Samsung's midrange Galaxy A56 has AI photograph modifying 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. Nevertheless, what I did see may 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 right now, and so they’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 slightly greater 6.7-inch display screen. The bezels, which had been often one of the crucial outstanding visible tells of an A sequence, have been shaved the gadget’s bezels down additional on the A56, too.

Photograph by Mat Smith for Engadget.

The {hardware} has been tweaked, with a brushed steel body and a minor design twist: a brand new barely protruding bump on the aspect the place the amount and energy buttons sit. Once I obtained to deal with the A56 briefly, I favored this. Asymmetry apart, it was simpler to deal with, which was shocking since this was a 6.7-inch gadget, 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 perimeters of telephones and resolve to muddy the waters additional? Maybe.)

It is a blended bag on digicam specs this yr. The entrance of the A56 now has a lower-res 12-megapixel selfie digicam, whereas on the again sits an upgraded 12MP ultrawide, 50MP important 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 modifying, there’s additionally Object Eraser, auto trim for movies and Create Filter, the place you possibly can select an current picture and apply its colour and tone to a special photograph. You may additionally get Finest Face, which helps you to choose from a number of captures for everybody’s finest expression, so long as you may have 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 fashion thrives and residential display screen enhancements just like the Now bar, notification panel adjustments and scalable widgets in several sizes and shapes. 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 velocity is now 45W. The corporate says you possibly can cost the gadget absolutely 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 usually see on Galaxy S units.

It is peak midrange telephone season. The Galaxy A56 goes up towards the lately launched iPhone 16e, whereas rumors counsel Google’s Pixel 9a might break cowl very quickly.

The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26

Samsung additionally introduced the Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G right now, which each have 6.7-inch screens that get as brilliant as 1,200 nits and refresh at as much as 120Hz. They arrive with One UI 7 as nicely, together with options like Circle To Search that beforehand launched on pricier telephones. Plus, additionally they characteristic triple digicam programs on the rear with a 50MP important sensor, although their ultrawide setup digicam is just not as sharp because the A56 at 8MP. A number of the software program options, like Finest Face, are additionally reserved for the A56, although you may 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 score and 5,000mAh battery because the A56, they will 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 in 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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