The Samsung Galaxy A27 5G is the newest entry in Samsung’s hugely popular budget-friendly A2x line, announced in June 2026 and going on sale July 3 for around $349 / €349. It arrives as a modest refresh of the Galaxy A26, leading with a more modern Infinity-O punch-hole display, a slightly slimmer body, and a notable switch from Samsung’s in-house Exynos chip to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor.
The real headline, though, is longevity: six generations of Android OS upgrades and six years of security patches, which remains rare at this price. Buyers also step up to Android 16 with One UI 8.5 and an expanded suite of Galaxy AI tools.
That said, the Galaxy A27 quietly trims a few things compared to its predecessor, most notably its water resistance (now offering only water-splash resistance) and a downgraded ultrawide camera (from 8MP to 5MP), making it a phone with trade-offs worth understanding before you buy.
Design
The Galaxy A27’s biggest visual win is its move to an Infinity-O display with a centered punch-hole selfie camera, replacing the dated waterdrop notch (Infinity-U) on the A26.
Combined with thinner, more uniform bezels, the front now looks far closer to Samsung’s pricier S-series and mid-range Galaxy A handsets. The body measures 162.4 x 78.2 x 7.8mm and weighs 200g, marginally wider than the A26 but still slim and comfortable in one hand.
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protects the front, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor sits in the power button. It launches in Black, Blue, Light Green, and Light Pink. The one real regression is durability: the A27 carries an IP64 rating (dust-tight, splash-resistant), down from the A26’s stronger IP67, so it is less forgiving around water.
Display
Out front sits a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+. It’s a genuinely premium-feeling screen for the money, delivering the punchy contrast, deep blacks, and vivid colors AMOLED is known for, plus fluid scrolling and animation thanks to the high refresh rate.
The new punch-hole cutout is less distracting than the old notch and gives the display a cleaner, more immersive look. At this price, the A27 has a clear edge over the $599 iPhone 17e, which still ships with a 60Hz panel, and it goes bigger than the 6.3-inch screens on Google’s Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a. For media bingers and mobile gamers on a budget, this is one of the A27’s standout features.
Camera
The rear camera system is led by a 50-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and autofocus, joined by a 5-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel macro lens, both with fixed focus.
A 12MP front camera with Super HDR handles selfies and video calls, and both the rear and front cameras can record 4K video at 30 fps.
The 50MP shooter remains the star, capturing sharp, well-exposed daylight shots, and OIS helps steady low-light frames and video.
However, there’s a clear downgrade here: the ultrawide drops from the A26’s 8MP sensor to just 5MP, which can mean softer, less detailed wide-angle shots. For pure point-and-shoot photography, camera-focused rivals like the Google Pixel 9a still set the standard in this segment, but the A27 covers the everyday basics competently.
Hardware and Software
Powering the A27 is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a meaningful change from the A26’s Exynos 1380. Samsung cites roughly 7% higher CPU and 8% faster GPU performance, and the switch should make day-to-day navigation feel cleaner and more responsive.
It pairs with 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, with microSD expansion. Software is where Samsung makes its strongest case: the 5G phone ships with Android 16 and One UI 8.5, backed by an outstanding six OS upgrades and six years of security updates.
Galaxy AI features are onboard too, including Circle to Search with multi-object recognition, an improved Object Eraser, and a Voice Recorder with real-time translation across 22 languages, plus support for Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Bixby. Samsung Knox Vault handles hardware-backed security, and the phone supports Samsung DeX.
Battery and Charging
The Galaxy A27 keeps a 5,000mAh battery, the same capacity as the A26, paired with 25W wired fast charging. There’s no wireless charging at this tier, which is typical for the category.
In practice, the combination of a large cell and the more efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 should comfortably deliver all-day endurance for most users, with lighter users stretching toward a day and a half.
The trade-off is charging speed: 25W is serviceable but unremarkable, and you’ll wait noticeably longer for a full top-up than on rivals like the OnePlus Nord line, which push much faster wired charging.
Battery-first shoppers may also eye the Moto G Power (2026) and its larger cell, but the A27’s efficiency keeps it competitive for everyday, mixed use.
Connectivity
Connectivity covers the essentials: 5G and 4G LTE, NFC for contactless payments, GNSS for navigation, stereo speakers, and a USB Type-C (USB 2.0) port. There’s also Samsung DeX support for a desktop-style experience when connected to a monitor, a genuinely useful extra at this price.
The notable caveat is wireless standards: the A27 sticks with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth rather than the newer, faster Wi-Fi 6/6E found on some competitors, which is a minor but real limitation for buyers on modern routers or those who move large files over Wi-Fi.
For the typical budget user streaming, browsing, and calling, the wireless package is perfectly adequate, but spec-conscious shoppers should note the A27 isn’t cutting-edge here.
Samsung Galaxy A27 Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy A27 5G is priced at roughly $349.99 in the US and €349 in Europe, with availability in select markets starting July 3, 2026, in Black, Blue, Light Green, and Light Pink.
Verdict
The Galaxy A27 isn’t a dramatic leap, but it’s a sensible one. A modern Infinity-O design, a bright 120Hz AMOLED display, a more efficient Snapdragon chip, and class-leading six-year software support make it easy to recommend for first-time buyers, students, and anyone who keeps a phone for years.
On price, it undercuts the $499 Google Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a, as well as the $599 iPhone 17e, while sitting above ultra-budget options like the $299 Moto G Power (2026).
Its trump cards against all of them are the six-year update promise and that 120Hz AMOLED screen. The catch is that some critics feel this generation’s downgrades (IP64, the 5MP ultrawide, Wi-Fi 5) make it a lateral move rather than a clear upgrade, with at least one outlet branding it a hard sell next to discounted rivals.
Whether it’s the right pick comes down to how much you value long-term software support over raw specs.
Just go in clear-eyed about the IP64 rating, the weaker ultrawide, and the dated Wi-Fi 5, and if photography or fast charging tops your list, weigh a Pixel or OnePlus alternative first.
| General | |
|---|---|
| Announced / Released | June 2026 / July 3, 2026 |
| Predecessor | Samsung Galaxy A26 5G |
| Colours | Black, Blue, Light Green, Light Pink |
| Design and Build | |
| Dimensions | 162.4 × 78.2 × 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 200 g |
| Build | Gorilla Glass Victus+ front, plastic frame |
| Durability | IP64 (dust-protected, splash-resistant) |
| Display | |
| Type | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz, Infinity-O punch-hole |
| Resolution | 2,340 × 1,080 (FHD+), 19.5:9, ~385 ppi |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Performance | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (SM6475, 4 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78, 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Adreno 710 |
| RAM / Storage | 6 GB / 128 GB (LPDDR5X · UFS 3.1), microSDXC expandable |
| Camera | |
| Main | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS, autofocus (PDAF) |
| Ultra-wide | 5 MP, fixed focus |
| Macro | 2 MP, fixed focus |
| Front | 12 MP, Super HDR |
| Video | Rear and front up to 4K @ 30fps |
| Battery, Software, and Connectivity | |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh, 25W wired fast charging (no wireless) |
| Software | Android 16, One UI 8.5 · 6 OS upgrades + 6 yrs security |
| Connectivity | 5G (SA/NSA Sub-6), LTE, Wi-Fi 5 (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, USB-C 2.0 (OTG) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS, QZSS |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint, Face Unlock, Samsung Knox Vault |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM, or Dual Nano-SIM (region dependent) |
| Extras | Stereo speakers, Samsung DeX, Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Object Eraser) |
| Price | |
| Starting Price | $349.99 (US) · €349 (Europe) · £319 (UK) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is the Samsung Galaxy A27 released, and how much does it cost? The Galaxy A27 5G goes on sale July 3, 2026, priced at around $349.99 in the US and €349 in Europe. Exact pricing varies by country and region.
What chipset does the Samsung Galaxy A27 use? It runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, replacing the Exynos 1380 in the A26 and offering roughly 7% better CPU and 8% better GPU performance.
How long will the Galaxy A27 get software updates? Samsung promises six generations of Android OS upgrades and six years of security patches, which is among the longest support windows in the budget category.
Is the Samsung Galaxy A27 waterproof? No. It carries an IP64 rating, meaning it’s dust-tight and resistant to water splashes only, a step down from the A26’s IP67 rating, so avoid submersion.
What are the Galaxy A27’s cameras? A 50MP main camera with OIS, a 5MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro on the rear, plus a 12MP front camera. The main and front cameras record 4K video at 30fps.
Does the Galaxy A27 support fast charging and wireless charging? It has a 5,000mAh battery with 25W wired fast charging. There is no wireless charging.
How does the Galaxy A27 compare to the Pixel 9a and iPhone 17e? The A27 is cheaper than both (the Pixel 9a is $499 and the iPhone 17e is $599) and beats the iPhone on refresh rate with its 120Hz AMOLED screen. However, the Pixel 9a leads in camera quality, so the A27’s biggest advantages are price and long-term update support.
