Samsung Galaxy A57 vs A56: Which One Should You Buy in Pakistan in 2026?

Samsung released the Galaxy A57 in April 2026, and within weeks the question on every mid-range buyer’s mind became the same one: is this worth Rs. 30,000 more than the A56 that launched just a year ago? The honest answer depends entirely on what you are buying the phone for.

Prices in Pakistan (May 2026)

• Galaxy A57 (8GB/256GB): Rs. 159,999 to Rs. 166,999 — PTA approved, available at Samsung official stores, Hafeez Center, Star City Mall, and PriceOye
• Galaxy A56 (8GB/256GB): Rs. 113,999 to Rs. 137,999 — PTA approved, Samsung Pakistan’s own site showing Rs. 118,999 with active discounts

The gap between the two is now Rs. 29,000 at the low end and up to Rs. 53,000 comparing standard retail prices. That is not a small upgrade tax — that is the difference between this phone and the next category.

What Actually Changed in the A57

• • Chipset: Exynos 1680 replaces the Exynos 1580. CPU and GPU scores improve by roughly 12–15 percent. The NPU jump is bigger — around 42 percent — which powers Galaxy AI features like Voice Transcription, AI Select, and Auto Trim for video editing. In day-to-day browsing and social media use, the difference is not dramatic. Extended gaming is still a weak point; the A57 gets warm under sustained load, with frame drops appearing after 45 minutes of demanding titles.
  • Design: The A57 is 0.5mm thinner at 6.9mm and 19 grams lighter at 179g. Both carry Gorilla Glass Victus+ on front and back. Held in hand for long sessions, the weight difference is real — especially relevant for Pakistani users spending hours on WhatsApp, YouTube, and TikTok.
  • Water resistance: IP68 on the A57 vs IP67 on the A56. IP68 means actual submersion up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. IP67 covers splashes and brief dips. In a country where a phone getting caught in rain or dropped in a bucket is not uncommon, this is a meaningful step up.
  • Display: Both are 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED at 120Hz. The A57 uses a Super AMOLED+ panel, which Samsung markets as improved clarity. GSMArena testing found the practical difference hard to see even side by side. Peak brightness improves to 1,900 nits on the A57 vs 1,200 nits on the A56 — that matters under harsh outdoor sunlight, which is a very real condition in cities like Multan, Karachi, and Rahim Yar Khan during summer.
  • Camera hardware: Identical on paper. Both carry 50MP main with OIS, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 12MP front. The A57 processes images through a newer ISP with improved low-noise handling and better HDR video. Daylight results are strong on both. The A57 edges ahead in low-light video and close-up detail, but casual photography output is nearly the same.
  • Battery and charging: 5,000mAh and 45W fast charging on both. The A57 finishes charging marginally faster — roughly 4 minutes quicker — which is statistical noise, not a real-world advantage. Both take around 90 minutes for a full charge. Battery life on the A57 is slightly better in active use tests, likely from the newer chipset’s efficiency gains. For a Pakistani user navigating load shedding cycles, neither phone has a decisive battery advantage.
  • Software: The A57 ships with One UI 8.5 on Android 16. The A56 shipped on Android 15. Both carry six years of OS updates and six years of monthly security patches — Samsung’s best-in-class software policy for a mid-range device. Over the ownership period, this matters more than the launch software version.

What Did Not Change

The camera sensor is the same hardware that Samsung has used since the A54 generation. The battery capacity and charging speed are unchanged. The overall design language and camera module shape look nearly identical. Anyone expecting a fresh look will be disappointed — this is an evolution, not a redesign.

The Pakistan-Specific Case for the A56

At Rs. 113,999 from PriceOye or Rs. 118,999 from Samsung’s own website, the A56 (8GB/256GB) is a PTA-approved, full-warranty device from a trusted brand with six years of updates. The camera produces strong daylight images and reliable social media output. The 120Hz AMOLED display is excellent. The Exynos 1580 handles WhatsApp, streaming, casual multitasking, and moderate gaming without issue. For the vast majority of Pakistani users, this phone does everything the A57 does — and costs Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 less.

The Pakistan-Specific Case for the A57

The A57 makes sense if you specifically need IP68 protection — a real consideration given Pakistan’s unpredictable weather and daily use in environments where phone damage is a risk. The brighter display at 1,900 nits is genuinely useful in strong sunlight. If Galaxy AI features — particularly voice transcription in Urdu or multilingual environments — are part of your daily workflow, the faster NPU pays off. And if you are buying a phone you intend to keep for five or more years, the A57’s newer chipset and software baseline age better. At Rs. 159,999, it is positioned below the Samsung Galaxy S26 series but costs more than comparable mid-range competition from OPPO, Xiaomi, and Infinix at the same price point — options worth comparing before committing.

Grey Market Warning

Both phones have active PTA-approved stock in Pakistan through official Samsung dealers and verified sellers like PriceOye. If you encounter an A57 listed significantly below Rs. 150,000, verify PTA status before purchasing. A DIRBS-blocked phone at this price range is not recoverable money.

The A56 is the better value purchase in 2026. The A57 is a better phone — but only worth the premium if IP68 protection, the brighter display, or Galaxy AI specifically justifies the extra spending for you. If none of those features are on your checklist, the Rs. 30,000 you save on the A56 is better spent elsewhere.