Samsung's next budget smartphone is shaping up to be a surprising mix of old and new.
Early Geekbench results for the Galaxy A18 have surfaced, revealing a chipset from 2022 and the latest Android version.
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The listing, spotted by Alfaturk, shows the LTE version scoring 744 in single-core and 2,064 in multi-core tests.
It runs on the MediaTek Helio G99, a chip introduced in 2022, paired with 4GB of RAM.
Interestingly, the device is already running Android 17 with One UI 9.
The Helio G99 is a 6nm processor with two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz, along with a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU.
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This chipset was also used in the 4G versions of the Galaxy A15, A16, and last year's A17.
In 2026, it's considered the bare minimum for a smartphone. The 4GB of RAM feels even more dated, as phones started shipping with that amount around 2015.
Memory prices have remained high due to the AI boom, which is why 4GB is still around.
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The real highlight is the software: One UI 9 is still in beta on the flagship Galaxy S26 series, yet Samsung is testing it on the A18.
If Samsung follows its usual schedule, the device should arrive in late Q3 or Q4.
A 5G variant is also expected around the same time, and a previous leak suggested it could use a Snapdragon chipset instead of the Exynos 1330 found in the A17 (5G).
Basic tasks like calling, messaging, and light social media use should be fine, but the A18 4G may struggle with modern apps that have many features or heavy graphics, potentially causing slowdowns or issues.
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Design, cameras, and exact pricing are still unknown, but this early benchmark gives a clear picture of what's under the hood.
