Apple iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy A57

Our Verdict: The Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy A57 suit different buyers: the former brings up to 1TB storage, while the latter offers the larger 6.7" screen versus 6.5", the sharper 32MP selfie camera, the larger 5000mAh battery, with the usual caveat that capacity is not the whole battery-life story. The Samsung Galaxy A57 is currently cheaper on the lowest total contract cost at about £446, roughly £174 less than the Apple iPhone Air. There is also much wider deal availability for the Apple iPhone Air, with 13,467 active deals versus 3,324. Software preference matters as well, because this is an iOS versus Android choice as much as a hardware comparison. That makes the Samsung Galaxy A57 the value-led pick, unless up to 1TB storage on the Apple iPhone Air is worth paying extra for.

Over a full contract, the A57 works out around £446 all-in, about £409 less than the iPhone Air.

Expert Rating
3.9
12 reviews
3.6
11 reviews
Screen
6.5" 6.7"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
444 385
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 32 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery
3,149 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 16
SIM Type
e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight
165 grams 179 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts
£70.97/mo (£0.00 upfront) £14.99/mo (£60.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£599.99 £449.00

Prices updated 13 August 2026

Apple iPhone Air Apple iPhone Air Samsung Galaxy A57 Samsung Galaxy A57
Expert Rating 3.9
12 reviews
3.6
11 reviews
Screen 6.5" 6.7"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 444 385
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 32 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery 3,149 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB
OS Apple iOS Android 16
SIM Type e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight 165 grams 179 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts £70.97/mo
£0.00 upfront
£14.99/mo
£60.00 upfront
SIM-free £599.99 £449.00
Prices updated 13 August 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone Air

12 Months

256GB

Space Black

3GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£70.97 per month, with FREE phone.

Samsung Galaxy A57
Samsung Galaxy A57

24 Months

256GB

Awesome Ice Blue

25GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£14.99 per month, £60 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10 off)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A57 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A57 is cheaper on contract at £445.76 over the life of the deal from £14.99 per month with £60.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Samsung Galaxy A57 has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone Air's 6.5", the Apple iPhone Air has the sharper display at 444 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone Air uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A57 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Apple iPhone Air features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A57 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Samsung Galaxy A57 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £449.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Apple iPhone Air is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy A57 comes in 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy A57 use?

The Apple iPhone Air is powered by the Apple A19 Pro (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy A57 uses the Exynos 1580 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Apple iPhone Air is the more portable of the two: it's 14g lighter at 165 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm, and is slimmer at 5.6mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Apple iPhone Air is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A57 is rated IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy A57 run?

The Apple iPhone Air runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A57 runs Android 16. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.