Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: the whole lot a finances cellphone needs to be, and extra

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: Two-minute evaluation

Mid-range and finances smartphones are rising in recognition as flagship units more and more include heftier worth tags. That doesn’t imply one of the best low-cost telephones are slower, much less sturdy variations of their high-end counterparts – in truth, they provide distinctive worth to budget-conscious patrons. In this class, the Samsung Galaxy A5X sequence is maybe one of the best instance, and the A56 carries on the custom.

Having launched alongside the A36 and A26, the Galaxy A56 is probably the most premium of the trio, boasting extra RAM and higher cameras. That doesn’t imply it’s costly – removed from it because it’s priced at simply $499 / £499 / AU$699. The three siblings, nevertheless, share key options, like a 120Hz refresh charge, a 5,000mAh battery and an IP67 water- and dust-resistance score.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is the best smartphone for the typical consumer, providing critically implausible showings throughout its cameras, show, design and battery.

The Galaxy A56 exudes class with its metallic and glass design, feeling simply as premium in hand and on the eyes, with a end paying homage to high-end units just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Galaxy S25 Ultra, however at a fraction of the fee.

I acquired the Awesome Olive mannequin for this evaluation – although I need to admit, I had my eyes on the pink variant. Regardless of coloration alternative, the A56’s construct high quality is plain. Improving upon the already spectacular Galaxy A55 in each means, Samsung’s mid-range marvel is larger, thinner and lighter.

Featuring a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel, its show delivers vibrant colours, deep blacks, and easy visuals due to its 120Hz refresh charge. As somebody who values high-quality screens for watching content material, I used to be genuinely impressed.

This high quality continues in its battery life. It sports activities the identical 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor, however that is nonetheless a formidable capability in a finances cellphone – and my expertise backs up Samsung’s declare of as much as 29 hours of video playback. The Samsung Galaxy A56 has additionally seen an improve from 25W to 45W charging, making top-ups quicker and extra handy for many customers, with a charging pace now equal to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Both critical and informal photographers will likely be blissful too, because the Galaxy A56 rivals the Motorola Edge 50 Pro for the title of greatest finances digital camera cellphone, although it is nonetheless distant from competing with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The setup features a 50MP major digital camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP macro digital camera and a 12MP front-facing shooter. Whether you are capturing evening pictures, macro particulars or on a regular basis moments, the A56 delivers sharp, well-balanced photos with a wide range of helpful options.

Speaking of helpful options, Samsung’s well-known Galaxy AI is not current in its finances line of telephones. However, the sprinkling of AI options Samsung does present – like AI photograph modifying, note-taking, Google Gemini performance and extra – add a tasteful quantity of aptitude with out overwhelming customers who might not need AI integration.

Ironically, the one space by which the A56 is not as much as scratch – even in comparison with equally priced telephones – is its energy. Don’t get me flawed: it is nonetheless completely suited to the typical consumer who desires to name, textual content, video chat, scroll socials, watch one of the best streaming providers and play video games like Clash Royale, however I feel it may do with a contact extra grunt below the hood. It’s merely not the cellphone to purchase when you want energy out of your handset. When enjoying Fortnite, for instance, gameplay was critically uneven even at low graphics settings and the minimal 20FPS.

That’s not a deal breaker, although. At its worth level, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is a implausible alternative for the cost-conscious consumer who desires a well-balanced cellphone that appears and feels premium.

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: worth and availability

• Launch worth: $499 / £499 / AU$699
• Released March 19 within the UK and March 27 in Australia
• Landing within the US later in 2025

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is among the greatest finances telephones available on the market by way of worth, providing a critically good expertise for a very wallet-friendly $499 /£499 / AU$699 worth, with different telephones both performing higher at greater worth factors, or providing lesser experiences at an identical worth.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy A55, which by no means made it to the US market, Samsung formally confirmed on March 1 that the A56 would debut within the US “later this 12 months”, whereas the A36 and A26 grew to become accessible on March 28 and 26 respectively.

Australians get pleasure from the identical worth on the Samsung Galaxy A56 as they did with its predecessor. However, potential homeowners within the UK should fork out an additional £60 in comparison with final 12 months, with the A55 releasing for less than £439.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is just accessible within the 8GB RAM, 256GB storage configuration within the UK, and is available in Awesome Olive, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lightgrey and Awesome Pink.

Importantly, whereas Australians solely get two coloration choices – olive and graphite – in addition they get two storage choices, with a 128GB mannequin priced at AU$699, and the 256GB mannequin costing AU$799. There can be a 12GB RAM mannequin accessible in choose areas.

The solely different comparable cellphone by way of worth versus efficiency is the near-flagship Google Pixel 9a, releasing quickly at $499 / £499 / AU$849. We have not reviewed the Pixel 9a but, but when it continues the success of its predecessor, it makes the A56 more durable to suggest within the US and UK given they’re the identical worth.

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: specs

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: design

• 120Hz refresh charge
• 1,900-nit peak outside
• 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED show

I already cherished the 6.6-inch show on the A55 – it struck an ideal stability between being snug to carry and providing an upgraded viewing expertise over my 6.1-inch iPhone 15.

Samsung has taken {that a} step additional with the A56, making it much more snug in hand whereas rising the display dimension to six.7 inches for a good higher leisure expertise. Whether I used to be watching movies, studying, gaming or video calling, the 1080 x 2340 Super AMOLED show supplied probably the greatest viewing experiences I’ve had on a finances smartphone.

The solely noticeable cost-cutting comes within the show’s peak brightness. While I by no means struggled to see the display, its 1,200-nit brightness is decrease than I’d prefer to see in 2025 – although it does bump as much as 1,900 in direct daylight. While this improves on the Galaxy A55’s 1,000-nit peak, it falls wanting rivals just like the Google Pixel 9a (2,700 nits) and the Poco F6 Pro (4,000 nits).

In each different side, although, the A56’s show feels really premium. It’s even protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Invictus, including sturdiness towards scratches and drops. While I didn’t check a full 2m drop onto concrete, a number of unintended drops left it utterly unscathed.

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: design

• Thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A55
• Gorilla Glass Invictus
• IP67 water and dustproof score

I cherished the Samsung Galaxy A55, significantly its design – a mix of metallic and glass that gave it a supremely premium really feel at a very finances worth. The A56 improves on that in each means – refining an already spectacular formulation. I acquired the Awesome Olive colorway, which was in all probability my least favourite of the 4 choices, but I used to be nonetheless completely impressed by how good it appears to be like.

The A56 contains a barely bigger 6.7-inch show (up from 6.6 inches) and is a couple of millimeter taller and wider to accommodate the larger display. Bigger might not all the time be higher, however Samsung has offset the elevated dimension with a 1.2mm discount in thickness and a big 15g drop in weight – making an distinctive design close to good.

Or maybe simply good. Not solely does the metallic body improve the cellphone’s premium really feel and durable construct, however Samsung has additionally added refined ridges to the body – one thing I don’t recall seeing or feeling on the A55 once I reviewed it. The ridges didn’t essentially enhance the grip for me, however they served as a satisfying fidget level once I ran my fingers throughout them.

That’s about all of the superlatives I can provide the A56’s design. It’s the whole lot you need a cellphone to feel and appear like, no matter its worth. It’s additionally protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, providing glorious resistance towards scratches and drops.

As with avoiding the 2m drop check, I didn’t throw the IP67-rated Galaxy A56 within the tub; nevertheless, my colleagues and I’ve spent loads of time with Gorilla Glass to understand how good the sturdiness could be – and I had completely no concern the few occasions I did get the cellphone moist whereas doing the dishes and strolling within the rain.

Big, stunning, light-weight, and impressively sturdy, the A56 is an exceptionally designed piece of expertise. The indisputable fact that it doesn’t value an arm and a leg makes it all of the extra spectacular.

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: software program

• No full Galaxy AI suite, however some “Awesome Intelligence” options can be found
• Six years of software program and safety assist
• Plenty of UI customizations with new Now Bar function

From a software program perspective, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is likely to be probably the most spectacular budget-focused cellphone I’ve personally used. And that’s regardless of my colleagues praising the Google Pixel 8a for bringing Google’s AI instruments to a wider viewers. That’s to not say the A56 misses out solely on AI options – it has a smattering of helpful ones that received’t overwhelm the typical consumer – but when AI is your high precedence, you’ll have to shell out for the Samsung Galaxy S25 or watch for the Pixel 9a.

The AI-powered instruments within the A56 aren’t being known as Galaxy AI, as a substitute showing below the branding “Awesome Intelligence”, though similarities abound.

Samsung lays these options out neatly inside the Settings menu and consists of instruments that allow you to take away objects from photographs, seize the proper group photograph and obtain AI-powered solutions for enhancing photos throughout modifying.

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That’s removed from it, although. Within the digital camera app, you’ll be able to create Custom Filters based mostly on temper and elegance, shortly edit movies with Auto Trim and even translate real-world textual content when in overseas lands with Bixby Vision. AI Select gives advised actions while you spotlight one thing on-screen, Read Aloud will learn articles or passages aloud for you, and also you even get Google’s Circle to Search instrument.

That’s about it for AI, however there’s lots extra to like in regards to the Galaxy A56’s software program. For starters, you get an exceptionally clear consumer expertise with minimal pre-installed bloatware.

Customization choices are additionally in depth. On the wallpaper entrance, there are featured picks, attention-grabbing graphic designs and a wide range of colours with totally different personalization choices inside. You can even set a dynamic lock display that modifications wallpapers each time you unlock the system, with 5 classes to select from.

And that’s only the start. Once you decide on a wallpaper coloration, you’ll be able to customise the system-wide coloration palette to match – or go for primary colours as a substitute. If that’s not sufficient, you should buy a full theme from the Galaxy Themes retailer to overtake your system’s total aesthetic.

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You can select between a conventional house display or one with a separate app drawer, alter icon sizes, and independently tweak the grid structure for the house display, app drawer and folders.

One of my favourite additions, although, is the Now Bar. Originally a flagship function in One UI 7, I used to be shocked (and delighted) to see it make its strategy to Samsung’s finances line.

It might appear to be a small addition, however it may be an extremely useful gizmo. Acting very like Apple’s Dynamic Island, the Now Bar sits on the backside of the lock display, working as a media supervisor that shows your present tune or countdown timer, or displaying reside notifications for particular apps like Maps, Samsung Health, Clock, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes and Emergency Sharing.

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With flagship-level options and a remarkably clear UI, the Samsung Galaxy A56 delivers an impressive consumer expertise for a finances cellphone. It additionally strikes an ideal stability with AI – providing simply sufficient performance to be helpful for individuals who need it, whereas remaining unobtrusive for individuals who don’t.

And, extra than simply the cherry on high, particularly for penny-pinching patrons, is the truth that the Galaxy A56 will see six years of safety assist and software program updates – letting you get pleasure from its worth for years to return.

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: cameras

• Rear digital camera trio with 50MP major
• 12MP entrance digital camera
• Helpful AI instruments like Best Face

Unless you may have a particular want – like top-tier gaming efficiency or a battery that may deal with marathon periods – a smartphone’s digital camera is arguably one in every of its most necessary options. From a mum or dad eager to seize household moments, a hobbyist hiker aiming for the proper summit selfie, to a critical photographer on the lookout for a dependable backup, any cellphone price contemplating must nail its digital camera. And the Samsung Galaxy A56 does simply that.

Simply put, the Galaxy A56 takes some critically good photographs – at any distance.

Its rear digital camera array features a 50MP major sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. While the next megapixel depend is nice, it’s the cellphone’s picture processing that determines the outcomes.

The Galaxy A55 struggled with this: whereas it produced crisp, well-defined pictures, many mid-range and finances telephones are likely to over-process photos, making colours look too saturated and unnatural. The A56 avoids each extremes. While photographs come out barely cooler than I’d want, they’re impressively pure, detailed and nicely balanced.

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The digital camera app consists of a number of modes: Fun (which applies Snapchat-like filters), Portrait, Photo, and Video. It additionally permits simple toggling between the 12MP and 50MP lenses, fast filter software, aspect-ratio changes, and motion-photo settings.

For video, you’ll be able to allow Super Steady mode to counteract shaky arms or flip it off to regulate body charges: Space-saving HD at 30fps, Full HD at as much as 60p, and Ultra HD at 30fps. Auto Framing retains topics centered routinely.

That’s not all – Samsung delivers a feature-rich digital camera expertise on a finances right here. Tapping ‘More’ unlocks further modes, together with Pro, Pro Video, Night, Food, Panorama, Macro, Slow Motion, Hyperlapse, Dual Rec, and Single Take.

When it involves macro and evening images, the A56 is among the extra spectacular finances telephones I’ve used. Macro pictures are sometimes extremely troublesome to get proper, particularly in case your topic is not nonetheless, however I had no concern with the A56. And whereas taking photographs in the course of the evening won’t be widespread apply, the A56 carried out impressively in low-light environments – taking clear snaps even with virtually zero mild current.

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The Samsung Galaxy A56 isn’t one of the best digital camera cellphone I’ve ever used, neither is it essentially the digital camera cellphone I’ve used on this worth vary – that battle is fought between the Pixel 8a and Motorola Edge 50 Pro – however it continues the A56’s overarching theme: constant, glorious efficiency throughout the board.

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: efficiency

• Performs nicely below lengthy durations of stress
• Not constructed for gaming

The Samsung Galaxy A56’s weakest function is no doubt its efficiency. That’s to not say it’s unhealthy – as I’ve beforehand talked about, it’s greater than sufficient for the typical consumer. But to maintain costs down, concessions should be made. For some low-cost telephones, it is a lower-quality show or elevated fragility. In the case of the Galaxy A56 and its Exynos 1580 chipset, it was the way it carried out below heavier masses – like cell gaming.

In our Geekbench benchmark checks – which measure the cellphone’s CPU efficiency in on a regular basis duties and GPU efficiency in real-world purposes, the A56 carried out nicely – beating the gaming-powered Poco F6 Pro, and solely falling a number of hundred factors wanting the Pixel 9.

However, in our two 3DMark benchmarks – Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme – that check the general graphics efficiency and the way the cellphone offers with each excessive efficiency briefly bursts, it did not look so good.

Its numbers aren’t essentially unhealthy. In truth, it confirmed a large enchancment over the A55 in each. However, its single and multi-core scores of 1,330 and three,759 weren’t too far forward of the Motorola Edge 50 Pro (1,132 / 3,076) – which is not recognized for its gaming energy. The A56 was additionally completely overwhelmed by the Poco F6 Pro (1,375 / 4733), and each telephones can simply be discovered for across the similar worth or much less.

In phrases of sustained efficiency although, the A56 was spectacular. In the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test – a 20-minute benchmark that assesses stability below heavy masses – it scored a high loop of 4,907, a low of 4,649, a formidable 94.9% stability and remained cool temperature-wise. For reference, I’ve seen the S25 Ultra rating greater peaks, but additionally present much less stability on this check, dropping to a loop rating of lower than 3,000.

As good as a few of these numbers look on paper, it was a special expertise throughout real-world use, with the A56 struggling once I performed video games like Fortnite Mobile – it failed to take care of even 20FPS, ceaselessly stuttering on the bottom graphics settings. For comparability, the equally priced Poco F6 Pro simply sustains 60FPS at excessive settings for hours.

That mentioned, these outcomes nonetheless mark a big enchancment over the A55, a cellphone I cherished once I examined it final 12 months. The benchmark numbers might not impress, however they don’t take away from the A56’s standing as a superb finances cellphone for the typical consumer, and I can attest that it holds up very well for the day by day duties you’d need from a smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: battery

• 5,000 mAh battery that simply sees you thru the day
• 45W wired charging

Keeping according to its show, design, efficiency and cameras, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy A56 is completely suited to the typical consumer.

My day by day testing routine began at 5:30am, with an hour-long podcast whereas I walked the canine, adopted by a fast music-fuelled exercise accompanied by music earlier than preparing for work. Then there was about an hour of scrolling and listening throughout my commute, earlier than I arrived on the workplace, the place I’d use it for background music through a set of Bluetooth headphones.

Naturally, I wanted a cellphone that might sustain, and the A56’s 5,000mAh battery delivered. Samsung claims the system affords as much as 29 hours of video playback, so I put it to the check. Watching a YouTube video at 50% brightness, I picked up the cellphone 18 hours later to search out it nonetheless had 39% battery remaining.

As one other check, I performed The Dark Knight Rises twice back-to-back (totaling 5 hours, half-hour) at 50% brightness, and the cellphone misplaced simply 27% battery. Though these checks have been carried out in numerous environments and with various beginning percentages, the outcomes bolstered one factor: the A56 can go the gap.

For on a regular basis use – texting, calling, video chatting, scrolling social media, checking emails and a few mild gaming – the A56 is greater than as much as the duty, simply lasting a full day.

As for charging, you received’t get ultra-fast speeds like 120W and even 67W, however the A56 does provide 45W quick charging – an improve from the middling 25W pace of the Galaxy A55. That places the brand new finances cellphone on par with itsGalaxy S25 Ultra cousin.

Using a 67W wall charger, the A56 gained:

• 8% in 5 minutes
• Just below 30% in quarter-hour
• A little bit over 55% in half-hour
• A full cost in round 85 minutes

A 5,000mAh battery is much from an astounding inclusion in a specs record in 2025, however it’s nonetheless a notable constructive. Paired with reasonably quick charging, the A56’s battery – like the remainder of the cellphone – is nice.

And whereas 120W and even 67W charging is a useful addition when you may have it, it’s miles from needed – and 55% battery in a fast 30-minute cost is lots when you overlook to plug it in in a single day on the uncommon event.

Should you purchase the Samsung Galaxy A56?

Buy it if…

Don’t purchase it if…

Samsung Galaxy A56 evaluation: additionally take into account

How I examined the Samsung Galaxy A56

• Review check interval: 3 weeks
• Testing included: Everyday utilization, together with net shopping, social media, images, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark, native Android stats

The Samsung Galaxy A56 was my sole cell system for the three weeks I spent with it, and I frankly want I did not should return it after my testing interval. As my common day by day system, I used it to hearken to podcasts, test social media, watch YouTube and textual content, with some mild studying thrown in. Oh, and an entire heap of canine photographs.

Of course, I additionally put the Galaxy A56 via its paces with Geekbench 6 and 3DMark benchmark checks to see how the cellphone would deal with actions that I’ll not use in my common day by day use, however another person would possibly. I did these checks a number of occasions, in numerous environments and totally different battery levels to make sure correct outcomes.

This leads me to my gaming checks. It’s all the time good when you can also make enjoying video games a part of your job, however I’m removed from a cell gamer. I really like Marvel Snap, get pleasure from a number of rounds of Clash Royale and dabble in some Wordle and Connections from time to time, however that is it. As a part of my testing, I did play – or try to play – extra critical cell video games like Fortnite on my Galaxy A56 to see how it could deal with the lifetime of a cell gamer.

Given my expertise testing different finances telephones, together with the Samsung Galaxy A55, I used to be outfitted with the data to make good comparisons with the A56.

Read extra about how we check

[First reviewed April 2025]