Samsung Galaxy A57 Review: Slim Design, AI Camera, and Solid Performance
Samsung Galaxy A57 Review: Slim Design, AI Camera, and Solid Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A-series has long been the go-to choice for buyers seeking a reliable, well-rounded Android experience without flagship pricing. Launched recently at a starting price of Rs 56,999, the Samsung Galaxy A57 arrives thinner, lighter, and smarter than its predecessor. It features the Exynos 1680 chip, a Super AMOLED Plus display with slimmer bezels, IP68 water resistance, and a suite of AI-powered camera and productivity tools called Awesome Intelligence.

Features once reserved for flagship devices, such as Object Eraser, Best Face, Voice Transcription, and an upgraded Circle to Search, now come standard on this mid-range device. On the surface, it appears to be a compelling upgrade. We used this latest Samsung offering for some time, and here is our complete review.

Design

The Galaxy A57 5G is strikingly slim for a mid-range phone. At just 6.9mm thick and 179 grams, it is one of the slimmest phones in its price category. Samsung has managed to shave almost 20g off the A56, making it the lightest model in the lineup since the Galaxy A52. There is no plastic to be found anywhere, with both front and back adorned with Gorilla Glass Victus+. Samsung has played with glass finishes to add visual contrast — the dark, glossy back pairs nicely with the slightly opaque, frosted finish on the camera island, making it look better than the more expensive Galaxy S series in some ways. The metallic rails on the side add a premium touch, with the volume rocker and power button looking refined and well-placed. The rear of the smartphone houses a triple rear camera setup placed vertically on the left side. The front is dominated by a 6.7-inch FHD+ screen, and the power button and volume rockers are placed on the right side. The SIM card tray and USB Type-C charging port are at the bottom. The Samsung Galaxy A57 also comes with an IP68 rating, making it resistant to dust and water.

Wide Pickt banner — collaborative shopping lists app for Telegram, phone mockup with grocery list

Display

The Samsung Galaxy A57 features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1900 nits peak brightness. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+. This is definitely one of the best displays you will find in any recently launched premium smartphone. The FHD+ display produces sharp text and crisp visuals. HDR10+ support ensures richer contrast and more lifelike colors when streaming content. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smooth, and animations and gaming feel fluid on the bright display. At the peak brightness of 1900 nits, the screen offers excellent outdoor visibility, allowing easy reading and writing under direct sunlight. The nearly symmetrical bezels and high screen-to-body ratio further enhance immersion, giving the device a premium look. Color reproduction leans toward Samsung’s signature saturated tones, which many users find appealing for media consumption. However, the phone also offers multiple display modes, allowing users to switch to more natural color profiles if preferred.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A57 is powered by the company’s own octa-core Exynos 1680 chipset. The smartphone comes in two variants — 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB. The new chipset boasts better CPU, GPU, and NPU performance, as well as support for a new image signal processor and LPDDR5X RAM. The smartphone offers efficient and lag-free performance. Routine tasks such as browsing social media, video streaming, and multitasking are handled smoothly. The efficient chipset ensures apps load quickly and background processes remain stable. The Galaxy A57 also delivers impressive gaming performance. It handles titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile with ease, maintaining steady frame rates at medium to high settings. However, during intense games and extended sessions, performance can dip slightly. The integrated GPU offers improved graphics rendering over its predecessor, making it suitable for most mainstream gaming experiences. The device is optimized with AI-driven performance management, which allocates resources to the most important apps and tasks, helping maintain responsiveness while reducing unnecessary battery drain. Thermal management is effective, with the phone staying cool during prolonged use thanks to improved heat dissipation.

Pickt after-article banner — collaborative shopping lists app with family illustration

On the software front, the Galaxy A57 runs Android 16 with Samsung One UI 8.5. It gets the Awesome Intelligence suite of AI features, rather than the full Galaxy AI package reserved for premium Samsung phones. The gap between the two is now smaller than ever — you do not get generative tools like Drawing Assist, but you do get Object Eraser, AI Select, Voice Transcription, Auto Trim, Best Face, and more. Both Bixby and Circle to Search have been upgraded, so the most useful software tools are present. It lacks some features that require more power, such as DeX, Samsung's desktop-like interface for external monitors. On long-term support, Samsung's commitment to six years of security maintenance positions the A57 as a sensible long-term investment.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A57 features a triple rear camera setup: a 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, and a 5MP macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture. The front houses a 12MP selfie camera. In bright, well-lit environments, the main sensor produces sharp, punchy images with good dynamic range. The ultra-wide is handy for landscapes and group shots, while the macro lens does a decent job of capturing close-up textures. For selfies, the 12MP front camera flatters skin tones and handles HDR well. However, the cracks show in challenging light. In anything short of bright sunshine or studio lighting, the A57 struggles to capture adequate vibrancy or color detail — foliage can look desaturated and lack dynamic range. An upgraded ISP chip was cited as an improvement, but it has not made a significant difference.

AI Camera Tools

Where the A57's camera story gets genuinely interesting is in its AI toolkit, powered by the Awesome Intelligence suite. Samsung has pushed down several smart features that were previously exclusive to its flagship S-series:

  • Nightography — enhanced to produce brighter, sharper images in low light with more natural color. Improvements are especially noticeable in cityscapes and street scenes, where noise and distortion are often more visible.
  • Best Face — exclusive to the Galaxy A57 5G, this feature captures a Motion Photo up to 3 seconds and intelligently selects the most flattering shot from multiple frames based on focus, lighting, and facial expressions. It can identify and provide results for up to 5 people in a group shot, a genuinely useful feature for family photos.
  • Object Eraser — removes unwanted elements from photos with improved edge accuracy for cleaner, more natural-looking images in fewer edits. It works well for removing photobombers or distracting backgrounds and is noticeably more precise than on the A56.
  • AI Select — easier to access with a long press on the Edge Panel, it surfaces relevant actions directly on screen to extract text or create content without manually selecting items. It also supports Drag & Drop in Multi-Window layout, allowing users to easily move images into Samsung Notes or the Photo Editor for faster editing.
  • Auto Trim — available on the A57, this tool simplifies video editing, making it easy to trim and share clips quickly.
  • Filters & Edit Suggestions — fan-favorite tools that help users quickly refine and share moments without extra effort. Users can create and store up to 99 custom filters.
  • Circle to Search — now allows multiple objects to be identified at once. For example, when users spot a look they love, information about each object — from tops to footwear — can be found in one search by simply circling an outfit on the screen.

Battery

The Samsung Galaxy A57 houses the same battery as its predecessor, the Galaxy A56. It packs a 5,000 mAh battery with 45W fast charging support. The smartphone lasts an entire day even under heavy usage on a single charge. For moderate users who primarily browse, chat, and stream occasionally, it can easily last more than a day. The 45W fast charging can charge the phone completely within 75 minutes, reaching 50% in just 30 minutes. The phone also benefits from software-level optimizations in One UI 8.5, including adaptive power management and AI-driven background app control, which help reduce unnecessary battery drain. Overall, the Galaxy A57’s battery performance is dependable and consistent.

Verdict

The Galaxy A57 is a well-rounded smartphone with an excellent design and thoughtfully chosen features. With a starting price of Rs 56,999, it nails the basics with a slim, premium-feeling build, a bright 6.7-inch AMOLED display, and dependable all-round performance for everyday use. For buyers who value Samsung’s ecosystem, premium build, and long-term support, the A57 is a safe and consistent choice.