{"id":264604,"date":"2026-01-26T11:14:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T11:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/264604\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T11:14:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T11:14:16","slug":"5-android-phones-you-should-buy-instead-of-the-samsung-galaxy-a56","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/264604\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy A56"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Samsung<\/p>\n

Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s Galaxy A series is one of the most popular affordable Android phone lines, and the Galaxy A56 5G is one of the latest entries. With a decent spec sheet, modern design, and $500 price tag, it should be an easy recommendation \u2026 right?<\/p>\n

As it turns out, it\u2019s not. In his Galaxy A56 5G review<\/a>, my colleague Ryan Haines found that the phone\u2019s mediocre performance, lack of wireless charging, and limited camera capabilities hold it back considerably. But above all, one of the A56\u2019s most significant problems is that it\u2019s outdone by the competition.<\/p>\n

The Galaxy A56 5G isn\u2019t a bad phone, but the simple fact is that your money is better spent elsewhere. Specifically, these are five Android phones you should buy instead.<\/p>\n

What do you think is the best Samsung Galaxy A56 5G alternative?<\/p>\n

36 votes<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 9a<\/p>\n

17%<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE<\/p>\n

22%<\/p>\n

Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025)<\/p>\n

22%<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13R<\/p>\n

14%<\/p>\n

Nothing Phone 3a Pro<\/p>\n

19%<\/p>\n

Other (let us know in the comments)<\/p>\n

6%<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 9a\n<\/p>\n

One of those other Android phones is the Google Pixel 9a<\/a>. The Pixel 9a earned a 10\/10 score and an Editor\u2019s Choice award when we reviewed it last April, and nine months later, it holds strong as the best $500 phone you can buy \u2014 hands down.<\/p>\n

What makes the Pixel 9a so special is how well Google nailed almost every aspect of the day-to-day experience using the phone. The design is comfortable and practical (no camera bump!), all of the cameras are great, the Tensor G4 chip is a strong performer, battery life is solid, and Google\u2019s software is just outstanding. Oh, and there\u2019s wireless charging, too.<\/p>\n

The Pixel 9a doesn\u2019t really have one standout spec or feature that sets it apart from the competition, but when you use the phone and see how well everything comes together, you understand why it\u2019s so darn good. Does this mean the Pixel 9a is perfect? Of course not. The phone\u2019s charging speeds are slower than the Galaxy A56 5G, and it\u2019s missing some helpful AI features available on more expensive Pixels.<\/p>\n

But for $499, the Pixel 9a is about as close to perfect as a mid-range Android phone gets, and you\u2019d be mad to buy the Galaxy A56 5G over it.<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 9a<\/a>\"Google\"AAGoogle Pixel 9a<\/a><\/p>\n

Built-in Gemini \u2022 Incredible camera \u2022 All-day battery<\/p>\n

All the Pixel essentials for less.<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel 9a brings built-in Gemini, an incredible camera, all-day battery, and seven years of updates for under $500.<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE\n<\/p>\n

The Pixel 9a is an outstanding choice, but if you\u2019re dead set on a Samsung phone, I\u2019d sooner recommend the Galaxy S25 FE<\/a> than the Galaxy A56 5G. It\u2019s a better phone overall, and thanks to rampant sales\/discounts, you can almost certainly buy it for the same price (or less) as the A56.<\/p>\n

How much better? Performance-wise, the S25 FE\u2019s Exynos 2400 chipset is a dramatic improvement over the Exynos 1580 powering the A56 \u2014 both in terms of its CPU and GPU. The S25 FE also has more RAM and much faster storage, making it a no-brainer if fast, smooth performance is a concern for you. And there\u2019s more. The S25 FE has a dedicated telephoto camera (something the A56 lacks), a more durable IP68 rating, wireless charging, higher-resolution video recording (8K vs. 4K), and newer Wi-Fi\/Bluetooth tech.<\/p>\n

You can make an argument that those upgrades are worth the Galaxy S25 FE\u2019s $650 retail price, but Samsung often has it available for much less; at the time of publication, the S25 FE is on sale for just $450 \u2014 $50 less than the Galaxy A56 5G. If you can find the S25 FE on sale, there\u2019s no reason not to buy it instead of the A56.<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE<\/a>\"Samsung\"AASamsung Galaxy S25 FE<\/a><\/p>\n

Large 120Hz display \u2022 Big battery \u2022 50MP camera<\/p>\n

Exynos-powered, 6.7-inch Samsung experience<\/p>\n

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is a more affordable experience for fans of the S25 series. Powered by an Exynos 2400 processor, this 6.7-inch phone offers better specs than ever in a FE phone, and nearly all of the greatness found in mainline S25 phones.<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13R<\/p>\n

\"OnePlus<\/p>\n

Rushil Agrawal \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The OnePlus 13R<\/a> is, without a doubt, one of the best smartphone values released in 2025. Even a year after it hit store shelves and was replaced by the OnePlus 15R, the 13R remains an unbelievably good deal \u2014 and a natural alternative to the Galaxy A56 5G.<\/p>\n

Comparing the OnePlus 13R side by side with the Galaxy A56, there\u2019s no contest: OnePlus\u2019 phone is better. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is significantly more performant, its 16GB of RAM blows past the A56\u2019s paltry 6GB, and you get 256GB of base storage instead of 128GB. The 13R also has a telephoto camera, a larger battery, and much faster wired charging.<\/p>\n

Although the 13R has technically been discontinued, you can still find it at select retailers. Its $600 retail price is higher than the Galaxy A56 5G\u2019s, but I\u2019d argue the 13R is well worth the extra $100. Plus, depending on available discounts and if you find a renewed\/refurbished model, you can likely get it for less.<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13R<\/a>\"OnePlus\"AAOnePlus 13R<\/a><\/p>\n

Speedy performance \u2022 Long-lasting battery \u2022 Superb value for money<\/p>\n

R-eally great.<\/p>\n

The OnePlus 13R is everything you\u2019d expect from a OnePlus phone \u2014 blazing performance, amazing battery life, and rapid charging. Add to that a gorgeous display and a smooth, feature-packed Oxygen OS experience, and you have a phone that feels like it punches well above its $600 price tag.<\/p>\n

Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025)<\/p>\n

\"Motorola<\/p>\n

Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

As good as the OnePlus 13R is, you may not be willing or able to spend more than $500 on your next smartphone. If you\u2019re really trying to watch your budget, might I suggest the Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025)<\/a>? It doesn\u2019t put the A56 spec sheet to shame the way the 13R and S25 FE do, but that doesn\u2019t matter thanks to its price.<\/p>\n

The Moto G Stylus (2025) retails for just $400, and as with most phones on this list, it\u2019s often available for less. Currently, Motorola is selling the Stylus for $350,\u00a0with a free Moto Tag tracker included. And whether you get the Stylus at the full $400 price or at a discount, it really calls into question the A56\u2019s value proposition.<\/p>\n

Like the A56, the Moto G Stylus has an AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and Motorola\u2019s display is sharper and brighter, too. The Moto G has expandable storage (the A56 does not), a similar camera setup, faster wired charging (65W instead of 45W), wireless charging, and \u2014 as the name suggests \u2014 a built-in stylus.<\/p>\n

The Galaxy A56 5G has a few advantages over Motorola\u2019s phone, namely better AI features and a longer software update policy. But are those things really worth an extra $100? I\u2019d argue not.<\/p>\n

Moto G Stylus (2025)<\/a>\"Moto\"AAMoto G Stylus (2025)<\/a><\/p>\n

Built-in stylus \u2022 Vibrant OLED screen \u2022 Fast 68W charging<\/p>\n

Doing things in styl-us.<\/p>\n

The Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025) charges quickly, has decent performance, and comes with a built-in stylus that’s way easier than drawing with a fingertip.<\/p>\n

Nothing Phone 3a Pro\n<\/p>\n

My fifth and final recommendation, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro<\/a>, is a really solid Android handset. While not a home run like the Pixel 9a, it\u2019s a much more interesting choice than the Galaxy A56.<\/p>\n

The design, of course, is an immediate standout. Between its giant camera bump, transparent backside, and LED light strips, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is \u2014 by far \u2014 the most unique-looking phone on this list. That camera bump houses some pretty solid camera sensors, too, much better than what you\u2019ll get on the A56. The Nothing Phone also has faster charging, cleaner software, and some really nifty AI features.<\/p>\n

That all said, there is a caveat to the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. While it\u2019s officially sold in the US, unlike all the other phones on this list, it lacks full network band support for US carriers \u2014 meaning your mileage will vary in terms of how good (or bad) your cell service is. AT&T and T-Mobile should be fine, but Verizon may be a little iffy.<\/p>\n

This means the Nothing Phone 3a Pro won\u2019t be for everyone, and that\u2019s OK. But if the carrier compatibility isn\u2019t an issue for you, Nothing\u2019s handset is a pretty compelling option \u2014 especially with a retail price of $459.<\/p>\n

Nothing Phone 3a Pro<\/a>\"Nothing\"AANothing Phone 3a Pro<\/a><\/p>\n

Triple camera setup with dedicated zoom \u2022 Fast wired charging \u2022 Eye-catching design<\/p>\n

Flagship camera zoom, budget price.<\/p>\n

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a powerful budget phone with a triple camera setup that includes a periscope lens with 3x optical zoom.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n

\"google\"google<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you for being part of our community. Read our\u00a0Comment Policy<\/a> before posting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority Samsung\u2019s Galaxy A series is one of the most popular affordable Android phone…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":264605,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[52584,61,60,202,90792,51991,29256,130429,21808,80],"class_list":{"0":"post-264604","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-google-pixel-9a","9":"tag-ie","10":"tag-ireland","11":"tag-mobile","12":"tag-motorola-moto-g","13":"tag-nothing-phone-3a","14":"tag-oneplus-13r","15":"tag-samsung-galaxy-a56-5g","16":"tag-samsung-galaxy-s25-fe","17":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=264604"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264604\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/264605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=264604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=264604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=264604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}