Samsung Galaxy A26 review

Design and handling

The Galaxy A26's design aligns with the rest of the 2025 Galaxy A series and maybe even with the recent smartphone design trends in general. The device is completely flat with rounded edges and a slightly protruding camera piece on the back.

But unlike its more expensive siblings, the A26's frame isn't aluminum; it's plastic. Still, the A26 gets an upgrade - Gorilla Glass Victus+ back panel, not just the front.

Samsung managed to slim down many of its new devices this year, and the A26 is no exception. It's now considerably thinner, measuring 7.7mm, and makes it particularly secure and comfortable to hold. Surprisingly, it's not as slippery as other glass phones, maybe because the plastic frame offers a nicer grip compared to aluminum ones.

Another upgrade worth noting is the increased ingress protection. Now, the A26 should be able to survive after being submerged in 1 meter for 30 minutes as per the IP67 standard against water and dust.

Samsung Galaxy A26

The available colors are Black, White, Mint, Peach and Pink. We've got the Mint in our hands, but keep in mind that some colors aren't available in certain markets.

Contrary to most phones in this price bracket, the Galaxy A26 uses a side-mounted fingerprint reader that doubles as a power button. We tend to like the under-display fingerprint readers better as they are more versatile, meaning you can unlock the phone without picking it up or reaching for the button on the side. The UD readers are more convenient when using the device with your left hand too.

Functionality-wise, we had no issues with the fingerprint scanner. It's fairly reliable and quick to unlock. Maybe even better in some cases compared to the Galaxy A56's under-display reader.