Samsung introduced the Galaxy A18 LTE in Kenya with a price of KSh32,000 for the 4 GB RAM, 128 GB storage model.

The company said an 8 GB/256 GB variant will be available later in the year at KSh51,600. LTE denotes 4G connectivity and the device replaces the Galaxy A17 4G.

Samsung announced the phone on September 15, 2026 and added a local price for the Kenyan market.

Contrary to earlier reports that linked the A18 to the MediaTek Helio G99 chip, Samsung’s own statement specifies an Exynos 1610 processor.

The new model improves dust protection from IP54 to IP64, while water resistance remains limited to splashes.

Software starts with Android 17 and One UI 9, compared with Android 15 and One UI 7 on the A17.

Samsung’s South African page lists security updates for the A18 until October 31, 2032, extending the support period by 13 months beyond the A17’s September 30, 2031 deadline.

The A18 drops optical image stabilisation from the A17’s 50 MP main camera, and it is 0.2 mm thicker and 6 g heavier at 196 g versus 190 g.

Other specifications remain the same, including a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display at 90 Hz, a 5,000 mAh battery with 25 W charging, a 5 MP ultra-wide, a 2 MP macro and a 13 MP selfie camera.

The KSh32,000 price therefore provides dust sealing, newer software and a longer update window, but removes the stabilised camera.

Samsung’s Kenyan launch price for the A17 a year earlier was KSh20,800 for the 4 GB/128 GB version, making the A18 KSh11,200, or 54 per cent, higher.

The Galaxy A08 released alongside the A18 is priced at KSh23,300 for the 4 GB/64 GB model, KSh8,700 less than the A18, while its 6 GB/128 GB version at KSh33,100 would cost KSh1,100 more than the A18.

Retailers offer lower prices; Nairobi shop Avechi lists the A18 4 GB/128 GB at KSh26,399, KSh5,600 below Samsung’s price, and a 4 GB/64 GB version at KSh21,999.

Avechi also lists the A08 at KSh17,999 for 4 GB/64 GB, compared with Samsung’s KSh23,300.

Brandcart, Samsung’s official online store partner, shows the A17 5G at KSh26,995, about KSh5,000 lower than Samsung’s A18 price, and the A17 5G offers 5G connectivity.

Avechi’s listings note a one-year warranty but do not confirm whether Samsung East Africa backs it, prompting buyers to verify warranty coverage.

At KSh26,399 the A18 is KSh5,600 above Samsung’s launch price for the A17, making the price comparison tighter if warranty issues are resolved.