Samsung Galaxy A56 is on the way with upgrades

Samsung is already making headlines with its upcoming Galaxy A series, and the Galaxy A56 is at the forefront of the buzz.

Expected to continue the success of the Galaxy A55, this new phone promises significant upgrades and will aim to be the best mid-range phone you can buy when it arrives.

Here’s everything we know about the Galaxy A56 so far, including its possible release date, expected price, and rumoured specs.

When will the Samsung Galaxy A56 be released?

The Galaxy A56 is expected to be officially launched in the first quarter of 2025, with March being the likely announcement month. This follows Samsung’s traditional release pattern for its Galaxy A series, with a global rollout shortly after its unveiling.

As a reminder, here is when the previous Galaxy A50 series models came out:

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Samsung has been conducting network tests and other development processes for the Galaxy A56, indicating that the device is in the final stages of preparation. With the IMEI database listing and model number (SM-A566B/DS) already confirmed (as spotted by SmartPrix), the launch timeline appears to be on track for early 2025.

The Galaxy A55 has not appeared in the US, so we expect that the A56 won’t be available there either but hopefully, we are wrong.

How much will the Samsung Galaxy A56 cost?

While there is no official confirmation yet, the Galaxy A56 is expected to be priced similarly to its predecessor, the Galaxy A55.

What’s more, Samsung has decided to reduce the starting price of the Galaxy A55 in the UK by £10, so it may do the same this time around as well.

As a reminder, here’s the cost of previous generations:

• Galaxy A55: £439
• Galaxy A54: £449/$449
• Galaxy A53: £399/$449
• Galaxy A52: £399/$499

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Samsung’s pricing strategy for its mid-range devices typically focuses on balancing affordability with premium features. The Galaxy A56, equipped with a powerful new chipset and other upgrades, should be competitively priced to appeal to a wide audience.

If the phone arrives in the US, it is possible that it will be priced at around $449.

What specs and features will the Samsung Galaxy A56 have?

The Galaxy A56 is set to receive several notable upgrades compared to the Galaxy A55. Here’s a detailed look at the rumoured specifications and features of the upcoming device.

Design

The Galaxy A56 is likely to continue Samsung’s trend of offering a premium design for its mid-range lineup. Expect a glass back with a metal frame, possibly with an IP67 or IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both front and back of the phone.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Samsung might also refine the design further by reducing bezel size and enhancing overall build quality. The phone is expected to be available in multiple colourways, similar to the Galaxy A55’s Ice Blue, Lilac, Navy, and Lemon.

Display

The Galaxy A56 will probably feature a 6.6-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display, with a 120Hz refresh rate – the same as the A55. However, this display could support HDR10+ and offer improved brightness output, compared to its predecessor, which was rated at 1000 nits.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

If Samsung decides to increase the maximum brightness, it might then enhance visibility in bright outdoor conditions, a feature users will undoubtedly appreciate.

Performance

The Galaxy A56 is expected to be powered by the new Exynos 1580 chipset, which boasts a 1+3+4 core configuration. This includes one high-performance Cortex-A720 core at 2.91GHz, three Cortex-A720 cores at 2.6GHz, and four Cortex-A520 cores at 1.95GHz.

According to a Geekbench run from July (via GSMArena), this configuration should provide a significant boost in performance; making it comparable to the Snapdragon 888; a chip which powered a lot of flagship-class phones in 2021.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The Exynos 1580 will likely be paired with the Xclipse 540 GPU, based on AMD’s RDNA2 architecture, offering better graphics performance than previous generations. This combination should enable smooth gaming and multitasking experiences, along with support for advanced AI features.

The phone is likely to be available in 8/128GB and 8/256GB RAM storage options. However, a 12GB RAM variant may also be available in some countries, similar to the A55.

Cameras

While specific details about the camera setup are not confirmed, the Galaxy A56 is likely to retain the triple-camera configuration seen on its predecessor. This could include a 50Mp main sensor, a 12Mp ultrawide lens, and a 5Mp depth or macro sensor.

However, there is speculation (via PhoneArena) that Samsung might replace the macro lens with a telephoto option, providing more versatility.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The front camera is expected to be a 32Mp shooter, ideal for high-quality selfies and video calls.

Additionally, Samsung’s software enhancements, along with AI features supported by the new chipset, could further improve the camera performance.

Battery & Charging

The Galaxy A56 is expected to come with a 5000mAh battery, similar to the Galaxy A55.

While the battery capacity remains unchanged, the new Exynos 1580 chipset’s improved efficiency could result in better battery life.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Charging speed is expected to remain at 25W wired charging, with the hope that Samsung might finally introduce wireless charging to this mid-range phone.

This feature has been a common request from users and would add a level of convenience and modernity to the A5x line.

Software

The Galaxy A56 will likely run on Android 15, with Samsung’s One UI 7.1 out of the box. This version of One UI is expected to bring several new features, including enhanced privacy controls, improved AI capabilities, and better integration with Samsung’s ecosystem of devices and services.

There are also rumors that suggest Samsung intends to offer up to six years of Android OS and security updates for its new mid-range devices, which means the Galaxy A56 could receive updates up to Android 21.

This long-term support is a strong selling point for users looking for a device that remains up-to-date and secure for years.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

So that’s all we currently know about the Galaxy A56. In the meantime, browse our recommendations of the best Android phones and the best Samsung Galaxy phones available right now.

We’ll update this article when we hear more.