Samsung's midrange Galaxy A56 has AI photograph enhancing and a bump for its buttons

Whereas I naively hoped to see the Galaxy S25 Edge forward of MWC, that wasn’t what I noticed final week at Samsung’s pre-show briefing. Nonetheless, what I did see would possibly intrigue a lot of you: a less expensive slice of Galaxy {hardware} within the type of the Galaxy A56. Will probably be obtainable later this yr, beginning at $499 (or £499 within the UK), which is barely cheaper than the Pixel 8a when it first appeared. Samsung additionally introduced the Galaxy A36 and A26 as we speak, they usually’ll begin at $399 and $299 respectively.

Most of the A sequence upgrades this yr match what we noticed from the S25. The A56 is thinner than its predecessor, right down to 7.4mm from 8.2mm, whereas packing a touch larger 6.7-inch display. The bezels, which have been often some of the distinguished visible tells of an A sequence, have been shaved the system’s bezels down additional on the A56, too.

Photograph by Mat Smith for Engadget.

The {hardware} has been tweaked, with a brushed metallic body and a minor design twist: a brand new barely protruding bump on the facet the place the quantity and energy buttons sit. After I bought to deal with the A56 briefly, I favored this. Asymmetry apart, it was simpler to deal with, which was stunning since this was a 6.7-inch system, and I’m extra used to six.3-inch telephones. The A56 felt much less unwieldy. (Did Samsung’s designers learn my unhinged editorial on the edges of telephones and resolve to muddy the waters additional? Maybe.)

It is a combined bag on digital camera specs this yr. The entrance of the A56 now has a lower-res 12-megapixel selfie digital camera, whereas on the again sits an upgraded 12MP ultrawide, 50MP essential sensor with an f/1.8 lens and optical picture stabilization. There’s nonetheless a 5MP macro lens for somebody on the market.

These new cameras characteristic most of the newest upgrades on the S25 household, together with improved picture sign processing for higher low-light efficiency, in addition to a raft of AI options, together with enhanced topic detection in portrait mode. Samsung says the A56 will higher acknowledge sky, pores and skin, faces, hair and grass for improved bokeh results.

Relating to AI-powered picture enhancing, there’s additionally Object Eraser, auto trim for movies and Create Filter, the place you possibly can select an present picture and apply its shade and tone to a unique photograph. You will additionally get Greatest Face, which helps you to decide from a number of captures for everybody’s finest expression, so long as you’ve got movement photographs enabled. These aren’t new options on smartphones, however their addition brings the midrange A56 nearer to the Galaxy S25.

By means of One UI 7, the A56 will get model prospers and residential display enhancements just like the Now bar, notification panel modifications and scalable widgets in several styles and sizes. Samsung additionally guarantees six generations of OS updates (up from 4 on final yr’s A55) and 6 years of safety updates.

As you possibly can inform by now, there aren’t any surprises right here. The 5,000mAh battery is similar measurement because the A55’s, though the charging pace is now 45W. The corporate says you possibly can cost the system totally in simply over an hour. Samsung has swapped to its personal 4nm Exynos 1580 chip, too, with CPU boosts of round 18 p.c. The {hardware}, as soon as once more, inches nearer to the standard and premium really feel of what we sometimes see on Galaxy S gadgets.

It is peak midrange cellphone season. The Galaxy A56 goes up in opposition to the just lately launched iPhone 16e, whereas rumors counsel Google’s Pixel 9a may break cowl very quickly.

The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26

Samsung additionally introduced the Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G as we speak, which each have 6.7-inch screens that get as shiny as 1,200 nits and refresh at as much as 120Hz. They arrive with One UI 7 as effectively, together with options like Circle To Search that beforehand launched on pricier telephones. Plus, additionally they characteristic triple digital camera techniques on the rear with a 50MP essential sensor, although their ultrawide setup digital camera is just not as sharp because the A56 at 8MP. A few of the software program options, like Greatest Face, are additionally reserved for the A56, although you will nonetheless discover the up to date Object Eraser and Filters on the pair of cheaper handsets.

Lastly, although the A36 and A26 have the identical IP67 ranking and 5,000mAh battery because the A56, they’re going to solely pack 6GB of RAM and the A36 makes use of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor as an alternative of the Exynos 1580 within the A56.

Galaxy A56 value and availability

Within the UK, the Galaxy A56 will go on preorder on March 2nd and launch on March nineteenth. It will are available 4 “superior” (Samsung’s wording) colours, Graphite, Olive, Pink and Mild Gray. As a result of nothing screams superior like a lighter shade of gray. Whereas we do have US pricing, Samsung hasn’t shared extra exact timing for availability than “later this yr.”

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