Samsung Galaxy A57 review – A solid mid-ranger
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G – Verdict
The Galaxy A57 5G is a pretty solid mid-range pick that ticks the main boxes most people are after at this price point: a big, bright screen great for everyday use, a decent camera setup, and strong battery life.
That said, upgrades over last year's model are pretty minimal, so it's worth keeping that in mind if you're already on the previous version.
At $699–$799 outright, it may not quite sit in budget territory for some people. If that's the case for you, perhaps consider the Galaxy A37 instead.
Overall, I'd sum up the Galaxy A57 as a practical pick rather than a flashy one. Even so, it still looks pretty good and for the people this phone is aimed at, it's one I'd recommend.
The good stuff
- Thinner and lighter
- 45W charging and great battery life
- Increased durability (IP68 rating)
- 6 years of software and security updates
What we don't love
- Price has crept up compared to last year's A56
- Minimal performance jumps
Galaxy A57 design and display
Samsung has given the Galaxy A57 a slight refresh.
Most notably, it's thinner and lighter by 20g - a difference you can definitely feel. It also feels incredibly sturdy in the hand and sits comfortably for daily use.
It features a metal frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides, giving it a high-end "S-series" vibe.
My one annoyance is that the glass back is a magnet for fingerprints and smudges, and I'd much rather have a matte finish.
However, if you're slapping on a case anyway, this won't matter.
The 6.7-inch FHD+ display is vibrant and hits peak brightness of 1900 nits. This is especially noticeable when you're out in bright sunlight.
The bezels are also thinner and more uniform, especially at the chin.
You can get the device in Awesome Navy and Awesome Lilac. I tested the navy version, which looks and feels premium.
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Galaxy A57 performance and battery life
The Galaxy A57 gets the new Exynos 1680 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage.
For everyday use like scrolling, streaming, and moderate gaming, it's perfectly smooth and more than fine. I had zero qualms.
But it's not meant to deliver S-series flagship performance. That's worth keeping in mind if you're planning to push it with heavy video editing or high-end gaming.
Despite the phone being thinner, Samsung has managed to keep the 5,000mAh battery.
It easily lasted a full day, and on light days, I was able to push it into a second day comfortably.
You'll get 45W fast charging support, which will get you to 50-60% in about 30 minutes.
Galaxy A57 camera
The rear camera setup features a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 5MP macro lens, which is more there for show than anything else, as the resolution is fairly low.
Up front, you have the 12MP selfie camera.
Under good lighting conditions, the shots come out quite well, and portrait mode is better than I expected. However, low-light photography can be hit or miss as the details aren't as sharp or clear.
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Galaxy A57 software and AI features
The Galaxy A57 ships with Android 16 and One UI 8.5 straight out of the box and includes some AI features such as Circle to Search, Object Eraser, and Live Translate.
The full suite is reserved for the flagship series.
The big win here is the 6 years of operating system and security updates.
For the mid-range category, this is really good.
How to buy the Samsung Galaxy A57
You can buy the Galaxy A57 outright through Samsung or other retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and The Good Guys.
Alternatively, you can buy it on a plan through Optus, Telstra or Vodafone.
If you sign up to an Optus A57 plan through Finder, you'll also get a $200 gift card.
All opinions expressed in this review are based on hands-on experience with the device. Use this review for informational purposes only.
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