I tested every Samsung release in 2025, and only one truly impressed me

I’ve tested every major Samsung smartphone release this year, but only one device impressed me.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra felt uninspired, and while I love the changes Samsung made to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, it felt like a phone catching up rather than getting ahead.

Samsung’s pricing and position in the market rarely make its phones an excellent value — but there is one exception.

Samsung almost didn’t know what to do with the Galaxy A56 and its predecessor.

The Galaxy A55 never made it to the US, despite it being the best pound-for-pound value Samsung had. After a significant delay, Samsung offered the Galaxy A56 stateside without much fanfare.

It may have had humble beginnings, but it’s the best phone Samsung produced in 2025 — here’s why.

The Galaxy A56 doesn’t feel like a $500 phone

Top-notch display and solid build quality

There are several Galaxy A56 features that help the phone punch above its weight, but two stand out immediately.

I’m amazed whenever I power it back up and look at its gorgeous 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display. It’s saturated and crisp, and despite its 1080p resolution, it rivals what Samsung puts on its flagship phones.

You’ll never think you’re using a midrange device when you look at the Galaxy A56, and it’s ideal for watching movies and YouTube videos.

Unlike the Galaxy A36 and A26, it doesn’t feel like Samsung compromised much on the build quality, even at a midrange price point.

It features Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, with a brushed aluminum frame. It feels fantastic in the hand, and at only 7.4mm thick, it’s a premium build.

I’ll talk about pricing later, but if you want all the pleasantries of a flagship device without the punishing price, the Galaxy A56 should top your list.

I don’t hate Exynos chipsets, and neither should you

The Exynos 1580 is everything you want in a midrange phone

If you haven’t been paying attention, you’d miss that Samsung’s Exynos chipsets are improving.

The Exynos 1480 in the Galaxy A55 was outstanding, and the company’s done well again with the Exynos 1580.

It’s not plagued by overheating like previous generations, and the phone offers smooth overall performance. Yes, if you push the Galaxy A56 with more intensive gaming, you’ll notice some slowdowns and limitations, but in daily use, the phone is snappy.

I was worried Samsung would nerf the Galaxy A56 by giving it only 6GB of RAM, but the company did the right thing by fitting it with 8GB. I still wish we were offered the 12GB variant here in the US, but I’m happy with the overall performance.

There are other limitations you’ll notice, but I don’t consider them negatives.

The Galaxy A56 doesn’t have a full suite of Galaxy AI features. That’s certainly not a dealbreaker for me, as I don’t have Now Brief cluttering up my Galaxy A56.

However, I do get the Now Bar, which is a One UI feature I miss when not testing a Samsung phone. I love how it displays sports scores and handles my media controls.

It’s one of Samsung’s better software additions in years, and I’m looking forward to its capabilities expanding.

And you’ll get to experience plenty of those new features as Samsung promises six years of updates for the Galaxy A56. Mine is currently running One UI 8 with no issues.

Battery life is good, but the cameras are what you expect

Not everything can be perfect

I can understand your apprehension about the Galaxy A56 if you used an older Exynos-powered device. In addition to keeping cool, the Exynos 1580 is also power-efficient.

I get fantastic battery life from the Galaxy A56’s 5,000mAh cell, and 45W wired charging is what you currently get on Samsung’s flagship phones.

If there is a significant flaw with the Galaxy A56, it’s the cameras. The phone can’t hold up to the Pixel 9a for midrange photography.

Its 50MP primary sensor performs well in good lighting, and the colors are much more saturated than with the Galaxy A55. However, its 12MP ultrawide and 5MP macro lenses aren’t worth talking about.

The Galaxy A56’s cameras aren’t a potato, but I’d still look elsewhere if top-notch photography is your priority in a midrange phone.

Pricing is all over the place — choose wisely

Pulling up the Samsung website and ordering a Galaxy A56 isn’t always the best way to get one. Pricing is all over the place, and if you know what you’re doing, you can score a deal.

The international version of the Galaxy A56 can be had for around $350. That’s the one I own, and I’ve had no issues using it on T-Mobile. I get full 5G speeds.

However, if you’re unsure or use AT&T or Verizon, you’re better off playing it safe and getting a device you know is compatible.

Either way, the Galaxy A56 is a fantastic phone, and it’s Samsung’s best value device this year.