Samsung Galaxy A56 vs Samsung Galaxy S24
The Verdict
Samsung's flagship S24 outperforms the budget-friendly A56 in nearly every meaningful way, commanding a $350 premium. Picture quality advantages include the S24's superior Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO display with 2600 nits peak brightness versus the A56's 1800 nits, alongside a more compact 6.2-inch form factor. Performance separates decisively—the Exynos 2400's deca-core architecture and Xclipse 940 GPU demolish the Exynos 1580, while 8K video recording capability on the S24 crushes the A56's 4K limitation. Battery endurance favors the A56's larger 5000 mAh pack, though the S24 adds wireless charging and USB 3.2 connectivity. Build quality tips toward the S24 with its premium aluminum frame and IP68 rating. For content creators, professionals, and heavy users seeking flagship performance, the S24 justifies its premium pricing. Budget-conscious buyers should appreciate the A56's respectable 120Hz AMOLED display and 45W charging, making it excellent value—but it's simply outclassed by the S24's flagship prowess.
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 S24 if…
- →Compact form factor with flagship features
- →Galaxy AI suite including live translate
- →Bright 2600-nit AMOLED display
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 S24
Pros
- Compact form factor with flagship features
- Galaxy AI suite including live translate
- Bright 2600-nit AMOLED display
- Seven years of software updates
- IP68 dust and water resistance
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM
- Slow 25W charging
- Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 7
- Smaller battery than rivals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Samsung Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 (One UI 7) | Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 197 g | 167 g |
| Material | Plastic frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm | 147.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, 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 3x optical |
| 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, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1800 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core | Deca-core (1x3.2 GHz + 2x2.9 GHz + 3x2.6 GHz + 4x1.95 GHz) |
| GPU | Xclipse 540 | Xclipse 940 |
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 1580 | Exynos 2400 |
| 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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