Samsung Galaxy A27: Snapdragon upgrade, but a steeper price and some notable cuts
Samsung's Galaxy A27 is expected to land in Europe around late June 2026, and leaks already paint a clear picture: a Snapdragon chip replaces the Exynos processor from the A26, the display gets a modern punch-hole cutout, and prices climb by €50–€70 depending on storage. According to SamMobile, the 128GB version will cost €349 and the 256GB version €439 in Europe — up from €299 and €369 for the A26.
The upgrade case
The headline change is the processor. Samsung is ditching the Exynos 1380 in favour of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 — a move that should improve thermal performance and sustained efficiency, two areas where Exynos chips drew criticism in previous A-series phones. The 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display runs at 120Hz, and the old teardrop notch gives way to a cleaner punch-hole camera. The main rear camera is a 50MP sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS), backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging. Colours include black, blue, light pink, and a mint option in select markets.
Samsung Galaxy A27 leaked renders showing punch-hole display and triple rear camera module.
The trade-offs
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is 2024 silicon — solid, but not a cutting-edge platform for a phone launching in 2026. More significant are what Samsung has quietly removed. MicroSD card support is gone: the A26 could expand storage up to 1TB via a card slot, a traditional safety net for budget buyers who pick the cheaper 128GB base model. That option simply doesn't exist on the A27. The ultrawide camera also steps down from 8MP to 5MP — a downgrade, per Notebookcheck, that is hard to justify alongside a price increase.
How it fits in
In the UK, pricing is expected to fall between £299 and £349, slotting below the A37 at around £399 but landing squarely against the Nothing Phone 2a and the Motorola Edge 40 — both of which offer expandable storage at similar prices. Memory chip inflation in 2026 likely explains part of the cost increase, but the A27's spec sheet makes the value calculation harder to land in Samsung's favour. If storage flexibility matters to you, the competition is worth a close look before committing.