Samsung’s Galaxy A series is a long-running range of low-to-mid-range Android phones and tablets. The first generation of Galaxy A smartphones was released back in December 2014, and over a decade later, they’re still around with a new 2025 lineup having just been released.

The Galaxy A series has been a massive success for the manufacturer. Samsung has recently announced that the Galaxy A series has currently sold a total of 89+ million units and believes they’ll cross 100 million units with the new 2025 models. 

The phones are designed to be an affordable alternative to the Galaxy S flagships, and as technology advances, the gap between performance and camera quality is growing smaller. 

Whether you’re on a budget, looking for a cheap second phone, or even a first-time phone for a younger relative, the Samsung A Series is a fantastic solution. The two newest additions to the Galaxy A line are the A36 5G and A56 5G.

Specs & Features of the Latest A Series

The A36 5G and A56 5G are the latest Galaxy A devices in Samsung’s 2025 lineup. The models were announced together on the 2nd of March, 2025, and then later released on March 10th. The A36 5G is the lower-range model, coming in at $549, while the A56 5G is a mid-range option at $699.

Both phones are massive improvements over their predecessors. The Galaxy A36 and A56 also mark the first time in history an A series device supports 45W fast charging. Below, we’ve outlined the key specs for both devices.

Galaxy A36 5G Specifications:

The front and back of the A36 5G are made of Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus®+, while the frame is made of plastic. It also features IP67 dust and water resistance. The phone is available in the following colours: black, lavender, white and lime.

• Display: 6.7-inch screen powered by Super AMOLED up to 120Hz Refresh Rate

• CPU: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 Chip

• RAM: 6GB

• Storage options: 128GB

• Rear cameras: 50MP, 8MP Ultra-wide, 5MP Macro

• Front camera: 12MP

• Video recording: 4K UHD@30FPS

• Battery: 5000 mAh

• Charging speed: Wired - 45.0W

*For international versions of the Galaxy A36 5G, there are different RAM configurations available.

Galaxy A56 5G Specifications:

Similarly, the front and back of the A56 5G are made of Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus®+, but unlike the A36, the frame is made of metal. The model is also waterproof, with an IP67 rating. The colour options for the A56 are olive, graphite, pink and light grey.

• Display: 6.7-inch screen powered by Super AMOLED up to 120Hz Refresh Rate

• CPU: Exynos 1580

• RAM: 8GB

• Storage options: 128GB and 256GB

• Rear cameras: 50MP, 12MP Ultra-wide, 5MP Macro

• Front camera: 12MP

• Video recording: 4K UHD@30FPS

• Battery: 5000 mAh

• Charging speed: Wired - 45W

*For international versions of the Galaxy A56 5G, there are different RAM configurations available.

The biggest difference between both devices are the RAM and processor. While the A36 5G is significantly cheaper than the A56 5G, especially if you buy it refurbished, it features less RAM (6GB), and the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is weaker than the Exynos 1580.

However, both phones’ chipsets still support the feature Samsung calls ‘Awesome Intelligence’. It is a suite of artificial intelligence-powered tools designed specifically for the Galaxy A series of phones.

While Awesome Intelligence isn’t as packed with as many features as Google Gemini or Galaxy AI, it can run on low-to-mid-range hardware and covers the essentials. 

Features of Awesome Intelligence include:

Circle to Search

This allows users to easily circle an item to search for more information on Google.

AI Select

This feature provides contextual suggestions based on on-screen content. For example, it might suggest turning a video into a GIF.

Read Aloud

This AI-powered tool lets you convert any online text into audio. 

Object Eraser

Object eraser allows you to easily remove any unwanted objects from a photo.

Edit Suggestions

This tool recommends editing enhancements for a higher-quality photo. For example, blurring the background.

As the A56 5G features more RAM and a stronger processor, there are a few Awesome Intelligence features exclusive to it. These include:

• Best Face: This tool allows users to select the best facial expressions of up to five people from motion photos and merge them into a single group shot that has only the ‘best’ face.

• Auto Trim: This feature uses AI to analyse videos for the user and extract the best moments from them, and compiles them into a ready-to-share highlight video.

How It Compares To Previous Releases

The A36 5G and the A56 5G are both massive improvements over their predecessors, the A35 and A55. Both newer models received an upgrade to the screen—the predecessors had 6.6-inch displays, while the A36 and A56 have 6.7-inch displays.

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 used in the Galaxy A36 5G is also an upgrade from its predecessor's Exynos 1380 chipset. Tests report that the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 provides better gaming performance and is more battery efficient.

Similarly, the chipset in the A56 5G—the Exynos 1580—is also an improvement over the A55’s Exynos 1480. Comparison tests report that the Exynos 1580 has better CPU performance, provides better battery life, and supports higher memory bandwidth. 

Not only are the Galaxy A36 5G and A56 5G able to handle more intensive tasks, but they also have a bigger (and better) display to enjoy streaming and gaming on. Users can also expect higher frames and graphic settings on the A36 5G and A56 5G.

Samsung’s Awesome Intelligence is also only available for the latest Galaxy A series models, including the A36 5G and A56 5G. The AI-powered suite of tools is not available on any previous Galaxy A releases (before 2025).

What Is So Good About The A Series?

While people probably think about the flagship phones and foldable devices when it comes to Samsung, they are also still one of the few smartphone manufacturers releasing low-end and mid-range hardware.

The Galaxy A phones are good, not only because they’re affordable but also because they offer features similar to those of the flagship series at a fraction of the price. For example, the current generation of A series phones already offer Super AMOLED displays and 120Hz refresh rates.

Samsung’s Galaxy A range is also one of the few budget-friendly smartphones that offer a multi-lens camera setup. For example, the Galaxy A56 features a three-lens configuration with ultra-wide and macro lenses. 

While the performance of Samsung’s A series mid-range chipsets isn’t at the level of the flagships, they can still comfortably handle modern 3D games and AI tools. 

When it comes to value for money, you won’t be able to find another phone in the same price range that beats the Galaxy A series. Despite the low price tags, the A series devices still manage to provide a good camera setup, satisfactory performance, and long-lasting battery without cutting any corners. 

Buy The Latest Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Phones at OzMobiles

Buying refurbished is a great way to save money and get the best deals on the Samsung Galaxy A series. Here at OzMobiles, we pride ourselves on offering a large selection of refurbished Galaxy Phones, and if you find a better deal elsewhere, we’ll beat it by $10* (terms and conditions apply).

When you shop with us, you also get a guarantee that a qualified technician has inspected and restored the phone to like-new condition. As part of this process, only industry-grade tools and genuine parts are used to ensure the phone is fully functional and running optimally.

All the devices we sell, including the Galaxy A models, come with a free 12-month warranty and a 30-day risk-free return policy. So, you can shop with confidence, knowing that if you have any concerns or a change of heart, the OzMobiles team is here for you.

If you have any questions about our refurbishment process or need assistance finding the right device for you, contact us today. The OzMobiles team would love to hear from you.