Review: Samsung Galaxy A-Series in 2026, Is It Still Worth It?

Introduction

Samsung Galaxy A series phones are the safe choice for millions of Pakistani families. When someone’s father, sister or cousin needs a phone that just works, a Galaxy A is often the first name that comes up. The reasons are simple: a trusted brand, service centers in most cities, good screens, and software updates that keep coming for years.

But the math has changed. In 2026, the Galaxy A57 starts at Rs. 166,999 in Pakistan and the Galaxy A37 at Rs. 149,999. For that money, Infinix and Xiaomi now offer bigger batteries, faster charging and metal builds. Meanwhile, the PTA tax on an imported A37 is around Rs. 84,347, which pushes many buyers toward cheaper non-PTA, refurbished or tampered Samsung units sold in local markets.

Samsung also has a legal record worth knowing. Courts and regulators in Australia and Italy have fined the company over misleading water resistance ads, including on older Galaxy A models, and over software updates that slowed down older phones. None of that makes a Galaxy A a bad phone today, but it is part of an honest picture.

This Samsung A series review covers current Pakistan prices, what each model does well and badly, the real cases behind the brand, and a checklist to avoid grey market traps. By the end, you will know whether the Samsung Galaxy A series is still worth your money in 2026, or whether a rival makes more sense.

Samsung Galaxy A Series Prices in Pakistan (2026)

Samsung launched the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 in Pakistan on 28 April 2026, about a month after their global debut, as reported in ProPakistani’s launch coverage. Below them sit cheaper models like the A26, A17 and A07, with older A56 and A55 units still in some shops.

Online stores sometimes run discounts. PriceOye has listed the A37 at around Rs. 133,999 and the A57 at around Rs. 148,999 at times, so it pays to compare authorized sellers before buying.

Galaxy A57 Price in Pakistan and What You Get

The Samsung Galaxy A57 price in Pakistan starts at Rs. 166,999 for 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. You get the new Exynos 1680 chip on a 4nm process, a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with 120Hz, a 5000mAh battery with 45W charging, and Samsung’s promise of six years of OS updates. It also gets extra AI editing tools like Best Face, Auto Trim and Object Eraser that the A37 does not have.

Galaxy A37 Price in Pakistan

The Galaxy A37 price in Pakistan is Rs. 149,999 for 8GB and 256GB. It uses the Exynos 1480, the same chip found in the older Galaxy A55, along with the same screen size, battery and 45W charging as the A57, plus a 50MP main camera with OIS. In practice, the A37 gives you most of the A57 experience for Rs. 17,000 less.

Why Prices Jumped This Year

Galaxy A prices rose globally in 2026. In Europe, for example, the 8GB/256GB A57 launched at 519 euros compared with 449 euros for the previous model. Pakistan followed the same trend, which is why the Samsung Galaxy A series now sits much higher than Infinix and Xiaomi rivals with similar hardware.

Samsung A Series Review: 7 Honest Reasons to Buy or Skip

A price list tells you what a phone costs. These seven points tell you what you actually get from the Samsung Galaxy A series in daily Pakistani life.

1. Software Updates Are the Biggest Strength

This is where Samsung clearly wins. The A57 and A37 come with six years of OS updates, which means your phone should keep getting new Android versions and security patches well into the 2030s. Most Chinese rivals in Pakistan promise two to three major updates.

Why this matters: banking apps, JazzCash, Easypaisa and government apps often stop supporting old Android versions. A phone that keeps updating stays useful and safe for much longer, which makes the higher price easier to justify if you keep phones for many years.

2. One UI Is Clean and Easy for Everyone

Samsung’s One UI is polished, easy to learn and mostly free of the pushy ads found on some budget brands. For parents and older relatives, that clean experience is worth a lot. Samsung does preinstall some of its own apps, but they are useful more often than not, and many can be removed.

3. Super AMOLED Displays Are Excellent

Both the A57 and A37 use 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screens with 120Hz refresh rates. Colors are rich, text is sharp and outdoor visibility is good. Samsung makes some of the best phone screens in the world, and even its mid-range panels show it.

4. Performance Is Good for Daily Use, Not for Heavy Gaming

The Exynos 1680 in the A57 and the Exynos 1480 in the A37 handle social apps, video calls, banking and multitasking smoothly. Casual gaming is fine. Long sessions of demanding games at high settings will show limits, and Snapdragon-powered rivals at lower prices can match or beat it here.

5. Cameras Are Reliable and Consistent

Samsung’s cameras are rarely the flashiest, but they are dependable. The 50MP main camera with OIS on the A37 and A57 takes natural-looking photos in daylight and handles low light better than many budget phones. Skin tones and colors are usually pleasing straight out of the camera, which is what most people want for family photos.

6. Battery and Charging Have Fallen Behind

Here is the honest weakness. A 5000mAh battery with 45W charging is fine for a full day, but rivals now offer 6000mAh to 7000mAh at lower prices. The Redmi Note 15 Pro has a 7000mAh battery for around Rs. 94,999, and the Infinix Note 60 Pro has 6000mAh for around Rs. 111,999. During long load shedding hours, that difference is real.

7. Price and Resale Value Pull in Opposite Directions

The Samsung Galaxy A series costs more upfront than most rivals with similar specs. The upside is resale value. Used Galaxy A phones hold their price better than most Chinese brands in Pakistan’s market, so part of that extra money comes back when you sell. If you upgrade every two years, this narrows the gap.

The Reality Behind the Samsung Galaxy A Series: Fines, Courts and the Grey Market

Samsung’s reputation is strong, but no company is spotless. A fair review should show where the brand has been caught out by regulators, and where Pakistani buyers face real risk today. The point is not to scare you away. It is to help you buy with better judgment.

Australia: A$14 Million Fine Over Water Resistance Ads

This case touches the Galaxy A line directly. Between March 2016 and October 2018, Samsung Australia ran ads showing Galaxy phones being used in pools and the sea. The models included the Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy A7 (2017), along with the S7, S8 and Note 8.

The problem was that charging ports could corrode and stop working if the phones were charged while still wet. In June 2022, after Samsung admitted the ads were misleading, the Federal Court ordered it to pay A$14 million in penalties. More than 3.1 million affected phones had been sold in Australia. You can read the details in the ACCC case coverage on GSMArena.

The lesson for buyers today: an IP rating is a protection against accidents, not an invitation to swim with your phone. And never charge a phone that is still wet.

Italy: Fined for Updates That Slowed Older Phones

In October 2018, Italy’s competition authority fined Samsung 5 million euros, the maximum it could impose, over a 2016 software update for the Galaxy Note 4. The regulator found the update caused serious problems and significantly reduced performance, pushing people toward replacing their phones sooner. Samsung denied slowing phones down and said it would appeal. Apple was fined in the same investigation.

This is worth remembering because updates are now the main selling point of the Samsung Galaxy A series. Six years of updates is a real promise, and Samsung’s record has improved a lot since then, but it shows why it is fair to watch how updates actually perform on older devices.

The Pakistani Grey Market: Where Buyers Get Hurt

The PTA tax on an imported Galaxy A37 is about Rs. 84,347. That huge gap between import price and local price is exactly what feeds the grey market. Samsung A-series phones commonly show up as:

• Non-PTA units that work for a short period and then get blocked by DIRBS
• Patched phones whose IMEI number has been illegally changed to match an approved device
• “Refurbished” or “Korean/Dubai stock” phones with replaced screens, swapped batteries or hidden water damage, sold as new
• Stolen phones given a new IMEI and resold

PTA and the FIA keep finding these. Raids in Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Gilgit have uncovered shops tampering with IMEIs. In Gujranwala in June 2025, one raid seized 19 tampered or cloned phones and the shop owner was arrested. In Faisalabad, officials recovered 17 patched handsets and a laptop running tampering software, and five people were arrested. In Karachi, a man arrested for altering IMEIs told police one IMEI could be planted into five phones.

Why This Is an Ethical Choice, Not Just a Money One

A cheap patched Galaxy might seem harmless. But PTA has warned that tampered phones help criminals hide, and they are linked to fraud and other serious crimes. When a snatched phone gets a new IMEI, the victim loses any hope of tracking it, and the thief is rewarded. Buying a PTA approved Samsung with official warranty keeps your money out of that chain.

How to Check Any Galaxy Before You Pay

1. Dial *#06# and match the IMEI with the box and bill.
2. Send the IMEI to 8484 or check it on the PTA DIRBS portal.
3. Make sure the result shows the same Samsung model you are holding.
4. Check Settings, then About phone, to confirm the model number matches the box.
5. If the seller refuses any of these checks, walk away.

Is the Samsung Galaxy A Series Still Worth It in 2026?

Yes, for the right buyer. The Samsung Galaxy A series is no longer the best value per rupee in Pakistan, but it is still one of the safest long term choices. You pay more upfront for updates, a clean interface, a strong screen and better resale. Whether that trade is worth it depends on how long you keep your phones and what you care about.

Buy a Galaxy A If You

• Keep phones for four years or more and want them to stay updated and secure
• Are buying for parents or older relatives who need a simple, ad-free interface
• Want dependable cameras for family photos rather than flashy specs
• Care about resale value and plan to sell or hand down the phone later
• Prefer a brand with official service centers in most cities

Skip It or Compare Carefully If You

• Want the biggest battery and fastest charging for your money
• Play demanding games for hours
• Have a budget around Rs. 100,000 and want maximum hardware
• Do not care about long update support

Which Galaxy A Model Gives the Best Value?

1. Galaxy A37 (Rs. 149,999): The smart pick in the upper range. It shares the A57’s screen, battery, charging and update promise for Rs. 17,000 less.
2. Galaxy A57 (from Rs. 166,999): Worth it only if you want the faster chip and extra AI photo tools. The 12GB variants are hard to justify.
3. Galaxy A26 (around Rs. 94,999): A sensible middle option if you want Samsung software and updates without crossing Rs. 100,000.
4. Galaxy A17 and A07: Good for basic use, students or a backup phone. Do not expect much gaming or camera performance.
5. Galaxy A56 (around Rs. 137,999): Only worth it at a real discount, since the A37 is newer for a small extra cost.

Alternatives Worth Comparing

• Infinix Note 60 Pro (around Rs. 111,999): Aluminum build, 144Hz AMOLED, Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and 6000mAh battery. Better hardware per rupee, weaker updates and resale.
• Redmi Note 15 Pro (around Rs. 94,999): Huge 7000mAh battery for much less money, but HyperOS ads and a weaker chip in the Pakistan model.
• Used Galaxy S series: A clean, PTA approved used flagship can beat a new A57 on camera and performance. Apply strict IMEI and condition checks.

Smart Buying Checklist

1. Buy from Samsung’s official store, an authorized dealer or a trusted large retailer. Current models and offers are listed on Samsung Pakistan’s official website.
2. Get a printed bill showing the IMEI and the warranty start date.
3. Verify the IMEI on DIRBS before paying.
4. Avoid phones sold as “Korean stock,” “Dubai stock” or “open box” unless the seller gives a written warranty.
5. Compare prices across two or three authorized sellers. A deal far below official pricing is a warning sign.
6. Never pay someone to “make it PTA approved.” That is IMEI tampering, and it is a crime.
7. Keep the phone away from pools and sea water, and never charge it while wet, no matter what the IP rating says.

Conclusion: Should You Buy a Samsung Galaxy A Series Phone in 2026?

The Samsung Galaxy A series is still worth buying in 2026 for people who value long software support, a clean interface, excellent Super AMOLED screens and strong resale value, with the Galaxy A37 at Rs. 149,999 standing out as the best balance of price and features, though it no longer wins on raw hardware as Infinix and Xiaomi now offer bigger batteries, faster charging and metal builds for far less money. Samsung’s own record, from the A$14 million Australian fine over misleading water resistance ads that included the Galaxy A5 and A7 to the 5 million euro Italian penalty over performance-sapping updates, is a reminder to judge promises carefully, while the most immediate risk in Pakistan remains the grey market of non-PTA, refurbished and IMEI-tampered Galaxy phones that PTA and the FIA keep uncovering in raids. Buy from an authorized seller, check the IMEI on DIRBS, choose the model that fits how long you keep phones, and a Galaxy A remains one of the most dependable choices on the market.