Our verdict
The best phone is the one that fits how you message, take photos and carry it around. The Galaxy A56 has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, a type of OLED with deep blacks, that refreshes up to 120 times a second (120Hz), so scrolling looks smooth. At 198g it is a large phone, so try the reach and pocket fit. The 50MP main camera has optical image stabilisation (OIS), which steadies the lens to reduce blur, but there is no telephoto camera for zoom. It supports 45W wired charging with a compatible charger and cable. Samsung's UK listing gives security updates until 31 March 2032. Start with your habits, then compare storage and the final price.
Buy it if
- You want a dependable Samsung without S-series pricing
- You value a bright, smooth screen and long software support
- Your main activities are messaging, photos, streaming and everyday apps
Skip it if
- You want a small phone
- You play demanding games at high settings
- Long-distance camera zoom is important
Featured in
How it would fit your home
Keeping in touch and getting things done
The 6.7-inch screen makes messages, maps and video easy to see. Prioritise comfort, enough storage and familiar apps over a flagship badge.
Photos of people close to you
The 50MP main camera with OIS matters more here than the number of extra lenses. Check full-size samples from a hands-on review first.
Keeping a phone for years
Look at the published security end date of 31 March 2032, not only the original launch promise.
The details, in plain English
Screen and size
Samsung lists a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen. AMOLED is a type of OLED, where each pixel makes its own light, so blacks look deep and colours bright. The 120Hz refresh rate redraws the picture up to 120 times a second, so scrolling looks smooth. Samsung quotes up to 1,200 nits with its Vision Booster brightness mode, helpful outdoors. The phone weighs 198g, so try typing one-handed and your usual pocket.
Cameras
The 50MP main camera has optical image stabilisation (OIS), which physically steadies the lens to reduce blur from shaky hands and in dim light. There is also a 12MP ultra-wide for groups and landscapes, a 5MP macro for close-ups and a 12MP front camera. Samsung lists digital zoom rather than a telephoto camera, so distant subjects lose detail when you zoom in.
Battery and charging
Samsung lists a 5,000mAh battery, a typical size for a large phone. It supports 45W wired charging, which Samsung calls Super Fast Charging, but you need a compatible charger and cable to get that speed. A charger you already own may still work, just more slowly. No wireless charging is listed, so charging pads will not work.
Software support
Samsung promised up to six generations of Android upgrades and six years of security updates for the A56 generation. Its UK listing gives 31 March 2032 as the security-support end date. If you buy later in the phone's life, that is not a fresh six years from checkout, so compare the support remaining with how long you plan to keep it.
An easy-to-read screen can still be a large phone.
Samsung lists a 6.7-inch display and a weight of 198g. That gives a useful starting point, but the question is how it feels in your hand.
Our advice: try typing a message, reaching the top corner and putting it in your normal pocket. A larger screen can help with reading and maps while being less comfortable to carry. Try the text-size setting too; simply buying the largest screen is not the only way to make text easier to read.
Decide what you photograph, not how many cameras you want.
The main camera has optical stabilisation, while the camera list includes wide, ultra-wide and macro options. Samsung lists digital zoom rather than a dedicated telephoto camera.
Our interpretation: think separately about family photographs close to you and a performer across a room. Those are different needs. Before buying for moving children, pets or evening events, examine full-size samples from a hands-on review in those conditions. A megapixel number cannot settle that decision.
The update promise starts with the product, not your purchase.
Samsung announced up to six generations of system upgrades and six years of security updates for the A56 generation. Its current UK product listing gives 31 March 2032 as the security-support end date.
For someone buying later in the product’s life, that is not a fresh six years from checkout. Our advice is to compare the support remaining when you buy and ask whether you expect to keep the phone that long.
Compare the cost of ownership, not the monthly price.
Our buying advice: write down the handset payment, compulsory upfront costs and the tariff payments for the minimum term. Use any scheduled price changes stated in the offer. Then compare that total with a SIM-free phone and a suitable SIM-only plan over the same period.
Keep storage capacity consistent. Check how much space your present phone uses, including downloaded video and photographs. A cheaper model is only a saving if its storage and contract suit you.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling
- Security updates until 31 March 2032 and six generations of Android upgrades
- 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) for steadier, sharper shots
- 45W wired charging support with a compatible charger and cable
- IP67 dust and water resistance, by Samsung's listing
What to watch out for
- At 6.7 inches and 198g, it will not suit every hand or pocket
- No dedicated telephoto camera: Samsung lists digital zoom only
- The remaining support period is shorter the later you buy
- A 45W charger may cost extra, and there is no wireless charging listed
The A56 appears across UK network and retailer ranges because it sits between basic Galaxy A phones and the high-end S series. Google's Pixel 9a is its strongest camera-focused rival, while Motorola and Nothing often offer more performance for the money but shorter or less familiar support arrangements.
Make the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G easier to live with
Add-ons that answer a drawback we named above. Check compatibility with your exact model before buying.
Solves: a 45W charger may cost extra, and there is no wireless charging listed
Samsung 45W Power Adapter EP-T4511NBEGGB Not yet reviewed by us
Provides the adapter for the review’s 45W wired-charging option; the correct cable and phone profile still need confirmation.
Check first: The reviewed 45W phone needs the correct charging protocol and cable.
Think about the whole purchase
Charger and cable
Check what is included and whether your existing charger supports the charging speed you want.
Your storage use
Compare the same capacity at each retailer; the recorded guide price here is for 128GB.
Your hand and pocket
Try the size before committing, especially if you usually use a smaller phone.
Good questions to ask
Does faster charging mean I need to replace my charger?
Not necessarily. A compatible existing charger may still be useful. Samsung advertises 45W support, but buying another charger only makes sense if you need the faster top-ups and the charger and cable support them.
Is it a sensible upgrade from a phone that still works?
Our advice is to upgrade for a specific problem: failing battery life, support ending, insufficient storage or a camera limitation you regularly notice. A newer phone is not automatically a better use of your money than keeping a supported phone you enjoy.
What should I compare if photography matters most?
Use the Pixel 9a review as another starting point, then compare sample photographs of the subjects and lighting you care about. Check the current price and storage of both; this is a comparison to make, not a blanket promise that one is best.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Samsung Galaxy A56 5G (this one) | A sensible Samsung for everyday apps, provided you are comfortable with its 6.7-inch size and do not need a dedicated zoom camera. | £499RRP · 256GB storage (the only official UK model, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Samsung Galaxy A57 | A reassuring, well-built everyday phone with long support, whose slow moments and ordinary cameras weaken its value. | £529RRP · 256GB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Samsung Galaxy S25 FE | The S25 FE suits you if you want a big, smooth screen and a real zoom camera, provided the price beats other Galaxy models you could buy instead. | £649RRP · 128GB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Samsung Galaxy S25 | An excellent compact flagship for anyone who wants premium Android performance and a real 3x optical zoom in a phone they can use one-handed, especially when discounted. | £799RRP · 128GB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
Not sure it is the right one for you?
We email three options and one clear recommendation, around your budget and home, within three working days.
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Where our findings come from
Research-based buying assessment. Samsung UK product details and its original launch commitments were checked for this revision. UKTechExpert has not directly tested this handset; camera quality, comfort and day-long battery use have not been measured by us.