Nothing Phone (2a)vsSamsung Galaxy A56
TOO CLOSE TO CALLUpdated September 8, 2026
Your call
Verdict
Too close to call — it comes down to your priorities
Nothing Phone (2a) and Samsung Galaxy A56 trade category wins — Nothing Phone (2a) in Price; Samsung Galaxy A56 in Display. Decide by the category you actually use most, then check the price.
- Samsung Galaxy A56 takes Performance — led by performance score (950,000 pts).
- Samsung Galaxy A56 takes Display — led by brightness (1,900 nits).
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Camera — led by selfie camera (32 MP).
- Too close to call between Nothing Phone (2a) and Samsung Galaxy A56.
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Price — led by price (349 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want better video quality — 82 pts vs 80 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a lower price — 349 USD vs 449 USD.
Choose Samsung Galaxy A56 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A56 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 950,000 pts vs 700,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A56 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,900 nits vs 1,300 nits.
At a glance
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Samsung Galaxy A56
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto lens
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video quality
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera quality
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Nothing Phone (2a)
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if price matters most. It costs USD 349, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy A56
Choose Samsung Galaxy A56 if display matters most. It costs USD 449.
Pros & cons
Nothing Phone (2a)
- Unique Glyph design
- Clean software
- Good price
- Mid-range chipset
- No telephoto
- 45 W charging
Samsung Galaxy A56
- Great value
- 5,000 mAh battery
- 6 years of updates
- Mid-range Exynos chip
- Plastic frame
- No wireless charging