Samsung has officially announced the US release of two new budget devices — the Galaxy A17 5G smartphone and the Galaxy Tab A11+ tablet — arriving on 7 January and 8 January respectively.
But these are not just cheap devices. Samsung is quietly rewriting the rules of the budget market by offering flagship-tier longevity: six years of Android updates for the A17 5G and seven years for the Tab A11+.
Galaxy A17 5G: Built To Last
Samsung is giving the $200 phone category something it has never really had — durability and long-term value.
The Galaxy A17 5G features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, a protective glass usually reserved for premium flagships.
It also comes with six generations of Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates, meaning this phone could realistically stay usable well into the next decade.
Key Specs
- Display: 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, 90Hz
- Battery: 5,000mAh with 25W fast charging
- Processor: Exynos 1330 or MediaTek Dimensity 6300 (carrier-dependent)
- Cameras:
- 50MP main with OIS
- 5MP ultra-wide
- 2MP macro
- AI Features: Circle To Search and built-in Google Gemini integration
- Price: $199.99
For the first time, Samsung is putting real AI features on a sub-$200 phone — not watered-down versions, but the same Gemini system found on its premium Galaxy S models.
Emmanuel Umahi
Galaxy Tab A11+: The Entry-Level Workhorse
Samsung is also redefining what an “entry-level tablet” can be.
The Galaxy Tab A11+ supports DeX Standalone Edition, turning the tablet into a desktop-style workstation — a feature previously locked behind premium Galaxy Tab S models.
It will receive seven years of software updates, outlasting almost every Android tablet in its class.
Key Specs
- Display: 11-inch FHD+, 90Hz
- Storage: Up to 256GB (expandable up to 2TB)
- Audio: Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos
- Battery: 7,040mAh with 25W charging
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi and 5G variants
- Price: $249.99
This positions the Tab A11+ not as a disposable media tablet, but as a genuine productivity tool for students, remote workers, and families.
Why This Matters
Samsung is actively killing the idea of the “disposable phone.”
For years, buying a $200 device meant accepting that it would be outdated in two years. Now, Samsung is promising hardware that could remain relevant for half a decade or more.
That creates huge pressure on competitors like Motorola and several Chinese OEMs that still struggle to offer even two years of updates.
It also hands Google a major win. By embedding Gemini AI into budget hardware, Google is expanding its AI ecosystem from the elite few to millions of everyday users — the people who actually drive global smartphone volume.
This is not just a product refresh. It is Samsung changing what “budget tech” means.
