Just after Samsung unveiled its mid-range lineup in Kenya with the recent arrival of the Galaxy A37 and A57 packed with creator features , the rumour mill is spinning up again. I’ve been wondering why the company delayed the Galaxy A27, but thanks to a massive new leak of official renders and specs, it looks like Samsung was simply taking its time to give this budget champion a much-needed overhaul. Judging by the sheer volume of these leaks, an imminent launch is just around the corner.

First off, let’s talk looks. The days of the outdated teardrop notch are finally behind us. Fresh leaks originally sourced from MyMobiles reveal the Galaxy A27 will rock a modern punch-hole selfie camera. Samsung is also bringing its sleek “Key Island” button layout to the device, making it look right at home next to its premium siblings.

However, if you loved the vibrant hues of last year’s Galaxy A26, you might need to adjust your expectations. Samsung is playing it safe this year, offering the A27 in Light Pink, Blue, and Black. It’s a deliberate move to appeal to a broader audience, even if it feels a little less playful.

The processor is actually what genuinely excites me about this phone. Samsung is reportedly ditching the in-house Exynos 1380 for a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset. For the average Kenyan user who games on the commute or heavily multitasks, this means superior efficiency, snappier performance, and, most importantly, a welcome break from those notorious Exynos heating issues.

Paired with up to 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a meager 5,000mAh battery (still capped at 25W fast charging), this phone is built to endure a long day. With the likes of TECNO Pova Curve 2 5G shipping with a massive 8000mAh battery unit, Samsung still has some way to go. The display remains a generous 6.7-inch Full HD screen, which we strongly suspect will be a buttery-smooth 120Hz AMOLED panel. To top it off, it will run One UI 8.5 based on Android 16 straight out of the box.

Of course, keeping the price down always requires a few compromises, although “down” here is relative given the rising cost of phones. The camera setup is a bit of a mixed bag. The selfie snapper drops from a 13MP to a 12MP unit. But don’t let the numbers fool you, because early whispers suggest it’s a superior sensor equipped with much better low-light performance and potential 4K 30fps recording support.

On the back, the trusty 50MP main sensor returns, but the ultrawide camera takes a hit, downgrading from 8MP to a basic 5MP lens, accompanied by a 2MP macro shooter.

I also have some tough news for local media hoarders: the leaks suggest Samsung is killing off microSD card support on the A27. It’s a bold move for a mid-ranger and one that will definitely ruffle a few feathers. It follows similar moves with the Galaxy A3X and A5X family of devices.

While we don’t have an exact release date yet, the timeline points to a launch in the second half of 2026. Given the recent arrival of the A37 and A57 locally, I expect Samsung Kenya to introduce the A27 to our shelves very soon.