Samsung Galaxy A56 5G (SM-A566B) / Google Pixel 8a

120 Hz makes scrolling smoother; 1,200 nits is reached in High Brightness Mode, which switches on automatically in sunlight. Allowing for the rounded corners, the visible area is 6.5 inches.

The always-on display shows the time, notifications and the song playing nearby (Now Playing) at low power while the phone is locked.

Glass on the back as well is uncommon in this class; Samsung notes the camera lens covers are not included.

Samsung says a larger vapor chamber than the previous generation spreads heat better in games and multitasking.

It is the same chip as the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

With no card slot, storage cannot be expanded later, so the capacity choice matters for heavy photo and video use.

There is no card slot; the 256 GB option is not offered in every country.

Optical stabilisation (OIS) is on the main camera only and reduces shake at night and in video. There is no telephoto camera; zoom is digital.

4K recording is limited to 30 fps; smoother video needs a drop to 1080p.

45 W speeds need a 45 W USB PD PPS adapter; lower-powered adapters take longer.

USB 2.0 is slower than USB 3 ports for large video transfers and has no video output.

A virtual proximity sensor uses software and other sensors rather than dedicated hardware to turn the screen off during calls.

This is no guarantee against seawater, pool water or pressurised water.

This is the longest support yet in the Galaxy A series; rollout timing can vary by country and carrier.

The seven years count from the first sale date on the US Google Store; this was the first A-series phone with the promise.

Knox Vault stores sensitive data such as PINs and passwords in an isolated hardware area separate from the main processor.

The upper limit, 90 Hz on earlier A-series phones, rises to 120 Hz on this model; Google notes it is not available in every app.

HDR brightness is measured with the whole screen lit and peak brightness with only 5% lit.

The aluminium in the housing and camera bar is 100% recycled; the back cover uses 76% recycled plastic.

IP67 means full dust protection and resistance to brief immersion; it is one step below IP68. Protection can diminish over time.

Super Res Zoom up to 8x is software magnification; there is no telephoto camera.

According to Google, average battery life in testing was at least 31 hours; figures are based on a median user profile.

No charger is included; the box contains a USB-C cable and a Quick Switch adapter for transferring data from an old phone.