The 5,000 mAh battery offers plenty of juice for daily use. In my case this included four to five hours of surfing, listening to music and watching videos. I never worried about battery life and typically ended the day with about a 30 per cent charge.
It supports 45W wired charging with a compatible PD charger. From an empty battery, it charged to 50 per cent in about 28 minutes and was fully charged in about 1 hour and 18 minutes.
AI AND SOFTWARE
While it lacks the full Galaxy AI suite, it includes useful tools like Circle to Search, Object Erase and Best Face. Samsung promises six generations of OS upgrades and six years of security updates. This is a plus for anyone planning to keep the phone that long or resell it after a few years.
HOW IT STACKS UP
The Samsung Galaxy A56 offers a premium look and a great 6.7-inch display. Good battery life rounds out the package but there are some caveats. The camera array is a mixed bag with a decent main camera but poor macro lens. The mid-range processor lacks the power for more demanding games. It lacks the entire Galaxy AI suite but has commonly used AI tools that should keep non-power users happy.
Pros: Great screen, premium-looking finish, good battery life
Cons: Mixed camera array, processor can’t handle demanding games
Get it if: You want a stylish mid-range phone with a great screen and good battery life
OTHER MID-RANGE OPTIONS
The mid-range smartphone segment is extremely competitive with several capable choices. Here are some other picks for your shortlist, sorted by retail price:
Nothing Phone (3a) (S$549): 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, 50W wired charging, 5,000mAh battery, IP64, Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ (S$569; Usual Price: S$619): 12GB RAM, 512GB storage, 120W wired charging, 5,110mAh battery, IP 68, Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor
Honor 400 (S$599): 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, 80W wired charging, 6,000mAh battery, IP66, Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor
Google Pixel 8a (S$599): 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, 18W wired/ 7.5W wireless charging, 4,492mAh battery, IP67, Google Tensor G3 processor
Oppo Reno13 (S$699; Usual Price: S$799): 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, 80W wired charging, 5,600 mAh battery, IP69, MediaTek Dimensity 8350 processor
Google Pixel 9a Smartphone (S$799): 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, 23W wired/ 7.5W wireless charging, 5,100mAh battery, IP68, Google Tensor G4 processor
Huawei nova 13 (S$521.64; Usual Price: S$598: 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, 100W wired charging, 5,000 mAh battery, IP: NA, Kirin 8,000 processor
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Prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
