Samsung has officially introduced three new smartphones in its Galaxy A lineup — the Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G. These devices come packed with major upgrades across performance, design, software, and AI capabilities, aimed at bringing flagship-level experiences to a wider audience.

This launch marks a major milestone for Samsung’s mid-range phones. For the first time, the Galaxy A series features built-in mobile AI tools, a significant addition typically reserved for premium Galaxy models. The company calls this new AI experience Awesome Intelligence — a suite of features designed to make creativity easier, interactions smarter, and everyday tasks more seamless.

Awesome Intelligence: Mobile AI Made Accessible

Samsung is pushing AI into the hands of more users by integrating Awesome Intelligence into all three devices. These AI features, powered by One UI 7, are tailored for search, camera enhancements, editing tools, and on-device privacy.

During the launch in Lagos, Tae Sun Lee, CEO of Samsung Electronics West Africa, emphasized the company’s goal of making AI available to all users, not just flagship owners.

“The new Galaxy A series is a bold step toward our mission of ‘AI for All’. We’re excited to deliver smart, secure, and creative tools that empower users in their daily lives.”

One standout feature is the upgraded Circle to Search, powered by Google. It allows users to highlight or tap on any text, number, or element on the screen to instantly search or take action — all without leaving the app. Users can now identify phone numbers, emails, and URLs with a simple tap.

Instant Song Recognition, Smarter Search

Samsung has also enhanced the Circle to Search experience by adding instant music recognition. Whether it’s music from a nearby speaker or a video on your phone, users can long press the navigation bar, tap the music icon, and instantly identify the song title and artist — no need to switch apps or open another tab.

“This gives users a smarter way to engage with content,” said Oge Maduagwu, Head of Marketing, Samsung West Africa. “It’s fast, fluid, and keeps the experience uninterrupted.”

Camera Upgrades Tailored for Creators

Samsung has taken a major leap in photography with a redesigned camera system. All three models feature a 50MP main rear camera, while the A56 and A36 include 10-bit HDR video recording on the front lens, ensuring vibrant, high-resolution selfies.

The Galaxy A56 5G goes even further with a 12MP ultra-wide lens and enhanced low-light photography tools under the Nightography feature, including a new Low Noise Mode for brighter selfies in dark conditions.

Exclusive to the Galaxy A56 is a new tool called Best Face. This AI feature selects and combines the best facial expressions from group photos, ensuring every person in the shot looks great. Whether someone blinked or looked away, the AI smooths everything into one perfect photo.

Samsung also added the refined Object Eraser tool across all three models. With it, users can remove unwanted people, shadows, or background elements from their photos — either automatically or by manual selection.

“With these AI tools, everyone can be their own editor,” said Stephen Okwara, Head of Product Management, MX Division, Samsung West Africa.

Performance, Power, and Smooth Multitasking

Each device includes a 5,000mAh battery, optimized for extended daily use. The Galaxy A56 and A36 also support 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0, giving users hours of battery life in just minutes of charging.

Performance has also been upgraded. The A56 runs on the Exynos 1580 chipset, while the A36 is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. Both phones include larger vapor chambers, which help maintain stable performance during gaming, video playback, and heavy multitasking.

Durability and Software Longevity

Samsung is building long-term value into the new A series. All models now come with six years of Android OS and One UI updates, along with six years of security patches. This extended support ensures users won’t have to upgrade frequently just to stay secure or updated.

For protection against the elements, all three models feature IP67 water and dust resistance — including the Galaxy A26 for the first time. The phones also come with Corning’s advanced cover glass, designed to protect against drops, cracks, and scratches.

Advanced Security with Knox Vault

Samsung has integrated Knox Vault into the Galaxy A series, delivering the same level of security found on its flagship devices. Knox Vault offers hardware-level protection for passwords, personal data, and privacy settings. With One UI 7’s improved privacy dashboard, users can also manage app permissions, monitor device access, and detect potential threats with enhanced theft protection alerts.