5 Android telephones you can purchase as a substitute of the Samsung Galaxy A56

Samsung’s Galaxy A sequence is likely one of the hottest inexpensive Android telephone strains, and the Galaxy A56 5G is likely one of the newest entries. With an honest spec sheet, fashionable design, and $500 price ticket, it must be a simple advice … proper?

Because it seems, it’s not. In his Galaxy A56 5G assessment, my colleague Ryan Haines discovered that the telephone’s mediocre efficiency, lack of wi-fi charging, and restricted digicam capabilities maintain it again significantly. However above all, one of many A56’s most vital issues is that it’s outdone by the competitors.

The Galaxy A56 5G isn’t a foul telephone, however the easy truth is that your cash is healthier spent elsewhere. Particularly, these are 5 Android telephones you can purchase as a substitute.

A type of different Android telephones is the Google Pixel 9a. The Pixel 9a earned a ten/10 rating and an Editor’s Alternative award once we reviewed it final April, and 9 months later, it holds sturdy as one of the best $500 telephone you should buy — arms down.

What makes the Pixel 9a so particular is how effectively Google nailed virtually each side of the day-to-day expertise utilizing the telephone. The design is snug and sensible (no digicam bump!), the entire cameras are nice, the Tensor G4 chip is a robust performer, battery life is strong, and Google’s software program is simply excellent. Oh, and there’s wi-fi charging, too.

The Pixel 9a doesn’t actually have one standout spec or function that units it other than the competitors, however if you use the telephone and see how effectively all the things comes collectively, you perceive why it’s so darn good. Does this imply the Pixel 9a is ideal? In fact not. The telephone’s charging speeds are slower than the Galaxy A56 5G, and it’s lacking some useful AI options accessible on costlier Pixels.

However for $499, the Pixel 9a is about as near good as a mid-range Android telephone will get, and also you’d be mad to purchase the Galaxy A56 5G over it.

The Pixel 9a is an excellent alternative, however for those who’re useless set on a Samsung telephone, I’d sooner advocate the Galaxy S25 FE than the Galaxy A56 5G. It’s a greater telephone general, and because of rampant gross sales/reductions, you possibly can virtually actually purchase it for a similar worth (or much less) because the A56.

How significantly better? Efficiency-wise, the S25 FE’s Exynos 2400 chipset is a dramatic enchancment over the Exynos 1580 powering the A56 — each by way of its CPU and GPU. The S25 FE additionally has extra RAM and far sooner storage, making it a no brainer if quick, clean efficiency is a priority for you. And there’s extra. The S25 FE has a devoted telephoto digicam (one thing the A56 lacks), a extra sturdy IP68 ranking, wi-fi charging, higher-resolution video recording (8K vs. 4K), and newer Wi-Fi/Bluetooth tech.

You can also make an argument that these upgrades are definitely worth the Galaxy S25 FE’s $650 retail worth, however Samsung usually has it accessible for a lot much less; on the time of publication, the S25 FE is on sale for simply $450 — $50 lower than the Galaxy A56 5G. If you will discover the S25 FE on sale, there’s no cause to not purchase it as a substitute of the A56.

The OnePlus 13R is, unquestionably, among the best smartphone values launched in 2025. Even a 12 months after it hit retailer cabinets and was changed by the OnePlus 15R, the 13R stays an unbelievably whole lot — and a pure different to the Galaxy A56 5G.

Evaluating the OnePlus 13R facet by facet with the Galaxy A56, there’s no contest: OnePlus’ telephone is healthier. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is considerably extra performant, its 16GB of RAM blows previous the A56’s paltry 6GB, and also you get 256GB of base storage as a substitute of 128GB. The 13R additionally has a telephoto digicam, a bigger battery, and far sooner wired charging.

Though the 13R has technically been discontinued, you possibly can nonetheless discover it at choose retailers. Its $600 retail worth is increased than the Galaxy A56 5G’s, however I’d argue the 13R is effectively value the additional $100. Plus, relying on accessible reductions and for those who discover a renewed/refurbished mannequin, you possibly can possible get it for much less.

Nearly as good because the OnePlus 13R is, you might not be keen or in a position to spend greater than $500 in your subsequent smartphone. Should you’re actually making an attempt to observe your price range, would possibly I recommend the Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025)? It doesn’t put the A56 spec sheet to disgrace the way in which the 13R and S25 FE do, however that doesn’t matter due to its worth.

The Moto G Stylus (2025) retails for simply $400, and as with most telephones on this checklist, it’s usually accessible for much less. At present, Motorola is promoting the Stylus for $350, with a free Moto Tag tracker included. And whether or not you get the Stylus on the full $400 worth or at a reduction, it actually calls into query the A56’s worth proposition.

Just like the A56, the Moto G Stylus has an AMOLED display screen with a 120Hz refresh charge, and Motorola’s show is sharper and brighter, too. The Moto G has expandable storage (the A56 doesn’t), the same digicam setup, sooner wired charging (65W as a substitute of 45W), wi-fi charging, and — because the identify suggests — a built-in stylus.

The Galaxy A56 5G has a couple of benefits over Motorola’s telephone, particularly higher AI options and an extended software program replace coverage. However are these issues actually value an additional $100? I’d argue not.

My fifth and remaining advice, the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional, is a extremely strong Android handset. Whereas not a house run just like the Pixel 9a, it’s a way more fascinating alternative than the Galaxy A56.

The design, after all, is an instantaneous standout. Between its big digicam bump, clear bottom, and LED gentle strips, the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional is — by far — probably the most unique-looking telephone on this checklist. That digicam bump homes some fairly strong digicam sensors, too, significantly better than what you’ll get on the A56. The Nothing Telephone additionally has sooner charging, cleaner software program, and a few actually nifty AI options.

That every one mentioned, there’s a caveat to the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional. Whereas it’s formally offered within the US, not like all the opposite telephones on this checklist, it lacks full community band help for US carriers — which means your mileage will fluctuate by way of how good (or dangerous) your cell service is. AT&T and T-Cell must be superb, however Verizon could also be somewhat iffy.

This implies the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional gained’t be for everybody, and that’s OK. But when the service compatibility isn’t a difficulty for you, Nothing’s handset is a reasonably compelling possibility — particularly with a retail worth of $459.