Samsung Galaxy A27 Offers Six Years of Updates but Drops microSD Slot

The Samsung Galaxy A27 will feature a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution, replacing the previous model's teardrop notch with a punch-hole design typically found on higher-end Samsung devices.

Leaked press images and a full specification sheet from MyMobiles and leaker @OnLeaks reveal that Samsung has switched from its Exynos 1380 processor to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip in the A27. Despite this change, Geekbench scores cited by Gagadget EN indicate that the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 performs lower than the Exynos 1380 in raw benchmarks, raising questions about the value of this switch in the budget segment.

The device will be available with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB or 256GB. However, the microSD card slot, which supported up to 1TB in the A26, has been removed entirely, a notable loss for users who rely on expandable storage.

Camera specifications show that the main 50MP sensor with optical image stabilization and the 2MP macro lens remain unchanged from the previous model. However, the ultrawide camera has been downgraded from 8MP to 5MP, and the front-facing camera has reduced slightly from 13MP to 12MP. These reductions align with cost-cutting measures likely influenced by rising memory prices across the A-series lineup.

The A27 maintains a 5,000mAh battery capacity with 25W wired charging support. It will ship with Android 16 and Samsung's One UI 8.5, accompanied by a commitment to six years of operating system and security updates, surpassing update promises from competitors such as Realme and Motorola at a similar price point.

Notably, the A27 was not part of Samsung's March 2026 A-series launch event, which introduced the A37 and A57 models, suggesting a strategic delay to prevent overlap within Samsung's own product range. A UK release is anticipated in the latter half of 2026, with an estimated retail price near £300. As of May 2026, Samsung has not confirmed release dates for the US or UK markets.

The extended six-year update support stands out as a significant feature for a phone in this price category. Potential buyers will need to weigh the benefits of this long-term software support against the removal of the microSD slot and the chipset downgrade when considering the Galaxy A27 for budget use.