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| Just the phone, box, user manual, and SIM ejector are included with Samsung's cheapest 2026 models. |
Samsung has done something that's bound to frustrate budget-conscious phone shoppers: it has removed the USB-C cable from the retail packaging of both the Galaxy A07s and the Galaxy A08. That's right — the company isn't just skipping the charging brick anymore. Now, you don't even get the cable.
According to a hands-on review from YouTuber Izzi Boye, unboxing the Galaxy A08 reveals a pretty sparse package. Inside, you'll find the phone itself, a quick-start guide, and a SIM ejection tool. That's it. No cable, no charger — nothing to actually plug the device in with.
What You're Getting with These Phones
The Galaxy A07s launched on September 7 in select markets and serves as a minor refresh of the standard A07. It ships with Android 16 pre-installed and swaps out the Helio G99 for the slightly upgraded Helio G99+ chipset.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy A08 is Samsung's newer entry-level 4G offering for 2026. Pricing starts at around $115 for the base 4GB/64GB configuration, while the 6GB/128GB variant will set you back roughly $135.
Both phones share some solid specs for the price. You get a 6.7-inch HD+ LCD display, a massive 6,000 mAh battery with 25W wired charging support, and IP64 dust and splash resistance. The A08 runs on the MediaTek Helio G99+ chipset paired with LPDDR5X RAM, as Samsung gradually winds down LPDDR4X production. You can check out the full Izzi Boye review for a closer look at what's changed.
A Cost-Cutting Move That Hits the Wrong People
Here's the thing — Samsung ditching the charging brick isn't exactly breaking news. The company has been doing that since the Galaxy S21 launched. But the cable was always the one thing left in the box. It was the bare minimum required to get a phone up and running.
What makes this situation particularly frustrating is that the standard Galaxy A07 still ships with a USB-C cable. So the A07s and A08 appear to be the first budget Galaxy phones to skip both accessories entirely.
That's a rough deal at this price point. A $115 phone is often someone's only device or a kid's first phone. Making those buyers go out and source their own cable and charging brick before they can even power up the device feels like a cost-cutting measure that has landed squarely on the wrong customers.
The Bottom Line
Samsung's decision to remove the USB-C cable from the Galaxy A07s and A08 boxes might save the company a few cents per unit, but it creates real inconvenience for the people who can least afford it. When you're already shopping in the budget tier, the last thing you need is to discover that your new phone can't even be charged out of the box.
For now, if you're considering either of these devices, make sure to factor in the extra cost of a cable and charger — because Samsung certainly isn't going to include them.
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| The Samsung Galaxy A08 in various colors |
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| The Samsung Galaxy A07s in various colors |