Google’s Pixel A-series and Samsung’s Galaxy A5-series are long-standing rivals in the mid-range smartphone arena. Both brands aim to deliver flagship-like features at a fraction of the price, and 2025 is no different. This year, we have the Google Pixel 9a and the Samsung Galaxy A56 – two phones that promise great value but take different routes to get there.
The Pixel 9a focuses on offering a Pixel 9-like experience at a cheaper price point, with Google’s signature AI features and excellent cameras. The Galaxy A56, meanwhile, sticks to Samsung’s formula: premium design, solid hardware, and a splash of Galaxy AI (even if it’s not the full offering).
Both handsets start at £499, so if you’re wondering which phone is best for you, here’s our head-to-head comparison. While I’ve used the Galaxy A56 first-hand, everything about the Pixel 9a is based on spec sheets and a briefing with Google. We’ll be reviewing the smartphone shortly.
Design & Display
Both the Pixel 9a and Galaxy A56 follow familiar design cues from their fully-fledged siblings, but each takes a slightly different approach to meet the mid-range brief.
The Pixel 9a has had a notable redesign compared to last year’s Pixel 8a. It swaps out Google’s signature camera bar for a more understated oval-shaped rear module. It’s a cleaner look, matched with a matt composite back and a flat aluminium frame that gives it a lightweight yet premium feel. It’s available in four colours: Obsidian, Porcelain, Peony and the all-new Iris. At 6.3 inches, the phone strikes a great balance between portability and screen size.
Meanwhile, Samsung keeps things familiar with the Galaxy A56, though there are subtle refinements. It uses Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, paired with a flat aluminium frame. The rear cameras now sit in a unified housing, and there’s a new ‘key island’ for the power and volume buttons. It’s a little larger and heavier, with a 6.7-inch screen, but impressively slim at just 7.4mm thick. You can pick it up in Graphite, Pink, Olive or Light Grey.
On display quality, both phones are strong contenders. The Pixel 9a sports a bright 6.3-inch Actua OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It reaches an impressive peak brightness of 2700 nits, promising excellent outdoor visibility. Samsung’s Galaxy A56 matches the refresh rate with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel, peaking at a slightly lower 1900 nits.
Colours on both are vibrant, and viewing angles should be excellent if the regular Pixel 9’s display is anything to go by. Though, the Pixel’s higher brightness gives it the edge, especially since it also promises better colour reproduction.
Battery Life & Charging
Battery life is often where mid-range phones differentiate themselves, and the Pixel 9a and Galaxy A56 take different approaches here.
The Pixel 9a packs a 5100mAh battery, which is larger than even the standard Pixel 9. Google claims over 30 hours of regular use. And with Extreme Battery Saver mode, you could theoretically stretch it to 100 hours. In real-world use, it should comfortably last a full day and even stretch into a second. Charging speeds aren’t groundbreaking, with 18W wired and standard Qi wireless charging on offer, but the longevity of the battery life makes up for it.
The Galaxy A56 has a slightly smaller 5000mAh battery, but it’s no slouch. You can expect all-day battery life here too, with Samsung’s power-efficient Exynos 1580 chipset playing its part. Where it shines is in charging speeds. Wired charging tops out at 45W, double the speed of the Pixel 9a. There’s no wireless charging on offer, though, which is a miss at this price point.
Both phones deliver reliable battery life, but if you’re after faster top-ups, the Galaxy A56 has the advantage.
Software Updates
Software longevity is one area where both phones impress, offering some of the best update policies in the mid-range space.
The Pixel 9a runs Android 15 out of the box and comes with Google’s promise of seven years of major Android version upgrades, Pixel Feature Drops, and security updates. That’s as good as it gets for Android right now, matching the commitment offered by Google’s flagship phones.
Samsung isn’t far behind. The Galaxy A56 ships with Android 14 and One UI 7, and it will get six years of software support – covering both Android version updates and security patches. Samsung’s One UI is one of the slickest Android skins around, offering a wide range of features and customisation options. However, the A56 skips many of the Galaxy AI tools found on Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S25 series.
If you want the longest software support, the Pixel 9a edges ahead. But both phones are excellent picks if you’re planning to hold onto your device for the long term.
Cameras
Camera performance is another deciding factor. The Pixel 9a’s 48Mp main sensor, combined with Google’s image processing, promises to deliver excellent photos in most conditions.
Expect Night Sight to work wonders in low light, and Magic Editor tools we’ve tested on other Pixels make it easy to clean up photos after the fact. You also get a 13Mp ultrawide camera and a 13Mp selfie camera, both capable of 4K video recording.
Samsung’s Galaxy A56 has a 50Mp main camera, 12Mp ultrawide, and 5Mp macro lens. The main sensor captures decent shots in daylight but struggles a bit more in low light, which we expect the Pixel to excel in based on our time testing last year’s 8a. The 12Mp front camera does a decent job for selfies and video calls, but it doesn’t offer 4K recording on the front-facing lens.
Other Differences
You can expect solid performance on both devices, but there are key differences worth noting.
The Pixel 9a is powered by Google’s Tensor G4 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM. It’s not the fastest chip around, but it’s tuned for AI tasks and integrates tightly with Android, ensuring smooth day-to-day use. We’ve used it on the regular Pixel 9 and were impressed. You also get access to Google’s full suite of Gemini AI features, including Circle to Search, Gemini Live, and Pixel Studio.
The Galaxy A56 uses Samsung’s Exynos 1580 chip, also paired with 8GB of RAM. It delivers respectable performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming, though it’s a step behind in GPU-intensive workloads. AI features are limited compared to the Pixel, and Samsung reserves its best tools for the Galaxy S line.
The Pixel 9a is also IP68-rated, offering better water and dust resistance than the Galaxy A56’s IP67. Neither phone has a microSD card slot, though both come with 128GB or 256GB storage options.
Price & Availability
The Pixel 9a is available to pre-order now, starting at £499 in the UK, $499 in the US, and €559 in Europe. It’s available directly from Google and major retailers, with four colours on offer: Obsidian, Porcelain, Peony, and Iris. It ships with either 128GB or 256GB of storage.
It officially releases at the beginning of April.
The Galaxy A56 is also widely available now, priced at £499/$499 for the 256GB version. It comes in Graphite, Pink, Olive, and Light Grey. You can pick one up from Samsung’s website and major retailers like Amazon and Currys.
With near-identical pricing, the choice largely comes down to which ecosystem you prefer and which features matter more.
Verdict
The Pixel 9a and Galaxy A56 both deliver impressive value in the mid-range market, but they appeal to different users.
The Pixel 9a promises a better camera experience, longer software support, and a brighter display in a more compact form factor. It’s a great choice if you prioritise photography, AI features, and timely software updates.
The Galaxy A56 offers a larger screen, faster wired charging, and a design that closely mirrors Samsung’s premium Galaxy S series. It’s ideal for users who prefer Samsung’s One UI and want a bigger phone without splashing out on a flagship.
For most people, the Pixel 9a’s combination of camera prowess and software longevity makes it the better buy. But if you want a bigger screen and faster charging, the A56 is still a solid choice.
