Samsung Galaxy A27 launches at $349.99 with a faster chip and trims
Samsung’s new budget 5G phone costs $50 more than last year’s model while changing several camera and durability specs.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Samsung has announced the Galaxy A27 5G with a U.S. price of $349.99, putting its new budget phone $50 above last year’s Galaxy A26, The Verge reported. The higher price matters because the handset adds a newer Qualcomm processor while cutting back on several specifications buyers may notice.
Samsung said the Galaxy A27 uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset. The Verge reported that this replaces the Exynos 1380 used in the prior model, making the processor change the clearest upgrade in this year’s version.
The rest of the comparison is more mixed. According to The Verge, the Galaxy A27 has a 12-megapixel front camera and a 5-megapixel ultrawide camera, both lower-resolution than those on the Galaxy A26. The phone also carries an IP64 rating, which The Verge described as weaker water resistance than last year’s model.
Samsung’s listed specifications show several core features staying in place. The Galaxy A27 includes 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 5,000mAh battery, a 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 50-megapixel rear camera, according to Samsung and The Verge.
The device is also slightly thicker than its predecessor, measuring 7.8mm, The Verge reported. Samsung’s product image shows the U.S. model in black, while The Verge reported that blue and pink versions will be sold in other markets.
Release dates and colors
Samsung plans to sell the Galaxy A27 in the United States starting July 14, according to The Verge. U.S. buyers will only get the black version at launch, while international markets are due to receive the phone earlier, on July 3, with blue and pink options also available, The Verge reported.
The pricing arrives as device makers face broader pressure from rising component costs, The Verge reported. Its coverage has linked the strain in part to a global memory shortage affecting technology products, with budget devices particularly exposed because manufacturers have less room to absorb higher parts costs.
The Verge reported that Nothing has canceled planned additions to its lower-cost CMF smartphone line in response to RAM pricing, while Apple has also raised prices on some products, though not on iPhones for now. Against that backdrop, Samsung’s higher price for the Galaxy A27 fits a wider pattern, even as the phone’s specification changes may make the increase harder for shoppers to accept.
For buyers comparing the Galaxy A27 with the A26, the trade-off is direct: Samsung is asking more for a phone with a newer Snapdragon chip, unchanged memory, storage, battery and display basics, and reduced camera and durability specs, according to The Verge’s comparison of the two models.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.