Samsung Galaxy A56 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy A56 delivers impressive value with a 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display, capable 50MP main camera with OIS, and a 5000mAh battery at $449. Its Exynos 1580 processor handles everyday tasks well, though it trails flagship performance. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 Ultra ($1199.99) represents premium engineering featuring a QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, exceptional 200MP main camera with dual telephoto lenses (10x periscope + 3x optical), and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance. The S23 Ultra's 8K video, wireless charging, and superior build materials justify its price for content creators and power users. Budget-conscious buyers seeking strong everyday performance should choose the A56's excellent display and camera quality. Professionals requiring flagship capabilities and advanced zoom photography must invest in the S23 Ultra. Both share identical 5000mAh capacity, but the Ultra's ecosystem clearly dominates flagship territory.
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 Ultra if…
- →200 MP main camera with versatile 3x and 10x telephoto lenses
- →Built-in S Pen with Bluetooth air actions retained
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers class-leading performance
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 Ultra
Pros
- 200 MP main camera with versatile 3x and 10x telephoto lenses
- Built-in S Pen with Bluetooth air actions retained
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers class-leading performance
- Bright 2200-nit display readable in direct sunlight
- IP68 dust and water resistance
Cons
- Very heavy at 234 g, tiring for extended use
- Thick 8.9 mm body compared to rivals
- 45W charging is slow for a $1199 flagship
- No significant camera hardware upgrade over S22 Ultra main sensor
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 (One UI 7) | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 197 g | 234 g |
| Material | Plastic frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 5 MP, f/2.4, macro | 10 MP 10x periscope + 10 MP 3x optical |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2, 123-degree | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1800 | 2200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Xclipse 540 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 1580 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| 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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