Samsung Galaxy A56 Review - A sprinkle of AI in a top-class value smartphone (2025)

For $699 it’s entirely possible to get a smartphone that ticks the boxes of the vast, absolute overwhelming majority of people if they’re honest about what they really need in a smartphone. Samsung’s latest A56 model is proof positive that most of us are probably spending money we don’t need to on flagship smartphones.

Now that’s not to say people are going to shun the $1000+ priced phones, of course not, there’s definitely something to aspire to there, there’s certainly a bit of a peer problem to deal with and yes there are some things that you get that you might not find under $700.

What are you missing out on? Perhaps the most premium design stylings, materials (like titanium), the most robust materials too. And, the most optimal performance and camera technology. Do you notice this in day to day life – not at all.

While you might think I’m talking about some device that just a few people will buy here, I’ve got news for you – this may be the single most competitive market in Australia. According to data I’ve sighted, Australians purchased 7 million smartphones in 2024. Wait for it though, 54.2% of them were in the sub $700 price category.

That’s over 4 million phones per year! Every single week on average there are over 80,000 smartphones sold that are priced below $700.

Do you see now why the Samsung Galaxy A56 is one of the most important phones in Samsung’s lineup? At $699 – it’s just begging to be the “most premium phone” that people can afford when you’re on a budget.

Of the A series range, the A56 is the premium choice – simply by it’s metal frame. Side by side with it’s cheaper A36 sibling you can see the difference, and I think in-store that would really draw people up the price point from the $549 of the A36.

My use of the Galaxy A56 over a week or so was utterly normal. Battery life was daily, ending most days with more than 20% – except for when I was at the Grand Prix and I was pushing it constantly over 14 hours. But for a day to day use there’s no need for power at your desk – just charge it while you sleep.

However the lack of Qi wireless charging is a disappointment, I feel like we’re getting to a point where that needs to come down through the lineup more – however, its only something someone coming from flagship down would notice.

The cameras are made to mimic what’s available on a flagship phone. 0.5 ultra wide, a 1x and 2x option with a hybrid 4x and 10x option.

Samsung’s software doesn’t show those 10x type options until you choose the 2x, which is smart – it’s not a great zoom, and I think the best quality comes from just using the 1x here.

Here, an overcast day in Melbourne and you get the glistening water of Albert Park Lake, and the full city skyline. There’s great detail in the people in the middle ground and this is an awesome sharable photo.

That for me is the key here, you’re not taking A56 photos to Officeworks to print in A0 and frame, these are being shared on Social media!

Here’s a more challenging situation with bright purple LED screens bringing light to a dark morning at the gates:

I reckon it’s an outstanding representation of what the scene looked like – it’s not blowing out the dark night sky, and the colour representation is outstanding.

In low light conditions along a 5am street it’s the same:

The brake lights don’t blow out the photo, but have a bloom to them – for context, here’s that same scene shot on iPhone’s “Pro” model camera:

While you could certainly argue the Samsung photo is miles better, you’ll find actually the real eye view was somewhere in between. iPhone excentuates the light rays, but doesn’t blow out in blooming, while the Samsung tries to compensate to create the night sky.

But, if we look at the concept of “Social Sharing” then hey, who wouldn’t argue the Samsung A56 is a cracking photo!!!

Using “AI” there’s also the options of photo “Cleanup” – this is where you remove things from the photo that you don’t want there.

Look, it works great – of course, once you take the photo off your phone onto a bigger screen (Like I just did) you will notice some issues maybe – but I’m still happy to remove the rubbish from this photo 🙂

Speaking of AI – this phone does NOT have Galaxy AI.

So all the things we’ve talked about with Samsung’s Flagship S25 are not here.

However, the genesis of Samsung’s first AI leap, the Google Circle to Search is here.

Samsung call this “Awesome Intelligence” – so just a few nifty features. Swipe in from the right top edge of screen to bring up AI Select, select anything and you’ve got some nifty options.

Read the text into the clipboard, use AI to work out your next function like search or even understand the text and add to calendar.

Works great.

In fact, I think these are the AI features companies should sell more – keep it simple folks, it’s going to take people years to really understand what these phones can do, so this is a winner.

This is all the AI you need:)

Samsung’s Galaxy A56 is snappy, I never felt like there was some performance deficiency, doom scrolling through TikTok or Instagram feels the same on this as it does a $2000 smartphone.

And that’s the point here. There’s a reason people aren’t complaining about the phones they buy when they spend less than $700 – because they are great phones!

Samsung’s competition at this price point is far more intense than the simple “Samsung v Apple” smartphone race over $1,200.

When you search for devices in this price range you get Motorola, Oppo, HMD and more – and none of them are making shit phones, so Samsung’s advantage here is brand awareness, familiarity and innovative features.

For people who perhaps are clinging to an older Samsung Flagship and don’t want to go onto contract, this phone is familiar in every way, its the perfect new Samsung for someone who owns an older Samsung.

Honestly though, we’re just being snobs if we think anything less of someone who doesn’t choose flagship. In fact, the 4 million Aussies spending under $700 are the smartest of us all.

Samsung’s A56 is on sale now, and should fly off the shelves.

Samsung Galaxy A56 Review