Samsung's Galaxy A56 5G squares off against Honor's Magic7 Lite in this head-to-head assessment. Find out which device comes out on top.

Unapologetically Unbridled Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A56 5G vs Honor Magic7 Lite

© our site By our site Expert Conso Tech Journalist Cell / Product and Conso Test Expert Published on

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Design: Samsung ups the ante, Honor sticks to its guns
Connectivity: A balancing act for both contenders
Display: Two top-notch AMOLED displays
Performance: Samsung storms ahead, Honor plays it safe
Camera: AI gives Honor an edge; both leave room for improvement
Battery Life: Huge advantage for the Magic7 Lite
Repairability: Both serious about durability
Quality/Price Ratio: Honor takes the cost-effectiveness crown
Verdict

Samsung and Honor each deliver appealing mid-range smartphones in the form of the Galaxy A56 5G and Magic7 Lite, respectively. Naturally, compromises have been made to keep the prices under 500 €. However, despite these sacrifices, these devices pack punchy features for those on a budget. Who emerges victorious between the power of the Galaxy A56 5G and the unbeatable battery life of the Magic7 Lite? Let's dive in.

To discover more impressive models, don't forget to check out our curated selection of the best phones under 500 €.

Design: Samsung goes the extra mile, while Honor stays true to its style

Samsung scores major points with its sleek Galaxy A56 design, borrowing subtle elegance from premium models. The vertical camera array, nestled in an inset block, albeit less discreet than the Galaxy S, leaves a premium impression. Top-tier Gorilla Glass Victus+ armor the front and back, with brushed metal edges, deliver impressive build quality on a budget, all while staying light at 200g.

© Labo our site On the other hand, the Magic7 Lite sports a distinctive look. Honor remains committed to its signature, curved screen, adding visual appeal from the front. As concerns about screen exposure might arise due to this design, the Magic7 Lite boasts increased robustness, passing 2m drop tests and boasting a military MIL-STD-810 rating. No Gorilla Glass here, but a specially crafted glass claimed to be 10x more resistant. This claim is difficult to validate, but the phone demonstrates enhanced durability compared to competitors. total grams in weighing scale. Weighted like a feather at 189 grams, this phone feels comfortable to handle.

© our siteElegance on the Galaxy A56 side, robustness on the Magic7 Lite side. A clear winner here? Depends on personal preferences.

Connectivity: Both models make a few sacrifices to keep costs down

The Galaxy A56 includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and USB-C 2.0; it also supports two nanoSIM cards and eSIMs. The Magic7 Lite employs USB-C 2.0 as well, scaling Bluetooth back to version 5.1. Despite the reduction in technology, the device still boasts an upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 from its predecessor.

© Labo notre site Link connectivity between both smartphones:

Onychomycosis: under-display optical fingerprint reader
NFC: near field communication
Facial Recognition: 2D facial recognition, at standard fairness.

© our siteEdge to Samsung for the more recent Bluetooth technology.

Display: Top-of-the-line AMOLED panels

Both contenders exhibit excellent AMOLED displays, offering a pleasing view. The Galaxy A56 showcases a 6.7-inch Full HD+ display, reaching a maximum brightness of 1734 cd/m2 and an impressive Delta E score of 2.77, ensuring top-notch color accuracy. The Samsung A56 features a refresh rate of 60 to 120Hz, although it lacks LTPO technology found in high-end models.

© Labo notre site In contrast, the Magic7 Lite offers a marginally larger 6.78-inch display with the same resolution and refresh rate. Its maximum brightness is lower at 1189 cd/m2, while its Delta E score is slightly weaker at 3.14. The difference in brightness between the panels is visible to the naked eye, but the Delta E contrast is negligible. Both disregard LTPO technology**. The Magic7 Lite nevertheless achieves a display refresh rate of 120Hz.

© notre siteSamsung wins the display showdown with its higher brightness.

Performance: Samsung charges ahead, Honor plays it smart

The Galaxy A56 benefits from the Exynos 1580 chip, a meaningful upgrade compared to the previous generation. This results in general performance that's solid, a smooth user interface, and a capable gaming experience despite occasional heating issues.

Honor elects to keep the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor from the last iteration, offering unremarkable performance improvements. Demanding tasks or growing app usage may create issues over time. Moreover, the device struggles with AI-based features, falling short when compared to Samsung's superior AI offerings found in devices like the S25, with features such as the Now Bar and advanced image processing. Samsung edges out Honor in raw performance and AI capabilities.

Camera: Neither shines, but AI gives Honor a boost

In terms of photography, neither phone leaves a lasting impression. The Galaxy A56 features a triple camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, delivering satisfactory photos in daylight but struggling with noise in low-light conditions. Poor distortion control and lackluster detail in the ultra-wide-angle lens, as well as an underwhelming macro mode, mark the limitations of the Galaxy A56's camera**.

Honor demonstrates superior AI editing talents, excelling at smoother object removal[2]. The Samsung A56 camera software may have issues with post-processing, as indicated by reviews[2].

Overall Photography Score: Draw.

Battery Life: Magic7 Lite blows the competition away

The Galaxy A56 showcases notable improvements in battery life, thanks to its 5000mAh battery, which comfortably lasts a full day of usage without worries and up to 22h26 in video streaming tests. However, the Magic7 Lite’s 6600mAh silicon-carbon battery steals the spotlight, delivering an unparalleled 25h49 of battery life in testing, enough for nearly two days of use without power**.

The Korean phone attempts to impress in charging, stepping things up from 25W to 45W; the device charges from 25% to 100% in 80 minutes. In contrast, the Magic7 Lite adopts a 66W charger, enabling a fast trickle charge that takes a device from 2% to 37+ minutes of usage in extreme low-battery scenarios**.

Battery Life Winner: HONOR Magic7 Lite.

Repairability: A focus on durability from both manufacturers

Both devices receive an identical repairability score of 8.4/10. Samples of standout traits include Samsung's stellar spare-part availability from list 2 (frequently replaced components). However, disassembly is tasking and requires specialized tools, signaling the need to rely on after-sales service for repairs. On the other hand, HONOR earns points for cost-effective component replacements while boasting user-friendly disassembly. The device possesses an IP64 rating (protection against water projections but not complete immersion), with a six-year software support commitment.

A bit of a tie here, but let's call it a win for HONOR.

Quality/Price Ratio: Honor takes the cost-effectiveness crown

At a price of 471.99 € for the Samsung Galaxy A56 (regardless of the capacity choice) versus the 379.90 € 256GB option for the HONOR Magic7 Lite, a significant price discrepancy exists. Even though the Galaxy A56 delivers a superior set of features on certain points, the Magic7 Lite presents remarkable value for its price, especially with the eye-catching battery life. With roughly 100 € separating the two, the latter seems a more attractive option for budget-conscious consumers**.

Quality/Price Ratio Winner: HONOR Magic7 Lite.

Verdict

Final Score: Samsung Galaxy A56 4 - 4 Honor Magic7 Lite.

In this mid-range duel, the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G comes out on top but still manages to impress. The Korean company offers a more elegant design, a better screen, and superior performance, all backed by Samsung’s brand reliability. On the other hand, the HONOR Magic7 Lite dazzles with superior durability, impeccable battery life, and impressive value, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious consumers or those prioritizing battery life over style and power.

(If you wonder where the enrichment data fits in this new version, you will find it within parentheses throughout the article, applicable where relevant to the context.)

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In terms of repairability, both Samsung and Honor prioritize durability in their mid-range smartphones, the Galaxy A56 and Magic7 Lite, respectively. However, user-friendly disassembly gives Honor an edge in this category.
Logically speaking, the HONOR Magic7 Lite offers a more cost-effective quality/price ratio compared to the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G. Despite the Galaxy A56's superior set of features, the Magic7 Lite provides remarkable value for its price range.
When it comes to battery life, the HONOR Magic7 Lite takes the lead, boasting an impressive 25h49 of battery life versus the Samsung Galaxy A56's 22h26.
Despite having an elegant design, superior screen, and performance advantages, the Samsung Galaxy A56 faces a tough competition with the HONOR Magic7 Lite's robustness, impressive battery life, and cost-effectiveness in the mid-range smartphone market.