Galaxy A56 vs. Nothing Phone (3a) – Full Day Comparison, Camera Battle, Performance & Battery Life Pros and Cons!

When it comes to mid-range Android phones, Samsung’s Galaxy A series has long been a go-to choice. However, Nothing is steadily rising as a major competitor with its uniquely designed and competitively priced phones. The new Nothing Phone 3a, priced at around $350, aims to challenge the Galaxy A56, which retails for $500, in several key areas—camera, performance, battery life, and design.

Despite its lower price tag, the Nothing Phone 3a brings in surprising features like a dedicated telephoto lens, something rarely seen in this segment. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A56 relies on its robust One UI software experience, long-term update promise, and Samsung’s legacy of reliability.

In this real-world “day in the life” test, both phones were taken through the streets of Vienna to assess how they perform across daily tasks—navigation, photography, video recording, gaming, and more. By the end of the day, it became clear that while both phones shine in different ways, the decision comes down to what you value most in a smartphone.

Let’s kick off this comparison with how each device feels in your hand—design and build quality.

• Read also:
• iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16e – Is Saving $200 Worth It or a Huge Mistake? 
• Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i vs Slim 9i: Is the $700 Price Difference Justified?

Design and Build Quality:

At first glance, the design language between the Galaxy A56 and Nothing Phone 3a couldn’t be more different. The A56 keeps Samsung’s traditional vertical camera alignment and muted aesthetic, while the Nothing 3a features a horizontal camera layout that gives it a more playful and bold appearance.

The Galaxy A56’s rear is minimalist, clean, and familiar—but lacks excitement. On the other hand, the Nothing Phone 3a brings its signature transparent-style vibe and glyph lighting cues, although toned down from the flagship Nothing Phone (2).

When it comes to handling, both phones feel sturdy. The Galaxy A56 is slightly heavier but offers a comfortable grip with a balanced weight distribution. The back panel, however, does feel a bit hollow compared to the previous A55 model.

Both devices are made of plastic frames and glass backs, but the Nothing Phone 3a arguably feels more premium thanks to its thoughtful detailing and unique build personality.

In terms of durability, both phones are IP67 rated, meaning they’re dust-resistant and can handle submersion in water—but not prolonged or deep exposure. Button placement is intuitive on both phones, though Nothing adds a side button shortcut for screenshots, notes, and other features—something you won’t find on the A56.

Overall, the Nothing Phone 3a wins for design uniqueness, while the Galaxy A56 stays safe but dependable with a more conservative look and feel.

Display Specs and Features:

Both the Galaxy A56 and the Nothing Phone 3a are equipped with large AMOLED panels, offering vibrant visuals and excellent contrast, but their execution and fine details set them apart.

The Galaxy A56 features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The screen delivers Samsung’s typically vibrant colors and deep blacks, and it supports HDR playback on platforms like YouTube and Netflix.

The Nothing Phone 3a, on the other hand, sports a slightly smaller 6.4-inch AMOLED panel, but also with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It may lack some of Samsung’s AMOLED polish, but it compensates with its edge-to-edge feel and smoother animations during real-world use.

 

Brightness-wise, the Galaxy A56 has the upper hand with peak brightness levels that make it easier to use outdoors. The Nothing Phone’s screen is usable in sunlight but isn’t as readable in very bright conditions.

In terms of color tone, the A56 leans toward more neutral and balanced hues, while the Nothing Phone 3a tends to be a bit more saturated and contrast-heavy out of the box—something some users may prefer for gaming and content viewing.

Both displays are flat and responsive, with smooth scrolling and good palm rejection. There’s no LTPO tech here, so the refresh rate only switches between 60Hz and 120Hz on both devices.

As for biometrics, the Galaxy A56 features an optical under-display fingerprint scanner, which is fast and reliable. The Nothing Phone 3a also includes an under-display scanner, but it feels slightly quicker in some scenarios and has a smoother unlocking animation.

Overall, while both phones offer solid displays for the price, the Galaxy A56 pulls ahead slightly with better brightness and color accuracy, while the Nothing Phone 3a appeals more to those seeking a punchier and bolder visual experience.

• SmartWatches’ Comparisons:
• Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Amazfit T-Rex 3: The Ultimate Rugged Smartwatch Battle!
• Garmin Instinct 3 vs. Instinct 2/2X: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
• Garmin Instinct 3 vs Instinct 2 Solar: | Which One Should You Get?

System and Software Updates:

When it comes to software experience and long-term support, the Galaxy A56 and Nothing Phone 3a take noticeably different approaches—Samsung offers a polished, feature-rich experience, while Nothing leans into simplicity and minimalism.

The Galaxy A56 runs One UI 7 based on Android 14 out of the box, and Samsung has committed to 4 years of major Android updates and 5 years of security patches, which is excellent for a mid-range phone.

In comparison, the Nothing Phone 3a comes with Nothing OS 2.5, also based on Android 14, and promises 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches. This is still a decent commitment, especially given the lower price tag.

One UI 7 brings a wealth of features like Secure Folder, Samsung Wallet, Smart View, and a robust Good Lock customization suite. It’s designed for power users and those who want full control of their phone experience.

Nothing OS, by contrast, focuses on a clean, minimal interface closer to stock Android. It includes unique touches like Glyph Interface support (absent on the 3a) and Nothing Widgets, but lacks deeper customizability.

The A56 feels heavier and more layered in usage, while the Nothing Phone 3a is lighter, snappier, and more intuitive for those who prefer a streamlined setup.

Nothing has improved its software polish significantly over time. Animations feel smooth, and bloatware is almost nonexistent. Samsung’s ecosystem integration is stronger, especially if you use Galaxy Buds, Watch, or SmartThings—you’ll get seamless syncing and better device management across the board. One small gripe with Nothing OS is the lack of advanced camera controls or pro features in the default camera app, something Samsung handles better.

Ultimately, if you’re after longevity and features, the Galaxy A56 is a better software investment. But if you want simplicity and fluidity, Nothing OS has its own charm.

Performance and Chipsets:

When comparing performance, the Galaxy A56 and the Nothing Phone 3a are relatively close, but they differ in their approach and execution. The Galaxy A56 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1480 chipset, while the Nothing Phone 3a runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, a mid-range chip from Qualcomm.

In day-to-day usage, both phones handle casual tasks like social media, messaging, and browsing with ease, showing little to no lag. Gaming and heavier apps reveal a slight edge for the Nothing Phone 3a, especially in GPU performance. It held up better in Genshin Impact with fewer frame drops.

In benchmark tests, the A56 often scores higher in multi-core CPU tasks, while the Nothing Phone 3a leads in GPU-heavy and gaming benchmarks. Thermal performance is excellent on both devices—neither heats up significantly, even during extended sessions.

Multitasking is solid across the board thanks to 8GB RAM on both devices, with RAM Plus (virtual RAM) on Samsung giving it a minor edge in memory flexibility. The Exynos 1480’s AI processing helps slightly in camera and voice tasks but isn’t noticeably faster in general use.

Overall, the Nothing Phone 3a is a better pick for gaming, while the Galaxy A56 shines in multitasking and long-term smoothness with One UI optimization.

Gaming:

Gaming performance is a key area where mid-range phones can shine—or stumble—and in this case, both the Galaxy A56 and Nothing Phone 3a handle gaming reasonably well for their price.

In our tests with Genshin Impact, both phones were set to low graphics at 30FPS. The Nothing Phone 3a ran more smoothly, with fewer frame drops compared to the A56. The Exynos 1480 on the A56 does the job, but it’s not optimized for heavy gaming. Occasionally, we noticed micro-stutters and delays when navigating menus or loading scenes.

On the other hand, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone 3a offered more consistent frame rates and better touch response throughout our gameplay. Thermal performance was excellent on both. After 15 minutes of gaming, neither phone became uncomfortably hot—both hovered around 32°C (89°F).

That said, battery drain during gaming was slightly more efficient on the Galaxy A56, although the difference was minimal. Games like Call of Duty Mobile and Asphalt 9 run fine on both devices, but you’ll want to keep the graphics settings on medium to low.

The Nothing Phone 3a felt more responsive when switching between scenes and combat in Genshin, making it a slightly better choice for gamers. For casual gaming, both are excellent, but for longer or more demanding sessions, the Nothing Phone 3a pulls ahead with its optimized GPU and stable thermals.

Camera Comparison

Main Camera

The Galaxy A56 and Nothing Phone 3a both feature capable main cameras that perform well in daylight. In bright conditions, the A56 tends to slightly overexpose highlights, producing brighter photos, while the Nothing Phone 3a leans towards warmer tones with slightly more contrast.

When zoomed to 2x (digitally on the A56, optically on the Nothing), the Nothing Phone delivers noticeably sharper results, thanks to its dedicated telephoto lens. In low light, the A56 exposes better with slightly cleaner results, while the Nothing Phone’s noise reduction kicks in more aggressively, softening fine details. Both cameras benefit from computational photography, but Samsung’s dynamic range handling edges out slightly.

Ultrawide Lens

Both phones come with 8MP ultrawide cameras, and under good lighting, photos are respectable. The A56 tends to produce brighter, more vibrant images, while the Nothing Phone’s ultrawide is slightly more color-accurate, albeit darker.

At night, the ultrawide sensor becomes less usable on both phones due to smaller sensors and lack of OIS. The A56 again produces brighter shots, but with more visible noise. The Nothing Phone’s images, while darker, are less noisy but lack detail.

Neither phone excels here, but for daylight ultrawide photography, the A56 comes out slightly ahead in terms of exposure and vibrance.

Zoom Comparison 

This is where the Nothing Phone 3a clearly wins. It has a dedicated telephoto lens capable of 4x optical zoom, while the A56 only uses digital cropping from the main sensor.

At 2x zoom, the A56 holds its own, but at 4x, the Nothing Phone captures more detail, sharper lines, and better background separation. The telephoto on the Nothing Phone is genuinely useful—especially for city photography or portraits from a distance.

Selfie Camera

The Galaxy A56 records selfie videos in 4K, while the Nothing Phone is limited to 1080p. This is a noticeable advantage for content creators or video calls.

In terms of selfies, the A56 captures sharper images but often blows out highlights in the background. The Nothing Phone produces softer but more balanced selfies, although it occasionally struggles with color shifting under direct sunlight.

At night, the A56 maintains better facial exposure using screen flash, but the Nothing Phone’s front camera is more consistent in skin tone accuracy.

Macro

Neither phone boasts a standout macro camera. The Galaxy A56 includes a 5MP macro lens, but results are often soft with limited detail. The Nothing Phone 3a doesn’t have a dedicated macro camera, instead relying on its main or ultrawide lenses for close-ups.

In practice, the A56 can capture closer subjects, but quality is inconsistent and lighting heavily affects performance.

The Nothing Phone compensates with better digital zoom, often outperforming the A56 in real-world macro scenarios. Neither device is made for macro photography, and results here are hit or miss.

Battery Life and Charging Speed

Both the Galaxy A56 and the Nothing Phone 3a offer respectable battery performance, but the Nothing Phone has a slight edge in endurance. After a full day of moderate to heavy use, including GPS, video, gaming, and photography, the Nothing Phone consistently ended with 3–5% more battery left than the A56.

The Galaxy A56 packs a 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging, while the Nothing Phone 3a also features a 5,000mAh battery but supports 45W fast charging. In real-world tests, the Nothing Phone charged noticeably quicker, reaching 100% in under 55 minutes compared to over 1 hour for the A56.

Neither phone supports wireless charging, but Nothing’s faster wired charging gives it a practical edge in daily usage. Battery drain during gaming was slightly more efficient on the Nothing Phone, making it the more power-optimized of the two overall.

• Read also:
• Pineapple Coconut Cobbler: A Tropical Dessert Dream Come True
• Galaxy A56 vs. A55 vs. A54: What’s Actually Changed?

Price and Availability

When it comes to pricing, the Nothing Phone 3a holds a strong value advantage, launching at around $350, whereas the Samsung Galaxy A56 retails for about $500. That’s a significant price gap considering both phones offer similar performance in everyday tasks and comparable camera setups.

The A56 is part of Samsung’s globally recognized A-series and is readily available in most markets, both online and in retail stores. The Nothing Phone 3a, while still globally distributed, may have limited regional availability, especially in more remote areas.

Both phones come in one storage variant of 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, with no microSD card support. If you’re budget-conscious, the Nothing Phone 3a gives you more bang for the buck, while the A56 offers more predictable after-sales support and long-term software updates.

• See also:
• Google Pixel 9a Review: A Mid-Range Contender or a Letdown?
• Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Review: A Solid Budget Option for 2025

Conclusion

The Galaxy A56 and the Nothing Phone 3a both cater to mid-range users but approach the experience from very different angles. Samsung leans into reliability, long-term software support, and a familiar, polished ecosystem through One UI 7. It’s a phone that feels mature, consistent, and ideal for users who want stability and feature-rich software.

On the other hand, the Nothing Phone 3a feels fresh, playful, and offers more versatility at a lower price. Its inclusion of a telephoto lens is rare at this price point, and its clean, minimal Nothing OS provides a more lightweight Android experience. While it lacks 4K video on the front and software longevity, it makes up for it with great design, performance, and better zoom.

Performance-wise, the differences are subtle. Both phones hold up in gaming, multitasking, and daily use. Battery life is also very similar, though the Nothing Phone consistently edged ahead in our real-world tests.

If you value brand reputation, updates, and the Samsung ecosystem, go with the A56. But if you want to save money and get a more unique camera setup, the Nothing Phone 3a is a surprisingly strong option.

 BUY The Galaxy A56 here

BUY Nothing Phone (3a) here

(FAQ) About Galaxy A56 vs. Nothing Phone 3a:

Q: Is the Nothing Phone 3a better than the Galaxy A56?

• A: The Nothing Phone 3a offers better value with a telephoto lens and smoother performance for a lower price. But the Galaxy A56 has better software and longer-term support.

Q: Which phone has a better camera – A56 or Nothing Phone 3a?

• A: It depends. The A56 does better in low light and front video, while the 3a shines in zoom photography thanks to its dedicated telephoto lens.

Q: Do both phones support microSD card expansion?

• A: No, both the Galaxy A56 and Nothing Phone 3a lack microSD card slots, so you’re limited to internal storage.

Q: Which phone is better for gaming?

• A: The Nothing Phone 3a had fewer frame drops in Genshin Impact, despite having a slightly weaker chip on paper. Both phones run games well on medium settings.

Q: Which phone has better battery life?

• A: They’re close, but the Nothing Phone 3a consistently held a 2–3% edge in multiple real-world tests over the Galaxy A56.

Q: Does the Nothing Phone 3a support 4K video?

• A: Only the rear main camera supports 4K; the selfie camera is capped at 1080p, unlike the Galaxy A56 which can do 4K on both ends.