Samsung has kept me waiting for the Galaxy A56 for months. I bought the international version on launch, and I was excited when the company announced the Galaxy A56 would make it to the US this year.
We were robbed of the excellent Galaxy A55, and Samsung made the right decision by giving us the Galaxy A56 in 2025.
The Galaxy A36 excited me for a different reason. I didn’t mind the Exynos 1380 chipset in the Galaxy A35, but for $400, I knew Samsung could do better.
For 2025, it did, giving us a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset instead. Unfortunately, the performance did not meet my expectations.
I used the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 side by side. Here’s why you should spend more.
Read our review
The Samsung Galaxy A36 has flagship looks but lags behind the competition
A mixed bag of results
What I like about the Samsung Galaxy A56
Premium build and excellent performance
Midrange smartphones usually require compromises in build quality to maintain a lower price, but Samsung didn’t skimp on that with the Galaxy A56.
It’s a premium build throughout, and if you told me the Galaxy A56 was actually the upcoming Galaxy S26, I wouldn’t question you.
The Galaxy A56 features Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, with a brushed, color-matched aluminum frame. It feels fantastic in the hand, and it’s easily the best build on a smartphone under $500.
Samsung matched the excellent build of the Galaxy A56 with a gorgeous display.
Its 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 1080p panel is stunning, featuring saturated colors and deep contrast. Games and movies look amazing, and I always appreciate a quality Samsung display on phones under $500.
Performance is what really sets the Galaxy A56 apart from its less expensive sibling.
The Exynos 1580 is an excellent chipset, and if you haven’t used an Exynos in some time, it’s time to let go of old grudges.
The Galaxy A56 doesn’t overheat, and it’s power-efficient. I rarely experience slowdowns or lag, and I enjoy silky-smooth performance.
Samsung fitted the US variant with 8GB of RAM, which makes a difference. More RAM equals smoother performance, and while I would’ve loved the 12GB international variant, I’ll take what I can get.
Pricing varies, but even if there is a $100 gap between the Galaxy A56 and A36, the performance is worth the additional cost.
Thankfully, Samsung improved the cameras on the Galaxy A56.
The Galaxy A55 suffered from washed-out photos with soft detail. It was a significant weakness of the device, but Samsung corrected it on the Galaxy A56. Photos are saturated and crisp in good lighting.
I wouldn’t rely too heavily on the 12MP ultrawide or 5MP macro lens, but in a pinch, they are fine.
Lengthy software support and impressive battery life
The Galaxy A56 does its predecessor proud
Software features and support are similar between the Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36. Both are slated for six years of support, and neither contains a heavy dose of Galaxy AI.
One UI 7 runs smoothly on the Galaxy A56, and I enjoy what Samsung has done with its software this year.
One UI 8 won’t bring too many changes to the Galaxy A56, but Samsung’s visual overhaul with One UI 7 is enough to keep me pleased.
I have no complaints about the battery life on either device.
The Exynos 1580 in the Galaxy A56 sips power, and I consistently get two days of mixed use on a single charge from its 5,000mAh cell.
No one would consider its recharge speeds blistering, but 45W wired charging isn’t awful for Samsung, especially on a midrange phone.
What I like about the Samsung Galaxy A36
Quality build and a fantastic display
The Samsung Galaxy A36 shares many of the creature comforts of the Galaxy A56.
It features a similarly gorgeous 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 1080p panel and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back.
It does swap out a plastic frame for the aluminum on the Galaxy A36, but the phone still feels solid in the hand.
Unfortunately, its performance doesn’t live up to its build quality or display.
I used the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset in the Moto G Stylus 2025, and I was expecting a similarly snappy experience in the Galaxy A36 — I was wrong.
Slowdowns plague the Galaxy A36, and you’ll definitely notice you’re using a midrange phone.
One UI 7 is more demanding than Moto’s Hello UI, but I attribute the lack of performance to the limited RAM in the Galaxy A36. For $400, we deserve more than 6GB of RAM.
It’s even more frustrating because Samsung sells variants with more RAM overseas. It makes no sense for the money the company charges, and it hinders the Galaxy A36.
Thankfully, the battery life on the Galaxy A36 matches that of the A56. I easily get two days on a single charge, and the Galaxy A36 features a similar 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging.
Pricing is where the conversation between these two phones gets more complicated. Both occupy a weird place in Samsung’s lineup.
If you can pick up a Galaxy A36 for around $300, the discount is worth it. The only problem is that the Galaxy A56 is routinely on sale on Amazon for around $375.
Unless the price difference is over $100, I have a hard time recommending the Galaxy A36 over the A56. You’ll notice the performance difference consistently, and it’s a much better phone to own in the long term.
Samsung’s midrange lineup is complicated
It’s important to remember that the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is lurking and is often on sale for around $550.
It depends on your budget, but the Galaxy A56 is the sweet spot in Samsung’s lineup. It features a premium build, gorgeous display, and smooth performance.
I wish it had more RAM stateside, but the Galaxy A56 is the midrange Samsung you’ll want in your pocket in 2025.
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- SoC
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Exynos 1580
- RAM
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8GB
- Storage
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128GB
- Battery
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5000 mAh
- Operating System
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OneUI 7.0, Android 15
- Connectivity
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Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, NFC
The Samsung Galaxy A56 is a strong mid-ranger for everyday use. It boasts a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz display for smooth visuals and a triple-camera rear setup headlined by 50MP wide shooter.
It’s powered by a 5,000 mAh battery and is designed for long-term use with six generations of Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates.
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- SoC
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Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
- RAM
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6GB
- Storage
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128GB
- Battery
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5,000mAh
- Operating System
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One UI 7, Android 15
The Samsung Galaxy A36 has officially landed. This budget-friendly phone packs a bright Super AMOLED display, a sharp 50MP main camera, and a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip under the hood. But keep in mind—it only gets a trimmed-down version of Galaxy AI, not the full package.
