Galaxy A23 5G Vs Galaxy A56

Galaxy A23 5G
Galaxy A23 5G
Starting at

Refurbished price:£100.00

Versus £300.00 new

See options
Galaxy A56
Galaxy A56
Starting at

Refurbished price:£274.00

Versus £422.50 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G, released in August 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy A56, launched in March 2025, represent different generations within Samsung's popular A-series smartphone lineup. While both operate on the Android ecosystem, the Galaxy A56 introduces advancements in display technology, processing capabilities, and camera performance, offering a more refined experience compared to the Galaxy A23 5G's more foundational design.

Scores

Durability

The practical lifespan and durability expectations differ between these two Galaxy models, primarily due to their release timelines and build quality.

  • Software Longevity: The Galaxy A23 5G launched with Android 12 and has received updates to Android 14, but its major software support window is nearing its conclusion. The Galaxy A56, being a much newer device, launched with Android 15 and is eligible for six major OS upgrades and six years of security updates, significantly extending its usable life for several years beyond the A23 5G.
  • Physical Resilience: The Galaxy A23 5G features a plastic construction for its frame and back, with a Gorilla Glass 5 front, offering everyday resilience but lacking an official IP rating for water and dust resistance. The Galaxy A56 incorporates more robust materials, including an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, alongside an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, providing a higher level of physical durability against environmental factors.
  • Repairability: The Galaxy A23 5G has a repairability score of 8.1 out of 10, indicating it is relatively repair-friendly, though its battery can be challenging to remove due to strong adhesive. The Galaxy A56 received a repairability score of 8.4 out of 10, a slight decrease from its predecessor, suggesting some components are marginally trickier to replace.

Year of Release

2022

2025

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

When considering daily responsiveness and handling demanding applications, the Galaxy A56 offers a notable upgrade over the Galaxy A23 5G.

  • Processing Power: The Galaxy A23 5G is equipped with a processor that handles everyday tasks and 5G connectivity efficiently. While suitable for general use, some users have noted occasional sluggishness, particularly with lower RAM configurations. The Galaxy A56 features a more advanced, current-generation processor designed for smoother multitasking and more demanding applications, including gaming, with efficient thermal management.
  • Memory and Storage: The Galaxy A23 5G is available with 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. The Galaxy A56 offers higher base configurations, typically starting with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, also expandable via microSD, providing more headroom for apps and files.
  • Battery Behavior: Both devices feature a 5000mAh battery capacity. The Galaxy A23 5G is known for its excellent battery life, often lasting a day and a half with regular use. The Galaxy A56 also delivers strong battery performance, with users reporting it can comfortably last through a full day, and even up to two days, of heavy use. The A56 supports faster 45W wired charging compared to the A23 5G's 25W.

Memory (GB)

4 GB

8 GB

Screen quality

The visual experience is a significant differentiator, with the Galaxy A56 offering a superior display compared to the Galaxy A23 5G.

  • Display Technology: The Galaxy A23 5G features a 6.6-inch PLS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing clear visuals and smooth scrolling for its class. The Galaxy A56 boasts a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. This technology delivers deeper blacks, higher contrast ratios, and more vibrant colors, significantly enhancing the viewing experience for media consumption.
  • Resolution and Brightness: Both phones offer Full HD+ resolution (2408x1080 for A23 5G, 2340x1080 for A56), ensuring sharp images and text. However, the Galaxy A56's Super AMOLED display achieves a significantly higher peak brightness of up to 1900 nits, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors even in direct sunlight, whereas the A23 5G's LCD panel reaches around 430-510 nits.
  • Viewing Experience: The Galaxy A23 5G's display lacks an ambient light sensor, relying on the selfie camera for auto-brightness adjustments, which can sometimes be slow or inaccurate. The Galaxy A56's display offers a more immersive and responsive viewing experience with its advanced panel and higher brightness capabilities.

Resolution

1080 x 2408

1080 x 2340

Screen type

PLS LCD

Super AMOLED

Audiovisual

The camera systems on these devices offer different capabilities, with the Galaxy A56 providing a more advanced and versatile photography and videography experience.

  • Rear Camera System: The Galaxy A23 5G features a quad-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor (with OIS), a 5MP ultrawide, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. Its main camera performs well in daylight, but the auxiliary lenses are considered basic. The Galaxy A56 comes with a triple-camera system, including a 50MP main sensor (with OIS and PDAF), a 12MP ultrawide (123˚), and a 5MP macro lens. This setup generally delivers better image quality, especially from the ultrawide, and improved low-light performance from the main sensor.
  • Photography Performance: The A23 5G's main camera captures detailed and color-accurate photos in good lighting, with a serviceable Night Mode. The A56's main camera produces excellent daylight photos with wide dynamic range and accurate colors, and its Night Mode is effective in low-light conditions. The 12MP ultrawide on the A56 offers crisper and more detailed shots than the A23 5G's 5MP equivalent.
  • Video and Audio: The Galaxy A23 5G records video up to 1080p resolution. The Galaxy A56 significantly upgrades video capabilities, supporting 4K recording at 30 frames per second from its main, ultrawide, and selfie cameras, with solid stabilization. For audio, the A56 provides stereo speakers, enhancing the media consumption experience, while the A23 5G typically features a single bottom-firing speaker.

Main camera

50 megapixels

4K@30fps

Front camera

8 megapixels

13 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core performance and display, several practical features and design elements distinguish these two Samsung smartphones.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both devices support 5G connectivity for fast mobile data. The Galaxy A23 5G uses Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1, and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack alongside its USB-C port. The newer Galaxy A56 features more advanced wireless standards like Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, offering faster and more stable connections, but it omits the 3.5mm headphone jack.
  • Biometric Security: The Galaxy A23 5G typically features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. The Galaxy A56 integrates an under-display fingerprint sensor for a more seamless aesthetic. Both devices also offer face recognition.
  • Design and Handling: The Galaxy A23 5G has dimensions of 167.2 x 76.4 x 9.0mm and weighs 197g, featuring a plastic build. The Galaxy A56, with its aluminum frame and glass front and back, offers a more premium feel. It measures 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4mm and weighs 198g, making it slightly thinner and similar in weight despite its larger screen.

Weight

197 g

197 g

Screen size (in)

6.6

6.5

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C + Jack 3.5mm

USB-C

User feedback for the Galaxy A23 5G often highlights its strong battery life, capable main camera, and user-friendly interface as key strengths. Some common criticisms include the basic nature of its secondary cameras and the display's reliance on the selfie camera for auto-brightness. The Galaxy A56, being a more recent release, receives praise for its premium design, vibrant AMOLED display, reliable performance for everyday use, and excellent battery life. Users also appreciate its improved camera system and extended software support. Criticisms sometimes point to the macro camera being underwhelming and the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Users prioritizing extended software longevity, a more premium build with water resistance, and a superior display experience will find the Galaxy A56 well-suited to their needs. Its enhanced processing power and improved camera capabilities also cater to those who engage in more demanding tasks or value higher quality photos and videos. Conversely, users who prioritize a device with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a slightly more repairable design, and still capable performance for essential daily tasks may lean toward the Galaxy A23 5G. Both devices offer access to the Android ecosystem, and for those seeking an eco-friendly, quality-assured alternative, considering a refurbished option for either model can be a sustainable choice.

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