Samsung Galaxy A36 and A56 hands-on review

Looking at the Galaxy A36 first, there are two upgrades to the camera system this year. First, the selfie camera has a new, larger 12MP sensor. Second, video HDR (10-bit up to 4K @ 30fps) is available on both the rear and front cameras.

A quick comparison with the A56 shows that the pricier model has a larger sensor (now with 1.0µm pixels), a 12MP UW cam and supports Low Noise mode on the selfie camera.

Here are some preliminary samples from the Galaxy A36 for you to enjoy. Keep in mind that these units are running pre-release software.

Galaxy A36: main camera samples

Galaxy A36: main camera 2x zoom samples

Galaxy A36: ultrawide camera samples

Galaxy A36: selfie camera samples

The Galaxy A36 can only capture 4K with its main camera. Here are some samples.

You can check out the playlist below, which includes multiple video samples.

Moving on to the Galaxy A56 we kind of see the same upgrades for this year. The old 32MO selfie camera has been swapped for a 12MP one. Second, video HDR (10-bit up to 4K @ 30fps) is available on both the rear and front cameras.

The camera hardware on the rear hasn't changed. The back has a 50 MP f/1.8 main shooter, a 12 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide snapper and a 5 MP f/2.4 macro lens. What changed is the algorithm, which is now driven by AI.

The Galaxy A56 features context-aware image enhancement, better nighttime photos and videos with a low-noise mode, and quicker continuous shooting. The seamless zoom between the main and ultra-wide cameras has also doubled in speed, and now the switch takes less than 430 ms.

And here are some samples from the Galaxy A56. Keep in mind that these units are running pre-release software.

Galaxy A56: main camera samples

Galaxy A56: main camera 2x zoom samples

Galaxy A56: ultrawide camera samples

Galaxy A56: selfie camera samples

Unlike the Galaxy A36, the Galaxy A56 can capture 4K video with all of its cameras. Here are some samples.

Early verdict

We have very little doubt that the Galaxy A36 and A56 will enjoy plenty of mass popularity. As we said, Samsung isn't changing too much and rocking the boat too much, which is understandable. Well, except for the removal of the microSD expansion slots, which is quite a bummer.

Other than that, we personally enjoy the new design. The new chipsets and better cooling offer a nice performance boost on both phones compared to last year's models, and the thermal management and stability are very impressive. The addition of 45W charging is a nice little bonus. The overall camera quality seems to come with a slight upgrade, though it's a bit early to judge.

More importantly, however, we love the newfound commitment to a whopping six major OS updates and six years of security patches. That's pretty unheard of in the midrange segment. Plus, Samsung didn't pull any tricks here, and the phones are launching with the latest Android 15 and One UI 7 combo.

Honestly, on support grounds alone, the A36 and A56 look like great recommendations, especially if you tend to keep your phones for a few years.

Pricing

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