Samsung's latest budget smartphone, the Galaxy A27 5G, is priced at $50 higher, but it reduces two important features.

      On the positive side, Samsung replaced the A26's Exynos processor with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip.

      Samsung has just introduced its latest budget smartphone, the Galaxy A27 5G, which starts at $349, a $50 increase compared to last year's Galaxy A26. However, it appears to fall short in certain aspects that are significant for daily usage.

      What you receive for the increased price

      Samsung has replaced the A26's Exynos chip with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, which provides a speed enhancement of 10 to 20%, along with a GPU upgrade for improved gaming and graphic performance. The display maintains a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It features a punch hole camera cutout instead of the previous year’s teardrop notch, with slimmer bezels surrounding the display.

      Additionally, there are three memory options available: 6GB with 128GB, 8GB with 128GB, and 8GB with 256GB. AI capabilities have also seen some improvement, including enhanced multi-object recognition in Circle to Search, better results for the Object Eraser, and real-time translation in the Voice Recorder app supporting 22 languages. Samsung continues to offer six years of OS upgrades and security updates, similar to before. However, much of this feels more like a slight update rather than a significant advancement.

      Galaxy A27 5G vs A26: what’s been downgraded?

      Samsung

      The most disappointing aspect is the IP ratings. The Samsung Galaxy A26 was the first in its category to achieve an IP67 rating, which meant it could endure a brief submersion in water, a feature Samsung proudly showcased. Unfortunately, the A27 has dropped to an IP64 rating, which only protects against splashes and dust, not immersion in water.

      The camera specifications have also been downgraded. The ultrawide lens decreases from 8MP to 5MP, and the selfie camera goes from 13MP to 12MP, while the 50MP main camera with OIS remains unchanged. Moreover, the phone has become slightly thicker, from 7.7mm to 7.8mm, a minor change, but still a regression.

      If you're interested in purchasing one, the Galaxy A27 5G will be available internationally on July 3 and in the U.S. on July 14. If the price increase has you considering other options, there are four excellent Galaxy A37 alternatives worth exploring.

      Manisha Priyadarshini is a tech and entertainment writer with over nine years of editorial experience.

      Nothing Phone 4b may offer more than you expect from a budget device

      A recent leak has revealed key specifications for the forthcoming Nothing Phone 4b, including a 5,400mAh battery and a 120Hz display.

      Nothing is preparing to launch a new budget smartphone early next month, and the company has recently provided a sneak peek at its design. While it has not disclosed the device's specifications, a new leak has detailed potential features regarding the display, chip, battery, and storage.

      Key specifications revealed

      Don't relax just yet. Apple and Microsoft aren't finished with price increases.

      Xbox and Apple device price hikes could serve as a warning for the broader tech industry.

      Earlier today, Microsoft raised the prices of its Xbox consoles by as much as $150 in the U.S. Just hours prior, Apple announced similar increases for its Mac and iPad lineup, as well as raising the prices of its Vision Pro headset and various other devices, excluding the iPhone. However, it appears these two companies are not done with price hikes.

      Neither company has explicitly indicated that more price increases are forthcoming, but their statements imply otherwise. For instance, this statement from Apple shared with The Washington Post earlier today suggests potential future adjustments.

      Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 may resolve the two foldable issues people continue to complain about.

      The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide might represent the fully realized foldable that Samsung envisioned.

      Samsung's next high-end book-style foldable could do more than just improve its design and receive the usual annual spec updates. A new leak suggests the anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could directly tackle two of the most persistent issues with foldable devices: weight and display crease.

      According to sources who have tested samples of Samsung’s wider Fold 8 model, the phone feels surprisingly lightweight. The exact weight is still unverified, but prior leaks suggest it to be around 201g, which would be lighter than the 215g Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the 214g Galaxy S26 Ultra. Although this may not seem particularly significant, it makes a considerable difference in practice. I recently reviewed the Motorola Razr Fold, and despite its slim profile, its weight was a key factor that delayed my decision to switch to it for some time.