Samsung has recently unveiled the Galaxy A56, leading its new lineup of budget-friendly smartphones introduced at Mobile World Congress 2025. This device is poised to become one of the top affordable phones of the year, offering a blend of style, performance, and longevity.

The Galaxy A56 boasts a sleek, thin, and lightweight design, making it comfortable to hold and carry. Its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display delivers vibrant visuals, enhancing your viewing experience. Under the hood, the A56 is powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset, ensuring smooth performance for daily tasks and applications. One of its standout features is the impressive two-day battery life, supported by a robust 5000 mAh battery and 45W wired charging, ensuring you stay connected longer without frequent recharging.

Running on Samsung’s refined One UI 7 software, the Galaxy A56 offers an intuitive user interface. Samsung has committed to providing six years of operating system and security updates for this model, ensuring your device remains up-to-date with the latest features and protections.

While the camera system includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP front-facing camera, some users may find that it lacks detail compared to competitors. Additionally, the security features, such as fingerprint recognition, may feel slower than expected. It’s also worth noting that the Galaxy A56 is priced higher than its predecessor, which might influence your purchasing decision.

In this hands-on review, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the Galaxy A56’s design, performance, and new features—so you can decide if this is the right smartphone for you.

Samsung Galaxy A56: Specification

Samsung Galaxy A56: Price and availability

When it comes to getting your hands on the Samsung Galaxy A56, you’ll want to know exactly what you’re paying and when you can get it. Samsung has priced the Galaxy A56 at $499 in the United States, keeping it competitive in the midrange market. For that price, you get a single storage option of 256GB, which gives you a solid amount of space compared to rivals like the Google Pixel 8a, also priced at $499 but offering only 128GB. If you’re eyeing other midrange contenders, keep in mind that phones like the OnePlus 13R and the newly launched iPhone 16e start at a higher $599, making the Galaxy A56 a strong value proposition.

As for availability, the Samsung Galaxy A56 hands-on experience will be within your reach soon. The phone is slated to launch in the United States on March 26, 2025, so mark your calendar if you’re stateside. If you’re in Europe, you’ve got a head start—pre-orders are already open as of March 2, with open sales kicking off on March 19. For those of you in Australia, open sales begin a bit later on March 27, with the phone priced at AU$699. Wherever you are, the Galaxy A56 is shaping up to be a midrange contender worth waiting for, especially if you’re after a balance of price, storage, and Samsung’s signature features.

Samsung Galaxy A56: Design and Display

Samsung has refined the Galaxy A56 into a sleek and stylish device that builds upon its predecessor while making meaningful improvements. The phone boasts a metal chassis, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Wrapped in a 7.4mm-thick body and weighing 198 grams, it’s noticeably thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A55, making it easier to hold and use throughout the day.

Samsung has addressed the sharp edges that made the Galaxy A55 less comfortable to hold. The Galaxy A56 now features a subtle curve where the glass meets the chassis, improving the overall ergonomics. This tiny yet essential change makes a huge difference—when holding both the Galaxy A55 and A56 side by side, the A56 feels slimmer, more refined, and easier to manage, despite having the same dimensions.

The vertical camera module is neatly integrated into the back, aligning with Samsung’s latest design language seen in the Galaxy S25 series. The power and volume buttons are placed within a raised “Key Island” on the side, adding a distinctive look while remaining practical. The color choices—Awesome Graphite, Awesome Light Gray, Awesome Olive, and Awesome Pink—add personality, ensuring there’s an option for everyone.

Another thoughtful touch is the brushed metal finish on the frame, which not only looks premium but also attracts less dust compared to previous models with separate camera lenses. While the Galaxy A56 doesn’t reinvent smartphone design, it certainly refines it in ways that make it more comfortable, durable, and stylish for daily use.

The Galaxy A56 sports a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, the same size as the Galaxy A55, but with slimmer bezels for a more modern look. Although the bezels aren’t perfectly symmetrical, they’re less noticeable than before, giving you more screen space to enjoy.

Samsung has also boosted brightness levels, with the display reaching 1,200 nits in high brightness mode and peaking at 1,900 nits. During hands-on testing, the screen remained sharp and vibrant under bright studio lighting, though real-world outdoor performance still needs testing. Compared to competitors like the Pixel 8a, which has a smaller 6.1-inch display, the Galaxy A56 offers a more immersive viewing experience.

With Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on both sides and IP67 resistance, the Galaxy A56 is built to withstand everyday wear and tear while still delivering a premium look and feel. Whether you’re watching videos, scrolling through social media, or gaming, Samsung’s display enhancements ensure a smooth and visually stunning experience.

Samsung Galaxy A56: Camera

When you get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy A56, the camera system is one of the first things you’ll want to explore. This mid-range powerhouse offers a familiar yet refined setup, featuring a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro camera on the back, alongside a new 12MP selfie camera on the front. While these specs might sound promising, the Galaxy A56’s camera performance has its highs and lows, making it a solid choice for casual photography but not without some drawbacks.

Starting with the main 50MP camera, you’ll find it equipped with an upgraded AI-powered image signal processor (ISP), designed to enhance low-light shots and overall image quality. This is a step up from its predecessor, the Galaxy A55, and it aims to deliver sharper, more vibrant photos. However, your results might not always live up to flagship expectations. Photos are generally acceptable, especially for social media, but there are some nit-picky issues to be aware of. Skies can appear noisy, colors might seem muted compared to what you’d expect from a Samsung device, and exposure and dynamic range can struggle in tricky lighting conditions. You might also notice some obvious image processing, like edge enhancement or blur, especially when zooming in or cropping your shots. If you’re not scrutinizing every detail, though, the main camera will likely serve you well for everyday snaps and fun moments with friends.

The new 12MP ultrawide camera is a welcome addition, offering a broader field of view to capture landscapes, group shots, or creative angles. It’s a step forward from the 8MP ultrawide on older models, and during hands-on testing, it showed promise in delivering decent detail and color accuracy. However, like the main camera, it’s not perfect—low-light performance and color consistency could use some improvement. Still, for casual use, it’s a handy tool to have in your photography arsenal.

On the front, the Galaxy A56 swaps out the older 32MP selfie camera for a new 12MP sensor. Don’t let the lower megapixel count fool you—this upgrade is designed to improve low-light selfies and add support for HDR video, giving your self-portraits richer colors and better contrast. Early hands-on impressions suggest that selfies look impressive, with natural skin tones and good detail, making the Galaxy A56 a strong contender in this area, especially when compared to rivals like the Google Pixel 8a.

The 5MP macro camera, however, remains unchanged from the Galaxy A55 and feels like a missed opportunity. While it’s there for close-up shots of flowers, textures, or small objects, its niche functionality and limited quality make it less exciting than, say, a telephoto lens would have been. For most users, this camera might go largely unused, especially since macro photography is a specialized feature that doesn’t always fit into everyday shooting.

What sets the Galaxy A56 apart from some of its mid-range competitors is its suite of AI-powered camera features, part of Samsung’s Awesome Intelligence package. You’ll enjoy tools like Object Eraser, which lets you remove unwanted people or objects from your photos, and Style Generator, which allows you to apply creative filters based on other images. There’s also the Best Face feature, perfect for group shots, as it lets you swap in a better facial expression if someone blinks or looks away. Keep in mind, though, that these AI tools aren’t as seamless as they are on Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S25 series. The mid-range processor in the Galaxy A56 can lead to some blurring or less polished results, but for casual editing, these features add a fun and practical dimension to your photography.

Video recording on the Galaxy A56 is another area where you’ll find solid performance for a mid-range device. The main camera supports 4K video at 30fps, with decent stabilization and color rendering, while the front camera’s HDR video capabilities ensure your selfie clips look vibrant. There’s also an auto-highlight-reel feature, borrowed from Samsung’s flagship lineup, which uses AI to create montages of your video clips effortlessly—a great tool for sharing quick, polished content on social media.

Samsung Galaxy A56: Performance and Software

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is powered by Samsung’s proprietary Exynos 1580 processor, a choice that has sparked some debate among users. However, in real-world usage—including apps, calls, social media, and photography—the device performs smoothly without noticeable hesitation or stuttering.

Benchmark tests further support this positive performance outlook:

• Geekbench 6 CPU Scores:
  • Single-core: 1363
  • Multi-core: 3881
• GPU Performance:
  • 6943

These figures indicate a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Galaxy A55, which scored 1150 in single-core, 3457 in multi-core, and 3083 in GPU tests.

Gaming experiences on the Galaxy A56 are commendable. Titles like Asphalt Legends: Unite run smoothly without causing the device to overheat. The stereo speakers deliver loud and clear audio, and their strategic placement ensures they remain unobstructed during landscape gaming sessions.

Biometric security features, including the fingerprint sensor and face unlock, are present. While both are accurate, they may respond slightly slower compared to some high-end models.

Visually, the Galaxy A56 offers an immersive experience with its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ display, boasting reduced bezels and enhanced peak brightness levels. However, the screen’s reflective nature can lead to increased smudging, more so than what is observed on higher-end Galaxy S series devices.

On the software front, the Galaxy A56 operates on Samsung’s One UI 7, layered over Android 15. This combination provides a user-friendly interface with logical layouts and design elements that enhance usability. Features such as the ability to arrange the app drawer vertically contribute to a personalized experience.

Notably, the Galaxy A56 introduces AI-powered tools like the Best Face feature, which allows users to select the most flattering facial expressions in group photos. Additionally, the Object Eraser tool enables the removal of unwanted subjects from images. However, it’s worth mentioning that these AI features are less comprehensive compared to those found in Samsung’s flagship models, such as the Galaxy S25 series.

Samsung has committed to providing the Galaxy A56 with six years of major software and security updates, a significant enhancement aimed at prolonging the device’s relevance and security. This extended support period surpasses that of many competitors in the mid-range smartphone market.

Samsung Galaxy A56: Battery and Charging

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is equipped with a robust 5,000mAh battery, which delivers impressive endurance, making it a reliable companion for up to two days on a single charge—provided you’re not indulging in marathon gaming sessions or pushing the screen time beyond five hours. In real-world usage, streaming a 30-minute YouTube video drains approximately 4% of the battery, while a 30-minute gaming session consumes around 9%. These figures highlight the phone’s decent efficiency, though there’s room for improvement with future software updates to optimize performance further.

One of the standout upgrades in the Galaxy A56 is the introduction of 45W fast charging, a feature previously reserved for Samsung’s flagship models like the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Ultra. This is a significant leap for the Galaxy A series, ensuring quicker top-ups when you’re in a hurry. However, it’s worth noting that the phone doesn’t come with a charger in the box. Using a compatible USB Power Delivery charger, such as one from Anker, the Galaxy A56 reaches 30% in about 30 minutes and achieves a full charge in approximately 70 minutes. While this is a solid improvement, it’s not the fastest in its class, but it’s a welcome addition for everyday users.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy A56 does not support wireless charging, which might be a downside for those who prefer the convenience of cable-free charging. Nonetheless, the combination of a long-lasting battery and faster wired charging makes the Galaxy A56 a practical choice for users in the United States who prioritize battery life and efficiency in their daily routines. Whether you’re streaming, gaming, or just staying connected, the Galaxy A56 has you covered—though a little refinement in future updates could make it even better.

Samsung Galaxy A56: Outlook

The Samsung Galaxy A56 makes a strong first impression, but I’ll need more time with it to fully understand where it stands in the competitive midrange smartphone landscape. At first glance, the upgrades from last year’s Galaxy A model are significant enough to make it a compelling option for anyone seeking great value without breaking the bank. If you’re someone who doesn’t need cutting-edge AI features, top-tier photography, or maximum performance but still wants a reliable, high-quality phone that will last for years, the Galaxy A56 could be an excellent choice.

That said, the midrange market is incredibly crowded, and the Galaxy A56 faces some stiff competition. Google’s Pixel 8a is already a standout in this space, and rumors of the Pixel 9a’s imminent release could further shake things up. Google has consistently delivered exceptional budget-friendly models, making it a tough rival for the Galaxy A56 to beat.

You’ll also need to consider other contenders like the OnePlus 13R and the iPhone 16e, both of which are expected to cost around $100 more but could offer additional features or brand loyalty appeal. And let’s not forget the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro, which are rumored to launch soon and could potentially undercut the Galaxy A56 on price while offering unique designs and features.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy A56 has entered a crowded mid-range market in 2025, facing stiff competition from the likes of the Google Pixel 9a, iPhone 16e, and OnePlus Nord 4. Much like its flagship sibling, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Galaxy A56 struggles to stand out, and Samsung’s decision to raise the price doesn’t help its case. When you’re paying more, the flaws become harder to ignore, making it tricky to recommend this phone wholeheartedly.

In your hands, the Samsung Galaxy A56 feels premium, with a mature design, solid build quality, and a responsive software experience. The Galaxy A56 hands-on experience highlights its sleek glass and metal construction, complete with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. However, the internals don’t offer a significant leap over the Galaxy A55. Features like the upgrade to 45W charging, while welcome, feel like they should be standard in this price range, not a headline feature.

That said, the Samsung Galaxy A56 isn’t without its merits. During your daily use, it proves to be a dependable companion. Everything functions smoothly, calls are clear, connectivity is reliable, and the camera—while not groundbreaking—can capture moments that bring a smile to your face. It’s not the phone of your dreams, nor does it outshine its rivals, but if you’re looking for a trustworthy mid-range option, the Galaxy A56 is a solid choice. Just don’t expect it to wow you.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A56 proves itself to be a compelling choice for you if you’re in the United States and seeking a mid-range smartphone that punches above its weight. With its premium design, vibrant 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, and powerful Exynos 1580 chipset, it delivers a well-rounded experience that caters to your everyday needs—whether you’re streaming, gaming, or capturing life’s moments.

The standout software support, offering 6 years of OS updates and 7 years of security patches, ensures your device remains relevant and secure well into the future, making it a smart long-term investment. Add in the upgraded 45W fast charging and durable IP67-rated build, and the Galaxy A56 feels like a phone that’s built to keep up with your busy life.