Samsung’s flagship S Series phones—the S23 Ultra, S24 Ultra, and the newly launched S25 Ultra—always grab the headlines. But let’s face it: the real money-maker for Samsung is its mid-range A Series lineup. According to Counterpoint Research, there are over 89 million A Series users in India alone, and Samsung’s gunning for 100 million by 2025 with its latest trio: the A26, A36, and the focus of this review, the A56.
The Samsung Galaxy A56 is the most expensive A Series phone yet, priced at ₹42,000 for the base 8GB + 128GB variant. After using it as a daily driver for several days, it’s clear this is a solid device—but it comes with a catch. It feels like you’re paying a 15-20% premium for Samsung’s brand and software perks. Compared to cheaper alternatives like the Nothing Phone 3A Pro, OnePlus 13R, and Honor 200 Pro (available for as low as ₹40,000), is it worth the splurge? Let’s dig into the details.
Design and Build: High-End Vibes with a Few Edges
Right out of the box, the Galaxy A56 looks and feels premium. It sports an aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, and a sleek camera module that’s a step up from its predecessors. The olive color variant is a standout—smudges and fingerprints barely show up, which is a relief for anyone tired of wiping down their phone. At 7.8mm thin and lighter than the Galaxy A55, it’s comfy to hold… mostly. Those sharp edges can dig in after a while—some softer curves would’ve been nice.
You also get IP67 dust and water resistance, which is nearly flagship-grade for a mid-ranger. But the thick bezels on the front? They’re a letdown, especially when stacked against the S25 Ultra. The fingerprint sensor’s another miss—it’s slow, often requiring a second tap to unlock.
Display: A Feast for Your Eyes
The 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is a highlight. Colors are vibrant, whites are crisp, and the warmth is spot-on—whether you’re scrolling Instagram Reels, watching YouTube, or streaming Netflix, it’s a treat. It supports HDR10 playback on Netflix and Amazon Prime, and with a peak brightness of 1200 nits, it holds up in sunlight (though it’s not the brightest out there). Plus, it dims down low for late-night use without blinding you.
Performance: Exynos Steps Up
Under the hood, the Galaxy A56 runs on Samsung’s Exynos 1580 chipset. Exynos has a rocky history—think overheating and lag—but this one’s a pleasant surprise. It edges out the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 and 7s Gen 3, stays cool during 30-minute gaming sessions, and handles stress tests without breaking a sweat. Paired with One UI 7, the 120Hz animations are silky smooth, outpacing rivals like the Vivo V50 and Nothing Phone 3A Pro.
Gaming’s the weak link, though. PUBG Mobile is stuck at 30 FPS—disappointing when competitors hit 60 FPS at this price. Future updates might fix it, but for now, it’s a compromise.
Battery Life: Solid, Not Stellar
The 5,000mAh battery earns a B+. It lasts a full day, but with Chinese mid-rangers flaunting 6,000mAh or even 6,500mAh silicon-carbon batteries, it feels a bit behind. The upside? 45W charging (up from 25W on the A55) refills it fast—provided you’ve got a compatible PD adapter and 5A cable, since there’s no charger included.
Cameras: Stuck in Last Year
The camera setup is a mixed bag. It’s mostly the same hardware as last year’s model, with the only upgrade being a 12MP selfie camera with a larger sensor. The 50MP main lens delivers vibrant daytime shots with accurate white balance, but there’s no telephoto lens—just a digital 2x crop for portraits that gets fuzzy when you zoom in. The ultra-wide lens is underwhelming, crushing shadows and struggling with dynamic range in tough lighting.
Night mode disappoints too—photos turn out desaturated and lack detail. There’s no 4K 60fps recording option either, though 4K 30fps footage is decent, with good stabilization and natural skin tones. Selfies shine brighter than the A55, with better skin tone processing, but the narrow field of view means stretching your arm to fit in the frames.
Software: One UI 7, Lite Version
One UI 7 runs smoothly on the 120Hz display, but it’s a toned-down version compared to the S25 Ultra. The Now Bar feels limited, AI features like summaries, translations, and grammar checks are absent, and long-pressing the power button triggers Bixby instead of Gemini. It’s functional, but it’s not the full Samsung software magic.
Verdict: A Safe Pick with a Premium Price
So, what’s the final score? The Samsung Galaxy A56 gets a 7/10. It nails design, display, and performance but stumbles with gaming, battery size, and cameras. At ₹42,000, it’s pricier than the Nothing Phone 3A Pro, OnePlus 13R, or Honor 200 Pro—all of which offer more bang for your buck.
That said, Samsung’s got an edge: six years of software updates, a massive service network, and easy EMI options make it a reliable choice. It’s not the best value out there, but it’s a mid-ranger you can count on for the long haul.
What’s your take on the Galaxy A56? Let us know in the comments below!
