Samsung Galaxy A56 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
Galaxy A56 offers superior value with a larger 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display at 1800 nits brightness, bigger 5000 mAh battery, and faster 45W charging. Its Exynos 1580 processor and Xclipse 540 GPU handle everyday tasks competently despite being less powerful than S23 FE's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 option. S23 FE counters with better 4K video at 60fps, superior telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS, wireless charging capability, and IP68 water resistance versus IP67. Display quality slightly favors S23 FE's Dynamic AMOLED 2X, though brightness advantage goes to A56. Camera systems are comparable in main sensors, but S23 FE's zoom capabilities and faster video recording provide better content creation flexibility. For budget-conscious buyers prioritizing battery life and screen size, Galaxy A56 delivers exceptional value at $449. Those requiring superior video performance and wireless charging should invest in S23 FE at $599.
Who Should Buy
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
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 (One UI 7) | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 197 g | 209 g |
| Material | Plastic frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 5 MP, f/2.4, macro | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2, 123-degree | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1800 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core |
| GPU | Xclipse 540 | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 1580 | Samsung Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| 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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