If you're deciding where to drop your cash, ive compared 2 Sammy devices youmay be cross-shopping,A56 (previous sample test) and the newly releasedS25 FE. It's Power vs. Price.
A34, A35, A56
Price & Value (accurate at time of posting on S.com)
A56 (256GB): The mid-range champ, is currently around £425, great value for money,OR better still theA36 for slightly less spec for that sweet lower mid price of £324.
S25 FE (128GB): The premium entry. Starts at £649. You pay a £200+ premium for flagship DNA and a string of multiple little improvements dotted about here and there that youmay benefit from.
S25 FE
Performance & Specs
This is where the money goes. The S25 FE is running a seriously beefier engine.
Processor
-A56: Uses theExynos 1580. Fast and smooth for daily use and lighter games, many people I'm sure would be totally satisfied.
-S25 FE: Packs the Exynos 2400. This is the 2024flagship chip, offering a massive leap in power for heavy multitasking and mobile gaming. It's 50% more power in single core and almostdouble in multi core (geekbench 6)PLUS dont forget image processing, video capture etc etc... it's just a better chip.
Display
Both are 6.7-inch, 120Hz AMOLED, but the S25 FE gets the brighter Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. Sammy are FAMOUS for their mobile screens, I mean even Apple use them, and these are no exception.
Durability
The S25 FE features the superior IP68 rating(better water/dust protection), while the A56 has a very good IP67 rating. Depends how often your planning on dropping your phone down the toilet I guess.
Charging
Both support fast wired charging (up to 45W), but the S25 FE adds the convenience ofWireless Charging.
Battery
The A56's larger 5,000mAh battery, combined with its less powerful chip, would likely win on real-world endurance but I'm not able to do a true side by side as I gave the A56 back before reviewing the S25FE...
Camera Showdown
More to come on this topic with sample shots; both phones take great main photos, but they swap one key lens for another.
-A56: Triple camera system with a 50MP Main, 12MP Ultrawide, and a 5MP Macro(mostly a fun-but-niche lens).
-S25 FE: Triple camera system with a 50MP Main, 12MP Ultrawide, and a crucial 8MP 3xOptical Telephoto lens. This gives the FE a massive advantage for high-quality portraits and zooming into action without losing detail.
Final Words
- Get theA56: If you only need great performance for everyday apps and light gaming. It’s built well, great specs at this upper-mid range, and good cameras for those family and holiday snaps.
- Get theS25 FE: If you're more of a power user, you need the better camera flexibility (that 3x zoom!), or you absolutely require wireless charging. It’s the affordable path to a flagship feel.
** Disclaimer ** I'm not areal reviewer, I find it quite hard to compare some of these devices are they are SO SIMILAR. I currently use the S25 Ultra which makes it harder as there's no comparison🤣
I guess ultimately, the more you spend, the more you do get, but will you benefit from those increased specs? Stick to your budget and buy what's RIGHT for you.
( @SocietyGirl )
