFC that functions with payment apps.
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G Cameras
This device comes with a triple back camera setup, which comprises a 50MP primary lens, along with a 12MP ultra-wide sensor and a 5MP macro shooter. For selfies and video calling, it gets a 12MP front camera. Photography is something where the smartphone stands. It can capture eye-pleasing colours and detailed shots in good lighting conditions, making it your photography partner.
The ultra-wide lens can give you sharp and detailed shots. It is not distorted and comes with decent dynamic range. However, a primary telephoto lens would have enhanced them. Photography enthusiasts might feel the need for a telephoto lens at this price point. The overall camera still gives you natural colour tones and sharp images, making it a decent pick for casual photography. Interestingly, the device produced crisp selfies with a natural-taking tone and without edge distortion.
For portraits, the mobile does a good job even without a telephoto lens. Maintaining detail and clarity, the device can detect edges and produce good portraits from both back and front sensors. In the bright daylight, the ultra-wide camera from the 12MP sensor works well and could be slightly better in the low-light areas. The 2x macro shots from the primary sensor are decent, and the phone also gets a dedicated macro shooter. However, it produces average results, and you need to always manage the device at a distance of 3-5 cm from the subject to capture the images.
Compared to its predecessor, this one can definitely produce better pictures when it comes to low-light photography and night mode; all credit goes to the updated Image Signal Processors (ISPs). I found the night mode quite impressive, as it handles the exposure well. Keeping the noise in check, the night mode can produce sharp images, keeping the colours real without any distortion.
It is important to note that to get the best detailed shot from this phone, you can manually enable the 50MP shots, but it will lead to heavier image size. The Galaxy A57 can record videos at a maximum of 4K resolution at 30fps from both the cameras, front and back. The primary back camera sensor can also shoot 60fps videos at 1080 but the stabilisation works only at 30fps after you turn it on in the settings. Overall, the camera is decent enough to satisfy customers, it may not be the best in the segment, but it could be consistent through various modes.
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G Battery
This latest Samsung phone packs a 5,000 mAh battery, which might not be as big as its competitors. The Vivo X200T comes with a 6,200mAH battery, supported by 90W flash charging. While the Motorola Signature also houses a 5,200mAh battery with 90W Turbo charging. When it comes to the overall usage, the device lasts almost an entire day with medium to heavy usage that includes constant scrolling, binge watching, and a small gaming session. As per my test, the device reached from zero to 100 per cent battery in nearly 1 hour 12 minutes.
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is quietly becoming the device that is trying to take the A-series from a mid-range to a premium category. The reason why this smartphone was labeled ‘almost premium’ is because it offers good progress over its predecessor but still remains a mid-performer smartphone among its peers such as the Vivo X200T, the Motorola Signature, and the OnePlus 15R. Indeed, it seems like a balanced offering with long-term software and security support, Galaxy AI, and its slim design. If you are someone who wants a powerful gaming machine, then it may not tick the box for you. However, the device offers a premium in-hand experience, a punchy display, decent battery life, and a balanced camera.
This device is definitely a good upgrade if you were using the Galaxy A55 or the old versions in charging, software, design, and updates. Undoubtedly, the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is a strong option for those who want a lightweight phone with long-term software support.
