Samsung Galaxy A A26 5G White 256GB

A stunning 120Hz AMOLED screen and IP67 water resistance for $223. The Exynos chip is the only thing holding it back from total domination.

The Exynos 1280 chip is the phone's most obvious compromise. It lands in the 56th percentile for performance, which means it's solidly middle-of-the-pack. Day-to-day navigation feels fine, but you'll notice a beat of hesitation when launching heavier apps or jumping between a few of them. Gaming is the weakest spot by far, scoring just 53.8 out of 100, so don't expect to crank up the graphics on Genshin Impact. The real surprise is how well the 8GB of RAM keeps things humming. We rarely felt the phone choke during normal use, which is more than we can say for some pricier mid-rangers.

The Galaxy A26 5G's most direct rival is the Google Pixel 10a, which will almost certainly have a better camera and cleaner software but will likely cost more and skip the high refresh rate screen. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is another strong alternative with a more unique design and a cleaner interface, though you'll trade away Samsung's water resistance. If you're even glancing at the iPhone 16 or the Motorola razr ultra 2025, you're in a completely different price bracket. The A26 isn't trying to beat those phones on power, it's trying to make you feel silly for considering them.

For $223, this phone is an absolute no-brainer. You're getting a display, battery, and main camera that feel like they belong on a $400 device, wrapped in a body that can survive a dunk in the sink. Unless you're a heavy gamer, the value here is hard to beat.

The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G is the budget phone that finally makes you question why you'd spend twice as much. You get a massive, smooth 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, a big 5000mAh battery, and a surprisingly capable 50MP main camera with OIS, all for around $223. The Exynos 1280 processor isn't winning any drag races, but for scrolling, streaming, and snapping photos, this thing punches way above its price tag. The real headline here is the IP67 water resistance. That's a feature you usually have to pay flagship money for, and it's a genuine peace-of-mind bonus on a phone this affordable.

If you're a serious mobile gamer or someone who edits a lot of video on their phone, the A26's Exynos 1280 will frustrate you. Go find a used flagship from a year or two ago, or stretch your budget for something with a Snapdragon 8-series chip. This phone is built for the 95% of people who just need their phone to work smoothly, not for benchmark chasers.

Buy the Galaxy A26 5G if you want the most phone for the least money. It nails the essentials: a stunning screen, all-day battery, and a main camera that won't let you down. The performance isn't top-tier, but for everyday tasks, it's more than enough. This is the new benchmark for budget phones.