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6 / 10 Score Cnet Score CNET provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1-10. Each product we score is evaluated by criteria specific to its category with most assessing pricing, quality, features and performance. Read more on: How we test Samsung Galaxy A17 5G $200 at Samsung Pros Big and bright screen
Good photos for the price
Six years of software and security support Cons Multitasking can be rough
Noticeably sluggish
Samsung's $200 Galaxy A17 5G makes me thankful that Android is so flexible. That's because during my three weeks using the most affordable 2026 Galaxy phone, I kept running into roadblocks with the phone's underpowered hardware.
Whenever I tried to run a navigation app on the phone at the same time as streaming music, I found that either the song had noticeable pauses and dips or the navigation app would automatically quit without any notice. This was especially frustrating when I realized I missed my subway stop while trying to make it to my friend's concert. When the phone is doing just one of these tasks, the A17 loads them up fast and even feels smooth.
It's a shame because the phone otherwise feels like a great value. It has access to nearly all the same apps and services found on more expensive Galaxy phones. I appreciated having Samsung's Now bar, with dynamic notifications showing how much time is left on timers and important boarding pass information for my flights. Samsung's Smart View lets me use Miracast to stream my phone's display to a Roku TV, while most Android phones lately only include Chromecast support. Plus Samsung's six-year promise of software and security updates is unmatched in this price range.
The Galaxy A17 supports Circle to Search. Joseph Maldonado/CNET
So while I do feel the Galaxy A17 is one of the best phones available for most people looking for a new device that's under $200, it's not an enthusiastic recommendation.
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