Here’s How the Samsung Galaxy a Series Compares to the IPhone 16e
Less than a month after Apple released its own “budget” iPhone, the iPhone 16e , Samsung has released a new update to the mid-range Galaxy A series for 2025. And unlike Apple’s $599 phone, the Galaxy A26, admittedly a more budget-friendly device, costs just $300. On the other hand, the Galaxy A56, a more direct competitor to the iPhone 16e, will cost $500 when it launches later this year but will give you double the storage of the 16e.
If you’re thinking about purchasing any of these phones, you might be wondering what they all look like on paper. While we’ll have to wait for reviewers to get their hands on these devices before we really know how they stack up, it’s helpful to see the specs and prices side-by-side.
iPhone 16e
What was once the iPhone SE is now the iPhone 16e, and at a starting price of $599 for the 128GB model, it’s expensive for a mid-range phone. But if you can stretch your budget, you really get a lot for the money.
Yes, it has a notch rather than the Dynamic Island , but you get a 6.1-inch screen, Apple’s latest and greatest A18 chip ( which only lacks one graphics core compared to the iPhone 16 model ), 8GB of RAM, Apple Intelligence, a single 48MP camera, and long battery life.
However, since you’re paying less than you would for the standard iPhone 16 or any of its upgrades, you’re missing out on some perks. The screen is still 60Hz; no always-on display; and you lose the ultra-wide-angle lens in addition to camera features like cinematic mode and new photographic styles . Apple even removed MagSafe.
However, at its core, this is a solid iPhone. Apple is known for supporting its devices over the years, and the fact that it has 8GB of RAM and an A18 chip means the iPhone 16e will remain fast and cutting-edge for a long time to come.
Samsung Galaxy A26, A36 and A56
Here we can talk about three new phones. A26 starts at $300, A36 starts at $400 and A56 starts at $500. For the sake of this comparison, I’ll mainly focus on the A56 since it’s closest in volume to the 16e, but there are reasons to consider other options, especially the $400 A36.
All three phones run One UI 7.0, which includes new software features like the Now panel and a redesigned interface that looks very similar to iOS. And while the full Galaxy AI suite is reserved for Samsung’s flagship phones, the A-series devices come equipped with Samsung’s Google Circle-to-Search, Filters, Best Face, Auto Trim and AI Object Eraser tools. Samsung calls this feature set “Amazing Intelligence” and I’m sure that won’t confuse anyone. Samsung is also promising six generations of OS updates and six years of security updates, matching Google’s seven-year promise to update Pixel devices .
Specifications-wise, all three phones come with a 5,000mAh battery, but 45W fast wired charging is only available on the A36 and A56. The display is the same story: the A36 and A56 feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1080 x 2340 resolution and Corning Gorilla Victus+ Glass protection (not available on the iPhone 16e). However, the A26 comes with a smaller 6.5-inch screen with the same 120Hz refresh rate and FHD+ display. Screen brightness increases to 1,200 nits when you’re outdoors, and the Vision Booster feature can boost brightness up to 1,900 nits. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16e is locked at 800 nits.
All three devices feature different processors and RAM configurations, with the best chip being saved for the A56. The A26 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1380 chipset, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, while the A36 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The A56 is equipped with an Exynos 1580 chip, 8 or 12 GB of RAM (depending on configuration) and 128 or 256 GB of internal memory.
However, when it comes to performance, the iPhone 16e easily beats the A56. According to early (leaked) benchmark data compiled by ZoneofTech , the Exynos 1580 in the Galaxy A56 scores 1353 in single-core and 3832 in multi-core. The A18 chip, on the other hand, scored 3317 points in single-core mode and a whopping 8165 points in multi-core mode. This is more than double the performance of 16e.
The body shape of the three devices is slightly different. The A26 has a plastic frame and body, compared to the more “premium” metals found on the other two devices. All three phones have thin bezels all around, but with a prominent chin, so the bottom bezel is slightly thicker than the other three sides.
Each A-series phone has a triple camera setup, compared to Apple’s single 48MP camera. All three Samsung devices feature the same 50MP wide-angle lens. The A56 has a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 5MP macro lens, while the A36 has an 8MP ultra-wide-angle and a 5MP macro lens. The cheaper A26 has an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro lens. All A-series phones can use AI photography features such as Best Take, which combines faces from different photos to create a better single image. There is also a tool called Samsung Object Eraser, which is better than Apple’s Cleanup utility . The A56 and A36 can also record HDR content from the main sensor.
The 5,000 mAh battery in the A Series is rated for 29 hours of video playback, and the iPhone 16e is rated for 26 hours on a single charge. However, they may not reflect actual battery tests, so we’ll have to keep an eye on reviewers before we know how these batteries actually compare.
In fact, this is true for many of the features of these devices. We’ll just have to see how the A-series cameras and chips compare to the iPhone 16e in real-world conditions before we can make any definitive conclusions here. But for now it’s useful to compare the characteristics and data we have.
The Galaxy A36 5G will be available on March 26 in black and lavender, as well as an exclusive Lime color at Best Buy. And the A26 goes on sale on March 27 and is only available in black. But the A56 will arrive in the US later this year, with no details on color options yet.