Ahead of the 2026 CES and the upcoming launch of the Galaxy S26 flagship, Samsung has opted to first target the entry-level market with the new Galaxy A17 5G smartphone and Galaxy Tab A11+ tablet, which are expected to officially enter the market in January.
Galaxy A17 5G: A cost-effective option with the same features but different packaging?
As the latest entry-level member of the Galaxy A series, the Galaxy A17 5G doesn't offer any radical upgrades in hardware specifications. Instead, it's more like a minor update to the previous generation Galaxy A16 5G, and it comes in black and blue color options.
The new phone also features Samsung's own Exynos 1330 processor, the same chip used in last year's Galaxy A16 5G. The screen remains a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display, a highly competitive specification for a phone in the $200 price range (approximately NT$6400).
The camera configuration also "copied" last year's plan:
• Main lens:5000 million pixels
• Ultra wide angle:500 million pixels
• Macro lens:200 million pixels
• Front camera:1300 million pixels
The base version offers 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and supports microSD card expansion up to 2TB. It features a built-in 5000mAh battery and supports fast charging. While the specifications aren't groundbreaking, it's still a solid choice for users with limited budgets who only need basic 5G connectivity and social networking features. It's expected to launch first in the US on January 7th.
Galaxy Tab A11+: An 11-inch large tablet perfect for binge-watching.
Also launching at the same time is the entry-level tablet Galaxy Tab A11+, with a suggested retail price of US$250 (approximately NT$8000), which is expected to go on sale on January 8.
This tablet features an 11-inch LCD screen, clearly targeting multimedia entertainment and basic document processing needs. Core specifications include 6GB/8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of storage, with support for microSD card expansion.
The camera configuration is rather basic, featuring an 800-megapixel rear camera and a 500-megapixel front camera. However, Samsung emphasizes that the Galaxy Tab A11+ boasts a battery life of up to 15 hours of video playback and also supports fast charging, making it quite suitable as a second "couch TV" or a device for school children.
