Apple iPhone 13 mini vs Samsung Galaxy A56

Our Verdict: The SIM-free listings put Apple iPhone 13 Mini 5G ahead of Samsung Galaxy A56 on cost. Apple iPhone 13 Mini 5G is shown at £194.00, while Samsung Galaxy A56 starts from £349.00. Screen quality leans toward Apple iPhone 13 Mini 5G for sharpness, with 477 PPI compared with Samsung Galaxy A56's 385 PPI. Samsung Galaxy A56 has the higher-resolution rear camera figure at 50MP versus Apple iPhone 13 Mini 5G's 12MP, Apple iPhone 13 Mini 5G offers more headroom at up to 512GB rather than Samsung Galaxy A56's 256GB. Apple iPhone 13 Mini 5G is lighter at 141g, compared with Samsung Galaxy A56 at 198g, Samsung Galaxy A56 lists the larger battery capacity, 5,000 mAh against Apple iPhone 13 Mini 5G's 2,406 mAh. The better buy is priority-led: Apple iPhone 13 Mini 5G has its own hardware strengths, while Samsung Galaxy A56 may be the more sensible fit for cost, size, or ecosystem reasons.

The A56 is the cheaper one to own: around £420 over a typical contract, £124 less than the iPhone 13 Mini.

Expert Rating
4.3
10 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen
5.4" 6.7"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
1080 x 2340 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
477 385
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A15 Bionic Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery
2,406 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 14
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight
141 grams 198 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts
£20.00/mo (£19.00 upfront) £16.29/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£194.99 £229.99

Prices updated 18 July 2026

Apple iPhone 13 mini Apple iPhone 13 mini Samsung Galaxy A56 Samsung Galaxy A56
Expert Rating 4.3
10 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen 5.4" 6.7"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 1080 x 2340 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 477 385
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A15 Bionic Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery 2,406 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS Apple iOS Android 14
SIM Type nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight 141 grams 198 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts £20.00/mo
£19.00 upfront
£16.29/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £194.99 £229.99
Prices updated 18 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple iPhone 13 mini

24 Months

128GB

(PRODUCT) RED

100GB

Data

£20 per month, £19 upfront.

Samsung Galaxy A56
Samsung Galaxy A56

24 Months

128GB

Awesome Pink

10GB

Data

£16.29 per month, £29 upfront.

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 13 mini or Samsung Galaxy A56 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is cheaper on contract at £419.96 over the life of the deal from £16.29 per month with £29.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 13 mini or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy A56 has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone 13 mini's 5.4", the Apple iPhone 13 mini has the sharper display at 477 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone 13 mini uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A56 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 13 mini or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Apple iPhone 13 mini features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 13 mini or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Apple iPhone 13 mini is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £194.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 13 mini and Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Apple iPhone 13 mini is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 13 mini and Samsung Galaxy A56 use?

The Apple iPhone 13 mini is powered by the Apple A15 Bionic, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 uses the Exynos 1580 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 13 mini or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Apple iPhone 13 mini is the more portable of the two: it's 57g lighter at 141 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 13 mini or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Apple iPhone 13 mini is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A56 is rated IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 13 mini and Samsung Galaxy A56 run?

The Apple iPhone 13 mini runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A56 runs Android 14. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.