Galaxy S26 FE vs Galaxy A57
Buy the Galaxy S26 FE while it is $599.99: it adds a 3x telephoto, 15W wireless charging and a faster Exynos 2500 for the same money as the A57's list price. Buy the A57 only if you find it well below that.
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Quick answer
Short answer: pick the Galaxy S26 FE for the Exynos 2500, an 8MP 3x telephoto, 15W wireless charging and seven years of OS upgrades, especially at its $599.99 sale price. Pick the Galaxy A57 if it costs clearly less, you don't zoom, and you want a 5,000mAh battery in a 6.9 mm body.
Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026
Check Samsung Galaxy S26 FE price (opens in a new tab)Check Samsung Galaxy A57 5G price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Samsung Galaxy S26 FE | Samsung Galaxy A57 5G | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, unlocked (Nov 12, 2026) | 128GB $599.99 at Samsung (was $699.99); 256GB $699.99 (was $799.99) | 128GB $599.99 list ($532 from a third-party seller on Amazon); 256GB $658 at Amazon |
| Chip and RAM | Exynos 2500, 8GB | Exynos 1680 |
| Display | 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1,900 nits peak (Samsung claim) | 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus, Vision Booster |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 8MP 3x telephoto | 50MP OIS main + 12MP ultrawide + 5MP macro |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
The Galaxy S26 FE is the better buy right now. Samsung has the 128GB model at about $600 (checked Nov 2026), the same as the Galaxy A57's $599.99 list price, and the FE adds a 3x telephoto, wireless charging, a faster chip and a seventh year of OS upgrades. The Galaxy A57 still makes sense if you find it discounted toward $530, want the slightly bigger 5,000mAh battery, or prefer a thinner 6.9 mm phone. For a Google alternative, see Galaxy S26 FE vs Pixel 10.
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: side-by-side
| Galaxy S26 FE | Galaxy A57 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, unlocked (Nov 12, 2026) | 128GB $599.99 at Samsung (was $699.99); 256GB $699.99 (was $799.99) | 128GB $599.99 list ($532 from a third-party seller on Amazon); 256GB $658 at Amazon |
| Chip and RAM | Exynos 2500, 8GB | Exynos 1680 |
| Display | 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1,900 nits peak (Samsung claim) | 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus, Vision Booster |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 8MP 3x telephoto | 50MP OIS main + 12MP ultrawide + 5MP macro |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 4,900 mAh | 5,000 mAh (typical; 4,905 mAh rated) |
| Wired charging (GSMArena, 45W) | 69% in 30 min; full in 1h 08m | 64% in 30 min; full in 1h 09m |
| Wireless charging | 15W Qi2-compatible, reverse wireless (no magnets) | None |
| Thickness / weight | 7.4 mm / 193 g | 6.9 mm |
| Durability | IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus+ back | IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Software support | 7 years of OS upgrades (ships with Android 17) | 6 OS upgrades, 6 years of security updates |
How much do they cost?
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE plans
| Storage | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $599.99 | Sale from $699.99; Amazon $599 |
| 256GB | $699.99 | Sale from $799.99 |
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G plans
| Storage | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $599.99 list | $532 from a third-party seller |
| 256GB | $658 | Sold by Amazon.com |
What are the pros and cons?
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE: pros
- 8MP 3x telephoto
- 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Faster Exynos 2500
- 7 years of OS upgrades
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE: cons
- Starts at 128GB with 8GB RAM (Android Central)
- Wireless charging is only 15W and has no Qi2 magnets
- Heavier at 193 g and 7.4 mm thick
- Telephoto uses a small 1/4.4-inch 8MP sensor (GSMArena)
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: pros
- 5,000 mAh battery
- Thin 6.9 mm body
- IP68 and Gorilla Glass Victus+
- Six OS upgrades
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: cons
- No telephoto: the third camera is a 5MP macro
- No wireless charging at all
- List price matches the S26 FE's current sale price
- One fewer OS upgrade than the S26 FE
Which should you choose: Samsung Galaxy S26 FE or Samsung Galaxy A57 5G?
The S26 FE is the better phone, and at its $599.99 sale price it costs the same as the A57's list price. GSMArena[4][5] measured near-identical 45W charging (about 1 hour 8–9 minutes to full), so the A57's only hardware wins are the extra 100 mAh and a thinner body. If the FE goes back to $699.99 and you can find the A57 near $530, the A57 is the sensible saving.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S26 FE if…
- You zoom in on photos or shoot portraits at 3x
- You use a wireless charging pad
- You want the longest software support
- You can buy it at $599.99 or less
Choose Samsung Galaxy A57 5G if…
- You find it at least $70 below the S26 FE
- You never use zoom
- You want the thinnest phone and the bigger battery
Cameras
Both phones have a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide. The difference is the third camera: the S26 FE has an 8MP 3x telephoto, while the A57 has a 5MP macro. GSMArena[4][5] found the telephoto's dynamic range and color very good despite its small sensor. If you take portraits or zoom at events, that telephoto matters. For more camera-focused picks, see best phones for photography.
Battery and charging
Capacity is close (4,900 vs 5,000 mAh), and both use 45W wired charging with a charger sold separately. In GSMArena's[4][5] test the S26 FE reached 40% in 15 minutes and 69% in 30, the A57 36% and 64%. Only the FE has wireless charging; Android Central calls its 15W speed disappointing next to 25W Qi2.2.
Who should skip this
- Skip the S26 FE if you need more than 128GB and won't pay $699.99 for 256GB; Android Central flags the 128GB base and 8GB RAM as limits.
- Skip the A57 if you charge on a pad at night or take zoomed photos; it has neither wireless charging nor a telephoto.
- Skip both if you want MagSafe-style magnets: neither has built-in Qi2 magnets. A Pixel 10 or iPhone is the better fit; see Pixel 11 vs Galaxy S26 FE.
Other options at this price
The Pixel 10 often sells for about the same money with a 5x telephoto; see Galaxy S26 FE vs Pixel 10. For the A57 against Google's cheaper phone, see Galaxy A57 vs Pixel 10a, and for more budget picks, best phones under $500.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Galaxy A57 have wireless charging?
Which has the better battery?
How long will Samsung update them?
Is the Galaxy S26 FE worth $100 more than the A57?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Samsung: Galaxy S26 FE 128GB unlocked (US price, Nov 2026) (samsung.com)
- Samsung: Galaxy A57 5G (specs) (samsung.com)
- Android Central: Galaxy S26 FE review (androidcentral.com)
- GSMArena: Galaxy S26 FE review, lab tests (battery and charging) (gsmarena.com)
- GSMArena: Galaxy S26 FE review, cameras (gsmarena.com)
- Amazon: Galaxy S26 FE 128GB unlocked listing (price, Nov 2026) (amazon.com)
- Amazon: Galaxy A57 5G 256GB unlocked listing (price, Nov 2026) (amazon.com)
Related
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comparisonGoogle Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
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