Samsung’s Galaxy A series continues to evolve with small but noticeable tweaks. The latest addition, the Galaxy A56, enters as the successor to the A55, which itself followed the well-liked Galaxy A54. All three are solid mid-range contenders, but which one is truly worth your money in 2025?
In this review, we’ll walk you through everything from design and display, to performance, cameras, and battery life.
Surprisingly, the changes from one model to the next are far more subtle than you’d expect. In fact, you might even be better off saving money by sticking with an older model—especially the A55. We put the A56, A55, and A54 through a rigorous set of real-world tests, from Genshin Impact gaming to video capture in challenging lighting conditions.
Here’s the ultimate comparison that answers your most important question: Should you upgrade to the Galaxy A56, or stick with the A55 or A54?
Let’s break it all down, starting with the design.
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Design and Build Quality
Samsung has taken a slow-evolution approach with the design of its mid-range Galaxy A series over the past three years. From the A54 to the A56, changes are subtle, but there are a few notable details worth highlighting.
The Galaxy A56 is the lightest of the trio, weighing just 198g, making it slightly more comfortable for one-handed use compared to the A55, which was already a tad lighter than the A54. In terms of dimensions, all three are very similar, but the A56 feels thinner due to the subtle redesign.
Aesthetically, the A56 introduces a new camera housing design, which protrudes slightly and mimics the look of higher-end Galaxy S series phones. It looks good on paper, but it doesn’t bring any functional improvement—the camera system remains unchanged. Also, the recessed design can attract dust, which may bother some users.
Materials have shifted slightly too. While all three feature plastic backs and aluminum frames, the A55 has the most premium in-hand feel. The A56’s rear shell feels slightly more hollow and less solid, though it’s still perfectly usable with a case. The A54, despite being the oldest, holds up well and still feels durable.
All three models are IP67-rated, offering protection against dust and water immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. So, you won’t be sacrificing ruggedness no matter which one you choose.
In terms of colors, the A56 comes in a new muted pink shade and other soft-toned options. It’s more subdued than the brighter finishes of the A54 and A55, which some users may prefer for a professional or minimalist look.
Button placement and haptic feedback remain virtually identical across all models. Build tolerances are tight, and nothing feels loose or poorly assembled, which is typical for Samsung’s A series.
Overall, if you’re buying based on design alone, the A55 might feel slightly more refined. The A56 wins for weight and sleekness, but loses a few points in material feel. The A54 stays classic but is starting to show its age.
SD Card Slot
One of the most disappointing changes in the Galaxy A56 is the removal of the microSD card slot. Unlike the A54 and A55, which both supported expandable storage via the SIM tray, the A56 only supports dual SIM with no option for external storage.
This may frustrate users who rely on SD cards for media, backups, or offline storage. Samsung’s decision aligns with the industry trend, likely influenced by Google and Apple. Still, it feels like a step backward, especially for mid-range buyers who value flexibility. If SD card support is essential, the A55 or A54 are better choices.
Display Specs And Features
The Galaxy A56 features the largest screen in the trio, followed by the A55, and then the A54. All three use Super AMOLED panels with a 120Hz refresh rate and similar Full HD+ resolution, but the pixel density actually decreases slightly with each new model. This means the A54’s display is technically the sharpest, while the A56 is the least sharp due to the larger screen size without a resolution bump.
Visually, however, all three offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and solid brightness levels for outdoor use. You won’t notice much difference unless pixel sharpness is a key priority for you.
When it comes to PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)—a critical factor for users sensitive to screen flicker—all three devices perform poorly. Captured under a 1/6400s shutter speed, noticeable flickering is present across the A54, A55, and A56. This makes them less ideal for users with PWM sensitivity, as extended usage could lead to eye strain.
Samsung hasn’t improved PWM handling across these generations, so if flicker-free performance is essential, you may want to explore alternative brands with DC dimming or flicker-free certifications.
Software Updates
The Galaxy A56 comes out of the box running One UI 7, Samsung’s latest skin layered on top of Android 15. It brings some minor visual refinements, improved animations, and better privacy controls—but don’t expect a massive overhaul compared to One UI 6.
The A55 and A54 currently run One UI 6.1, but both are expected to receive the One UI 7 update before the launch of GTA 6 (whenever that finally drops). Samsung’s track record for updates on its A-series devices is solid, and all three phones are promised 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches.
Feature-wise, One UI 7 is more streamlined, offering Circle to Search, enhanced multitasking, and some new AI-driven features—though these are still limited compared to the flagship Galaxy S and Z series.
In daily use, One UI continues to feel smooth and polished, with useful extras like Samsung DeX missing on the A-series but not particularly expected either.
Whether you’re using the A54, A55, or A56, you’ll be able to enjoy long-term software support—one of Samsung’s key strengths in the mid-range space.
Geekbench and 3DMark
In Geekbench 6 testing, the Galaxy A56 shows around 20% better single-core performance compared to the A55, thanks to the new Exynos 1480 chipset. In multi-core tests, it edges out the A55 by roughly 10%, which is noticeable but not game-changing in everyday use.
The A54, running on the older Exynos 1380, clearly lags behind both in single and multi-core scores, making the A56 a worthy jump if you’re upgrading from the A54.
In 3DMark’s Wildlife Extreme benchmark, the A56 averaged 8 FPS, while the A55 managed 6 FPS, and the A54 came in around 4–5 FPS. For casual gamers, this boost in graphics performance gives the A56 a clear edge.
AnTuTu
When it comes to AnTuTu benchmark scores, the Galaxy A56 pulls ahead with a score of 870,000, reflecting its improvements in overall performance and system fluidity.
The Galaxy A55, in comparison, scores around 725,000, which is still respectable but falls short of the A56’s all-round enhancements in memory, CPU, GPU, and UX performance.
Unfortunately, AnTuTu wasn’t run on the A54 in this comparison, but based on prior tests, it typically lands below 600,000, indicating a much weaker performance ceiling.
The jump from A54 to A55 is meaningful, but the A56 shows the biggest leap for multitaskers, gamers, and power users needing a bit more muscle.
Thermal5
To test how each Galaxy A series phone handles heat, all three — the Galaxy A54, A55, and A56 — were placed on the same 5G network and joined in a Google Meet video call for 15 minutes, a common thermal stress test.
At the end of the test, none of the phones overheated, and the temperatures remained within a safe and expected range for a mid-range device.
The Galaxy A56 was the coolest among the trio, finishing at 35°C (95°F), which speaks to its slightly better thermal management and efficiency with the newer Exynos 1580 chipset.
The A55 ended up a degree higher at 36°C (96.8°F), and the A54 was just slightly above that, holding steady around 37°C (98.6°F).
The difference is small but noticeable, especially if you’re doing extended video calls, downloading large files, or gaming under mobile data.
The A56’s thermal performance isn’t game-changing, but it’s a nice incremental improvement that ensures comfort and reliability.
Interestingly, despite the chipset upgrades, Samsung managed to keep thermals under control across all three phones, which is promising for users concerned about overheating.
If you’re using your phone heavily on 5G, thermal efficiency becomes a bigger factor, and in that case, the A56 edges ahead.
Gaming
All three phones were tested with Genshin Impact, one of the most demanding mobile games, set to medium graphics settings and capped at 30 FPS.
Unfortunately, Z Perf (a frame rate tracking tool) isn’t currently supported on the Galaxy A56, so the frame rate couldn’t be measured precisely.
Still, visually, the A56 held a mostly stable performance throughout gameplay, with occasional minor frame dips in busy scenes or combat.
Surprisingly, the Galaxy A55 actually ran Genshin Impact slightly smoother during real-world gameplay, showing fewer stutters or lag spikes.
This could be due to software optimization differences, or potentially early firmware quirks with the A56.
The Galaxy A54, while playable, showed the most frame drops, particularly during area transitions and intense action.
In terms of heat generation during gaming, the A56 stayed cooler than both the A54 and A55, further proving its improved thermal setup.
For most casual gamers, all three phones can handle Genshin at medium settings, but don’t expect flagship-level frame rates or fluidity.
If you’re upgrading from the A54, both A55 and A56 offer noticeable gaming improvements, though the gap between A55 and A56 is narrower than expected.
Battery drain during gameplay was slightly faster on the A56, likely due to its increased performance demands, despite being thermally efficient.
Overall, gamers will get the best experience on the A55 and A56, with the A56 being better cooled and future software updates possibly ironing out performance hiccups.
Cameras Spec And Performance
Main Camera
All three phones—Galaxy A54, A55, and A56—feature a 50MP main sensor with identical hardware specs. However, due to chipset differences, the image processing varies slightly. The A54 tends to produce more contrast-heavy photos, especially in well-lit environments.
The A55 balances contrast and brightness more effectively, while the A56 smooths out shadows and enhances brightness slightly. At night, all three offer decent shots, but the A56 applies stronger HDR to lift shadows, which can sometimes result in halo effects in skies.
Interestingly, the A54 occasionally delivered more natural results, especially in high-contrast scenes. In portrait mode, all three deliver comparable background blur due to the same sensor size. Detail retention across all models is similar, with subtle differences mostly in color tones and contrast.
Ultrawide Lens
The ultrawide sensors on the A54, A55, and A56 are not flagship-grade and perform adequately only in daylight. During daytime photography, all three produce sharp images when the light is abundant. However, the A54 leans toward a slightly magenta tint, while the A55 and A56 offer better white balance.
In low light, quality drops significantly for all models, with increased noise and reduced detail. The A56 and A55 lift shadows more, which sometimes causes a noisy look. Despite similar results, the A56 offers marginal improvements in dynamic range. Overall, ultrawide performance is usable but far from impressive.
Zoom Comparison
Zooming on these phones is purely digital since none include a telephoto lens. Up to 5x zoom, images are passable, particularly in daylight. The A56 delivers the best sharpness and white balance, followed closely by the A55.
The A54 shows a slight magenta shift again. At 10x zoom, quality degrades noticeably across all three, with the A56 retaining a slight edge in clarity. Night zoom is also possible but less reliable, with noise and processing artifacts present across the board.
Selfie Camera
Selfies are another area with close competition. The A56 tends to over-process colors, sometimes adding a greenish tint to skin tones. The A55 and A54 appear more balanced in tone, although the A55 can be slightly blurry if not held steady.
Daylight selfies across all models look decent, and edge detection for portrait selfies is mostly accurate. Audio capture and wind handling during video selfies were similar, with no standout winner. Overall, A56 delivers the sharpest selfies, but the A54 feels more color-accurate.
Macro
All three models include a 5MP macro camera, but its usefulness is questionable. The macro lens is largely a filler feature with average image quality. Details are often soft, and there’s noticeable chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes.
The focus distance is quite limited, making it hard to get consistently sharp images. The A56 occasionally provides slightly more processed clarity, but it’s still underwhelming. Most users are unlikely to use this lens regularly.
It’s more of a marketing checkbox than a practical tool. Future Galaxy A models would benefit more from dropping the macro lens and investing in better ultrawide or zoom capabilities.
Battery Life
All three Galaxy A series phones—the A54, A55, and A56—come with a 5,000mAh battery. That said, battery life between them can differ slightly depending on chipset efficiency and software optimization.
During heavy usage involving benchmarks, gaming, camera testing, and constant 5G connectivity, both the A55 and A56 delivered surprisingly similar results. At the end of a full testing day, the A56 had about 49% battery left, while the A55 edged it slightly at 51%. The A54 wasn’t included in this test due to its battery being more aged, but historically it has also held up well for moderate usage.
While battery capacities remain the same, power efficiency varies. The A56 with the Exynos 1580 is a bit more optimized than the older A55’s 1480 and A54’s 1380, but not by a dramatic margin. If you’re not a heavy gamer or a power user, you’ll likely find the battery life on all three phones to be more than adequate for daily use.
Screen-on time during testing hovered around 4 hours for both the A55 and A56. For most users, each device should comfortably last a full day of mixed usage, including media consumption, web browsing, and moderate multitasking.
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Pros of Galaxy A56 (Compared to A55 & A54):
- Lighter Design: Weighing just 198g, the A56 is the lightest among the three, improving comfort for extended use.
- Faster Charging: Offers improved charging speeds compared to its predecessors, saving time during top-ups.
- Slightly Better Performance: The new Exynos 1580 provides modest gains in CPU and GPU performance over the A55 and A54.
- Modernized Camera Housing: While mostly a cosmetic change, the A56 sports a cleaner, more refined camera bump design.
- Improved Thermal Efficiency: Runs slightly cooler under pressure, especially during gaming and multitasking.
- Long-Term Software Support: Launching with One UI 7, it’s expected to receive updates well into the future.
Cons of Galaxy A56:
- No SD Card Slot: Unlike the A54 and A55, the A56 has removed the microSD expansion option, limiting local storage.
- Similar Camera Hardware: Despite the redesign, the camera sensors and quality remain nearly identical to previous models.
- Less Premium Build Feel: The back feels a bit more hollow and plasticky compared to the A55, which felt more solid in-hand.
Galaxy A56 vs. A55 vs. A54 – Key Specs Comparison
| Feature | Galaxy A56 | Galaxy A55 | Galaxy A54 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.6 inches | 6.5 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Display Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Resolution | FHD+ | FHD+ | FHD+ |
| PWM Performance | Noticeable flicker | Noticeable flicker | Noticeable flicker |
| Chipset | Exynos 1480 | Exynos 1380 | Exynos 1380 |
| RAM & Storage | 8GB + 128/256GB | 8GB + 128/256GB | 6/8GB + 128/256GB |
| SD Card Slot |  Removed |
 Yes |
Yes |
| Main Camera | 50MP | 50MP | 50MP |
| Ultra-wide Camera | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP |
| Macro Camera | 5MP (low quality) | 5MP | 5MP |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP | 32MP | 32MP |
| Zoom Capability | Up to 10x (digital) | Up to 10x (digital) | Up to 10x (digital) |
| OS Version | One UI 6 / 7 | One UI 6 | One UI 6 |
| Software Support | 4 OS + 5 Years Security | 4 OS + 5 Years Security | 4 OS + 5 Years Security |
| Battery Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | 5000mAh |
| Charging Speed | 25W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging |
| Weight | ~198g | ~213g | ~206g |
| Build Quality | Plastic, IP67 | Glass back, IP67 | Glass back, IP67 |
| Price Range | ~$450+ | ~$400 | ~$350 |
Verdict
The Galaxy A56 refines the formula set by the A55 and A54, but doesn’t radically reinvent the lineup. Its updated Exynos 1580 chip gives a slight edge in performance, but real-world gains are subtle for everyday users.
While it looks different with the updated camera bump, the actual rear camera hardware remains mostly unchanged. The removal of the SD card slot in the A56 may disappoint power users who rely on expandable storage, especially considering the A55 and A54 support it.
On the flip side, the A56 offers lighter build quality and faster charging, which could be meaningful for some buyers. However, given the price difference and similarities, the A55 often presents better value—particularly if you find it at a discount. Unless you’re upgrading from something older than the A54, or need the latest for longevity and updates, the A56 feels more like an iterative update than a must-have.
If you’re on a budget, the A54 still holds up well. The A55 strikes a strong balance of features and price. But if you want a slightly newer design, a bit more power, and don’t mind losing the SD slot, the A56 is a solid pick—but far from revolutionary.
(FAQ) About Galaxy A56 vs. A55 vs. A54
1. What are the main differences between Galaxy A56, A55, and A54?
- The Galaxy A56 introduces a lighter design, faster charging, and a newer Exynos 1580 chip. However, it removes the microSD card slot, unlike the A55 and A54. All three phones share the same camera hardware and 5000mAh battery.
2. Does the Galaxy A56 support microSD cards?
- No, the Galaxy A56 does not have a microSD card slot. If expandable storage is important to you, the Galaxy A55 and A54 are better choices as both still support microSD cards.
3. Is battery life better on the Galaxy A56 compared to the A55 and A54?
- Battery life is very similar across all three models since they use the same 5000mAh battery. However, the A56 has improved power efficiency and slightly better thermals, giving it a minor edge in real-world usage.
4. Are the cameras better on the Galaxy A56 than on the A55 and A54?
- Not really. All three phones use the same 50MP main sensor. The A56 benefits slightly from newer image processing via the Exynos 1580, but the differences are minimal. Low-light and zoom performance are still very close.
5. Which Galaxy A-series phone is best for gaming: A54, A55, or A56?
- The Galaxy A56 performs slightly better in gaming due to the newer Exynos 1580 chip. However, the A55 is very close in performance, and both handle casual gaming well. Genshin Impact runs smoother on the A55 and A56 than on the A54.
6. Is it worth upgrading from Galaxy A55 to Galaxy A56?
- If you need faster charging and a lighter phone, the A56 may be worth it. But since the cameras and performance are only slightly improved, many users may find better value sticking with the A55—especially if expandable storage matters to you.
