Samsung Galaxy A56 5G Review
By examining the design, display, and performance of the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, this review evaluates whether it truly lives up to its mid-range promise.
Table of Contents
Is the Galaxy A56 5G Worth It?
The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G can be found in the mid-range smartphone segment because it brings basic features from entry-level devices and advanced smartphone features for buyers seeking value. The combination of its well-designed appearance and 120Hz Super AMOLED screen and extended software support creates reliable value. The device has average Exynos 1580 processor performance along with no telephoto lens that users must consider. The A56 5G stands as a reliable daily usage smartphone that monitors display excellence while giving Samsung fans extra value from long-lasting software maintenance.
Specifications
| 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1200 nits standard brightness, 1900 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ | |
| Exynos 1580 (4nm), Octa-core CPU (1x 2.9GHz Cortex-A720 + 3x 2.6GHz Cortex-A720 + 4x 1.95GHz Cortex-A520) | |
| 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM | |
| 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage | |
| Triple camera: 50MP main (f/1.8, OIS) + 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2, 123° FOV) + 5MP macro (f/2.4) | |
| 12MP selfie camera (f/2.2) | |
| 5000 mAh, 45W fast charging (65% in 30 minutes), No wireless charging | |
| Android 15, One UI 7.0 | |
| 7.4mm thickness, 198g weight | |
| IP67 Dust/Water Resistant, Gorilla Glass Victus+ | |
| Stereo speakers | |
| 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC | |
| Under-display fingerprint sensor | |
| Dual SIM (Nano-SIM) |
Performance
Galaxy A56 5G operating on an Exynos 1580 processor built on a 4nm with 8GB or 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and always paired with UFS 3.1 memory options of 128GB - 256GB. Although the processor enjoys a step-up over the predecessor, is unable to rival equivalent snapdragon spec in terms of value. The octa-core setup (1x Cortex-A720 at 2.9GHz, 3x Cortex-A720 at 2.6GHz, and 4x Cortex-A520 at 1.95GHz) offers enough power for routine operations, it is, however, not geared for people who play a lot of games or demanders users with plenty of more significant applications. With the up-rated cooling solution, it supports long gaming hours but efficiency and power management is still better with its Snapdragon co competitors.
Display
Display excellence shines through the Galaxy A56 5G through its 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED screen technology. The device features a 120Hz refresh rate that adapts to content for optimized performance while maintaining power efficiency for smooth movement and polished UI animation. The Galaxy A56 5G features advanced display brightness performance as standard brightness has increased to 1200 nits compared to its predecessor A55 with 1000 nits and peak HDR content can achieve 1900 nits brightness. The upgraded brightness levels allow users to see the screen clearly in sunlight while providing additional vibrancy to HDR content viewing. Premium display quality of Samsung devices continues within their mid-range products because the screen maintains excellent color accuracy along with superior contrast capability.
Camera
The rear camera setup of Galaxy A56 5G brings together a 50MP primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture and OIS and a 12MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.2 aperture as well as f/2.4 5MP macro lens module. A 12MP (f/2.2) shooter on the front comes with features that deliver impressive results in different illumination situations. The OIS-enabled 50MP main sensor stands as the highlight of this phone because it produces outstanding images under all lighting situations. Better Nightography technology from Samsung allows the A56 5G to generate good nighttime images by preserving details while reducing noise thus performing better than its predecessor particularly in dim lighting environments. Equal color accuracy exists between the main sensor and the 12MP ultra-wide camera however it performs poorly when light conditions are dim. The 5MP macro camera remains unnecessary because its performance lacks both practical use and image resolution. Video recording features remain strong on the device but its maximum resolution stands at 4K@30fps as other models include either 4K@60fps or full 8K capability. The Super HDR video capability enables users to achieve better lighting control by preserving dynamic range when they record footage under difficult illumination.
Battery Life
Users of the Galaxy A56 5G can enjoy reliable all-day power usage because the device comes preinstalled with a 5000mAh battery that Samsung indicates can support 29 hours of video streaming on a single full charge. The phone supports everyday regular mixed usage until the end of a full day while keeping some extra power available for the following day. You can recharge this device at 45W which adds 65% of battery capacity within half an hour. Both fast charging ability and a suitable charger need separate purchase since the device comes without a charging adapter. Unfortunately The A56 5G lacks wireless charging even though its price match up favors this feature but would have made the great battery package complete. One UI 7.0 extends battery life through its optimization features which control background applications and learns user routines to allocate power resources to the favorite apps.
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy A56 5G evolved from the earlier design to achieve a slimmer 7.4mm profile yet it shares identical 198g weight with the A55 series. A metal frame construction with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ makes up the device to provide top-notch durability. The device achieves IP67 certification that enables users to handle it under conditions with water exposure and dust particles. The A56 5G provides users different color option choices between Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lightgrey, Awesome Olive, and Awesome Pink. The 7.4mm thin dimension of this phone pairs with high-quality materials to create an elegant smartphone experience that outclasses its middle-range pricing. The device achieves an appealing design that might not perfectly replicate premium Galaxy models yet delivers comprehensive water/dust protection which is difficult to find at this budget stage.
OS & Software
The Galaxy A56 5G operates under One UI 7.0 which derives from Android 15 with a remarkable six-year commitment from Samsung for OS and security updates that exceeds Android standards. Security and update support until 2031 give the phone extra value through an extended support period. Users of this device can access various AI-enhanced tools that let them circle objects to search their entire screen and erase unwanted objects while selecting best faces in Motion Photos for group photos through Best Face and improve their photos and videos via Super HDR. A few new AI features on the phone will become paid subscriptions beginning in 2025 and this future pricing should be factored into considering its long-term value. Organizations benefit from the Knox Vault security system on this phone which separates critical information into a protected zone for exceptional enterprise-level security at this price level. Users of the A56 5G need to deal with built-in applications that cannot be completely removed because some bloatware is merely disabled instead of being uninstallable.
Audio
Stereovoice speakers on the Galaxy A56 5G deliver acceptable sound quality matching its mid-range category. The speakers produce satisfactory acoustic output for media entertainment and phone call usage. The basic audio enhancements Samsung implemented on the phone do not reach the level of premium audio features which higher-end models provide. Users can pair their A56 5G phone with wired or wireless audio peripherals however this model omits the standard 3.5mm headphone jack which forces users to connect using either USB-C audio or Bluetooth options. The microphone function of the Galaxy S9 works sufficiently to deliver clear conversations while recording voices but noise can reduce its effectiveness slightly.
Connectivity
The Galaxy A56 5G delivers all modern mid-range smartphone connectivity options to fulfill user requirements. The smartphone supports complete 5G connectivity which enables users to utilize fast cellular networks when these networks are accessible. The A56 5G supports dependable Wi-Fi and has Bluetooth that enables wireless peripheral connections plus GPS for navigation needs and NFC capabilities for wireless payments and device linking. The A56 5G offers essential connectivity options that provide smooth integration to modern digital environments and accessory peripherals despite lacking innovative capabilities in this area. The network connections stay reliable as the device upholds stable signal communication throughout different environmental conditions.
Benchmark Results
Benchmark performance tests show the Exynos 1580 processor of the Galaxy A56 5G establishes its position within the mid-range segment. The device advances performance from its predecessors yet falls short of premium flagship processors along with several processors which use Snapdragon chips at a similar cost. The benchmark performance matches typical device usage behavior because this phone manages standard operations well yet experiences difficulties running intensive applications and games.
| Benchmark | Score/Level |
|---|---|
| AnTuTu 10 | 932,578 |
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | 1364 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) | 3899 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Performance | N/A |
| PCMark 3.0 | N/A |
| Overall Performance Score | 59/100 |
| Gaming Score | 45/100 |
| Camera Score | 70/100 |
| Battery Score | 86/100 |
| Connectivity Score | 77/100 |
GALAXY A56 5G VS. COMPETITORS
People selecting mid-range smartphones need to evaluate features alongside performance capabilities. The Galaxy A56 5G stands against its primary rivals in this cost range.
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A56 5G | Google Pixel 7a | Nothing Phone (2a) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | March 2025 | February 2025 | |
| $499 | $499 | $449 | |
| 6.7" Super AMOLED | 6.2" OLED | 6.5" AMOLED | |
| 1900 nits peak | 1500 nits peak | 1300 nits peak | |
| 120Hz Adaptive | 90Hz Fixed | 120Hz Adaptive | |
| Exynos 1580 | Tensor G3 | Dimensity 7200 Pro | |
| 8GB/12GB | 8GB | 8GB/12GB | |
| 50MP (OIS) | 64MP (OIS) | 50MP (OIS) | |
| No Telephoto | No Telephoto | No Telephoto | |
| 12MP Ultra-wide | 13MP Ultra-wide | 50MP Ultra-wide | |
| 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| 45W | 20W | 45W | |
| Android 15, One UI 7.0 | Android 15, Stock | Android 15, Nothing OS | |
| Metal & Glass | Aluminum & Glass | Plastic & Glass | |
| IP67 | IP67 | IP54 | |
| 932,578 | 1,050,000 | 980,000 | |
| 1364 | 1580 | 1420 | |
| 3899 | 4200 | 4050 | |
| 71/100 | 82/100 | 76/100 |
GALAXY A56 5G SCORE
Pros
- Excellent Super AMOLED Display with 120Hz refresh rate (Display Score: 8.7/10)
- Reliable Battery Life with 45W Fast Charging (Battery Score: 8.6/10)
- Premium Design with IP67 Water and Dust Resistance (Design Score: 8.0/10)
- Six Years of Software and Security Updates
- Improved Nightography Camera Features
Cons
- Underwhelming Exynos 1580 Performance (Performance Score: 5.9/10)
- Poor Gaming Experience (Gaming Score: 4.5/10)
- No Telephoto Lens in Camera System
- Bloatware Issues with One UI
- No Wireless Charging Support
Final Verdict
Should You Buy It?
The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G sells to consumers due to its sophisticated design along with its 120Hz AMOLED display and 50MP camera system with Nightography improvements and its extended update support. The product design shows logical development instead of revolutionary changes because it solves various problems from past models and maintains the display leadership and application update capabilities of Samsung products. People invested in the Samsung platform along with those looking for high performance at standard pricing levels will receive excellent value from the A56 5G. This electronic device meets consumer requirements with its high-quality camera features and outstanding display screen and extended software update capabilities. Competing models surpass the Galaxy A56 5G in terms of performance together with efficiency for gaming activities and specialized photographic functions. The Galaxy A56 5G provides dependable features at $499 to satisfy mid-range users across diverse price ranges without disrupting the established market segment. The Galaxy A56 5G offers easy recommendation status to users who need a long-lasting multi-purpose smartphone due to excellent display quality and impending software updates although peak performance remains secondary.