Samsung Galaxy A57 5G Impresses at $549.99 but Fails to Beat Cheaper Rivals

12 articles · Updated · Android Authority · May 23

$549.99 leaves the Galaxy A57 5G hard to recommend despite a strong overall review, with the Galaxy S25 FE sometimes selling for the same price and the Pixel 10a undercutting it at $499.
6.9mm thickness, 179g weight, a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, solid battery life and a capable 50MP main camera make the phone feel unusually premium for Samsung’s mid-range A series.
Exynos 1680 thermal issues undercut that appeal: Android Auto and outdoor use repeatedly triggered dimming, lag, dropped connections and camera slowdowns, raising concerns about long-term performance.
Six years of OS and security updates, IP68 protection and 45W wired charging strengthen the package, but missing DeX, limited AI features, no wireless charging and a weak ultrawide reduce value.
The verdict echoes earlier A56 criticism: Samsung delivered only modest upgrades, leaving its top A-series phone easy to like but overdue for a more meaningful step forward.

As the refurbished market booms, are new mid-range phones becoming a bad deal before they even launch?

Amidst a global chip crisis, is buying last year's smartphone now the smartest financial move for consumers?

Is long software support a true benefit or a tactic to justify high prices for minimal hardware upgrades?