The Samsung Galaxy A56 is the latest addition to Samsung’s popular mid-range A-series lineup, which has garnered a massive following in India, with over 89 million users as per Counterpoint Research. Samsung India aims to hit 100 million A-series users by the end of 2025, and the Galaxy A56 is positioned as a key player in achieving this goal. Priced at ₹42,000 (approximately $500) for the base 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, the A56 is the most expensive A-series phone yet. But does it justify its price tag, especially when compared to competitors like the Nothing Phone 3A Pro, OnePlus 13R, and Honor 200 Pro? In this detailed review, we’ll dive into the Galaxy A56’s design, display, performance, camera, battery life, and software to help you decide if it’s worth your money.
Design and Build: Premium Look with Minor Flaws
The Galaxy A56 boasts a premium design that makes it feel like a flagship phone. It features an aluminium frame sandwiched between Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back, ensuring durability and a high-end aesthetic. The redesigned camera module is sleek, and the phone comes in attractive color options like Olive, which hides fingerprints and smudges effectively. At just 7.9mm thin and lighter than its predecessor, the Galaxy A55, the A56 feels comfortable to hold, though the sharp edges could have been rounded for better ergonomics.
Samsung has also included an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which is nearly as good as the IP68 rating found on the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra. This makes the A56 a reliable choice for users who want a sturdy phone. However, the bezels around the display are noticeably thick, especially when compared to the S25 Ultra, giving it a slightly dated look. Additionally, the in-display fingerprint sensor is slower than expected, which can be frustrating for quick unlocks.
Display: Vibrant and Multimedia-Friendly
The Galaxy A56 sports a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering vibrant colors, excellent white balance, and warm tones. Whether you’re watching YouTube videos, Instagram Reels, or streaming on Netflix, the display offers an immersive experience. It supports HDR10 playback on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, making it a great choice for multimedia enthusiasts.
The display reaches a peak brightness of 1200 nits in high brightness mode, which is decent for outdoor visibility but not class-leading. It also dims sufficiently for comfortable use in low-light conditions. While the display is one of the A56’s strongest features, the thick bezels detract from the overall premium feel, especially at this price point.
Performance: Surprisingly Smooth with Exynos 1580
One of the biggest surprises with the Galaxy A56 is its performance, powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1580 chipset. Previous Exynos chipsets in the A-series were often criticized for being slow and prone to overheating, but the Exynos 1580 is a significant step forward. It outperforms the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 and 7S Gen 3 found in competing devices and handles everyday tasks with ease.
Running on One UI 7, the A56 feels smooth and responsive, with well-optimized 120Hz animations. Multitasking, notification handling, and charging animations are seamless, making the phone feel snappier than competitors like the Vivo V50 and Nothing Phone 3A Pro. The phone also stays cool during extended gaming sessions and stress tests, which is a notable improvement over older Exynos chips.
However, gaming performance is a mixed bag. Popular titles like PUBG Mobile are capped at 30 FPS, though Samsung has promised future updates to enable 60 FPS. For casual gamers, this may not be a dealbreaker, but serious gamers might find better options in the same price range.
Camera: Decent but Could Be Better
The Galaxy A56’s camera system is a bit of a letdown, especially given its price. It retains the same hardware as the Galaxy A55, with a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP macro camera. The only upgrade is the 12MP front camera, which now has a larger sensor for better selfies.
Daytime photos from the main camera are vibrant with accurate white balance, but they lack the brightness and sharpness seen in competitors like the Vivo V50. The absence of a telephoto lens is a missed opportunity—Samsung could have included a 3x telephoto lens, like the one on the Galaxy S24 FE, for better portrait shots. Currently, the A56 relies on digital cropping for 2x zoom, resulting in less detailed portraits.
The ultra-wide camera offers a wider field of view but struggles with shadow crushing and dynamic range in challenging lighting conditions. Night mode performance is underwhelming, with desaturated colors and bizarre output from both the main and ultra-wide cameras. Samsung may address this with software updates, but as of now, it’s a weak point.
Video recording is limited to 4K 30 FPS across all lenses, with decent stabilization and color accuracy. Selfies are a highlight, with improved skin tone processing compared to the A55, though the narrow field of view requires users to stretch their arms to fit in the frame.
Overall, the camera performance earns a B+ at best. For a phone priced at ₹42,000, Samsung could have done more to compete with rivals offering superior camera systems.
Battery Life and Charging: Solid but Not Groundbreaking
The Galaxy A56 comes with a 5,000mAh battery, which delivers solid battery life, lasting a full day of moderate use. However, competitors like Honor and OnePlus are equipping their mid-range phones with larger 6,000mAh or even 7,800mAh batteries, making the A56’s battery capacity feel average.
Charging speed has improved, with support for 45W fast charging (up from 25W on the A55). With a compatible Power Delivery adapter and a 5A cable, the phone charges significantly faster than its predecessor. Still, Samsung could have adopted silicon-carbon battery technology to increase capacity without adding bulk, as seen in some Chinese phones.
Software: One UI 7 with Limited AI Features
The Galaxy A56 runs on One UI 7, based on Android 15, and offers a smooth and polished user experience. Samsung’s software is one of the reasons users are willing to pay a premium for the A56. The company promises 6 years of software updates, ensuring the phone remains relevant until 2031—a feature few competitors can match.
However, the A56 misses out on some of One UI 7’s flagship features. For example, the “Now Bar” has limited functionality compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and AI features like AI summary, translation, and grammar check are absent. Additionally, long-pressing the power button opens Bixby instead of Google Gemini, requiring an extra swipe to access the latter. While these omissions don’t ruin the experience, they make the A56 feel less feature-rich than Samsung’s premium devices.
Is the Galaxy A56 Worth ₹42,000?
At ₹41,999 ($500), the Galaxy A56 feels overpriced by about 15-20%, largely due to Samsung’s brand value and software support. Competitors like the Nothing Phone 3A Pro, OnePlus 13R, and Honor 200 Pro (available for as low as ₹40,000 or $475) offer better value in terms of hardware, camera performance, and battery capacity. However, the A56 has its strengths:
- Pros: Premium design, vibrant AMOLED display, smooth performance with Exynos 1580, IP67 rating, and six years of software updates.
- Cons: Thick bezels, slow fingerprint sensor, average camera performance, limited gaming capabilities, and missing AI features.
Samsung’s extensive retail network, reliable service centers, and easy no-cost EMI options make the A56 a safe and convenient choice for many Indian buyers. The phone scores a solid 7/10, compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 9/10, but its reliability and brand trust may sway users who prioritize longevity over cutting-edge features.
Samsung Galaxy A56 Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 1200 nits |
| Processor | Exynos 1580 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB (base variant) |
| Main Camera | 50MP (wide) |
| Ultra-Wide Camera | 12MP |
| Macro Camera | 5MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | 5,000mAh |
| Charging | 45W fast charging |
| Operating System | One UI 7 (Android 15) |
| Build | Aluminium frame, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, IP67 |
| Price | ₹42,000 ($500) for 8GB/128GB |
Should You Buy the Galaxy A56?
If you’re looking for a reliable mid-range phone with a premium design, a vibrant display, and long-term software support, the Galaxy A56 is a solid choice. It’s ideal for users who value Samsung’s brand trust, extensive service network, and ease of purchase through EMI options. However, if you prioritize camera quality, gaming performance, or a larger battery, competitors like the Honor 200 Pro or OnePlus 13R may offer better value.
Ultimately, the Galaxy A56 gets the job done with a balanced performance across most categories, but it’s not the best in any single area. For Samsung loyalists or those who want a safe, long-lasting phone, it’s worth considering. If you’re open to exploring other brands, you might find more feature-packed options at a similar or lower price.
What do you think about the Galaxy A56? Would you pay the premium for Samsung’s reliability, or would you opt for a competitor? Let us know your thoughts!
