HONOR Magic 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A56

Our Verdict: HONOR Magic 8 Pro should suit you better if the sharper 455 PPI display, a higher-resolution 200MP rear camera, and the stronger 50MP front camera matters most. Samsung Galaxy A56 is more persuasive when a lighter 198g body is higher on your list. Treat the battery figure as capacity only, because real endurance also depends on software, screen use, and efficiency. The cash-price comparison favours Samsung Galaxy A56, which sits at £349 in the table. The practical answer is HONOR Magic 8 Pro for the extras above, unless Samsung Galaxy A56's advantages are more relevant to how you use a phone.

Over a full contract, the A56 works out around £420 all-in, about £441 less than the Magic 8 Pro.

Expert Rating
4.2
10 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen
6.71" 6.7"
Display
LTPO OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
1206 x 2808 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
455 385
Rear Camera
200 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
50 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery
6,270 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Android 16 Android 14
SIM Type
Nano SIM + Nano 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
5.2 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
161.2 x 75 x 8.3 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight
219 grams 198 grams
Water Resistance
IP65/68 - Dust and water proof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts
£29.99/mo (£119.00 upfront) £16.29/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£997.00 £229.99

Prices updated 25 July 2026

HONOR Magic 8 Pro HONOR Magic 8 Pro Samsung Galaxy A56 Samsung Galaxy A56
Expert Rating 4.2
10 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen 6.71" 6.7"
Display LTPO OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 1206 x 2808 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 455 385
Rear Camera 200 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 50 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery 6,270 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS Android 16 Android 14
SIM Type Nano SIM + Nano 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 5.2 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 161.2 x 75 x 8.3 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight 219 grams 198 grams
Water Resistance IP65/68 - Dust and water proof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts £29.99/mo
£119.00 upfront
£16.29/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £997.00 £229.99
Prices updated 25 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

HONOR Magic 8 Pro
HONOR Magic 8 Pro

24 Months

512GB

Black

200GB

Data

£29.99 per month, £119 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10)

Samsung Galaxy A56
Samsung Galaxy A56

24 Months

128GB

Awesome Lightgrey

10GB

Data

£16.29 per month, £29 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the HONOR Magic 8 Pro 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 HONOR Magic 8 Pro or Samsung Galaxy A56?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.7", the HONOR Magic 8 Pro has the sharper display at 455 pixels per inch versus 385, and the HONOR Magic 8 Pro uses a LTPO OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A56 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the HONOR Magic 8 Pro or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The HONOR Magic 8 Pro features a 200 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 HONOR Magic 8 Pro or Samsung Galaxy A56?

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

What storage options are available for the HONOR Magic 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A56?

The HONOR Magic 8 Pro is available in 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the HONOR Magic 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A56 use?

The HONOR Magic 8 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy A56 uses the Exynos 1580 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the HONOR Magic 8 Pro or Samsung Galaxy A56?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy A56 is lighter but the HONOR Magic 8 Pro is more compact. It's 21g lighter at 198 grams, though the HONOR Magic 8 Pro is actually the more compact phone at 161.2 x 75 x 8.3 mm, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the HONOR Magic 8 Pro or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The HONOR Magic 8 Pro is rated IP65/68 - Dust and water proof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 is rated IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min).

What operating system do the HONOR Magic 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A56 run?

The HONOR Magic 8 Pro runs Android 16 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.