Samsung is expanding its smartphone footprint in its home country with the release of Galaxy Buddy 5. It's an affordable offering positioned as a reliable entry point for students and the elderly that's a rebrand of a smartphone Samsung unveiled globally not too long ago.
Samsung Galaxy Buddy 5 Specifications and Features
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Buddy 5 in its home market as an affordable smartphone, and it's a rebranded Galaxy A17 5G that launched globally and in India back in August 2025. It features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U display with a 90 Hz refresh rate and 800 nits of peak brightness.
Under the hood, it runs on a 5nm Exynos 1330 processor paired with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The Galaxy Buddy 5 brings five years of software commitment, one year less than its twin. Although One UI 8.5 has been released, the Buddy 5 unfortunately still runs One UI 8 based on Android 16 features out of the box.
Optics-wise, the phone features a triple-camera array on the back with a 50 MP main camera with OIS, a 5 MP ultrawide snapper and a 2 MP macro camera. For selfies and video calls, there's a generous 13 MP front snapper for selfies and video calls.
Fueling the internals is a 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging. Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and an IP54 rating for protection against water splashes and dust. Connectivity-wise, there's dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4 and NFC. The USB Type-C port, however, is a USB 2.0 spec port.
Samsung Galaxy Buddy 5 Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy Buddy 5 arrives in three colours – Black, Blue and Grey and a single 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant. The smartphone will sell exclusively via the LG Uplus network and carries a price tag of 528,000 South Korean Won (approximately Rs 34,000).
Samsung is also offering trade-in discounts of up to 20,000 Korean won (approximately Rs 1,200) in points. Those with eligible smartphones can opt for the additional bonus and receive up to 50,000 Korean Won (approximately Rs 3,000) in rewards. The phone starts shipping in a few days and can be ordered from the LG UPlus Korea storefront.
