Six years of updates, IP68 water resistance, and on-device AI all in mid-range phones starting at £399. Samsung just raised the bar for what “affordable” should mean in 2026.
The Galaxy A57 5G and A37 5G went on sale across Europe on April 10th and on paper, they’re packed with features that weren’t anywhere near this price bracket two or three years ago. IP68 waterproofing. Six years of Android updates. On-device AI. A 120Hz Super AMOLED display. These used to be flagship checkboxes. Not anymore.
Both phones launch with Android 16 and One UI 8.5 out of the box, and Samsung is committing to six years of OS and security updates longer than most flagship Android phones guaranteed just two years ago.
The gap between the two is narrower than the price suggests on the surface. Both share the same display, battery, and camera resolution. The A57 pulls ahead with the faster Exynos 1680, a wider 12MP ultra-wide (vs the A37’s 8MP), and more storage options. For most people doing daily tasks, the A37 at £399 is the smarter buy. The A57 is for anyone who games seriously or shoots a lot of video.
The A57 and A37 landing with IP68, six-year updates, and proper AI features signals that 2026’s mid-range is genuinely good enough for the vast majority of users. If you were waiting for a reason to skip the £1,000+ tier, Samsung just gave you two.
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