With Samsung launching the Galaxy S25 series very early in 2025, the world wondered what the brand would show up with at MWC 2025. Now, just six months after the launch of the previous Galaxy A series launch, Samsung has surprised fans with the next iteration: the Galaxy A56 5G and A36 5G. The company is doubling down on tech with its new smartphones, bringing AI-driven features (Awesome Intelligence) and sleek upgrades to its budget-friendly lineup. Here, we’ll explore the four pillars that make the new generation of Galaxy A mobile devices tick.
1. The Galaxy A56 & A36 Has A New Look
The new Galaxy A56 5G and A36 5G continue Samsung’s signature Galaxy design. It’s meant to fuse modern sophistication with a sleek aesthetic – in other words, it’s designed to catch the eye with its slim, flat frame.
This year’s design philosophy is more minimalistic. The rear features a vertically aligned, three-lens camera layout and is housed by black rings to enhance the look. Compared to the previous iterations, the new A56 has been trimmed down by 0.8mm, measuring just 7.4mm thick.
Both the Galaxy A56 5G and A36 5G feature a large 6.7″ screen. This is 0.1″ larger than their predecessors. Also, both devices sport an FHD+ Super AMOLED panel that delivers bright visuals – with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits.
However, despite its larger screens, both the A56 and A36 are still lightweight. The former weighs 198g, 15g lighter than the previous model, with the A36 weighing 195g, having shed 14g over the previous generation.
This year’s design also features a range of new colours – like the milky matte finish on the A56 and the holographic effects on the A36.
2. Awesome Intelligence Changes The Way You Search
One of the new features of the Galaxy A series is the Circle to Search capability. This makes finding information as effortless as ever. Users must long-press the home button and then draw a circle around anything interesting on the screen. From here, Google will instantly provide all the relevant search results at your fingertips.
But, the new search features are more than just for images. Users can search for their favourite songs when hearing the tunes in various videos. Circle to Search recognises music played in the background of videos, whether you’re watching YouTube or any other video platforms and apps.
Now, you can easily find out the name of that song you’ve been vibing to, even if it’s buried in a video.
3. Say Goodbye to Bad Selfies!
One of Samsung’s mainstays has been its camera technology. The camera on the Galaxy A series is no different. The camera capabilities allow users to capture all their exciting moments, even when taking a nighttime walk and selfie. This saves time by not having to take endless selfies to ensure that they are not blurry or grainy before achieving the desired result.
Further to this, if any unwanted objects in the background affect your pics, you can now simply trace the object to remove them using the Object Eraser. This tool will seamlessly fill in the space where the original object was and blend it naturally into the background.
And then there are the group selfies. Not only can you easily fit more people into the selfie, but the camera software can detect when someone in the group is blinking or has an awkward expression on their face and can notify the user of this. By using the Best Face features, you can now avoid these slip-ups and provide an easy fix solution. The tool analyses the multiple frames photos it takes using Motion Photo to recommend the best ones. From there, it can then replace the faces of those who are blinking by using one of the many other photos taken in the sequence.
4. More Power & More Security
Powered by One UI 7, the Galaxy A56 5G and A36 5G offer improved security with its hardware-backed Knox Vault. Combined with a more secure processor, its security provides peace of mind to its users, protecting their most sensitive data, such as PINs and passwords.
Other security enhancements include the Auto Blocker, which blocks compromised messages and unauthorised access to app installations, and data access. The new Theft Protection feature also ensures your personal data is protected even when the device has been stolen or lost.
Additionally, Samsung promises up to six years of security updates, including six generations of Android OS and One UI firmware upgrades for both smartphones. This ensures that users have the most secure and reliable software available for their protection.
With AI-powered upgrades and enhanced security, the Galaxy A56 5G and A36 5G are pushing the boundaries of what budget smartphones can do.
The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G lands at R10,999, while the A36 5G comes in at R7,499—offering premium features at a price that won’t break the bank.
