It’s been a standout year for mid-range smartphones. In 2025, devices under $500 are pushing boundaries once reserved for flagships. You no longer have to spend $1,200 or more to get a beautiful screen, a powerful processor, and even flagship-level cameras.
Two of the hottest contenders right now are the Samsung Galaxy A56 and the Honor 400. The A56 continues Samsung’s legacy in the mid-range segment. Meanwhile, the Honor 400 is a fresh face—but it comes armed with some serious firepower.
At first glance, both phones look stylish, modern, and competitive. But the real story unfolds when you dive into the details. Design, display, camera, battery, software—all of it matters more than ever.
Honor’s goal with the 400 is clear: deliver a device that looks and feels like a $1,000 phone but at half the price. Samsung, on the other hand, leans into its software maturity and global availability to maintain its grip on the category.
In this review, we’re going to dig into every major category that matters. From real-world camera tests to daily usability, we’ll see how these two stack up. They may be priced similarly, but their strengths are not the same.
If you’re someone who wants flagship value without flagship pricing, this is a battle worth watching. Honor brings exciting innovation. Samsung offers dependable performance.
But which phone really earns your money in 2025? That’s what we’re here to find out. Let’s get into it.
Design & Build
Both the Honor 400 and the Samsung Galaxy A56 aim to impress with premium aesthetics, but they take different paths to get there. The A56 offers a familiar look with a slightly curved frame, while the Honor 400 leans into bold iPhone-like styling.
Samsung’s A56 is available in several sleek colors, including Graphite, Pink, and Light Gray. It has a glass back that feels nice but picks up fingerprints easily. The glossy finish may look flashy, but it quickly gets smudged with daily use.
The Honor 400, on the other hand, goes for a matte finish that resists fingerprints and feels more refined. It comes in elegant shades like Desert Gold, Meteor Silver, Midnight Black, and Tidal Blue. The color options feel more daring and modern.
When you hold both phones, the Honor feels thinner and more balanced in hand. It’s slightly lighter, and the aluminum frame is chamfered with sharp, clean edges that catch the light beautifully.
The overall frame of the Honor 400 gives it a more expensive feel. It closely resembles Apple’s premium designs, especially when you compare it side by side with an iPhone in Desert Titanium. The resemblance is striking.
Samsung’s build is solid, no doubt, but it lacks some of the finesse and polish seen on the Honor. The camera bump on the A56 is basic and utilitarian, while the Honor’s is styled with a beveled edge that adds a subtle premium flair.
Both phones offer a good grip, though the Honor’s matte back provides slightly more friction, reducing the chances of accidental drops. Neither device has an official IP rating, but they both include basic splash resistance.
Button placement is similar across both models. You get the volume rocker and power button along the right side, but the Honor’s buttons feel more tactile and clicky. The Samsung buttons are softer with less travel.
In terms of thickness, both phones are competitive, but the Honor feels flatter and more ergonomic in hand. It’s the kind of phone you want to show off just for how good it looks.
Build quality is consistent on both, with no flexing or creaking in the chassis. Still, Honor gets the edge in overall refinement, thanks to its seamless finish and symmetrical design elements.
If you’re judging on looks and feel alone, the Honor 400 easily stands out as the more premium mid-ranger. It’s a great example of how mid-range phones have truly evolved in 2025.
Display:
The display battle between these two phones is closer than you might expect, but the Honor 400 manages to pull ahead in meaningful ways. It features a 6.55-inch AMOLED panel with a sharp 2736 x 1264 resolution.
Samsung’s Galaxy A56 has a slightly larger 6.7-inch screen, but it settles for a lower 2340 x 1080 resolution. That results in a lower pixel density—385 PPI on the A56 compared to 460 PPI on the Honor.
The difference in sharpness is noticeable, especially when viewing text or fine details in photos. The Honor’s screen looks crisper and more refined, while Samsung’s feels softer in side-by-side use.
Both phones offer 120Hz refresh rates, making animations smooth and responsive. However, brightness is where Honor dominates—with a peak of 5000 nits, it’s far more readable under direct sunlight.
Samsung’s 1900 nits are decent for outdoor use, but it struggles under harsh lighting compared to the Honor’s sunlight display enhancement technology.
Honor also includes extras like Super Rain Touch, allowing you to use the screen when it’s wet, and Eye Comfort Mode to reduce blue light strain.
In real-world use, both are vibrant AMOLEDs, but the Honor 400’s screen just looks and feels like it belongs on a higher-tier device.
Camera Systems:
Rear Camera Setup
The Honor 400 packs a dual-camera system, but don’t let the number fool you—it’s incredibly capable. The main sensor is a whopping 200MP, paired with a 12MP ultrawide. On the other side, the Samsung Galaxy A56 comes with three lenses: a 50MP main, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro.
While Samsung offers more lenses on paper, the macro is mostly a filler. The real battle is between the primary and ultrawide sensors, and here, Honor takes a clear lead in clarity, color accuracy, and dynamic range.
Daylight Photography
In bright daylight conditions, both phones do a good job. Samsung captures good contrast and natural tones, but the Honor 400 delivers sharper textures and more vivid colors without oversaturation.
The 200MP sensor on the Honor pulls in an incredible amount of detail. When you zoom into photos, you’ll notice finer textures on subjects like brick walls or tree bark that the Samsung just can’t match.
Low Light and Night Mode
When the lights go down, the Honor 400 again steps forward. Its larger sensor and image processing result in better-controlled noise and more preserved shadows. Samsung’s night shots tend to get grainy or over-smoothed in comparison.
Zoom Capabilities
Honor is the first in its segment to enable a 30x zoom using only the main sensor. It uses AI sharpening and Honor Image Engine to maintain clarity. Samsung maxes out around 10x with heavy degradation beyond that point.
Even though Honor lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, the results are astonishingly good, often rivalling phones that do have one. Text on distant signs remains readable, and subjects remain identifiable even at high zoom.
Portraits and Bokeh
Portrait mode is available on both, but Honor’s processing yields better subject separation and skin tone reproduction. Faces look softer and more natural, while the Samsung sometimes struggles with edge detection.
Selfie Camera Comparison
On the front, the Samsung Galaxy A56 uses a 12MP camera, while the Honor 400 goes big with a 50MP sensor. The difference in sharpness is obvious. Honor’s selfies are cleaner, with less smudging and better detail in hair and skin textures.
AI Features and Editing Tools
Samsung’s AI camera tools are minimal. You get basics like AI scene optimization and an object eraser. Honor, by contrast, goes full flagship with its AI suite. You get AI Eraser Passersby, Reflection Remover, AI Upscaling, Outpainting, and more.
One of the standout tools is AI Portrait Snap, which automatically captures your best expressions during a short burst. It’s ideal for both casual selfies and professional portrait-style shots.
Video Recording
Both phones offer 4K video at 30fps, but Honor offers better electronic stabilization and sharper output. Even when panning quickly, video remains stable and detailed.
Extra Camera Modes
Honor also includes unique modes like HD Moving Photo, Film Simulation, and Hardcore Portrait Mode. Samsung sticks to more conventional offerings without pushing experimental features in its mid-range series.
In summary, the Honor 400 clearly provides a more premium camera experience. It competes with flagship-level phones in terms of sensor quality and AI software, while Samsung plays it safer with standard features and image processing.
Performance:
Both the Honor 400 and Samsung Galaxy A56 come equipped with 4nm chipsets designed for efficient and reliable everyday use. The Honor 400 uses the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, while Samsung relies on its in-house Exynos 1580.
In real-world tasks like browsing, messaging, and switching between apps, both phones perform smoothly. Animations are fluid, and app launch times are snappy on both devices.
That said, the Honor 400 pulls slightly ahead in sustained performance and gaming. It handles heavier tasks like video editing and multi-tab Chrome usage with less thermal throttling.
The GPU performance on the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is also stronger, offering better frame rates in games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile.
Samsung’s Exynos chip still holds its own but tends to warm up faster under load and shows minor lag during long gaming sessions.
Multitasking is seamless across both, especially with 8GB or 12GB RAM options available. But background app retention is a bit more aggressive on the A56.
Benchmark scores favor the Honor slightly, but unless you’re a power user, you’ll find both capable for daily use. Still, if you’re chasing the best mid-range performance, Honor gets the edge here.
Battery & Charging:
Battery life is a major win for the Honor 400. It features a 5,300mAh silicon-carbon battery for the EU version and a massive 6,000mAh cell in the global model.
In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A56 comes with a 5,000mAh battery, which is respectable but no longer class-leading.
In daily use, the Honor easily pushes into two-day territory with light to moderate use. Even with heavy screen time, it finishes the day with battery to spare.
Samsung’s A56 can last a full day, but you’ll likely be reaching for the charger by bedtime if you’re a power user.
Charging speed is another area where Honor shines. It supports 66W or 80W wired charging (depending on the model) and also includes wireless charging.
Samsung only offers 45W wired charging and skips wireless charging altogether, which feels like a missed opportunity in 2025.
Honor’s fast charging gets you from 0 to 100% in under 40 minutes, while Samsung takes closer to an hour.
If you value faster top-ups and longer stamina, Honor clearly has the more advanced battery setup.
Operating System & UI:
Both the Honor 400 and Samsung Galaxy A56 run Android 15 out of the box, but their software skins bring very different experiences.
Samsung uses One UI 7, a polished and mature interface that’s familiar to millions. It’s clean, highly customizable, and known for stability and long-term support.
Honor ships with MagicOS 9, which has improved significantly in recent years. The UI is now lighter, faster, and far less cluttered than older Honor software versions. MagicOS 9 feels fluid during daily use, and it no longer comes preloaded with excessive bloatware—something users used to complain about.
Samsung’s strength lies in consistent updates. You can expect years of security patches and major Android updates with the A56. Honor has stepped up too, promising multi-year support, but Samsung still holds a slight edge in guaranteed longevity.
Where Honor leaps ahead is in AI integration. MagicOS 9 includes AI features like AI Writing, AI Translation, AI Summary, and even Deepfake Detection.
Honor Magic Portal 2.0 allows seamless drag-and-drop actions across supported apps and devices, making multitasking more intuitive. If you own other Honor products like a laptop or tablet, the ecosystem works fluidly—much like Apple’s or Samsung’s higher-end Galaxy ecosystem.
Samsung’s One UI is easier for new users, but Honor is catching up fast, especially if you want cutting-edge AI tools built directly into your phone.
Availability:
Samsung’s Galaxy A56 is widely available across global markets, including North America, Europe, and Asia. It’s easy to find in carrier stores and online. The Honor 400, however, is currently not sold officially in North America, though import options exist.
It’s available across Europe, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Middle East. If you’re based in the U.S. or Canada, getting your hands on one may require going through a third-party seller.
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Final Verdict:
The mid-range market in 2025 is more competitive than ever, but the Honor 400 manages to carve out a special place for itself. It blends high-end design, strong performance, and truly flagship-level camera features into a sleek and affordable package.
Samsung’s Galaxy A56 is still a solid choice, especially if you value software stability, a larger screen, and easier availability in most regions. It’s the safer pick for long-term updates and a no-nonsense Android experience.
However, Honor brings more to the table—more AI tools, more display sharpness, more battery capacity, and more innovation across the board. It’s a device that feels like it belongs in a higher price bracket.
For those who care about design, camera versatility, and cutting-edge features, the Honor 400 offers exceptional value.
The only major downside is its limited availability in North America, which might be a dealbreaker for some buyers. Still, if you can get your hands on it, it’s well worth considering.
Samsung plays it safe, but Honor dares to push boundaries. And in this case, boldness wins.
If you’re shopping for the best all-around mid-range smartphone right now, the Honor 400 deserves to be at the very top of your list.
Honor 400 vs Samsung Galaxy A56: Pros and Cons:
Honor 400 Pros
- Premium design with matte finish
- 200MP main camera with advanced AI zoom
- Brighter, sharper AMOLED display
- Larger battery with wireless charging
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 performs better
- Loaded with useful AI features
Honor 400 Cons
- Limited availability in North America
- Some AI tools feel gimmicky
- Smaller screen size may not suit all users
- Buy Honor 400 on Amazon now!
Samsung Galaxy A56 Pros
- Larger display for media consumption
- One UI is polished and well-supported
- Widely available across global markets
Samsung Galaxy A56 Cons
- Weaker chipset performance
- No wireless charging
- Heavier, glossy build attracts fingerprints. Buy the Galaxy A56 on Amazon!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which phone has the better camera, Honor 400 or Samsung Galaxy A56?
- The Honor 400, with its 200MP sensor and AI zoom features, easily outperforms the Galaxy A56’s 50MP shooter in sharpness, dynamic range, and low-light performance.
Is the Honor 400 available in the US?
- No, the Honor 400 is not officially available in North America but can be imported through online resellers.
Does the Samsung Galaxy A56 have wireless charging?
- No, the Galaxy A56 lacks wireless charging, while the Honor 400 supports it.
Which phone has a brighter screen?
- The Honor 400 wins here with 5000 nits peak brightness compared to Samsung’s 1900 nits.
Is MagicOS better than One UI?
- MagicOS 9 has made major improvements and offers more AI features, but One UI is still more polished and widely supported.
- Buy the Galaxy A56 on Amazon!
- Buy Honor 400 on Amazon now!
