Samsung Galaxy A56 5G Full Review: Should You Spend ₹40,000?

Choosing a new phone isn’t easy, especially when you’re investing around ₹40,000. Many people have been asking for a deep dive into the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, wondering whether it’s worth the money, what compromises it brings, and what buyers should be cautious about. Let’s break it all down in detail.

Price and Variants

The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G is available with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, priced between ₹41,000 and ₹42,000 during offers. While this variant is decent, if you’re thinking about going for a pricier model, there might be better options out there in that range.

Build Quality

One of the first things you’ll notice when holding the Galaxy A56 is its solid build. It’s not a light phone, weighing around 198 grams. While you might expect a bigger battery because of the weight, it carries a standard 5000mAh battery.

The in-hand feel is premium, thanks to its brushed metallic frames with visible antenna lines and Gorilla Glass Victus Plus protection on the back. The camera design borrows heavily from Samsung’s flagship series, adding to its premium appeal. However, its boxy design, despite the curved corners, means it’s not a compact phone — two-handed use is almost necessary.

Interestingly, the A56 is Samsung’s slimmest E-series phone yet, but compared to competitors in the same price range, it still feels a bit thicker. Also, the camera module protrudes enough to make the phone wobble when placed on flat surfaces — something to keep in mind if you frequently use your phone on a desk.

Ports and Buttons

The A56 5G supports two SIM cards and also offers eSIM support, which is a plus. Unfortunately, there’s no headphone jack. On the bright side, the stereo speakers are loud and Dolby Atmos supported, giving a rich audio experience. It also carries an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, though you should still be cautious about water exposure, as warranty claims could be tricky.

The haptics feel premium, but not flagship-level strong, which might be disappointing at this price point. The in-display optical fingerprint sensor works fine, though its lower placement could have been improved for better ergonomics. Also, the Type-C port only supports USB 2.0, meaning no display output.

Display

Now comes one of the more controversial parts: the display. The A56 features a Full HD+ Super AMOLED display. Given the ₹40,000 price point, a 1.5K resolution would have been more fitting. Another downside is the thick bezels, with a screen-to-body ratio of 87.8%, which can spoil the immersive experience, especially when other brands offer thinner bezels at lower prices.

On the bright side, colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and content consumption is a treat. YouTube videos at 4K HDR 60fps run smoothly, and the phone is HDR certified for Netflix. Outdoor visibility is also excellent.

However, there’s no PWM dimming, which is crucial for eye comfort during long usage sessions. Prolonged exposure could cause eye strain, especially since the screen flickers quite a bit compared to phones like the Nothing Phone 3A Pro.

Connectivity

The Galaxy A56 5G is future-proof with support for all 5G bands, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, and NFC. However, there’s no IR blaster. Call quality is generally good, and the Voice Focus feature, which cancels background noise during calls, works surprisingly well.

One issue to note is the virtual proximity sensor. It’s not very reliable — the screen often stays black after pulling the phone away from your ear during calls, causing some inconvenience.

Another concern: when the phone heats up during heavy usage or gaming, it automatically switches from 5G to 4G, affecting internet speed and gaming performance. It’s a major issue Samsung needs to address because when the temperature crosses 40°C, this automatic switch disrupts the network.

Software and Features

The A56 5G ships with Android 15 and Samsung’s One UI 7 out of the box — no need to wait for updates. Samsung promises six major Android updates and six years of security patches, keeping your phone fresh and secure longer than most competitors.

However, there’s a bit of bloatware at first boot: a few extra apps and a widget showing ads, but you can easily uninstall them. One UI 7 looks cleaner and more refreshing with customizable control centers, new charging animations, a redesigned lock screen, and a lower-positioned notification bar.

Security-wise, Samsung includes Knox Vault, and AI features like Circle to Search, which doesn’t need internet access. Other AI tricks include:

• Object Eraser: Easily remove unwanted elements from your photos.

• Edit Suggestions: Auto-enhance photos by reducing glare or blurring backgrounds.

• Best Face: Fix closed eyes or odd expressions in group shots.

• Instant Slow Motion: Create slow-mo videos instantly by long-pressing any video.

• Auto Trim: Trim your videos automatically.

• My Filter: Apply your favorite filters to photos with a single tap.

• Select A: Create GIFs from videos effortlessly.

Final Thoughts

The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G delivers a premium experience in many areas — build quality, software longevity, and connectivity. However, it falls short where it matters for a ₹40,000 phone: the display quality (resolution, bezels, and eye protection) and network performance under heat stress.

If your priority is brand trust, long-term updates, and a premium design, the A56 5G makes sense. But if display quality and stable gaming/network performance matter more to you, you might want to explore alternatives.

FAQ

Q1: Is the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G worth ₹40,000?
A1: It depends. If you prioritize long-term updates and premium build, it’s good. However, for display quality and heavy gaming, there are better options.

Q2: Does the Galaxy A56 5G support wireless charging?
A2: No, it does not support wireless charging.

Q3: How is the camera module design of the A56 5G?
A3: It is heavily inspired by Samsung’s flagship models and gives a premium feel but causes the phone to wobble when laid flat.

Q4: Can I use the A56 5G with two SIM cards and an eSIM?
A4: Yes, you can use two physical SIMs or one SIM plus an eSIM.

Q5: Does the Galaxy A56 5G have good audio quality?
A5: Yes, it features stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support for immersive sound.

Q6: How reliable is the fingerprint sensor on the A56 5G?
A6: The in-display fingerprint sensor works well but is placed slightly lower than ideal.

Q7: Does overheating cause network issues on the A56 5G?
A7: Yes, when the phone heats up, it switches from 5G to 4G automatically, affecting network speeds.

Q8: Is One UI 7 better than previous versions?
A8: Yes, it offers a cleaner, more customizable experience with new features and a refreshed design.