Samsung Galaxy A27 Review: Why Does This Phone Exist When the A37 Is Cheaper?

For a long time, people have been asking me to recommend a good Samsung phone in the NPR 50,000–60,000 (US$ 300-400) price segment. Unfortunately, Samsung did not really have a compelling option in this range. But that has finally changed with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy A27 5G. 

However, its pricing is rather strange. The base 6GB/128GB variant costs Rs. 55,999, while the higher 8GB/256GB version is priced at a whopping Rs. 69,999. Yes, Rs. 70,000 for a Galaxy A2x-series phone!

What makes the pricing even more confusing is that the superior Galaxy A37 has been available with a Rs. 5,000 discount. That brings its 8GB/128GB version down to Rs. 60,000, while even its 8GB/256GB configuration can cost less than the equivalent Galaxy A27. So, the bigger question is: Is the Galaxy A27 genuinely a good phone, or should you simply buy the Galaxy A37 instead? 

Samsung Galaxy A27 Specifications

• Display: 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, 120Hz
• Build: Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and back, Plastic Frames, IP64
• Dimensions: 162.4 × 78.2 × 7.8 mm, 200g
• Chipset: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm)
• Memory: 6/128GB, 8/128GB, 8/256GB; microSD support
• Software: Android 16, 6 major OS updates
• Rear Cameras: 50MP OIS main + 5MP ultrawide + 2MP macro
• Front Camera: 12MP
• Battery: 5,000mAh, 25W charging
• Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC

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Unboxing Experience

The Galaxy A27 offers the same minimal unboxing experience that I have come to expect from Samsung. There is no charger, protective case or pre-applied screen protector inside the retail box. Thankfully, Samsung Nepal is currently providing a 25W charger separately with the phone, so buyers in Nepal do not necessarily have to purchase one.

Still, compared to Chinese brands that commonly include a charger, case and screen protector, the overall package feels rather bare.

Design

My first impression of the Galaxy A27 was positive. It comes in several pleasant colour options, and the phone looks clean and modern from the back. The flat frame, vertically arranged cameras and minimal rear design give it the familiar Samsung aesthetic. It is also relatively slim at 7.8mm, although its 200-gram weight makes it slightly heavier than it looks. More importantly, the Galaxy A27 does not feel cheap in the hand. The construction feels reasonably solid, and the phone is comfortable enough for everyday use.

However, Samsung has actually downgraded its water resistance compared to last year’s Galaxy A26. The Galaxy A26 had an IP67 rating, whereas the new Galaxy A27 is rated only IP64. That means it can withstand dust and water splashes, but it is not designed to survive being submerged in water. This is disappointing because Chinese manufacturers are now offering IP68 and even IP69 protection in this price segment.

At least Samsung has protected the display and the back with Gorilla Glass Victus+, which should provide reasonable resistance against everyday scratches and accidental drops.

Another disappointing decision is the use of a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. At this price, I expected an in-display fingerprint reader. I had not regularly used a side-mounted scanner in years, so returning to one on a phone costing up to Rs. 70,000 felt strange.

Display

The Galaxy A27 features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung has also replaced the older waterdrop notch with a cleaner punch-hole cutout.

As expected from Samsung, the display quality is good. The panel is sharp, viewing angles are excellent, and colours look punchy and vibrant. Whether I was scrolling through social media, watching YouTube videos or browsing the web, the display delivered the colourful presentation people generally expect from a Samsung AMOLED panel.

However, the brightness is only adequate. I could use the phone outdoors without major difficulty, but visibility was not particularly impressive for a phone in this price range. Considering the competition now offers much brighter AMOLED panels, Samsung could have done better.

The bezels are another weak point. They are visibly thicker than those on Samsung’s more expensive Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57. I suspect Samsung has intentionally kept them thicker to create visual separation between the different Galaxy A-series models.

But the biggest disappointment with the A27 display is the absence of HDR playback support. The phone has Widevine L1 certification, so services such as Netflix can stream content in Full HD. However, HDR videos are played back in SDR.

Performance

Many viewers regularly tell me that they want a Samsung phone powered by a Snapdragon processor. Well, Samsung has finally granted that wish. The Galaxy A27 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, built on a 4nm process. It uses four Cortex-A78 performance cores clocked at 2.4GHz and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores running at 1.8GHz, alongside the Adreno 710 GPU.

However, this is still a relatively basic Snapdragon 6-series chipset. It is not comparable to the more powerful Snapdragon 7-series processors used by several similarly priced competitors.

On top of that, the phone runs Samsung’s complete One UI experience, which is relatively resource-intensive. I tested the 6GB RAM variant, and honestly, the phone frequently felt slow. Basic applications such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram work without serious problems. 

For casual users who open one application at a time, the performance may be acceptable. But the moment I started multitasking, quickly switching between apps or performing several tasks in succession, the phone began to feel sluggish. So If you are switching from a fast mid-range or flagship device, you will immediately notice the difference.

Gaming performance is equally average. Popular games can generally run at up to 60fps with moderate settings, but graphically demanding titles are often limited to around 30fps. Even then, I noticed occasional stutters and frame drops. This is not a phone I would recommend to serious mobile gamers. You can play games casually, but there are significantly faster alternatives available at the same price.

Thermals

One positive aspect is thermal management. Despite testing the camera, running benchmarks and playing games, I did not encounter any major heating issues. The phone became slightly warm under load, but it never became uncomfortably hot.

Software

The Galaxy A27 ships with Android 16 and One UI 8.5. Samsung promises up to six generations of Android and One UI upgrades, along with six years of security updates. This is one of the phone’s biggest advantages.

One UI remains one of the most polished and feature-rich Android interfaces available. You get Samsung Knox Vault security, Circle to Search, Object Eraser, voice transcription tools and access to AI assistants such as Gemini and Perplexity.

However, I do have one concern. Although six years of updates sounds excellent on paper, I am not entirely convinced that the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and 6GB RAM configuration will continue to deliver a smooth experience several years from now.

Battery Life

Battery life is one area where I have very few complaints. The Galaxy A27 packs a 5,000mAh battery, and in my experience, it comfortably lasted an entire day. Even on days when I performed camera tests, played games, streamed videos and used mobile data, the phone gave me reliable full-day endurance. Lighter users should be able to end the day with some battery remaining, while heavier users may need to charge it by bedtime.

However, the phone supports only 25W wired charging. Using the 25W official adapter, I was able to charge the phone to roughly 50% in approximately 30 minutes. A complete charge took around one and a half hours.

Cameras

Cameras are normally among the biggest selling points of Samsung smartphones. Unfortunately, the Galaxy A27’s camera system is only average. It has a triple-camera setup consisting of:

The main camera can record videos at up to 4K 30fps, while the ultrawide and selfie cameras are limited to 1080p recording.

Daylight Photography

The camera hardware is basic, but Samsung’s image processing helps the phone produce respectable daylight photographs. Images generally have pleasant contrast and strong colours. Blues and greens are noticeably boosted, giving outdoor photographs the colourful Samsung look that many users prefer.

Details from the main camera are decent in good lighting, and the processing makes images immediately suitable for sharing on social media. The results are not particularly natural, but they are attractive.

Low-Light Photography

Camera performance begins to deteriorate as the available light decreases. Low-light photographs often lack fine detail, and noise becomes more visible in darker areas. Samsung’s processing tries to brighten the scene, but the relatively small and basic sensor can only do so much.

Ultrawide Cameras

The 5MP ultrawide camera is particularly underwhelming. It captures a wider perspective, but details are soft, colours are less consistent than those from the primary camera, and low-light performance is weak.

Video Recording

The main camera can record at up to 4K 30fps, and OIS helps stabilise footage to some extent. However, the overall videography experience remains average. The ultrawide and front cameras are capped at 1080p, which reduces flexibility for users who frequently record videos. The video quality is acceptable for casual use, but content creators will find better options elsewhere.

Samsung Galaxy A27 Pros and Cons

Verdict: Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy A27?

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A27 is a decent product, but with confusing pricing. It has several positive qualities. The Super AMOLED display looks vibrant, battery life is dependable, One UI is polished, daylight photographs are respectable and Samsung’s six-year software commitment is excellent.

However, these advantages are overshadowed by its slow performance, lack of HDR playback, side-mounted fingerprint reader and downgraded IP64 protection.

Most importantly, Samsung’s own Galaxy A37 offers a much better overall package. It gives you stronger performance, IP68 water resistance, a brighter display, better cameras and a more premium experience. Depending on ongoing discounts, it may also cost less than the Galaxy A27.

Therefore, my recommendation is simple: Do not buy the Galaxy A27 if the Galaxy A37 is available at a similar price. Go with the Galaxy A37 instead.

Other Alternatives

If you are not specifically looking for a Samsung phone and simply want the best overall smartphone around Rs. 70,000, I would recommend the Nothing Phone (4a).

Compared to both the Galaxy A27 and Galaxy A37, the Nothing Phone (4a) feels considerably faster and more responsive. It also offers a distinctive design, a brighter display and its camera system is more versatile as well. In particular, the dedicated 3.5x telephoto camera can capture much better portrait photographs than either Samsung phone.

Samsung still has the advantage when it comes to long-term software support, brand familiarity and after-sales reach. But purely in terms of hardware, performance and overall value, the Nothing Phone (4a) offers a more exciting package.

Ultimately, the Galaxy A27 is not necessarily a bad smartphone. It is simply positioned at the wrong price and Samsung already sells a better phone for less.