Samsung has introduced a new budget-friendly smartphone in South Korea, targeting users looking for a simple yet capable device with long software support and a large display.
The phone, called the Galaxy Buddy 5, is essentially a renamed version of the Galaxy A17 5G that was released in other markets in August 2025. It is being sold exclusively through LG Uplus in South Korea.
The handset is priced at KRW 528,000, which is about $352. It comes in Black, Blue and Grey colour options. Buyers will only get one configuration, offering 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
To attract customers, Samsung is also offering trade-in incentives. Users exchanging their old device can receive up to KRW 20,000 in Naver Pay points. In some cases, where eligible devices are traded in, the bonus can go up to KRW 50,000 in Naver Pay points.
The Galaxy Buddy 5 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution. It supports a 90Hz refresh rate and can reach up to 800 nits of peak brightness, making it suitable for outdoor use. The screen uses an Infinity-U design with a small notch for the front camera.
Under the hood, the phone runs on Samsung’s Exynos 1330 chipset built on a 5nm process. It ships with Android 16 and One UI 8.0. Samsung has also promised up to five years of software updates, which is a strong point for a device in this price range.
For photography, the device includes a 50MP main rear camera with optical image stabilisation, a 5MP ultrawide sensor and a 2MP macro lens. On the front, there is a 13MP camera for selfies and video calls. Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second.
Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a single speaker, and standard connectivity options such as 5G support, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS and a USB Type-C port.
Powering the device is a 5,000mAh battery, paired with 25W fast charging support. Samsung is positioning the Galaxy Buddy 5 as a practical option for first-time smartphone users, including teenagers and older users who prefer a larger screen and straightforward performance.
