Should You Buy Galaxy A57, or Spend $100 More on Galaxy S25 FE?

Samsung has launched its upper midrange device for this year, the Galaxy A57. Priced at $549, it is slightly more expensive than last year’s A56. This price hike also puts it just $100 behind the Galaxy S25 FE, Samsung’s so-called “affordable flagship.” Many users are now confused about whether to buy the S25 FE by spending a bit more or go with the Galaxy A57. Let us take a closer look and see which phone suits your budget better.

Galaxy A57 vs Galaxy S25 FE

The Galaxy S25 FE launched in September 2025 as the Fan Edition model of the Galaxy S25. Now, with the Galaxy A57 officially here, comparing the two gives a clearer picture.

Display

Both phones feature a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. However, the Galaxy S25 FE comes with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, which is a flagship-grade panel. The Galaxy A57, on the other hand, gets a midrange-level Super AMOLED+ display. The S25 FE display also supports HDR10+ and offers slightly better viewing angles, delivering a more refined and premium viewing experience overall.

Design

Design is subjective, but both phones look premium. They feature thin bezels and a punch-hole camera. The Galaxy A57 has a raised camera plateau with lenses placed vertically, while the S25 FE has separate camera rings on the back.

The Galaxy S25 FE is slightly thicker and heavier at around 7.4mm and 190g, compared to 6.9mm and 179g on the Galaxy A57. Both phones skip the headphone jack and use Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+. They also offer IP68 water and dust resistance.

Performance

The Galaxy S25 FE is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2400, while the Galaxy A57 uses the Exynos 1680. The A57 is faster than its predecessor, but the S25 FE clearly performs better in both single-core and multi-core tasks. It also handles gaming more smoothly. Both phones offer 8GB RAM and 128GB storage as the base variant.

In short, the Fan Edition handset takes a clear win in performance. After all, the FE lineup is often referred to as the flagship-killer for a reason.

Battery & Charging

The Galaxy S25 FE packs a 4900mAh battery, while the Galaxy A57 gets a slightly larger 5000mAh cell. Both support 45W fast charging. However, the Galaxy S25 FE also supports 15W wireless charging, which is missing on the A57. Battery life should be similar overall, though we can only say for sure once the new A-series phone arrives on the market.

Camera

The Galaxy S25 FE offers a 50MP + 12MP + 8MP setup with 3x optical zoom and 8K video support. The Galaxy A57 has a 50MP + 12MP + 5MP setup with digital zoom and 4K video. Both devices equip a 12MP front camera.

The telephoto lens on the S25 FE captures distant subjects with better clarity than digital zoom on the A57, which often reduces quality. It also helps produce more natural portrait shots, making photos look cleaner and more versatile. Overall, the Galaxy S25 FE takes the lead in the camera department.

Software

The Galaxy S25 FE launched with One UI 8 based on Android 16 and should receive updates up to Android 23. The Galaxy A57 comes with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16 QPR2 and should receive updates up to Android 22.

While both phones enjoy long-term update support, the Galaxy S25 FE benefits from a better feature array. It supports more AI features than the A57.

Pricing and Colors

The Galaxy S25 FE has been on the market for a few months. It starts at $650, though you may score it at a lower price with some deals. The Galaxy A57 launches at $550, with sales beginning on April 9. Color options include Navy, Jet Black, Icy Blue, and White for the S25 FE and Awesome Navy, Awesome Icy Blue, and Awesome Lilac for the A57.

Verdict

The Galaxy S25 FE offers better overall value. It delivers stronger performance, a more capable camera setup, a better display, and wireless charging support. The device gives you a near-flagship experience at a lower price. 

On the other hand, the Galaxy A57 really feels out of place. Samsung should have priced it more aggressively (at around $500), considering it’s an A series device aimed at offering strong specs at a lower price. If you can spend a bit more, the Galaxy S25 FE is the better choice. You can buy either from the links below.

• Buy Galaxy S25 FE
• Buy Galaxy A57 (sales begin April 9)