OnePlus Nord 3vsSamsung Galaxy A56
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
OnePlus Nord 3 wins
Verdict
OnePlus Nord 3 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
OnePlus Nord 3 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 399, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Too close to call between OnePlus Nord 3 and Samsung Galaxy A56.
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Display — led by pixel density (450 ppi).
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Camera — led by video score (90 pts).
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Battery — led by charging speed (80 W).
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Price — led by price (399 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want…
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,000,000 pts vs 950,000 pts.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a bigger screen — 6.74 in vs 6.7 in.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a sharper screen — 450 ppi vs 394 ppi.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want better video quality — 90 pts vs 80 pts.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a better camera — 125 pts vs 112 pts.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want faster charging — 80 W vs 45 W.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a lower price — 399 USD vs 449 USD.
Choose Samsung Galaxy A56 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A56 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,900 nits vs 1,450 nits.
At a glance
- OnePlus Nord 3
- Samsung Galaxy A56
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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.
Peak 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
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
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?
OnePlus Nord 3
Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 399, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy A56
Choose Samsung Galaxy A56 if price matters most. It costs USD 449.
Pros & cons
OnePlus Nord 3
- Dimensity 9000
- 80 W charging
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Average cameras
- No wireless charging
- Software quirks
Samsung Galaxy A56
- Great value
- 5,000 mAh battery
- 6 years of updates
- Mid-range Exynos chip
- Plastic frame
- No wireless charging