Samsung Galaxy A26 Challengers: OnePlus Nord CE 4, iQoo Neo 10R, More

Samsung Galaxy A26 Challengers: After launching the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56, Samsung has now introduced its most affordable AI-forward A series smartphone in the market, the Galaxy A26. The smartphone comes with a price tag of Rs 24,999, and no prize for guessing that the phone’s biggest USP is its AI prowess. The phone also brings some solid, typically Samsung specs to the table. It features a tall 6.7-inch Super AMOLED full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate It is powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1380 processor, a solid mid-segment processor. This is paired with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB and 256 GB storage. The phone has three cameras: a 50 megapixel main sensor, an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2 megapixel macro. On the front there is a 13 megapixel sensor for capturing selfies and making video calls. The phone is backed by a 5,000 mAh battery and comes with Android 15 out of the box with Samsung’s OneUI 7.0, and a promise of six years of OS and security upgrades. But it is not all roses in the Galaxy A26 garden. The phone comes with 25W charging support, which is really slow for its segment, and also does not pack in a charger, which is especially a pain point at this price. This leaves the door open for the competition to give the Galaxy A26 a real run for its money. Here are five phones that stand in the way of the Galaxy A26, and some of them pack a real spec punch: Poco X7 Pro: A Spec-StarPrice: Rs 27,999 onwardsThe Poco X7 Pro brings sheer flagship-level processing power to back its case. It comes with a near-flagship-level Dimensity 8400 Ultra processor, with up to a whopping 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB USF 4.0 storage, making it a processing powerhouse that can handle any task you may put in its way without breaking a sweat. To top this, the phone also features a stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2712 x 1220 and 120 Hz refresh rate, and has good cameras too: a 50 megapixel main sensor backed by an 8 megapixel ultrawide on the back, and a 20 megapixel camera in front. The phone runs on a huge 6,000 mAh battery, which comes with support for extremely fast 90W charging with a 90W charger in the box. The phone runs on Android 15 out of the box, topped with HyperOS 2. Round this off with an IP68/ 69 rating and stereo speakers, and the Poco X7 Pro makes it really hard for all other devices to survive in this segment, and the Galaxy A26 is no exception. OnePlus Nord CE 4: AI Alternative With Stronger SpecsPrice: Rs 24,999 onwardsOnePlus has been challenging Samsung across different price segments, and the OnePlus Nord CE 4 takes up that responsibility with the Galaxy A26. The phone features a 6.7-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, and also brings its share of features to the AI table thanks to the AI-laden Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor that powers it. This is paired with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB and 256 GB storage options. A dual camera set up on the back featuring a 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS paired with an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor, and a 16 megapixel camera in the front, handles photography. It also has a big 5,500 mAh battery with a whopping 100W charging support, with a charger in the box as well. Rounding off the goodness are stereo speakers, and Android 14 out of the box with OxygenOS on top. We cannot see the Galaxy A26 settling with this OnePlus around. Nothing Phone 3a: The 'Different' Phone Price: Rs 24,999 onwardsAnother major threat to the Galaxy A26 is the recently launched Nothing Phone 3a. It not only features its distinct ‘LED-laden, transparent-back’ looks, but also comes with some impressive spec muscle. The phone has a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with 1a 20 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2932 x 1080 and runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, with *GB RAM and 128 GB and 256 GB storage. The phone also comes with very impressive cameras for its price. Its back has a 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS and another 50 megapixel telephoto, along with an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor. A 32 megapixel camera in front handles selfies. Like the Galaxy A26, it too It features a 5,000 mAh battery, and comes with support for 50W charging, but has no charger in the box either. The phone has Android 15 out of the box with the super clean NothingOS on top, and has stereo speakers. Different design, clean interface, good cameras… this phone has them all, and Nothing's take on AI as well. Redmi Note 14 Pro: The Pro CompetitorPrice: Rs 24,999The Redmi Note models have moved up the price ladder in recent times, and the one standing in the way of the Galaxy A26 is the Redmi Note 14 Pro. In best Note tradition, this one too comes with a very solid spec sheet - a 6.67 inch curved AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, the very capable MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra processor, 8 GB RAM and up to 256 GB storage. It has the same number of cameras with a similar megapixel count as the Galaxy A26 on the back - a 50 megapixel main sensor, an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2 megapixel macro sensor. It does have more megapixels in front, thanks to a 20 megapixel sensor. The phone also comes with a 5,500 mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging, which is slower than some of those mentioned in this list, but is still faster than the Galaxy A26, and there's a charger in the box too. It has stereo speakers, sports an IP68 rating, runs on Android 14 out of the box with HyperOS on top - all the makings of a Pro competitor. iQoo Neo 10R: A Spec-tacular OfferingPrice: Rs 26,999 onwardsThe spec monster in this list, the iQoo Neo 10R, brings flagship-level specs to this segment. It comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and the highest refresh rate on the list at 144 Hz and peak brightness of 4,500 nits. It runs on the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor (generally seen on much more expensive devices), which is paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The phone features a 50 megapixel main and an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor on the back, while a 32 megapixel sensor in front is in charge of selfies. It has a huge 6,400 mAh battery, which comes with 80W fast charging and has a charger in the box too. It runs on Android 15 out of the box with FunTouchOS on top, which some might find a little crowded, but is packed with features. Very good stereo speakers and plenty of AI touches make this a budget gamer's and spec hunter's dream, and the Galaxy A26's nightmare.

Samsung Galaxy A26 Challengers: After launching the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56, Samsung has now introduced its most affordable AI-forward A series smartphone in the market, the Galaxy A26. The smartphone comes with a price tag of Rs 24,999, and no prize for guessing that the phone’s biggest USP is its AI prowess. The phone also brings some solid, typically Samsung specs to the table.

It features a tall 6.7-inch Super AMOLED full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate It is powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1380 processor, a solid mid-segment processor. This is paired with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB and 256 GB storage.

The phone has three cameras: a 50 megapixel main sensor, an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2 megapixel macro. On the front there is a 13 megapixel sensor for capturing selfies and making video calls. The phone is backed by a 5,000 mAh battery and comes with Android 15 out of the box with Samsung’s OneUI 7.

0, and a promise of six years of OS and security upgrades. But it is not all roses in the Galaxy A26 garden. The phone comes with 25W charging support, which is really slow for its segment, and also does not pack in a charger, which is especially a pain point at this price.

This leaves the door open for the competition to give the Galaxy A26 a real run for its money. Here are five phones that stand in the way of the Galaxy A26, and some of them pack a real spec punch: Poco X7 Pro: A Spec-Star Price: Rs 27,999 onwards The Poco X7 Pro brings sheer flagship-level processing power to back its case. It comes with a near-flagship-level Dimensity 8400 Ultra processor, with up to a whopping 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB USF 4.

0 storage, making it a processing powerhouse that can handle any task you may put in its way without breaking a sweat. To top this, the phone also features a stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2712 x 1220 and 120 Hz refresh rate, and has good cameras too: a 50 megapixel main sensor backed by an 8 megapixel ultrawide on the back, and a 20 megapixel camera in front.

The phone runs on a huge 6,000 mAh battery, which comes with support for extremely fast 90W charging with a 90W charger in the box. The phone runs on Android 15 out of the box, topped with HyperOS 2. Round this off with an IP68/ 69 rating and stereo speakers, and the Poco X7 Pro makes it really hard for all other devices to survive in this segment, and the Galaxy A26 is no exception.

OnePlus Nord CE 4: AI Alternative With Stronger Specs Price: Rs 24,999 onwards OnePlus has been challenging Samsung across different price segments, and the OnePlus Nord CE 4 takes up that responsibility with the Galaxy A26. The phone features a 6.7-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, and also brings its share of features to the AI table thanks to the AI-laden Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor that powers it.

This is paired with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB and 256 GB storage options. A dual camera set up on the back featuring a 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS paired with an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor, and a 16 megapixel camera in the front, handles photography. It also has a big 5,500 mAh battery with a whopping 100W charging support, with a charger in the box as well.

Rounding off the goodness are stereo speakers, and Android 14 out of the box with OxygenOS on top. We cannot see the Galaxy A26 settling with this OnePlus around. Nothing Phone 3a: The 'Different' Phone Price: Rs 24,999 onwards Another major threat to the Galaxy A26 is the recently launched Nothing Phone 3a.

It not only features its distinct ‘LED-laden, transparent-back’ looks, but also comes with some impressive spec muscle. The phone has a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with 1a 20 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2932 x 1080 and runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, with *GB RAM and 128 GB and 256 GB storage.

The phone also comes with very impressive cameras for its price. Its back has a 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS and another 50 megapixel telephoto, along with an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor. A 32 megapixel camera in front handles selfies.

Like the Galaxy A26, it too It features a 5,000 mAh battery, and comes with support for 50W charging, but has no charger in the box either. The phone has Android 15 out of the box with the super clean NothingOS on top, and has stereo speakers. Different design, clean interface, good cameras.

.. this phone has them all, and Nothing's take on AI as well.

Redmi Note 14 Pro: The Pro Competitor Price: Rs 24,999 The Redmi Note models have moved up the price ladder in recent times, and the one standing in the way of the Galaxy A26 is the Redmi Note 14 Pro. In best Note tradition, this one too comes with a very solid spec sheet - a 6.67 inch curved AMOLED display with 1.

5K resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, the very capable MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra processor, 8 GB RAM and up to 256 GB storage. It has the same number of cameras with a similar megapixel count as the Galaxy A26 on the back - a 50 megapixel main sensor, an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2 megapixel macro sensor. It does have more megapixels in front, thanks to a 20 megapixel sensor.

The phone also comes with a 5,500 mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging, which is slower than some of those mentioned in this list, but is still faster than the Galaxy A26, and there's a charger in the box too. It has stereo speakers, sports an IP68 rating, runs on Android 14 out of the box with HyperOS on top - all the makings of a Pro competitor. iQoo Neo 10R: A Spec-tacular Offering Price: Rs 26,999 onwards The spec monster in this list, the iQoo Neo 10R, brings flagship-level specs to this segment.

It comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and the highest refresh rate on the list at 144 Hz and peak brightness of 4,500 nits.

It runs on the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor (generally seen on much more expensive devices), which is paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The phone features a 50 megapixel main and an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor on the back, while a 32 megapixel sensor in front is in charge of selfies. It has a huge 6,400 mAh battery, which comes with 80W fast charging and has a charger in the box too.

It runs on Android 15 out of the box with FunTouchOS on top, which some might find a little crowded, but is packed with features. Very good stereo speakers and plenty of AI touches make this a budget gamer's and spec hunter's dream, and the Galaxy A26's nightmare..