Samsung Galaxy A56 5G Review

The Galaxy A56 5G is Samsung's 2025 upper midrange phone, launched in March 2025 and in the United States in July at $499.99, and one of the best selling phones in the world: Counterpoint counted it among the top ten models of the first quarter of 2026. It brings flagship touches down a price tier, with an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides, IP67, a 6.7 inch FHD+ Super AMOLED at 120Hz, and six major Android upgrades with six years of security patches.

The new Exynos 1580 is a clear step up from the A55's chip in everyday use, though it is no gaming phone. The 5,000mAh battery comfortably lasts a day and now charges at 45W, a long overdue jump from 25W. The 50MP main camera with optical stabilization takes good daylight pictures, while the 12MP ultrawide is fine and the 5MP macro is filler. One UI 7 brings much of the Galaxy AI suite under Samsung's Awesome Intelligence name. Its weak points are the ones the price implies, middling speed and an average camera in poor light, and some US reviewers felt $499.99 was too close to a discounted Galaxy S24 FE.

Battery life is an A, the build, screen, cameras and software are solid B grades, and performance and innovation sit at C. It is a B, the same shape as the A57 that followed it.