Samsung Galaxy A56 vs. Galaxy A55: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Samsung’s newest midrange phone, the Galaxy A56, is now officially on shelves, and it’s prompting a natural comparison to last year’s Galaxy A55. With both phones offering similar designs and features, the question arises: Is the A56 worth the upgrade or price premium over the A55?

Let’s break it down across key categories to help you decide.

Design and Display: Subtle Refinements

The Galaxy A56 introduces a slightly larger 6.7-inch AMOLED display, compared to the 6.6-inch panel on the A55. It’s also lighter and thinner despite the size bump, and includes Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the back—a more durable material than what’s on the A55.

Both phones support HDR10+ and a 120Hz refresh rate, but the A56’s brightness reaches up to 1,200 nits, slightly better than the A55’s 1,000+ nits. Still, the difference in real-world use may be negligible.

Performance: Noticeable Gains with Exynos 1580

The A56 ships with the Exynos 1580 chipset, which is about 25–30% faster in benchmarks than the A55’s Exynos 1480. It also has UFS 3.1 storage compared to UFS 2.1 on the A55, making app loading and file transfers snappier.

If performance is key—especially for gaming or multitasking—the Galaxy A56 is the clear winner.

Battery and Charging: A55 Still Leads on Endurance

Surprisingly, the Galaxy A55 delivers better battery life, despite the A56 having a more efficient chipset. The A55 outlasts it in call time, gaming, and video playback, although the A56 performs slightly better in web browsing.

On charging, A56 supports 45W fast charging (vs. 25W on A55), but the real-world gain is marginal. You’ll need a separate 5A cable for peak charging speed, as the included one is limited.

Camera and Audio: Minor Differences

Rear Camera Setup: Identical 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro.

• Daylight and low-light photos are nearly indistinguishable.

• 2x zoom is a bit sharper on the A56 during the day.

• Ultrawide shots are virtually the same.

Front Camera: A56 uses a 12MP sensor, while the A55 has a 32MP unit.

• A56 offers cleaner selfies and slightly better low-light video.

• If you’re selfie-focused, A55 still holds its ground due to resolution.

Speakers: The A55 is louder, but the A56 delivers richer sound with better bass and tuning.

Software Support: A Major Advantage for A56

One of the most important upgrades—software longevity:

• Galaxy A56: 6 major OS updates

• Galaxy A55: 4 major OS updates

This gives the A56 a clear edge for long-term usage.

Pricing: Depends on Your Region

• EU: Price difference is just €20–30 — A56 is the better choice.

• UK: A56 is only available in 256GB, A55 in 128GB. Price gap = £140 — hard to justify.

• US: Neither phone officially available.

• Global buyers: Consider local deals and configurations.

Verdict: Should You Upgrade?

Buy the Galaxy A56 if you want:

• Newer design and Gorilla Glass Victus+

• More powerful chipset and smoother performance

• Richer speaker sound

• 45W fast charging (with right cable)

• Longer software support (6 years)

Stick with or buy the Galaxy A55 if you value:

• Better battery life

• Lower price tag (especially in some regions)

• Similar real-world performance and camera quality

• microSD card slot (missing on A56)