Published 2026-05-05 by James Maxwell
Samsung has launched the Galaxy A57 5G in the UK at £529, pitching it above the Galaxy A56 5G (available from £274) and taking aim at the mid-to-premium Android segment that Apple and Google both compete for hard.
The A57 arrives alongside the Galaxy A37 5G, which starts from £323.51 — giving Samsung two new mid-range entries at very different price points. If you’re trying to work out which is worth your money, or whether either is better than last year’s A56, we’ve pulled together everything you need to know.
The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is Samsung’s new upper-mid-range smartphone, sitting above the A56 in the Galaxy A series and priced from £529 at UK launch. It targets buyers who want a premium Android experience without paying flagship prices, competing in a bracket where the Pixel 8a and OnePlus 13R also sit.
The A57 matters because Samsung’s A-series has become the backbone of UK Android sales. The A56 shifted in large numbers at its launch price, and the A57 is designed to push that audience one step higher, with improved specs and the software support that Samsung has been building as a key selling point for this range.
The Galaxy A57 5G launches at £529 in the UK, available from 8 retailers according to Shopping.co.uk’s price tracking data at the time of writing. Prices across those retailers range from £19 (likely a contract or part-exchange deal) up to the £529 SIM-free price. The Awesome Gray 256GB model is the variant currently listed.
Only one colour and storage configuration for the A57 is currently listed across UK retailers. If you need a different colour or a 128GB option, that’s not available at launch — worth bearing in mind before committing.
The Galaxy A57 5G ships with 256GB of storage as standard, which is generous for this price tier. Most rivals at £529 offer 128GB as their entry configuration, so you’re getting double the storage without paying extra for a higher tier.
5G connectivity is standard across the range, and at £529 that’s expected rather than a selling point. What matters more is sustained performance: Samsung’s A-series chips are designed for everyday tasks and extended use rather than peak benchmarks, so the A57 handles social media, streaming, and photography comfortably. Heavy gaming or sustained 4K video editing will push it harder than it’s designed for.
Samsung has confirmed the A57 5G will receive multiple years of OS updates, per Samsung’s published software support policy for the Galaxy A range. That’s a practical reason to pay more than you would for a budget Android: a £529 phone that gets four or five years of updates costs less per year than a £250 phone that stops receiving security patches after two.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
256GB storage as standard , most rivals at this price start at 128GB | Only one colour (Awesome Gray) available at UK launch, limiting choice |
Multi-year OS update commitment from Samsung adds long-term value | At £529, it’s £255 more than the Galaxy A56 256GB, which starts at £274 |
5G included as standard across the range | Launch pricing rarely represents the best deal , Samsung typically discounts the A-series within 3-6 months |
Available from 8 UK retailers, giving reasonable competition on price from day one | No hands-on review data yet to verify real-world battery life or camera performance claims |
The A57 5G is the right phone for buyers who want Samsung’s best mid-range experience and plan to keep their phone for four or five years. The A56 5G is the right phone for almost everyone else.
Here’s the honest picture: the Galaxy A56 5G starts at £274 for the 256GB Grey variant, based on Shopping.co.uk price tracking data. That’s £255 less than the A57’s £529 launch price. The A56 also has 128GB options from £319.99. Unless Samsung has made a substantial generational leap in the A57 (and early spec listings don’t point to anything dramatic), the A56 represents far stronger value for most buyers right now.
The Galaxy A37 5G sits lower at £323.51 for the 128GB Purple, rising to £379.99 for Green. It’s the budget-conscious pick in this new trio, with 128GB storage and a more modest spec sheet. For anyone who primarily uses their phone for calls, social media, and occasional photos, the A37 does the job at £205 less than the A57.
The A57 makes sense if you’re stepping up from an older flagship and want something that feels premium, or if you want the largest storage option with the longest likely support window. For anyone buying their first Samsung or upgrading from a three-year-old mid-ranger, the A56 at £274 is the sharper purchase.
The Galaxy A57 5G is available from 8 UK retailers at the time of writing, including Currys, Very.co.uk, Samsung Business UK, Laptops Direct, and iD Mobile, with prices ranging from £19 (contract) to £529 SIM-free, according to Shopping.co.uk’s live price tracking.
For a SIM-free purchase, Currys is worth checking first. They typically offer price-match guarantees and occasional cashback through Samsung’s own promotions, and their in-store availability means you can see the handset before buying. Very.co.uk is worth considering if you want to spread the cost, as they offer buy-now-pay-later options that Currys doesn’t always match.
If you’re on a business account, Samsung Business UK lists the A57 directly and sometimes includes accessories or extended care options not available through third-party retailers.
Compare Samsung Galaxy A57 5G prices across UK retailers on Shopping.co.uk.
At £529, the Galaxy A57 5G is priced at the top of the mid-range bracket, and at launch it’s hard to call it strong value when the Galaxy A56 5G starts at £274 for the same 256GB storage.
Best place to buy: Currys , currently one of the key launch retailers with price-match options and in-store availability for those who want to handle the phone before buying.
**vs. the Galaxy A56 5G:** The A56 256GB starts at £274, a £255 saving over the A57. Unless Samsung’s spec improvements prove substantial in real-world testing, the A56 is the better buy for most shoppers right now.
Our take: Wait six to eight weeks if you can , Samsung’s A-series phones typically see their first price movement within that window, and the A57 at £429-£449 would be a much easier recommendation.
At launch, the A57 5G is a tough sell at £529 when the Galaxy A56 5G offers 256GB storage from £274. The A57’s main advantages are its position as Samsung’s latest upper-mid-range model and its long software update window. If those matter to you and you need a phone now, it’s a reasonable choice , but the price is likely to soften within two months.
The A56 5G starts at £274 for 256GB, which is £255 less than the A57’s £529 launch price. Both are 5G-capable and carry Samsung’s software support commitment. For most buyers, the A56 is the more sensible purchase right now , the A57 is the better phone, but the price gap is wide enough that the A56 wins on value.
The A57 5G is available from 8 UK retailers at the time of writing, including Currys, Very.co.uk, iD Mobile, Samsung Business UK, and Laptops Direct. SIM-free prices start at £529. Shopping.co.uk tracks live prices across all of these retailers , you can compare them directly to find the current best deal.
Only one colour is currently available at UK launch: Awesome Gray, in a 256GB configuration. No additional colours or a 128GB variant have been listed across UK retailers at the time of writing. If Samsung follows its usual pattern, further colours may arrive in the weeks after launch, but nothing has been confirmed.
The A37 5G starts at £323.51 for 128GB, making it £205 cheaper than the A57 at launch. The A37 suits buyers who want a capable everyday smartphone at a more accessible price and don’t need the extra storage or the higher-tier spec set of the A57. If you’re primarily browsing, messaging, and taking photos, the A37 is worth serious consideration.
Samsung has confirmed multi-year OS updates for the Galaxy A57 5G, consistent with its published software support policy for the Galaxy A range. This is one of the stronger arguments for paying £529 rather than opting for a cheaper Android from a brand with a shorter update commitment , spread over four or five years of use, the price difference narrows considerably.