Samsung Galaxy A12 vs Samsung Galaxy A56

Our Verdict: If you are buying the handset outright, Samsung Galaxy A12 has the clearer price advantage over Samsung Galaxy A56. The comparison shows £67.98 versus £349.00. Samsung Galaxy A56 has the display edge, pairing a 6.7" Super AMOLED panel with 385 PPI while Samsung Galaxy A12 uses a 6.5" Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen screen at 270 PPI. Samsung Galaxy A56 has the higher-resolution rear camera figure at 50MP versus Samsung Galaxy A12's 48MP, Samsung Galaxy A56 also has the higher-resolution front camera at 12MP against Samsung Galaxy A12's 8MP. Software preference may matter as much as the spec sheet here, with Samsung Galaxy A12 using Android 10 and Samsung Galaxy A56 using Android 14. For most shoppers this points to Samsung Galaxy A12 as the value choice, while Samsung Galaxy A56 is the upgrade pick for screen quality, storage, or software preference.

Buying outright, the A12 starts at £63 SIM-free.

Expert Rating
3.1
10 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen
6.5" 6.7"
Display
Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen Super AMOLED
Resolution
720 x 1600 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
270 385
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
8 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65 Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery
5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
32GB, 64GB, 128GB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Android 10 Android 14
SIM Type
Standard SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 4G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 b/g/n 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
149.9 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight
205 grams 198 grams
Water Resistance
Not rated IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts
- £16.29/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£62.99 £229.99

Prices updated 26 July 2026

Samsung Galaxy A12 Samsung Galaxy A12 Samsung Galaxy A56 Samsung Galaxy A56
Expert Rating 3.1
10 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen 6.5" 6.7"
Display Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen Super AMOLED
Resolution 720 x 1600 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 270 385
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 8 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65 Exynos 1580 (4 nm)
Battery 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 32GB, 64GB, 128GB 128GB, 256GB
OS Android 10 Android 14
SIM Type Standard SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 4G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 149.9 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight 205 grams 198 grams
Water Resistance Not rated IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts - £16.29/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £62.99 £229.99
Prices updated 26 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Samsung Galaxy A12
Samsung Galaxy A12

64GB

Black

Refurbished

From £62.99

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

Which has the better screen, the Samsung Galaxy A12 or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy A56 has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Samsung Galaxy A12's 6.5", the Samsung Galaxy A56 has the sharper display at 385 pixels per inch versus 270, and the Samsung Galaxy A12 uses a Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen panel while the Samsung Galaxy A56 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Samsung Galaxy A12 or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy A12 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 Samsung Galaxy A12 or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy A12 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £62.99.

What storage options are available for the Samsung Galaxy A12 and Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy A12 is available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Samsung Galaxy A12 and Samsung Galaxy A56 use?

The Samsung Galaxy A12 is powered by the Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 uses the Exynos 1580 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Samsung Galaxy A12 or Samsung Galaxy A56?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy A56 is lighter but the Samsung Galaxy A12 is more compact. It's 7g lighter at 198 grams, though the Samsung Galaxy A12 is actually the more compact phone at 149.9 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Samsung Galaxy A12 or Samsung Galaxy A56?

The Samsung Galaxy A12 is rated Not rated, while the Samsung Galaxy A56 is rated IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Samsung Galaxy A12 and Samsung Galaxy A56 run?

The Samsung Galaxy A12 runs Android 10 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.