Samsung has made a bold move by introducing three budget-friendly smartphones just in time for Mobile World Congress 2025. Leading the lineup is the Samsung Galaxy A56, which stands out as a strong contender for the best budget smartphone of 2025.
The Galaxy A56 replaces the Galaxy A55, which skipped a U.S. release last year. That doesn’t sound like it will be the case with the A56, though it will ship later than the the A36 and A26, which are set to arrive toward the end of this month.
Joining the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26, the Galaxy A56 takes center stage with significant upgrades across multiple features. In this Samsung Galaxy A56 Review, we’ll explore everything this device offers, from its design and camera capabilities to its performance, battery life, and AI-powered features.
Samsung Galaxy A56 Price & Availability
Samsung has priced the Galaxy A56 at $499 / £499 / AU$699, making it an affordable alternative to premium mid-range devices. The smartphone comes with 256GB of storage as standard, providing more value than competitors like the Google Pixel 8a, which only offers 128GB at the same price point.
While the U.S. release is expected later in 2025, European customers can pre-order the Galaxy A56 starting March 2, with open sales commencing March 19. Australian buyers will be able to purchase it from March 27.
Samsung Galaxy A56 Design & Display
Samsung has once again revamped the Galaxy A series’ design, distinguishing it from the flagship Galaxy S25 series. Notably, the camera module now features a single vertical block that houses all three rear sensors.
The Key Island design, which raises the power and volume buttons, remains a unique characteristic of the Galaxy A lineup. The IP67 dust and water resistance rating, along with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back, ensures a durable build. Additionally, the premium metal frame enhances its feel compared to the plastic-bodied Galaxy A36 and A26.
The Galaxy A56 supports a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with narrower bezels than its predecessor. While not perfectly symmetrical, this trade-off helps keep the price low.
Display highlights:
- 1,200 nits brightness in high brightness mode
- Peak brightness of 1,900 nits
- Four color options: Graphite, Light Gray, Olive, and Pink
This larger, high-quality screen makes it an excellent choice compared to the Pixel 8a’s compact 6.1-inch panel.
Samsung Galaxy A56 Camera Upgrades
The Galaxy A56 sees key camera enhancements, especially in the ultrawide and selfie departments:
- 50MP main sensor (unchanged from the Galaxy A55)
- New 12MP ultrawide lens
- 5MP macro camera
- Upgraded 12MP front-facing camera
The front camera now supports HDR video recording and captures better low-light selfies. Additionally, Samsung has improved the AI-powered ISP (Image Signal Processor), enhancing low-light performance and portrait mode.
Samsung has also introduced AI Portrait mode, which enhances faces, hair, and background elements like the sky and grass, ensuring professional-looking shots. During hands-on testing, the Galaxy A56’s selfie camera performed impressively, making it a strong rival to the Google Pixel 8a’s exceptional photography.
Samsung Galaxy A56 Performance & Hardware
Samsung equips the Galaxy A56 with the Exynos 1580 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as standard. Business customers, however, have an option for a 128GB variant.
Compared to the Exynos 1480 found in the Galaxy A55, the new Exynos 1580 aims to close the performance gap with the Google Pixel 8a’s Tensor G3 processor.
One standout feature is the enhanced vapor chamber cooling system, similar in size to the one used in last year’s flagship Galaxy S24 Plus. This improvement should lead to better thermal management, ensuring stable performance in gaming and resource-intensive applications.
Samsung Galaxy A56 Battery & Charging
Samsung continues to impress with its battery offerings, equipping the Galaxy A56 with a 5,000mAh battery—the same capacity as the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The biggest upgrade is 45W fast charging, a feature usually reserved for premium models. This is a significant leap from previous Galaxy A models’ 25W charging, even outpacing the standard Galaxy S25, which remains limited to 25W.
You can also Read OnePlus 12 Review and Price
Samsung Galaxy A56 Software & AI Features
Running One UI 7 based on Android 15, the Galaxy A56 introduces Samsung’s “Awesome Intelligence” AI suite. While it lacks full Galaxy AI capabilities, users still get some smart features, including:
- Circle to Search (with enhancements for detecting phone numbers, emails, URLs, and songs)
- Object Eraser (to remove unwanted elements in images)
- AI-powered photo filters (to apply one image’s style to another)
- Best Face feature (lets you merge the best expressions from multiple photos)
- Auto Trim (automatically edits video clips together)
Samsung promises six years of Android updates and security patches, ensuring long-term software support. While this is slightly below Google’s seven-year update policy, it remains an impressive commitment for a mid-range device.
Samsung Galaxy A56: Final Verdict
At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy A56 brings meaningful improvements over its predecessor, offering excellent value for budget-conscious buyers.
Key reasons to buy: ✅ Premium design with metal sides and Gorilla Glass Victus+ ✅ Upgraded cameras, AI photography features, and HDR selfies ✅ Exynos 1580 chipset with improved cooling for stable performance ✅ 5,000mAh battery with fast 45W charging ✅ Six years of software updates
However, competition in this segment remains fierce. The Google Pixel 8a, OnePlus 13R, iPhone 16e, and upcoming Nothing Phone 3a series are all strong alternatives.
Stay tuned for our in-depth performance tests to see how the Galaxy A56 stacks up against its rivals!
