Samsung Galaxy A56 vs. Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity, the Samsung Galaxy A56 emerges as the winner. Its significantly longer 44:34h battery endurance and 2000 charge cycles outweigh the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s faster charging, offering peace of mind for heavy users. However, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a strong contender for those valuing quick top-ups.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 02 | 2024, July 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 10 | Available. Released 2024, August 03 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm (6.39 x 3.05 x 0.29 in) | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~87.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.5 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ), 1100 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Exynos 1580 (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4 nm) |
| GPU | Xclipse 540 | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm |
| Features | Best Face, LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 50 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.76" |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 1080p@60fps (regional availability), 10-bit HDR | 4K@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes, 360˚ |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, 65% in 30 min, 100% in 68 min | 50W wired, 50% in 21 min, 100% in 56 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Pink, Olive, Graphite, Lightgray | Black, Grey |
| Models | SM-A566V, SM-A566B, SM-A566B/DS, SM-A566E, SM-A566E/DS, SM-A5660, SM-A566U, SM-A566U1, SM-A566W, SM-A566S | A142P |
| Price | € 286.99 / $ 308.29 / £ 249.00 / ₹ 38,999 | € 269.90 / ₹ 22,599 |
| SAR | 1.32 W/kg (head) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.61 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 44:34h endurance, 2000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class B | - |
| Free fall | Class A (270 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
Samsung Galaxy A56
- Exceptional battery endurance (44:34h)
- Brighter display (1213 nits)
- Longer battery lifespan (2000 cycles)
- Slower charging speed (68 minutes to 100%)
- Potentially less streamlined software experience
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Faster charging (56 minutes to 100%)
- Modern and minimalist design
- Potentially more efficient CPU architecture
- Significantly shorter battery endurance (16:34h)
- Lower peak display brightness (1097 nits)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A56 boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 1213 nits, compared to the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s 1097 nits. This difference translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize 4nm chipsets, the A56’s brighter panel will draw slightly more power. Neither specification details refresh rate or panel type, but given the price point, both are likely to be AMOLED. The A56’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor readability.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, the market positioning suggests both phones will feature multi-camera systems. The absence of sensor size information makes it difficult to assess image quality. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s emphasis on design suggests a focus on computational photography, while Samsung typically prioritizes color science and detail. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is likely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit.
Performance
Both phones employ 4nm chipsets, but their architectures differ significantly. The Galaxy A56’s Exynos 1580 features a tri-cluster configuration with Cortex-A720 cores, suggesting a focus on sustained performance. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro, with a dual-cluster setup using Cortex-A715 cores. While the Dimensity 7350 Pro has higher clock speeds (3.0 GHz vs 2.9 GHz), the Exynos 1580’s more numerous high-performance cores could provide an edge in multi-threaded tasks. The A56’s CPU configuration (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A520) suggests a more balanced approach to performance and efficiency.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus shines in charging speed, achieving 50% charge in just 21 minutes and 100% in 56 minutes with its 50W wired charging. The Galaxy A56, with 45W charging, takes 30 minutes to reach 65% and 68 minutes for a full charge. However, the A56 compensates with significantly longer battery endurance – 44:34h versus the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s active use score of 16:34h. Furthermore, the A56’s battery is rated for 2000 charge cycles, indicating superior long-term battery health.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A56 if you need exceptional battery life and a consistently bright display for outdoor use. It’s ideal for users who frequently travel, stream content, or rely heavily on their phone throughout the day. Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus if you prefer a cleaner software experience, faster charging speeds, and a more modern aesthetic, even if it means slightly less overall battery endurance.