Samsung Galaxy M56 vs Google Pixel 8a: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term battery health and a polished software experience, the Google Pixel 8a is the stronger choice. Its 40:06h endurance rating and Google’s software optimizations outweigh the Samsung Galaxy M56’s faster 45W charging, especially considering the Pixel 8a’s bypass charging feature.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy M56 | Google Pixel 8a |
| 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, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - G6GPR (International) |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G6GPR (International) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, April 17 | 2024, May 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, April 17 | Available. Released 2024, May 14 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), plastic frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162 x 77.3 x 7.2 mm (6.38 x 3.04 x 0.28 in) | 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ | Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~382 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~430 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.74 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED+, 120Hz | OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 2000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Exynos 1480 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Xclipse 530 | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP (16 MP eff.), f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra HDR, panorama, Best Take |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| 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/6e, dual/tri-band (market/region dependent) |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless Bypass charging |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4492 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Light Green | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Aloe |
| Models | SM-M566B, SM-M566B/DS | GKV4X, G6GPR, G8HHN, G576D |
| Price | About 260 EUR | $ 229.98 / C$ 417.99 / £ 279.00 / € 299.99 / ₹ 33,300 |
| SAR | 0.71 W/kg (head) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 40:06h endurance, 1000 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class A (270 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class B |
Samsung Galaxy M56
- Faster 45W wired charging
- Potentially more customizable Android experience
- May offer expandable storage (spec not confirmed)
- Battery endurance significantly lower than Pixel 8a
- Performance likely trails the Tensor G3
- Camera performance likely inferior to Pixel 8a
Google Pixel 8a
- Exceptional battery life (40:06h endurance)
- Superior camera performance with Google’s processing
- Powerful Tensor G3 chip with AI capabilities
- Slower 18W wired charging
- No expandable storage
- Software updates may be limited compared to Samsung
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 8a boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1508 nits, making it far more usable in direct sunlight compared to the Samsung Galaxy M56 (brightness data unavailable). While the M56’s panel technology isn’t specified, the Pixel 8a’s brightness advantage is a clear win for outdoor visibility. The Pixel 8a’s display is also likely to benefit from Google’s color calibration expertise, ensuring accurate and vibrant visuals. The absence of LTPO on either device suggests neither offers adaptive refresh rates for power saving.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 8a’s camera system is expected to excel due to Google’s renowned computational photography algorithms. While sensor sizes and apertures are not provided for either device, the Pixel 8a’s image processing pipeline is a significant advantage. The M56’s camera specifications are currently unknown, making a direct comparison difficult. It’s likely the Pixel 8a will offer superior dynamic range, low-light performance, and overall image quality. The inclusion of features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur further enhances the Pixel 8a’s camera capabilities.
Performance
Both phones utilize 4nm chipsets, but their architectures differ significantly. The Samsung Galaxy M56’s Exynos 1480 employs an octa-core configuration with Cortex-A78 performance cores, while the Google Pixel 8a’s Tensor G3 utilizes a nona-core setup featuring the more powerful Cortex-X3 core. This suggests the Tensor G3 will deliver superior peak performance, particularly in demanding tasks. The Tensor G3’s focus on AI processing also provides advantages in areas like voice recognition and image processing. However, the Exynos 1480 may offer competitive performance in less intensive workloads. RAM specifications are missing for the M56, but the Pixel 8a’s LPDDR5x RAM contributes to faster data transfer speeds.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 8a’s battery performance is a standout feature, achieving an impressive 40:06h endurance rating and 11:25h of active use. This surpasses the older 83h endurance rating previously reported for the Pixel 8a. The Samsung Galaxy M56 offers 45W wired charging, significantly faster than the Pixel 8a’s 18W charging with PD3.0. However, the Pixel 8a compensates with 7.5W wireless charging and, crucially, bypass charging, which minimizes battery degradation during charging. The Pixel 8a’s 1000 cycle battery lifespan also suggests greater long-term reliability.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M56 if you need the fastest possible wired charging and prioritize a potentially more customizable Android experience. This phone suits users who frequently top up their battery throughout the day and appreciate a larger feature set. Buy the Google Pixel 8a if you prefer a streamlined software experience, exceptional camera performance powered by Google’s computational photography, and a phone designed for longevity with its impressive battery endurance and 1000 cycle lifespan.