I had hoped to catch a glimpse of the Galaxy S25 Edge before MWC, but my hopes were dashed at Samsung’s recent pre-show briefing. However, what I did see may pique your interest: the Galaxy A56, a more affordable addition to the Galaxy lineup. Scheduled for release later this year, it will start at $499 (or £499 in the UK), making it slightly cheaper than the debut price of the Pixel 8a. Samsung has also unveiled the Galaxy A36 and A26, priced at $399 and $299 respectively.
This year’s A series brings several upgrades reminiscent of the S25. The A56 is slimmer than its predecessor, reducing from 8.2mm to 7.4mm, while featuring a slightly larger 6.7-inch screen. The traditional A series bezels have been minimized even more on the A56.
The hardware has received a subtle update, introducing a brushed metal frame and a slight design change: a modest bump along the side where the volume and power buttons are located. My brief hands-on with the A56 revealed a surprisingly comfortable grip given its 6.7-inch size, especially since I generally use 6.3-inch devices. The A56 is less cumbersome to hold. (I wonder if Samsung’s designers were influenced by my spirited editorial on phone designs? Who knows.)
The camera specs this year are mixed. The A56’s front camera has been downgraded to 12 megapixels, while the back features an upgraded 12MP ultrawide and a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 lens and optical image stabilization. There’s still a 5MP macro lens for someone out there.
The new cameras include several enhancements seen in the S25 series, such as better image signal processing for improved low-light performance, plus numerous AI features like advanced subject detection in portrait mode. Samsung claims the A56 will better recognize elements like sky, skin, faces, hair, and grass, enhancing bokeh effects.
In the realm of AI-driven photo editing, features like Object Eraser, automatic video trimming, and Create Filter (which allows color and tone adjustments from one photo to another) are available. There’s also Best Face, allowing you to choose the best expression from multiple shots, provided motion photos are enabled. While not groundbreaking, these features bring the midrange A56 closer to the Galaxy S25’s capabilities.
With One UI 7, the A56 receives design enhancements and home screen updates such as the Now bar, innovative notification panel changes, and adaptable widgets in various shapes and sizes. Samsung promises six generations of OS updates (up from last year’s A55’s four) alongside six years of security updates.
As expected, there aren’t many surprises. The 5,000mAh battery matches the A55’s capacity, but now with 45W charging speeds, allowing a full charge in just over an hour. Samsung has transitioned to its own 4nm Exynos 1580 chip, claiming CPU boosts of around 18 percent. The overall quality approaches the premium feel typical of Galaxy S series devices.
It’s high season for midrange smartphones. The Galaxy A56 competes with the newly launched iPhone 16e, and rumors suggest Google’s Pixel 9a might soon make its debut.
The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26
Samsung has also introduced the Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G, both with 6.7-inch screens that reach 1,200 nits brightness and refresh at 120Hz. Like the A56, they feature One UI 7, including capabilities like Circle To Search initially seen on higher-end phones. Both models also come with triple camera setups with a 50MP main sensor, though their ultrawide cameras are less sharp at 8MP. Some software features, such as Best Face, remain exclusive to the A56, but updated Object Eraser and Filters are available on these less expensive models.
Despite sharing the A56’s IP67 rating and 5,000mAh battery, the A36 and A26 have 6GB of RAM, and the A36 utilizes the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor rather than the A56’s Exynos 1580.
Galaxy A56 price and availability
In the UK, preorders for the Galaxy A56 begin on March 2nd, with the official launch set for March 19th. Available in four “awesome” colors—Graphite, Olive, Pink, and Light Grey—because nothing says awesome like a pale shade of grey. While US pricing is confirmed, Samsung hasn’t provided exact release dates beyond “later this year.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsungs-midrange-galaxy-a56-has-ai-photo-editing-and-a-bump-for-its-buttons-230018254.html?src=rss
