Samsung is gearing up to launch its affordable Galaxy A18 5G phone in the US. The device popped up in the Bluetooth SIG certification database, pointing toward an upcoming official announcement. The company recently launched the 4G variant of the phone, and now it's time for its bigger brother to hit the shelves.
Samsung Galaxy A18 5G appears in Bluetooth SIG certification documents
The Galaxy A18 5G popped up in the Bluetooth SIG certification database. | Image by SammyGuru
The guys at SammyGuru spotted the Bluetooth SIG listing first. The certification shows the model numbers of the Galaxy A18 5G. There's hidden information in these model numbers, as the letter at the end shows the designated region the device is headed for.
The numbers listed are SM-A186B, SM-A186B/DS, SM-A186U1, SM-A186U, SM-A186W, SM-A1860, and SM-S186V.
The regions include Canada, Greater China, global, and, of course, the US.
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Galaxy A18 5G coming to the US
Samsung didn't bother launching the 4G version of the Galaxy A18 in the US, but according to the list above, the phone will come to the States in two variants.
Last year, Samsung launched the predecessor, the Galaxy A17 5G, in the States, and the device came in two flavors - SM-A176U - a carrier-locked model, distributed through carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, and SM-A176U1, which is the factory-unlocked version of the device.
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Looking at the numbers in that Bluetooth SIG document, it's clear that the SM-A186U is the carrier-locked version of the Galaxy A18 5G in the US, and the SM-A186U1 is the unlocked variant.
No major upgrades, but still a good deal
There are no major upgrades expected on the Galaxy A18 5G, compared to its predecessor. | Image by PhoneArena
The Galaxy A17 5G is still one of Samsung's best-selling phones, and the successor is expected to do well, too. We don't know the specs of the Galaxy A18 5G, but looking at the A17 — both 4G and 5G — as well as the Galaxy A18 4G, the upgrades will most likely be incremental.
The Galaxy A18 5G might use an Exynos 1610 processor paired with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Just like the 4G version, there will be 4GB/128GB and 6GB/256GB versions, but whether or not those are coming to the States is not yet clear.
Samsung will most likely retain the 6.7-inch, 90Hz Super AMOLED display, as it's featured on all the A17 and A18 models mentioned above. The same goes for the 5,000 mAh battery and the 25W wired charging.
The camera system has remained unchanged for a couple of generations, and it's expected to stay the same on the A18 5G as well. We're talking about a 50MP main camera with OIS, paired with a 5MP ultrawide, and a rather useless 2MP macro camera.
As for the price, the Galaxy A17 5G currently starts at $269 at most big carriers in the US, so we expect a similar price tag for the successor as well.
Should you wait for the Galaxy A18 5G?
Affordable phones are amazing nowadays. | Image by PhoneArena
Given the minuscule upgrades expected, that's an easy question. If you've already bought a Galaxy A17 5G as a backup phone or for your parents or kids, there's no reason to get the Galaxy A18 5G.
But if you're on the lookout for an affordable phone with decent specs, Samsung's One UI, and long support, then the Galaxy A18 5G is a perfect candidate. Let's just hope this thing launches in time for Black Friday.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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