Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Samsung’s Galaxy A series is one of the most popular affordable Android phone lines, and the Galaxy A56 5G is one of the latest entries. With a decent spec sheet, modern design, and $500 price tag, it should be an easy recommendation … right?
As it turns out, it’s not. In his Galaxy A56 5G review, my colleague Ryan Haines found that the phone’s mediocre performance, lack of wireless charging, and limited camera capabilities hold it back considerably. But above all, one of the A56’s most significant problems is that it’s outdone by the competition.
The Galaxy A56 5G isn’t a bad phone, but the simple fact is that your money is better spent elsewhere. Specifically, these are five Android phones you should buy instead.
What do you think is the best Samsung Galaxy A56 5G alternative? 66 votes Google Pixel 9a 20 % Samsung Galaxy S25 FE 26 % Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025) 17 % OnePlus 13R 17 % Nothing Phone 3a Pro 17 % Other (let us know in the comments) 5 %
Google Pixel 9a
One of those other Android phones is the Google Pixel 9a. The Pixel 9a earned a 10/10 score and an Editor’s Choice award when we reviewed it last April, and nine months later, it holds strong as the best $500 phone you can buy — hands down.
What makes the Pixel 9a so special is how well Google nailed almost every aspect of the day-to-day experience using the phone. The design is comfortable and practical (no camera bump!), all of the cameras are great, the Tensor G4 chip is a strong performer, battery life is solid, and Google’s software is just outstanding. Oh, and there’s wireless charging, too.
The Pixel 9a doesn’t really have one standout spec or feature that sets it apart from the competition, but when you use the phone and see how well everything comes together, you understand why it’s so darn good. Does this mean the Pixel 9a is perfect? Of course not. The phone’s charging speeds are slower than the Galaxy A56 5G, and it’s missing some helpful AI features available on more expensive Pixels.
But for $499, the Pixel 9a is about as close to perfect as a mid-range Android phone gets, and you’d be mad to buy the Galaxy A56 5G over it.
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