Samsung’s A-series has long been the go-to for folks who want solid phones without the sticker shock of the flagship Galaxy S line. Now, the tech giant is back with a fresh trio—the Galaxy A56, A36, and A26—and they’re packing more artificial intelligence than ever before. Announced this week, these midrange contenders bring some of the AI-powered tricks we’ve seen in Samsung’s premium S25 lineup down to a more wallet-friendly level. But don’t expect a radical overhaul; this is more of a thoughtful tune-up than a full-on reinvention.

Samsung’s calling it “awesome intelligence,” and honestly, it’s not a bad pitch. The headline feature here is Best Face, an AI tool that’s basically a group photo savior. Ever snapped a pic where one friend’s blinking, another’s distracted, and a third’s mid-sneeze? Best Face can analyze a motion photo and swap facial expressions for up to five people, cherry-picking the best looks from the sequence. It’s not entirely new—Google’s Pixel lineup has something similar with Best Take, and Samsung debuted this on the Galaxy S25 back in January—but seeing it trickle down to the A-series is a win for budget buyers.

That’s not all the AI has up its sleeve. There’s an “improved” object removal tool, which Samsung says is smarter at erasing unwanted photobombers or stray trash cans from your shots. Photo filters are getting an AI boost too, promising more polished edits with less effort. And if you’ve ever used Google’s Circle to Search—where you can circle anything on your screen to look it up—you’ll be happy to know it’s baked into these phones. (Samsung actually rolled this out to some A-series models last August, but it’s now standard across the board here.)

It’s clear Samsung’s betting big on AI to set these phones apart. Whether it’s fixing your pics or making search a breeze, the vibe is practical over flashy—tools you might actually use rather than gimmicks that gather digital dust.

Beyond the AI hype, the Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 aren’t exactly rewriting the rulebook on hardware. The A56, the priciest of the trio at $499.99, gets a new Exynos 1580 chip—Samsung’s in-house silicon that’s supposed to deliver a bit more oomph than the A55’s Exynos 1480. The A36 ($399.99), meanwhile, sticks with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a last-gen chip that’s solid but not groundbreaking. The A26? Samsung’s keeping quiet on its processor for now, but don’t expect miracles at its $299.99 price point.

All three phones share a 6.7-inch Full HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate—smooth scrolling and vibrant visuals are the name of the game. That’s a slight size bump from the 6.6-inch screens on the A55 and A35, and the 6.5-inch panel on the A25. It’s not a huge leap, but if you’re into big screens for Netflix binges or gaming, it’s a welcome tweak.

Camera-wise, the A56 sticks to a familiar setup: a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens that’s… well, still there for reasons only macro enthusiasts understand. The selfie cam takes a surprising step back, dropping to 12MP from the A55’s 32MP. Samsung hasn’t explained the downgrade, but it might be a tradeoff for those AI editing perks. The A36 and A26 haven’t had their camera details fully spilled yet, though we’d bet on similar configs with maybe a tweak or two.

Battery life looks dependable across the board—each phone rocks a 5,000 mAh pack. The A56 and A36 step up to 45W fast charging (with a beefier vapor chamber to keep things cool during heavy use), while the A26 sticks to slower speeds, 25W. Oh, and good news for the clumsy: the A26 finally gets IP67 dust and water resistance, matching its pricier siblings. Drop it in a puddle? It’ll probably be fine.

Visually, these phones aren’t straying far from the A-series playbook. The big design talking point is a new oval-shaped camera housing on the back—less of a “bump” and more of a sleek pod. It’s a subtle shift, but it gives the phones a slightly fresher look compared to last year’s models. Colors vary by device—think muted pastels and bold hues like navy or neon green—but Samsung’s keeping the exact palette under wraps until launch.

On the software side, there’s a standout perk: six years of Android OS and security updates. That’s a hefty jump from the four or five years Samsung offered with earlier A-series phones, and it’s a big deal for anyone who hates upgrading every other year. Out of the box, they’ll ship with Android 15, so you’re starting fresh with Google’s latest.

Pricing and availability

Here’s where it gets real. The Galaxy A56 will set you back $499.99, which nudges it closer to “midrange-plus” territory than true budget fare. It’s slated to hit the US “later this year”—Samsung’s being coy with the exact date, so stay tuned. The A36 lands sooner, dropping exclusively at Best Buy on March 26th for $399.99. The A26 follows two days later on March 28th at $299.99, making it the cheapest entry point for Samsung’s latest AI goodies.

Are these prices a steal? Depends on your yardstick. Compared to the Galaxy S25 (which starts north of $800), they’re a bargain. But there’s stiff competition from the likes of Google’s Pixel A-series or OnePlus’s Nord line, which often pack similar specs for less. Samsung’s betting its AI edge and long-term support will tip the scales.

So, what’s the takeaway? The Galaxy A56 and its siblings aren’t here to blow your mind—they’re here to quietly impress. The AI features are the real draw, especially if you’re the type who loves tinkering with photos or wants a phone that feels a little smarter out of the box. The spec bumps are modest, the design tweaks are safe, and the prices are… well, about what you’d expect from Samsung’s A-series in 2025.

For Samsung fans—or anyone who’s been eyeing a midrange phone with some flagship flair—this lineup’s worth a look. The A56 feels like the sweet spot if you want the best of the bunch, while the A26 could be a sleeper hit for budget hunters. Either way, Samsung’s doubling down on AI as the future of smartphones, and these devices are proof it’s not just for the high rollers anymore.