Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy A56

Our Verdict: Cost-conscious buyers should notice the SIM-free split between Samsung Galaxy A56 and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. Samsung Galaxy A56 starts at £349.00; Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at £459.95. Screen quality leans toward Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max for sharpness, with 460 PPI compared with Samsung Galaxy A56's 385 PPI. Samsung Galaxy A56 has the higher-resolution rear camera figure at 50MP versus Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max's 48MP, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max offers more headroom at up to 512GB rather than Samsung Galaxy A56's 256GB. Buy Samsung Galaxy A56 if cost is the deciding factor, and move to Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max only if the specific hardware gains above are worth the extra outlay to you.

Over a full contract, the A56 works out around £420 all-in, about £335 less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max 5G.

Expert Rating
4.5
12 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.7"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
1290 x 2796 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
460 385
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A17 Pro Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery
4,422 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 14
SIM Type
Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth
5.3 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight
221 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
£28.75/mo (£20.00 upfront) £16.29/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£459.95 £229.99

Prices updated 18 July 2026

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy A56 Samsung Galaxy A56
Expert Rating 4.5
12 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.7"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 1290 x 2796 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 460 385
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A17 Pro Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery 4,422 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB
OS Apple iOS Android 14
SIM Type Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight 221 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 £28.75/mo
£20.00 upfront
£16.29/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £459.95 £229.99
Prices updated 18 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

24 Months

256GB

White Titanium

Refurbished

1GB

Data

£28.75 per month, £20 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 15 Pro Max 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 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A56?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.7", the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has the sharper display at 460 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A56 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 48 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 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £229.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A56 use?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A17 Pro , while the Samsung Galaxy A56 uses the Exynos 1580 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A56?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy A56 is lighter but the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is more compact. It's 23g lighter at 198 grams, though the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is actually the more compact phone at 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 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 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A56 run?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 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.