Samsung Galaxy A56 review: The dependable, just not very desirable phone to buy

The Samsung Galaxy A56 has a great sight riding on it . It needs to be really skillful if it ’s go away to satisfy those who do n’t want to spend more on theGalaxy S25 , and to drag people out from the many very desirable alternative usable at the moment . It needs to show Samsung acquire from its intention mistakes with the Galaxy A55 , and can make a vivid affordable phone for everyone . I ’ve been using it as my main phone , and while Samsung has made some crucial advances , it still has plenty to do .

Samsung Galaxy A56: design

Samsung has given the Galaxy A56 a really firm base to build on , with the telephone set having a metal build , Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and the back , plus an IP67 debris and piddle resistance military rating , all enclose up inside a sensibly sized , 7.4 millimetre thick-skulled body that weighs 198 Hans C. J. Gram . It ’s considerable thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A55 .

The cameras are arranged inside a vertical mental faculty , the power and volume key are set in a raised “ Key Island ” section on the side of the phone , and it comes in a selection of good colors — pink , olive , graphite , and Lightgrey — all with the word “ Awesome ” in front of them . I did n’t suppose theGalaxy A55 ’s pattern was all that awesome because it was so sharp where the screen and chassis met , and it was uncomfortable to support .

Samsung must have known , because the Galaxy A56 is a huge melioration . There ’s no distinctness , and the field glass and physique meet with a tiny , but ergonomically essential curved shape . The difference this makes , along with the reduction in heaviness , is so gravid that when you take for the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A56 together , the Galaxy A56 feel less wide and more manageable , despite the two being the same size . Ergonomicsreallymatter , and the Galaxy A56 shew it .

DT Recommended Product

There are some decent point too . I like the metal physical body ’ sweep finish and the way the new camera module match the Galaxy S25 ’s look , plus how it picks up less dust than the Galaxy A55 ’s disjoined lens . There is just enough flair to make the Galaxy A56 typical , at least compared to the Galaxy A55 , and while I would n’t call it exciting to look at , catch it in one of the shiny colors give it lineament . I ’ve liked using the light , pleasing to concur Galaxy A56 , which feels high timber and indestructible enough to employ every day , for a very long time .

Samsung Galaxy A56: camera

The 50 - megapixel primary camera , 12MP wide - slant , and 5MP macro camera on the Galaxy A56 are familiar tool , and the picture produce are o.k. , but unfortunately there are some nit - finical problem that lead to the tv camera being a dashing hopes . sky are ofttimes noisy , coloring are surprisingly muted for a Samsung photographic camera , pic and dynamic range never quite get the scene right , and there ’s some obvious prototype processing visible in challenging luminousness .

provide you ’re not expectingGalaxy S25 Ultra - rivaling public presentation , and do n’t look at the Galaxy A56 ’s photograph too critically , it ’ll take satisfactory photograph of your dangerous undertaking . It ’s well suitable to societal media , right down to clever features like the machine - highlighting - Virginia reel generation for TV , and the excellent photo redaction instrument pulled from the Galaxy S series .

There are a few AI redaction puppet , include Samsung ’s Object Eraser and its Style generator . Object Eraser is held back by the processor , and is n’t as effective at make up unlined changes as it is on the Galaxy S25 series , and you ’ll see more blurring in use of goods and services . It does the job though , and I ’m sure some will have fun with the Style generator and the Best Face lineament .

The Samsung Galaxy A56’s screen.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I do n’t care to crop an double down and see disturbance , edge enhancement , blur , and a general lack of detail . But sadly , it happens all too often with the Galaxy A56 ’s master camera . It ’s not alone though , and other phones like theRedmi 14 Pro Plus , sustain from the same problems . The camera is n’t a Galaxy A56 high point , but used in the main for social posts and fun photos when you ’re out with friends , the expert drawback probably wo n’t worry you .

Samsung Galaxy A56: performance and software

Samsung ’s choice of processor will in all probability be controversial . It ’s the party ’s own Exynos 1580 chip , while theGalaxy A36uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 . Exynos does n’t have the dear report , so is it deserved here ? I ’ve used the headphone for apps , calls , societal spiritualist , and photography and have n’t been bothered by any hesitation or stuttering .

diddle games likeAsphalt legend : Unitedoesn’t cause the telephone set to get too raging , and the stereophonic system speakers are loud and fathom really good . They ’re positioned so your hand do n’t treat them up when holding the phone in landscape preference too . bench mark figures show the phone wo n’t struggle with more diagrammatically intensive game either . The fingerprint sensing element and face unlock are a lilliputian wearisome to react , but at least both are accurate . The screen door has smaller , but still obtrusive , bezels compared to the Galaxy A55 , plus the visor brightness has been increase . The screen has been trouble - spare , but it ’s quite reflective and does get a little more smudgy than Galaxy S series phones .

The Galaxy A56 has Samsung ’s excellent One UI 7 software program overAndroid 15 , and it ’s one of the earpiece ’s high gunpoint . It ’s logical and enjoyably project , so it never feels backbreaking or puzzling to use , something made potential by small , sensitive variety such as being able to tell the app draftsman vertically rather than over disjoined pages . You still have to take clock time fix it up though , and there are some odd things to look out for , such as the always - on screen default on to tiny notification icon in the top turning point , rather than more informative wag like other Galaxy phones .

The base of the Samsung Galaxy A56.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There ’s less vehemence onGalaxy AIon the A56 compare to the S series , with none of the summary , note taking , or translation tools available . Now Brief is an S Series single , but the Now Bar appears on the A56 ’s lock chamber screen , however it ’s underutilized compared to Apple ’s Dynamic Island . Google’sCircle to Searchis available , along withGoogle Gemini . Samsung clearly wants to keep the full Galaxy AI suite for its top phones , but you get the interesting AI - power Essential Space when you buy aNothing Phone 3aorNothing Phone 3a Pro , indicate mid - range phones do n’t need to miss out completely . Samsung will support the Galaxy A56 for six year for both major software and certificate updates , which is far long than most people will consider retain it for .

Samsung Galaxy A56: battery and charging

The 5,000mAh battery does a good occupation of making the Galaxy A56 a speech sound with a two - day life between charge , provided you are n’t toy games for hours , and do n’t expect much more than five hour screen meter . A 30 - minute YouTube video takes about 4 % from the battery , and a 30 - minute gaming session take 9 % . This reflects decent efficiency , but also that it would benefit from some refinement in succeeding software update .

A big update is the introduction of 45W fast charging to the Galaxy A series , meaning it matches the charging speeding of theGalaxy S25 Plusand Galaxy S25 Ultra . You do n’t get a charger in the box , but using a USB Power Delivery - compatible Anker battery charger it took 30 minute to reach only 30 % , and fully charged after about 70 minutes . The Galaxy A56 does not have wireless charging .

Samsung Galaxy A56: price and availability

At the fourth dimension of writing Samsung has not announce the Galaxy A56 for the U.S. yet , and it ’s not sure it will based on the house ’s strategy with the Galaxy A55 . Samsung may bring out the Galaxy A36 in the U.S. instead . The Galaxy A56 will be usable to corrupt in the U.K. from March 19 and be 499 British Sudanese pound , which is around $ 635 . This is a considerable increase over the Galaxy A55 ’s 440 pounding cost , and it ’s heavy to see on the dot where it has get from because the hardware update are n’t revolutionary .

It ’s a serious trouble for Samsung because two of the Galaxy A56 ’s biggest competition be less to purchase , and are well more interesting . The Nothing Phone 3a is 329 pound and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is 449 pounds . The 3a Pro is everything the Galaxy A56 is not — bold , exciting , and mortal . If you feel your personality reverberate those trait , or you ’d like to project them , it ’s the good selection .

The intention and dash is mature , the build quality is excellent , and the software is spry and reactive

A person holding the Samsung Galaxy A56.

Samsung Galaxy A56Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Pay a little more and theApple iPhone 16eand theOnePlus 13Rshould be considered , plus we ’re expecting the excellentGoogle Pixel 8ato be replaced by theGoogle Pixel 9asoon too , and it ’s likely to have a exchangeable price to the Galaxy A56 . By increasing the damage , Samsung has put itself into a whole fresh bracket , and scramble to keep up .

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra suffered this year due to the telling range of alternatives , from theApple iPhone 16 Pro Maxto theOnePlus 13and theGoogle Pixel 9 professional . The Galaxy A56 faces the same challenge , and Samsung has n’t aid it win hearts by increase the price . What happens is the downside become more of an issue , and the headphone becomes more difficult to recommend .

The design and elan is mature , the build character is fantabulous , and the software is agile and antiphonal . Unfortunately what ’s inside the sound is n’t much of a footfall forward over the Galaxy A55 , and it ’s hard to applaud things like an climb to 45W charge when such speed should be considered standard on most earpiece today .

However , while the Galaxy A56 is n’t a dream earpiece , or one that overshadow the competition , it has been a reliable married person over the last 10 days or so . Everything work , cry sound keen , connectivity is solid , and I ’ve taken some photos with it that do make me smile . It ’s a trustworthy , but not a lust - worthy smartphone , and if you ’re happy with that , it ’s a solid purchase .

The buttons on the Samsung Galaxy A56.