As far as “mid-rangers” go, Samsung’s smartphone entry for 2025 slides into its role like a glove.

This isn’t new as the trait was also exemplified by last year’s model which was above any entry-level smartphone but secure enough in its position to not ‘threaten’ its flagship-level brethren. In a world where many lean to opposite ends of extremities, Samsung expertly straddle the middle ground with the Galaxy A56 5G. While specs-wise, this smartphone may scream ‘average’, its output and performance punch well above its weight class.

On paper, the specs the A56 5G comes with would put last year’s Samsung Galaxy S24FE a run for its money in a bevy of categories. Both devices share the same build characteristics; front and rear Gorilla Glass Victus+ and aluminum frames resulting in almost identical dimensions. They also possess equal-sized screens and resolution and near-identical internal memory setup as well.

More Than Meets The Eye

Mid-tier devices in the past have received unfair criticisms due to unrealistic expectations from reviewers so accustomed with flagship-tier, luxury devices. That said, and based on our time with the device, the A56 5G is probably the most “premium-feeling” mid-tier offering from Samsung – or any other brand to date. Unlike its predecessors which feel plasticky and leaning towards the budget end, the understated elegance of the A56 5G inches it closer to the flashier end of the spectrum.

As the saying goes, the mid-tier devices of today are equivalent to the flagships of yesteryear and in our books, no smartphone encapsulates that more than the A56 5G. And the best bit? You don’t have to pay a small fortune for it.

Samsung retained the design aesthetic they’ve committed to with other devices released recently; soft, rounded edges all around making them soft to the touch yet sturdy for everyday use. The device feels solid in your hand, and while it lacks the IP68 dust tight and water resistant rating, an IP67 is nothing to scoff at. It is more than capable of withstanding drops and dust; just don’t take it to the bottom of the swimming pool, aye?

As a daily driver, the A56 5G performs well on all categories. We did not experience any dropped calls and due to its relatively generous screen size, typing and scrolling on the device is awesome. The screen isn’t the brightest in the market, capped at 1900 nits but still performs well outdoors save for the brightest of days. The under display fingerprint scanner captures prints instantly although we very much prefer if Samsung embed this sensor into the more intuitive power button.

Power At the Ready

The 5000 mAh battery packed into the A56 5G is a blessing for those who want more from their device of choice. On casual use, the phone delivers with tons to spare in the tank. Whereas for those who utilise their smartphones as either media consumption and – or gaming device, would discover a very capable machine in their hands.

Be it watching movies, YouTube or just casual rounds on Call of Duty Mobile, the rounded edges of the A56 5G ensures the device stays in place without causing any discomfort your palms. The screen refresh rate goes up all the way to 120hz making it a brilliant device for games requiring snap decisions and quick actions. Added bonus is that the device stays relatively cool to the touch even for prolonged gaming sessions and is a great upgrade for those looking for an improve on their mobile gaming device without having to break the bank. A couple of rounds on FC25 Mobile later, we still did not feel any discomfort nor heat emanating from the device and even when we do feel them; mostly from prolonged 4K video recording, are quickly dissipated thanks to its construction.

Weighing just under 200g also makes the phone more comfortable to wield and for those intending to use Magsafe accessories, we have bad news. You’ll have to purchase a phone case with the Magsafe-compatible magnets separately.

While one may bemoan (rightfully so) the lack of wireless charging on this phone, the fact that it can last almost two days on a single full charge should be more than enough to satiate the mob. Topping up would be a breeze as well thanks to the 45W charging capability, allowing up to 65% capacity in 30 minutes; 68 minutes for maximum capacity.

Camera-wise, the A56 5G is very much in similar territory as the model it is replacing, and even the S24 FE. They are good enough for everyday snaps but may leave photography enthusiasts longing for more. Photos are passable for social media and video-wise, it even comes with gyro-EIS although capped at shooting 4k, 30fps. Those who are searching for a camera powerhouse, we recommend splurging a bit for the A56 5G’s more illustrious cousin, the S25 Ultra.

Not Your Typical Mid-Ranger

You may wonder if this is a dealbreaker for anyone considering the A56 5G and the answer is a solid ‘No’. In fact, far from it. Ticking all the necessary boxes when it comes to what constitutes a well-rounded, affordable device, the A56 5G is what you get when phone makers pays more attention than normal to their middle child. Slap on a different maker’s badge on this device and it’ll be labeled as a ‘Pro’ device.

Samsung also baked in several artificial intelligence features into the A56 5G including object eraser and best face to optimise photographs, auto trim for videos and AI select. While these features can be considered no-frills AI experience, they are good gateways to introduce the masses into Samsung’s AI offerings. However, we feel the best addition would be that this device is set to receive up to six years’ worth of security updates and six generations of OS upgrades. That’s almost unheard of even for mid-tier devices!

However having said all the above, if we are to point out the major negative point for the Samsung Galaxy A range, it would be their marketing for this particular release. A nauseating, eardrum-grating jingle which we would never wish upon our worst of enemies. You probably heard it on the radio or social media.

Another point of bothersome is the absence of wireless charging with the A56 5G. Having said that, this move was made mostly to keep the production cost low to suit its target price bracket. And lastly, the barebones unboxing experience which whilst expected of Samsung devices at this day and age, still a gripe-worthy point for us.

In A nutshell

The A56 5G continues Samsung’s streak of releasing mid-tier devices that perform like flagships of the past cycle. A very capable smartphone made even more enticing thanks to its price bracket, the A56 5G excels as both your main driver, or the reliable backup. Don’t let its value proposition as being the ‘mid-tier’ offering fool you. This is a middleweight that punches like a heavyweight.

Pros

• Great value proposition
• Six years security updates + six generations of OS updates
• Premium materials
• Chonky battery at 5000 mAh
• One of the best mid-tier devices in the market

Cons

• Barebones unboxing experience
• Boring colours
• Lack of wireless charging (we understand the logic behind this, but still….)

FINAL SCORE: 90/100

Vital Statistics

Platform: Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Body: 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm (6.39 x 3.05 x 0.29 in),  ~198g
Frame: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame IP67 water & dust resistant
Chipset: Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×2.9 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4×1.9 GHz Cortex-A520)
GPU: Xclipse 540
Display: Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak), 6.7 inches
Memory (Internal): 256GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide); 12 MP, f/2.2, 123? (ultrawide); 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro); 12 MP, f/2.2, (wide) (selfie)
Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 10-bit HDR
Sound: Stereo speakers, no jacks given
Battery: Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable
Price: Starts from RM 1,999

The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G is now available on the Samsung online store at RM1,999 and is available in four colours with the ‘Awesome’ suffix; lightgray, graphite, olive and pink. Each unit comes with 12GB memory and 256GB worth of storage as standard.