Samsung Galaxy A56 Review: A Solid Mid-Ranger with a Focus on Longevity

The Samsung Galaxy A series has long been a popular choice for those seeking a balance of features and affordability. The newly launched Galaxy A56 aims to continue this trend, offering a familiar Samsung experience with some notable upgrades. After spending some time with the device, here’s our take on what it offers.

Familiar Design with a Touch of Refinement

The Galaxy A56 adopts Samsung’s modern design language, featuring a clean and minimalist aesthetic. The build feels sturdy, with a glass back and an aluminum frame, giving it a more premium feel than some competitors in this price range. It’s also relatively slim and comfortable to hold. The IP67 rating for dust and water resistance provides an added layer of durability and peace of mind.

The display is a typical Samsung strength. The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel is vibrant, with excellent color reproduction and good brightness levels, making it easily viewable even outdoors. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations, contributing to a fluid user experience. While the bezels aren’t the absolute thinnest on the market, they are a noticeable improvement over previous generations.

Capable Camera System for Everyday Photography

The camera setup on the Galaxy A56 is versatile enough for most everyday shooting scenarios. The 50MP main sensor with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) captures detailed photos with good dynamic range in decent lighting conditions. The 12MP ultrawide lens offers a wider perspective, which is useful for landscapes and group shots, although detail levels tend to soften compared to the main sensor. A dedicated 5MP macro lens allows for close-up shots, but as is typical with these sensors, the results can be a bit hit-or-miss.

While the camera system is competent for its class, it’s worth noting the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens. Zooming relies on digital cropping from the main sensor, which can lead to a loss of detail at higher zoom levels. Low-light performance on the main sensor is decent, offering good dynamic range, but darker areas can lack some detail.

The 12MP front-facing camera captures good-quality selfies with pleasing detail and accurate skin tones. Video recording capabilities on both the front and rear cameras top out at 4K at 30fps, with electronic image stabilization (EIS) helping to keep footage steady.

Solid Performance for Daily Tasks

Under the hood, the Galaxy A56 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1580 chipset (in many regions). This processor provides sufficient power for smooth multitasking, browsing, and running most everyday applications without significant lag. While it might not be the absolute top performer in its class, it handles daily tasks and moderate gaming reasonably well. Samsung has also done a commendable job with thermal management, preventing the phone from getting excessively hot during extended use.

The phone comes with a generous 8GB or 12GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking, and storage options of 128GB or 256GB provide ample space for apps, photos, and videos. It’s worth noting that unlike some previous models, the A56 does not feature microSD card support for expandable storage.

Long-Term Software Support is a Major Plus

One of the standout features of the Samsung Galaxy A56 is its commitment to long-term software updates. Samsung is promising up to six years of major Android OS and security updates. This is a significant advantage and ensures that the phone will stay current with the latest features and security patches for an extended period, making it a more future-proof investment. The phone launches with Android 15 and Samsung’s One UI 7, offering a polished and feature-rich user experience with various customization options and useful tools. While some users might find the pre-installed “bloatware” a bit excessive, the overall software experience is generally smooth and intuitive.

Battery Life and Charging

The Galaxy A56 packs a 5,000mAh battery, which provides good all-day battery life for most users with moderate usage. You can expect to get through a full day without needing to reach for the charger. The phone supports 45W wired fast charging, a welcome upgrade over previous mid-range Samsung devices. While a charger isn’t included in the box, using a compatible adapter will significantly reduce charging times, getting you back up to a decent charge level in around 30 minutes. However, wireless charging is not supported on this model.

Conclusion: A Reliable Mid-Ranger with Long-Term Appeal

The Samsung Galaxy A56 presents a compelling package in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. It offers a good balance of features, a pleasing design, a capable camera system, and solid performance for everyday tasks. However, its standout feature is undoubtedly Samsung’s commitment to an impressive six years of software updates, making it a smart choice for those who prioritize longevity and staying current. While it might not excel in every single category compared to its rivals, the Galaxy A56 offers a reliable and well-rounded experience with the added benefit of long-term software support, making it a strong contender for users seeking a dependable mid-range smartphone.

Pros:

• Vibrant Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
• Capable 50MP main camera with OIS
• Solid performance for everyday tasks
• Excellent battery life
• Industry-leading six years of software updates
• Premium build quality with IP67 water and dust resistance
• Faster 45W wired charging

Cons:

• No dedicated telephoto camera
• Macro camera performance can be inconsistent
• No microSD card slot for expandable storage
• Ships without a charger in the box
• No wireless charging support
• Some users may find pre-installed bloatware excessive