Samsung celebrated the launch of its latest Galaxy A series - the Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G – last night at an as usual high vibe event in Johannesburg.

The launch, the company explained, marked a bold new chapter for Samsung’s most popular smartphone line, with the latest Galaxy A series comes with Awesome Intelligence, Galaxy’s first-ever comprehensive mobile AI tailored specifically for this range of devices.

The significant news is that the move indicates Samsung’s push to make AI more accessible to a broader array of users, outside of and beyond its flagship, top tier devices like the S25. AI usage on the A-series has also been reimagined for a wider audience, with its Awesome Intelligence features bringing powerful, fun, and easy-to-use tools that transform how users create, connect, and explore.

“With Awesome Intelligence, we’re delivering an experience that’s smarter, more creative, and more personal to user and fans of the ever-popular Galaxy A series,” said Justin Hume, Vice President of Mobile Experience at Samsung South Africa. “These new devices bring flagship-level AI features and robust security to more people than ever before, while also debuting Samsung SOS+ – a true game-changer for personal safety in South Africa.”

Choices, choices

The Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G are identical in size and the large, 6.7’’ AMOLED screens look predictably lovely, while each of the devices are thin, light, sleek and imminently pocketable. Capacity wise you get 256 GB of storage as standard.

As expected, the  Galaxy A56 5G is the star of the show, boasting a Full HD+ Super AMOLED 120Hz and HDR10+-capable display, while the Exynos 1580 chipset is under the hood along with a generous helping of 12 GB of RAM.

Price wise, it also leads the pack, commanding R11 000. If you are on a tighter budget though, then you can instead opt for the  Galaxy A36, which runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, but costs R7 500 or the even more affordable the A26 5G, which costs R5 000.

Unlocking Creativity

Powered by One UI 7, Awesome Intelligence delivers some appealing AI innovations, including Circle to Search. Featuring Awesome Intelligence enhancements, it’s now not just for images; it can now also recognise music playing in videos, helping users identify songs by tapping a button. With it, you can instantly identify songs playing nearby or from memory, thanks to advanced audio recognition, without needing to use an independent app like Shazam.

The new Galaxy A devices also takes the camera experience to a new level for the series, with creator-focused tools, starting with a powerful triple-camera system featuring a 50MP main lens on all devices. Samsung enthused that AI enhancements ensure every photo and video looks sharp, vibrant, and perfectly lit, thanks to the improved camera set-up. Editing features like Object Eraser let users remove unwanted elements from images, while Filters offer personalised colour and style extraction for a unique visual flair.

There is also no skimping on battery life either, with three models boasting a robust 5 000mAh battery, previously found on larger devices. As well, users get Super-Fast Charging 2.0 (45W) support on the Galaxy A56 5G and A36 5G. Additionally, Samsung showcased the endurance of new A-series, with one of the devices fully submerged in a tank of water and still working. The entire line-up boasts IP67-rated dust and water resistance – which previously has not made it over to the lower model of the devices but is now included even on the Galaxy A26 5G too.

What I found most interesting about the launch is that we continue to see features that were once the domain of the highest end offerings increasingly trickling down to mid-range devices as well. Personally I think the larger battery and the dollop of RAM are the biggest wins for users who want smooth and speedy functioning and a device that doesn't seperation anxiety when apart from its charger.   

In case of emergency

Samsung also unveiled Samsung SOS+, a personal emergency service developed in partnership with AURA, the country’s leading emergency response platform. Samsung SOS+ connects users to a nationwide network of vetted medical and armed responders.

In an emergency, users dial the dedicated SOS+ number, which instantly shares their live location with AURA’s secure system. Help is then dispatched immediately, with a call-back from the SOS+ control centre to confirm assistance is en route. The service is free for the first 12 months with the purchase of any qualifying device, including the new Galaxy A56, A36, and A26. The Subscription service will be available from 01 May 2025.