Samsung has recently introduced the Galaxy A56, an impressive mid-range smartphone that brings a host of upgrades over its predecessor, the Galaxy A55.
With an improved display, better AI capabilities, faster charging, and extended software support, the Galaxy A56 presents itself as an excellent alternative to the flagship Galaxy S25—offering a balance between premium features and affordability.
Design and Display
The Galaxy A56 has undergone some noticeable design refinements. Unlike its predecessor, the A55, which had three separate camera lenses, the A56 now features a black, pill-shaped camera island on the back, giving it a more polished and premium look.
The device retains its aluminum frame, but Samsung has slightly raised the power and volume buttons for better accessibility.
The display has also received a notable upgrade. The Galaxy A56 sports a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED panel, making it slightly larger than the 6.6-inch screen of the A55.
With a peak brightness of 1,900 nits, the A56 performs well under direct sunlight, offering a clear and vibrant viewing experience. The display also supports a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and responsiveness while browsing, gaming, or watching videos.
While the Galaxy S25 boasts a superior display with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, the A56 still holds its own as one of the best mid-range screens available, particularly considering its price point.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is powered by the Exynos 1580 processor, which is a notable improvement over the Exynos 1480 found in the A55.
This new chipset, combined with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage, ensures a smooth user experience.
Additionally, Samsung offers RAM Plus, a virtual memory expansion feature that boosts the A56’s RAM to 12GB in select markets, enhancing multitasking capabilities.
The phone runs on Android 15 with Samsung’s One UI 7 out of the box. One UI 7 introduces “Awesome Intelligence,” Samsung’s rebranded version of AI-powered features designed specifically for mid-range devices.
While the A56 does not officially support “Galaxy AI” (which is reserved for flagship models like the S25), it still includes powerful AI tools such as:
- Circle to Search – Allows users to circle an object on the screen to initiate a search.
- Object Eraser – Removes unwanted elements from photos using AI.
- Auto Trim – Creates and edits video montages with a single tap.
- Best Face – Similar to Google’s Best Take, it helps users select the best facial expressions from multiple shots.
- Custom Filters & AI Select – Enhances image customization and selection.
While the flagship Galaxy S25 includes Live Translate and Instant Slow-Mo, which are missing from the A56, the mid-ranger still packs enough AI features to significantly enhance the user experience.
One of the biggest advantages of the Galaxy A56 is Samsung’s commitment to software longevity.
The device is set to receive six years of OS and security updates, matching Samsung’s premium flagship models. This is a major upgrade over the A55, which was only promised four years of updates.
Camera System
The camera setup remains largely unchanged from the A55, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The A56 features:
- 50MP Main Camera – Captures detailed and sharp images with Samsung’s image processing enhancements.
- 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera – Expands the field of view, ideal for landscape shots.
- 5MP Macro Camera – Useful for capturing close-up details.
The main camera benefits from AI-powered enhancements, offering better low-light performance and improved photo processing. The selfie camera remains at 32MP, ensuring crisp and clear selfies.
While the camera system is solid for its class, it lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, which is found in the Galaxy S25. However, for everyday photography and social media use, the A56 delivers excellent results.
Battery Life and Charging
The Galaxy A56 retains the 5,000mAh battery from its predecessor, ensuring all-day battery life. However, the charging speed has been significantly upgraded—now supporting 45W wired fast charging, a major improvement over the A55’s 25W charging.
Surprisingly, the A56 outshines the Galaxy S25 in this area, as the S25 is limited to 25W wired charging. This means that despite being a mid-range device, the A56 actually charges faster than Samsung’s standard flagship.
However, it does not support wireless charging, which remains exclusive to Samsung’s premium lineup.
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A56 is priced at £499 in the UK, marking a slight increase from the £439 price tag of the A55.
It is available for pre-order now, with shipments set to begin on March 19. While Samsung has not yet confirmed official pricing for the US and Australia, the device is expected to launch in these regions later this year.
Is the Galaxy A56 a Better Buy Than the S25?
While the Galaxy S25 is undoubtedly the more powerful smartphone, the Galaxy A56 offers incredible value for money. It includes:
- A premium design with better aesthetics than its predecessor.
- A large, bright 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Decent performance with the Exynos 1580 chip and 8GB/12GB RAM options.
- Awesome Intelligence AI features, bringing useful AI tools to mid-range buyers.
- Six years of software updates, ensuring long-term support.
- Faster 45W charging, outperforming the S25’s 25W limit.
Of course, the A56 does come with some compromises, such as lacking Galaxy AI’s full suite of features, no wireless charging, and a mid-tier processor that won’t match the high-end Snapdragon 8 Elite in the S25.
For those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with premium features, strong AI capabilities, and long-term software support, the Galaxy A56 is one of the best mid-range options available in 2025.
