Last updated: June 25th, 2026 at 16:09 UTC+02:00
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Progress, but not across the board.
Reading time: 3 minutes
Abhijeet Mishra / SamMobile
There's no denying that Samsung's new Galaxy A27 brings a handful of upgrades over last year's Galaxy A26. Even so, it's not a perfect sequel, and Samsung had to make compromises.
Compared to the A26, the new Galaxy A27 downgrades the formula across three key areas: camera, design, and build quality.
This one is a mixed bag rather than a straight downgrade.
On the one hand, the Galaxy A27 introduces a new 12MP selfie camera that outperforms the A26's older 13MP sensor with better colors and details in a wider variety of lighting conditions.
On the other hand, it's getting a downgraded 5MP ultra-wide camera at the back, down from the A26's 8MP unit.
This is the least significant downgrade, but it is still worth pointing out. The Galaxy A27 is slightly thicker than the A26, even though the battery capacity remains the same.
The difference is almost negligible. The Galaxy A27 measures 7.8mm, whereas the A26 measures 7.7mm. Still, given Samsung's recent shift toward thinner phones, this is an interesting, if tiny, step back.
Perhaps more significant to some is the final downgrade on the list: water resistance.
The Galaxy A27 carries an IP64 dust and water resistance rating, a notable downgrade from the A26's IP67 rating.
Dust protection remains unchanged at 6, meaning the Galaxy A27 is just as dust-tight as the A26 and, at least in theory, as more premium phones.
Water protection is a different matter. Exact testing methods can differ between OEMs, but here's a baseline:
The Galaxy A27 is IP64-rated, so it has a water ingress protection rating of 4. This usually means the phone is only splash-resistant.
Last year's model, the A26, was Samsung's first phone in the A2x series to boast IP67. Sadly, this upgrade clearly didn't last.
On paper, the Galaxy A27 still edges out the A26 because its list of upgrades is more numerous and arguably more impactful than its downgrades. Plus, the 0.1mm thicker body will not matter for most people.
Still, even though the A27 appears to be a better phone than the A26, Samsung's compromises seem unusual. For a company that has focused on improving durability across its product lineup in recent years, a step back in IP rating is surprising.
Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.
