Samsung Galaxy A35 vs Samsung Galaxy A56
The Verdict
Both phones offer solid mid-range experiences, but the Galaxy A56 pulls ahead with meaningful upgrades. Display brightness nearly doubles to 1800 nits versus 1000 nits on the A35, making outdoor visibility substantially better. Camera improvements are notable: the A56's 12MP ultrawide (123-degree) outperforms the A35's 8MP, while charging nearly doubles from 25W to 45W. Processing power jumps to the Exynos 1580 with Xclipse 540 GPU, enabling better gaming and multitasking. RAM increases to 8GB, and Android 15 with One UI 7 brings newer features. The A35 retains advantages in weight (209g vs 197g) and aluminum construction, though the A56's plastic frame is typical for this segment. Both share identical 5000mAh batteries and 4K video. At $449 versus $399, the A56's $50 premium justifies the faster charging, brighter display, and superior camera system. Go with the A56 for meaningful upgrades.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A35 if…
- →Solid build with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides
- →Bright 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- →Long-lasting 5000 mAh battery
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A56 if…
- →Six generations of OS updates — longest support in the mid-range
- →IP67 water resistance is rare at this price
- →Bright 120Hz Super AMOLED display looks great outdoors
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy A35
Pros
- Solid build with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides
- Bright 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- Long-lasting 5000 mAh battery
- IP67 water and dust resistance
- Four years of OS upgrades promised
Cons
- Only 6 GB RAM in base configuration
- Wi-Fi 5 is dated for 2024
- Exynos 1380 trails Snapdragon 7 chips
- Slow 25W charging with no in-box charger
Samsung Galaxy A56
Pros
- Six generations of OS updates — longest support in the mid-range
- IP67 water resistance is rare at this price
- Bright 120Hz Super AMOLED display looks great outdoors
- 45W fast charging is a welcome upgrade over the A55
- Clean One UI 7 software with Galaxy AI features
Cons
- Exynos 1580 is slower than Snapdragon competitors at this price
- No telephoto — only a 5MP macro camera
- Plastic frame feels less premium than glass rivals
- No wireless charging
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Samsung Galaxy A56 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Android 15 (One UI 7) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 209 g | 197 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ | Plastic frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 161.7 x 78.0 x 8.2 mm | 162.9 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 5 MP macro | 5 MP, f/2.4, macro |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2, 123-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 45W wired |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.6 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 1800 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MP5 | Xclipse 540 |
| Chipset | Exynos 1380 | Samsung Exynos 1580 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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