Galaxy A57: The Display Dilemma

Samsung may have averted a price hike for the Galaxy A57 by making a strategic move against itself.

With the flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 series now available, concerns about escalating smartphone prices have materialized. What lies ahead for the Samsung Galaxy A57 and Galaxy S26 FE models?

According to a recent report from South Korean source The Elec, Samsung has taken bold measures to preemptively avoid raising prices on its upcoming more affordable smartphones.

The report suggests that Samsung’s mobile division has opted to order up to 15 million OLED panels from China Star Optoelectronics Technology for its upcoming mid-range phones instead of relying on its own Samsung Display division.

These changes are expected to debut with the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy S26 FE models.

By opting for CSOT for a significant portion of its screens, Samsung could potentially save more than 20% per display panel on its upcoming mid-range phone lineup. This decision has caused some internal friction with Samsung Display, which has now lost a substantial portion of orders, but it is expected to benefit end-users.

One industry official stated to The Elec, “Memory prices are non-negotiable, but there are alternatives for displays, prompting efforts to reduce panel costs wherever feasible.”

This strategic move appears to be aimed at mitigating the impact of escalating memory costs, which led to the Samsung Galaxy S26+ being priced higher despite minimal differences from its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S25+.

Consequently, there are no indications of a price decrease for the Samsung Galaxy A57, set to launch this month alongside the Galaxy A37. However, it should prevent any unwelcome price hikes from the Samsung Galaxy A56 (as shown in the image).

Earlier this week, Thai pricing details for the Samsung Galaxy A57 and A37 surfaced online, hinting at either a slight price reduction (unlikely) or price stability (more probable).

Samsung seems to have found a way to achieve this without compromising on specifications or profit margins, but its ability to maintain quality remains to be seen.