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I’ve shot hundreds of photos with the stunning Sigma BF – despite its flaws, it makes other cameras feel ordinary
11:00 am | April 3, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Gadgets Mirrorless Cameras | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Sigma BF: two-minute review

I knew that the Sigma BF would frustrate me at times, but what I wasn't prepared for was how much I would enjoy making pictures with the camera.

This unique and boldly minimalist camera, which has been likened to Apple's products, oozes character, and despite its many design and performance concessions I've come to love it.

Yes, the 24.6MP full-frame Sigma BF's minimalist design polarizes opinion – for some it's an object of desire, for others it's a firm no. However, even hardened fans of the camera, who now include me, will admit there's maybe one concession too many.

Rated using a conventional scoring system, the Sigma BF comes up short because its limitations are many. It doesn't have a viewfinder; its touchscreen is fixed; memory is internal only (a 230GB SSD and no card slot); the 24MP full-frame sensor isn't stabilized; its ergonomics could be better; battery life is modest; and key connections ports for video, such as mic in and a headphone jack, are absent.

That said, cameras can't be reviewed purely by ticking boxes. They're creative tools, and if you find one that gets you, and brings out the creator in you, then what it scores in a review is less relevant.

Silver Sigma BF camera with 35mm f/2 DG contemporary lens attached, in the hand

Isn't she lovely? (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

A similarly-priced, conventional mirrorless camera like the Nikon Z6 III gives you all the tools you need, wrapped in a sensible design with superb ergonomics, and it 'scores' better. However, if you want a bit of excitement, and a stunning and unique camera that can delight, frustrate, then delight again from one beat to the next, the BF is the ticket.

For seasoned photographers, there’s a re-learning process with the Sigma BF in terms of navigating its nondescript controls and minimalist menus. You need to spend some time getting to know the BF. Familiarize yourself with its quirks and its joys, and most other cameras feel somehow dull and characterless by comparison.

It's also a sensational pairing with Sigma's Contemporary I-series lenses – I had a new silver version of the 35mm F2 DG lens to match the silver BF. Sigma, if you're reading this: producing a pancake lens next, that pairs with the BF's compact body, should be a top priority.

Sigma says the BF stands for 'Beautiful Foolishness', I've read other reviewers liken it to a 'Best Friend'. For me, it’s Brilliantly Flawed and I'm a Big Fan.

Whatever its technical compromises, the Sigma BF is a design masterstroke. It's a beautifully imperfect thing that deserves its place in your hand. Relationship status? Seeing someone.

Sigma BF: price and release date

  • The Sigma BF body-only costs $1,999 / £1,969 / AU$3,995
  • It's available for pre-order in silver or black versions
  • Sigma has also launched silver versions of multiple I-series lenses

Sigma lenses are typically around half the price of proprietary brand equivalents, but what of the brand's cameras? Well, the BF costs $1,999 / £1,969 / AU$3,995 body-only, which on the one hand is pretty steep for a 24MP full-frame camera with no viewfinder.

However, this is no ordinary camera. When you consider the BF's build quality – the chassis is machined from a single ingot of aluminum, and the camera has premium touch-sensitive controls – then suddenly it feels more reasonable.

Pre-orders are open now, and the BF is available in silver or black versions – interest in the silver version has been particularly high. However, reportedly Sigma can only make nine Sigma BF units per day, and so the lead times for orders could dwarf even those for 2024's most sought-after camera, the Fujifilm X100VI.

  • Price score: 4/5

Sigma BF: specs

Sigma BF: design and handling

  • Chassis machined from a single ingot of aluminum
  • Nondescript controls, some of which are touch-sensitive, plus simple menus
  • Internal SSD memory only, no card slot
  • No mic or headphone port, just a USB-C port

A camera that's machined from a single ingot of aluminum in a process that takes seven hours, with production limited to nine units per day, should be special. The BF is just that.

It's true that the Sigma BF's minimalist design won't be for everyone. It's distinctly Apple-like in terms of its design, at a time when retro cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI are trending. Personally, I've found the BF to be one of the most fascinating cameras in recent memory.

Its premium quality is obvious, right down to the smallest details – even the the metal body cap, which I dedicated an entire article to. The camera is weather-proof and feels rock-solid – I'd fear more for any surface it came into contact with, even though of course I wouldn't want to thrash such a lovely camera around.

With its clean lines and stripped-back control layout come various design concessions, particularly if you've been spoilt by other mirrorless cameras that place plentiful controls at your fingertips.

There's no grip to speak of, just a textured front half; a design choice that feels more aesthetic than anything else, and which complements the matte finish beautifully.

As such, the BF is best used with small lenses, especially Sigma's I-series of Contemporary primes. Sigma was on the ball in launching silver versions of some I-series lenses to match the new silver BF – I had the new silver 35mm F2 DG for this review.

These I-series lenses are pretty small, none more so than the 45mm F2.8. That said, there's no true pancake lens for Sigma's L-mount, and I'd like to see one to full complement the BF's ergonomics.

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Sigma BF with its body cap, on a white surface in strong light, with defined shadows

The BF employs a back illuminated 24.6MP full-frame sensor (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Sigma BF with its body cap, on a white surface in strong light, with defined shadows

Its textured front half provides a little grip, but is more for the looks (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Sigma BF with its body cap, on a white surface in strong light, with defined shadows

Half textured, half matt finish – the striking BF from the front (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Sigma BF with its body cap, on a white surface in strong light, with defined shadows

Notches on the body cap complement the camera's front (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Sigma BF with its body cap, on a white surface in strong light, with defined shadows

Even the camera's body cap is beautiful (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Each button and control is beautifully dampened, and – get this – two of the buttons are touch-sensitive: the menu button and the playback button. If you half-press the playback button, your latest image pops up on screen until you let go. Fully press the button in and you enter playback mode. Quality.

Markings on the buttons are suitably nondescript, so it'll take you a while to workout what each one does. Also, once you're in a menu, it's not all that obvious how to make exposure changes – a prize goes to whoever works out how to select or deselect the auto option in exposure settings the fastest.

Finding commonly used settings is no problem, though. There are three simple menus to navigate: the main one with your most-used settings, and two sub-menus. This simple setup feels very Hasselblad X2D 100C.

In that top menu, you can scroll through the options using the control wheel, with the latest setting being displayed on a charming, tiny LCD. Via this, quick changes to settings like color profiles are possible.

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Front of the Sigma BF camera

In bright sunlight, at various angles, there can be blinding glare from the silver version of the Sigma BF. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Sigma BF camera's USB port

Clean lines, just a single USB-C slot (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Rear of the Silver Sigma BF camera

A large 3.2-inch touchscreen dominates the camera's rear (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Sigma BF camera's wrist strap loops

There's a loop just on one side of the BF, suitable to attach a wrist strap (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Top view, Silver Sigma BF camera with 35mm f/2 DG contemporary lens attached, on a large log

Minimalism at its best – the top of the camera features a large shutter button only (and built-in stereo mics). (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Sigma BF camera's rear LCD

The premium matt finish feels lovely (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Sigma BF camera's shutter button

There's that shutter button, and below it a thumb grip (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Silver Sigma BF camera with 35mm f/2 DG contemporary lens attached, in the hand

Watch out when in the sun - the silver version reflects sunlight, with particularly strong glare (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Sigma BF camera's rear buttons

There's a recess in the BF's corner where the camera rests in your palm. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Sigma BF camera's small LCD display

Each control is beautifully dampened, while some are touch senstive. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Arguably Sigma's most controversial design choice was to limit storage to an internal SSD only. That's fine, so long as the SSD is reliable – and we've no reason to believe it won't be – but if there's an issue with it the camera becomes useless without a costly repair (assuming that is indeed possible).

I love cameras that include built-in memory as a fail-safe, but that's when it's in addition to removable media such as an SD card. Internal memory only will be a dealbreaker for some people.

To upload photos from the BF you'll need to connect it via the USB-C port, which is also used to charge the camera. I found the upload process super straightforward, and speedy to a MacBook Pro.

The exterior is suitably stripped-back too, meaning there's no mic input, headphone jack, HDMI or even loops on both sides for a shoulder strap, just on one side for a wrist strap.

I don't mind all of the above. What I did miss the most is having a viewfinder or a tilt / vari-angle screen. In bright sunlight I naturally found myself bringing the camera up to my eye as if a viewfinder was there to compose the shot, while at awkward low angles I wished for a tilt screen.

Both or either of those display features would make the BF more practical, but I understand why they're absent – how could Sigma otherwise make such a beautifully minimalist camera?

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Sigma BF: features and performance

  • 8fps with continuous AF, recorded onto rapid internal SSD
  • Below-average 260-shot battery life
  • No IBIS, just electronic stabilization for video

If you want an all-singing all-dancing mirrorless camera, the Sigma BF is not for you. Sure, its startup time is rapid, but it lacks many of the powerful features that we've come to take for granted in cameras at this price point and above.

Take the 24.6MP sensor – it's not stabilized. That's not a dealbreaker for what will surely be an everyday camera for photographers, and used with fast-aperture prime lenses, but I'd love to see it – after all, in-body image stabilization is part of an internal component, and so including it wouldn't impact the BF's minimalist design.

For video, there's the option for electronic stabilization, which imposes a 1.25x crop to the image area, meaning it's not available for the 6K option.

The burst shooting with continuous AF drive mode maxes out at 8fps, so it's not the quickest. However, sequences can run for longer than you'll likely ever need: up to 350 raw images or 1,000 JPEGs. Buffering time for those sequences, before the camera is ready once more to perform fully, is shorter than on most rivals too.

As mentioned, there's no card slot, and images are saved to an internal 230GB SSD. You can upload photos via the multi-purpose USB-C 3.2 port, which is rated up to 10Gbps and can also be used for any one of the following functions at a time: external video output, charging and power delivery, cable release, external mic, and headphone output.

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Silver Sigma BF camera without lens attached, on a large log

The 24.6MP full-frame back illuminated sensor; there's no stabilization (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Silver Sigma BF camera with 35mm f/2 DG contemporary lens attached, on a large log

The BF's multi-purpose USB-C port, with functions including image upload, charging and for external accessories (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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The Sigma BF camera's underside

The BF's underside, including a lock for the pop-out battery (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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The Sigma BF camera's rear touchscreen display looking dark in bright light

You'll need to crank the screen's brightness to its maximum when shooting in bright light (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Silver Sigma BF camera with 35mm f/2 DG contemporary lens attached, in the hand

Built-in stereo mics (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Sigma has created a new BP-81 battery for the BF – it's a tiny 3,300mAh unit that's rated for a meagre 260 shots, although I don't mind the lower-than-average shot life when you consider how compact the BF is.

Autofocus is a hybrid phase-detection and contrast-detection system, with subject tracking for humans and animals. It's proven pretty reliable overall during my testing, especially for close-up portraits, but I've certainly used more sophisticated systems from the likes of Sony, Canon and Nikon.

Part of the issue with autofocus is relying on a fixed touchscreen that's not always the easiest to see, depending on the shooting conditions. You hope focus is spot on, but it isn't always.

Another element that limits autofocus performance is that the focus options you have to choose from are relatively basic – this is a minimalist camera in just about every way. I'd also say, based on my experience of both cameras, that the Nikon Z6 III is much better at picking up subjects that only take up a small portion of the frame.

As for video, the BF features built-in stereo mics, but no dedicated mic input, just mic connection via the multi-purpose USB-C; and the stereo mics are particularly susceptible to wind distortion. In short, many of the features that video users rely on are absent – the BF is more a photographer's camera that happens to shoot lovely-quality 6K video.

  • Features and performance score: 3.5/5

Sigma BF: image and video quality

  • 24.6MP photos in detail-rich 14-bit raw universal DNG format
  • 6K video from the full width of the sensor, no EIS available at this resolution
  • 13 color profiles for photos, L-log for video

Despite its rather conventional-sounding 24MP full-frame sensor, the Sigma BF is capable of producing highly-detailed images with gorgeous color.

Special mention must go to the superb 35mm F2 DG lens I was testing the camera with – detail is pin-sharp from center to edges, with a lovely focus fall-off when you're shooting at the maximum f/2 aperture.

There are plenty of other superb L-mount lenses to pair with the BF, and Sigma lenses are reasonably priced too. That said, I do think that Sigma needs to prioritize producing a pancake lens that truly complements the BF's compact body, especially while sales for the camera are likely to be strong. A tiny 35mm f/2.8 should be doable.

The photos in the gallery directly below are a selection of the kind of everyday images that the Sigma BF is so adept at capturing.

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Photo of an old church in the sun, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Packed commuter train in the dark of a tunnel taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Selfie of a man wearing sunglasses ans baseball cap, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Looking down at a bike wheel, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Photo of a public footpath signpost, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Daffodil close up, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Closeup photo of tiny white flowers, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Photo of a country road, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Photo of an old church in the sun, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Photo of horses in a field on a sunny day, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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An old train container, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

As with Leica, I always appreciate that a Sigma camera's raw files are the universal DNG format, meaning that just about any editor happily accepts the files; and they're detail-rich 14-bit files, no less.

Shoot in raw and JPEG simultaneously, and the standard color settings and full image area is kept for raw files, but your active color mode is applied to JPEGs. There are 13 modes to choose from for photos, and there are a few crackers amongst them.

The Calm color profile is Sigma's version of natural / muted, while Rich is a vibrant profile. I'm a fan of the BF's natural '709 Look' for photos, even though it's based on the Rec.709 profile traditionally used for video, plus the punchy and trendy Teal and Orange. It's easy to scroll through these options quickly to make your selection.

Here's the entire list of color modes: Standard, Rich, Calm, Powder Blue, Warm Gold, Teal and Orange, FOV Classic Blue, FOV Classic Yellow, Forest Green, Sunset Red, Cinema, 709 Look and Monochrome.

Street photography is a forte of the Sigma BF, as you can see from the collection of images below.

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London street photo of people walking down old street in bright sunlight with strong shadows cast on the wall, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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London street scene on bright sunny day, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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London street photo of people walking down old street in bright sunlight with strong shadows cast on the wall, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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London street photo of people walking down old street in bright sunlight with strong shadows cast on the wall, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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London street photo of people walking down old street in bright sunlight with strong shadows cast on the wall, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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London street photo of vintage car, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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London street photo of people walking down old street in bright sunlight with strong shadows cast on the wall, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Monochrome photo of a London train station from high vantage point, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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A wall in bright sunlight with strong shadows cast on the wall, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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London street photo of people walking in bright sunlight with strong shadows cast on the ground, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Commuter on early morning train, texting, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Would I prefer the BF had a 61MP sensor, like the one in Sigma's own fp L? Sure. And a stabilized sensor too. Those extra pixels would give greater scope for cropping into images taken with a lens like the 35mm F2 I had for this test, for the times you can't get close enough, while in-body image stabilization makes handheld shooting easier in various conditions.

All the photos you can see below were taken with the BF's autofocus with subject tracking active, and the close-up portraits are reliably pin-sharp on the eyes. My hit ratio in low light was less reliable, but impressive nonetheless.

Image 1 of 8

Photo of man with setting sun behind him, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Portrait of a man, illuminated by the setting sun, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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People in a British pub at night taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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People in a British pub at night taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Daffodil close up, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Flowers, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Closeup photo of tiny white flowers, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Silhouette of person standing in front of a glass door, taken with the Sigma BF camera and Sigma 35mm F2 DG lens

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Video specs are decent, with 6K 30fps video in Sigma's L-log profile looking particularly lovely after grading, though you'll miss out on electronic stabilization in 6K, which rules out handheld footage on the move – the sample video below includes shaky unstabilized clips as I walk through London, plus a selection of the color profiles so you can appreciate the different styles.

However, it's the distinct lack of supporting features for video that plants the BF firmly in the photography camp, rather than it being a hybrid model.

  • Image and video quality score: 4.5/5

Sigma BF: testing scorecard

Should I buy the Sigma BF?

Buy it if...

You love minimalist tech
I thought the Hasselblad X2D 100C was peak minimalism, but the Sigma BF is another level – there isn't even a memory card slot!

You want a camera that stands out from the crowd
The camera market is flooded with conventional DSLR-style mirrorless cameras; the Sigma BF couldn't be more different.

You want a small everyday camera
Considering its full-frame sensor, the BF is compact, and pairs nicely with Sigma's dinky Contemporary I-series lenses.

Don't buy it if...

You value function over form
Design is the BF's selling point... if you want something different. However, other cameras at this price point will offer more control and more features.

You shoot video a lot
The BF can record lovely-looking 6K video with Sigma's L-log color profile, but it lacks most supporting features needed for video, such as in-body image stabilization, and mic in and headphone out ports.

You need removable storage
The BF doesn't have a memory card slot, just an internal SSD, so if something goes wrong with the internal memory it's game over. We wouldn't expect any issues, but it's something to worry about.

Sigma BF: also consider

Sigma fp

The BF follows two other Sigma full-frame cameras with similarly compact form; the fp (24MP) and the fp L (61MP). The fp L is more readily available and has the pricier, higher-resolution sensor yet costs the same as the BF, while the fp costs around 20% less, but is harder to find new. The BF wins for design, while the fp models arguably have better features and more conventional controls, even if the BF has improved in certain areas, such as autofocus performance. All three cameras use the same L-mount.

Read our in-depth Sigma FP review

Nikon Zf

Full-frame 24MP cameras at the BF's price point are plentiful. Most have a conventional design, such as the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Nikon Z6 III. However, there are other cameras that pack a similar punch but whose design and user experience are key, such as the Nikon Zf. Unlike the modern, minimalist Sigma BF, the Nikon Zf is a retro model with exposure dials and faux leather finish.

Read our in-depth Nikon Zf

How I tested the Sigma BF

Silver Sigma BF camera with 35mm f/2 DG contemporary lens attached, in the hand

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
  • Sigma loaned me the silver version of the BF for one week
  • I tested it with the Sigma 35mm F2 DG Contemporary lens
  • I mostly used it for everyday and street photography, taking between 500-1,000 photos and videos, and I also tested its video features

I tried to use the Sigma BF as much as possible during a oneweek loan period, taking it with me everywhere, including on city commutes and walks. As you can see from the photos, I had the silver BF, which was the version I was hoping for, together with a new silver version Sigma 35mm F2 DG Contemporary lens.

I've used the BF in bright sunlight and on cloudy days, as well as at night. I've made photos using the various color profiles and autofocus modes, as well as videos at the various resolutions.

First reviewed April 2025

This cutting-edge wet-and-dry vacuum is so good, I’d even forgive it for damaging my wooden floors
8:00 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Comments: Off

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: two-minute review

Officially unveiled at CES 2025, the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum boldly promises “a completely clean, untangled and spotless home with zero effort". While the claim might seem audacious, on test I found it almost completely held true. This is one of the very best wet and dry vacuums on the market.

The Dreame H15 Pro boasts several notable upgrades over its predecessor, the H14 Pro. Suction power has increased to 21,000 Pa (up from 18,000 Pa), the battery life is 20 minutes longer (an impressive 60mins) and the roller drying heat has been dialed up from 60C to 90C, which is great for swerving mold and nasty odors.

While it no longer includes the H14 Pro's LED-illuminated brush head or automatic detergent dispenser, these omissions are hardly deal-breakers. Not least because the H15 Pro has one unique feature that no other cordless wet and dry vaccum is currently offering – a retractable squeegee. This is a squeegee style strip at the front of the roller mop that automatically drops down to sweep excess water and debris back towards the roller mop and into the machine. It then automatically retracts to prevent streaks. The aim is to get closer to the walls, and it works extremely well.

Although heavy to lift, the auto-traction (powered) wheels mean its pretty easy to push around in use, and it also boasts excellent limbo-skills – it can slink under the lowest furniture, thanks to a lie-flat design.

There are four power modes, including a low-effort automated mode, and one you can customize via the Dreamehome app, and a vacuum-only mode. On test, was outstanding for cleaning spillages on hard floors, and great for deep-cleaning carpet with water too. Like almost all wet-dry vacuums, it's not effective on uneven flooring, and approach with extreme caution on delicate floors too – in Turbo mode it marked my engineered timber flooring with its over-zealous cleaning (sob).

Price-wise, it's one of the more expensive wet-and-dry vacuums on the market, but if you have a lot of (tough) hard floors and are looking for a low-effort, ultra-effective cleaner, it's worth the investment. Read on for my full Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: price & availability

  • List price: £599
  • Launch date: January 2025
  • Availability: UK

The Dreame H15 Pro officially launched in January 2025, and at time of writing it's currently only available in the UK. I've asked about US launch plans and will update this review when I hear back.

With a list price of £599 (equivalent to around $775 / AU$1,230), the H15 Pro is one of the priciest wet and dry vacuums on the market. It's available to buy direct from Dreame, and at various third party retailers like Amazon and Very.

Its price reflects the advanced technology on offer – think AI-driven robotic arm, retractable squeegee and hot water bath brush washing. You might also be able to avoid paying full price – I've already spotted a £100 off discount on the Dreame UK website. With its recent market debut, it's likely that additional deals and promotions will emerge over time, potentially making for a more palatable price-tag moving forwards.

In terms of the wider market, one of the biggest competitors is Tineco, whose priciest wet-dry vacuum is $699.99 / £599 (head to our Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review to find out more about that one). Alternatively there's the well-established Shark HydroVac, which is our favorite budget option with a list price of $199 / £199.

Ultimately, if you’re after the latest cleaning technology and are willing to invest in a high-performance device, the H15 Pro is well worth a gander. For those on a tighter budget, however, it might be wise to wait for further discounts or consider less tech-packed alternatives.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry specs

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: design

  • 180-degree lie-flat design and self-cleaning base
  • Range of cleaning modes, including automated and vacuum-only
  • Large, intuitive display panel, and optional audio commentary

The Dreame H15 Pro arrived in a large cardboard box – quite heavy but manageable for one able adult – and, once removed, was easy to put together. I just had to slot the handle into the main unit and plug the floor/cleaning base into the wall. Besides the main unit and charging base, it arrived with a bottle of detergent, a replacement filter, spare roller and cleaning brush.

dreame H15 Pro box contents

The overall design isn't quite as slick-looking as I expected (Image credit: Future)

My initial impression of the design was a little underwhelming. The black and grey color scheme, accented with chrome trim, isn’t ugly, but it doesn’t quite convey the high-tech aesthetic I expected from a product boasting cutting-edge innovation. The floorhead feels large and boxy, while the main unit lacks the refined, streamlined look of competitors like Dyson.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

The LED display is bright and intuitive (Image credit: Future)

Things improved once I’d charged the battery to full juice and turned it on. The bright, LED display panel is generous and intuitive, making it easy to keep an eye on battery life, cleaning modes and error codes (such as empty water and blocked tube). During self-cleaning cycles, the display counts down progress.

There’s also a running audio commentary of every move you make, including turning on, drying, set cleaning mode etc, with a rather irritating robotic accent. You can’t change it, but I did turn the volume down in the app, and you can turn it off altogether if preferred.

App screens

Fine-tuning cleaning in the Dreamehome App [click to open large version] (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of which, connecting to said app (Dreamehome) was relatively painless, I just needed to make sure I used our 2.4 GHz connection. The App platform is well designed and set out, though not terribly exciting in terms of functions – but this is not a robot so I guess there’s only so much you can set it up to do. (But if you really want zero effort and a multitude of control options, check out the best robot vacuums with mopping capabilities – Narwal’s Freo Z Ultra is my current favorite.)

I did tweak a few settings, such as personalizing a custom mode (with the most water and power of course) and changed the drying process to high speed, which takes it from 30mins to 5mins, because I’m impatient like that! But if you can’t be bothered with another app in your life, I don’t think you’d be missing too much by not connecting it.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

The vacuum can lie flat to the floor to shimmy under furniture (Image credit: Future)

The main design highlight in terms of user ease is the 180-degree, lie-flat design, which as the name suggests, means the whole thing can limbo right down to the ground to scoot under any furniture or gap measuring a minimum of 5.5in (14cm). This was handy for getting under my kitchen sofa and wall-hung toilets, but the floorhead was too bulky to slink under my kitchen island unit.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

It's a bit of a leaning tower when docked (Image credit: Future)

The charging base is quite large and not in any way beautiful – I’d need it to live in the utility room or other out of the way spot if it was a permanent resident in my home. I also didn’t like how the vacuum pitches forward when docked, like a drunkard, rather than sitting up straight.

Looks aside, the charging base does way more than just top up the battery – it’s a full-on cleaning station. When docked, it acts like a bath for the roller mop, using 240ml of 100C water to clean away dirt and bacteria, before drying with hot air. The idea is you’ll never have a smelly old water situation and the next time you reach for the cleaner, it’ll be ready with a clean mop, and it works really well.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

The charging base also works as a water bath to clean the roller mop (Image credit: Future)

Overall, the design is average, and the build quality could be better, but the functionality is superior, so I guess it depends on your priorities in life. Personally, I like everything in my home to look beautiful – shallow, I know – but the fact that the Dreame H15 Pro is exceptionally good (more on that next) and not offensive to look at, means I’d happily make an exception here.

  • Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: performance

  • Excellent cleaning (including edges) on almost all hard floor types
  • Struggles with uneven floors, and so-so suction on carpet
  • Beware: Turbo mode can damage delicate floors

I do have a robot mop that I love for day-to-day use but if I want my floors really clean, I’ve always found it hard to beat a good old-fashioned mop and bucket. While I am still not ready to ditch that completely, I’ll admit that on performance, the Dreame H15 Pro exceeded my expectations.

Right from the start, I was impressed by its decent suction power, and once I’d tweaked the water output to max on the app, the mopping performance matched it. With multiple cleaning programs at my fingertips (a button in the handle), I could easily switch between a deep clean Turbo mode for tougher stains to Smart mode for general use.

This latter mode automatically adjusts cleaning according to the surface/dirt levels and seemed to work well. Movement is self-propelled backwards and forwards, which makes light work of pushing it around the floors, and the head pivots smoothly, too.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

There are no edge gaps! (Image credit: Future)

Edge cleaning is often a challenge for vacuum/mop devices, but the Dreame H15 Pro truly excels in this area thanks to its innovative squeegee feature and adaptive cleaning technology. I particularly enjoyed watching the squeegee in action – it automatically lowered as you pull back, and rose moving forwards, dragging dirt away from the edges and corners as it went. During my testing, I placed flour right up to the skirting board, and the H15 Pro managed to pick up every last bit with impressive precision.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

Roller mark damage on wood flooring (Image credit: Future)

One of the first things I discovered, to my absolute horror, was that the Turbo mode marked my engineered timber flooring (sob), creating random ridges where the mop roller was presumably spinning too fast in one spot. Once I’d realized, or rather my husband pointed them out (he was not impressed), I went into the App and changed the custom mode to the gentlest power (soft) and the lower of the two water settings, and made sure I kept it moving at all times while the roller was rolling.

This did prevent any additional damage but made me quite nervous to use it on our wood flooring, especially since it was one of the main expenses of our renovation. If you have any kind of real timber flooring, I’d recommend you avoid the Turbo mode like the plague.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

On terracotta, it's a fail (Image credit: Future)

Beside the wood flooring, I also have vinyl laminate floors, porcelain tiles, reclaimed terracotta tiles and carpets through my home. I’d say the best results were on the vinyl and porcelain – truly excellent and easily as good, if not better, than using a manual mop. (The wood floor cleaning results were also good to be fair, but the fact they got badly marked wasn’t ideal – here's more on how to clean wooden floors.)

Our terracotta floors have such deep grout lines and so much rugged texture, the Dreame H15 Pro only really licked the surface, even in Turbo mode, so I still had to reach for my faithful mop and bucket. That's not surprising – figuring out how to deal with not-flat floors is a challenge that wet-dry vacuum makers have yet to overcome.

This particular floor cleaner can also be used on carpet. I gave the beige colored 100% wool carpet in my living room a quick mop in Turbo mode and was astonished by the dirt that came out – very satisfying. The stains stayed put sadly, and probably need specialist cleaning.

It can also used in Suction Only mode for carpets, but I'd say it was only so-so in this setting. I’d occasionally use it on the living room carpet if I was already busy mopping everywhere else, but if I really needed to get deep into the pile and dig out all the dog hairs, I had to bring out my normal cordless vacuum.

Mine is a Miele and super sucky, but TechRadar's best cordless vacuum guide has more recommendations if you need them. There’s also the issue of no detail tools for upholstery, cobwebs, skirting boards and so on. In short, I don’t think you could use this as your only vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning tests

During my standard vacuuming tests – using flour to simulate fine debris and oats for larger particles – the performance truly surpassed my expectations. For the flour test on engineered wood flooring, I used Smart mode so the machine could choose the setting that would offer the best results. And it clearly knows its onions because it only took one pass to completely clear away the flour, including those hard-to-reach grooves between the planks. The efficiency was nothing short of impressive.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

(Image credit: Future)

Next came the oats test, again on engineered wood, and this time the Smart mode wasn’t quite cutting it – the oats were being pushed around rather than suctioned up – so I switched to Turbo mode, and they were eradicated in just a few more passes.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

In Auto mode, the H15 cleared all this flour in a single pass – impressive (Image credit: Future)

Next, I spilled the beans, literally, on the porcelain tiles in our cloakroom (I wasn’t risking staining our wood flooring I’m afraid; divorce is too expensive these days!). In Smart mode, the Dreame H15 Pro gobbled them up in two sweeps: mind = blown.

I also tried a puddle of blackcurrant squash on the porcelain and the same results, gone in two passes. Over the weeks of reviewing, I reached for the Dreame H15 Pro whenever there was a liquid spill (usually around the dishwasher and dog bowls), and it never once failed me.

Maintenance

Filling and emptying the unit was hassle-free thanks to a smart design that separates the wet and dry compartments. The latter did get pretty grim because the contents were all mushy and wet but that’s where the brush accessories comes in handy.

You do have to put the detergent in the water reservoir each time, but the bottle comes with a handy dosing cap and it really wasn’t difficult. I found I could mop my entire ground floor (five rooms plus hallway) before needing to refill the reservoir, usually before it could clean the mop roller. The App and audio alert tells you when to refill and empty the waste-water unit. Both clip in and out easily.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

Cleaning the waste tanks is a little gross, but straightforward (Image credit: Future)

After each mopping session, the self-cleaning base kicked in. It was rather noisy – my decibel meter App recorded cleaning at 74 dBA, which is pretty intrusive given that I’d located the base in my open-plan kitchen/living space. To cut down on disruption, I mostly used the rapid 5 minute program. I also turned off automatic cleaning, preferring to do it myself as and when I felt it was required, because it seemed a bit excessive to go through a clean cycle if I’d just mopped up one small spill.

Another bonus of this model is the hair-evading mop roller, which has some kind of hidden cutting tool that ensures hair doesn’t tangle around it. I can confirm it works perfectly.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry review: battery life

I found the battery life on the Dreame H15 Pro to be more than adequate for our four-bedroom home – admittedly I didn’t use it as much on the carpeted bedrooms or living room but I could cover the rest of the house, including the two upstairs bathrooms and play room, without running out of power if I stuck to Smart mode. The battery lasts an impressive 60 mins and the LED panel kept me updated on the current charge, so I could tell if I’d need to recharge but I never did. I did notice the power draining more quickly in Turbo mode, but that’s to be expected.

  • Battery score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum?

Buy it if…

You have plenty of vinyl, stone or porcelain tiles

On scratch-resistant hard flooring this machine is an absolutely beast – taking no prisoners when it comes to stains, spills and general dirt.

You have lots of leggy furniture

Getting down and dirty under furniture is a specialty of this machine – those dust bunnies will be history.

You want a low-effort option

With its effective auto mode, anti-hair wrap features and automatic mop cleaning, this is an impressively effort-free solution.

Don't buy it if…

It will be the only vacuum you own

While it can be used to vacuum carpets, it's not as impressive in its vacuum-only mode, and the lack of detail tools means it's limited in what it can clean. It's fine for the occasional dust-bust, but it won't replace a dedicated vacuum.

You have lots of stairs

I am reasonably strong, but the unit is bottom-heavy, especially when the water tank is full. I think my elderly mother-in-law would struggle to lift it in and out of the charging base or up any steps/stairs.

You like a quiet life

The sound levels aren’t great – around 70dBA in Turbo Mode and higher when self-cleaning/drying the mop roller. I found the 30 min self-cleaning program especially annoying on the noise front too (I'm pleased there's a 5 minute option).

How I tested the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry cordless

I put the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum through its paces for four weeks this spring in our Victorian, four-bed detached family home, which hosts two messy children and two even messier and especially hairy spaniels. With an open-plan downstairs and a mix of flooring – porcelain, terracotta, luxury vinyl, engineered oak, wool carpets, and plenty of flat-weave rugs – I had the perfect testing ground. I used it as my main vacuum (except on the staircase – too heavy!) and tried every cleaning mode. I even ran some messy tests with flour, oats, and baked beans, measured noise levels with my iPhone, studied edge-closeness and tracked battery life and charging times.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

This cutting-edge wet-and-dry vacuum is so good, I’d even forgive it for damaging my wooden floors
8:00 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Comments: Off

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: two-minute review

Officially unveiled at CES 2025, the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum boldly promises “a completely clean, untangled and spotless home with zero effort". While the claim might seem audacious, on test I found it almost completely held true. This is one of the very best wet and dry vacuums on the market.

The Dreame H15 Pro boasts several notable upgrades over its predecessor, the H14 Pro. Suction power has increased to 21,000 Pa (up from 18,000 Pa), the battery life is 20 minutes longer (an impressive 60mins) and the roller drying heat has been dialed up from 60C to 90C, which is great for swerving mold and nasty odors.

While it no longer includes the H14 Pro's LED-illuminated brush head or automatic detergent dispenser, these omissions are hardly deal-breakers. Not least because the H15 Pro has one unique feature that no other cordless wet and dry vaccum is currently offering – a retractable squeegee. This is a squeegee style strip at the front of the roller mop that automatically drops down to sweep excess water and debris back towards the roller mop and into the machine. It then automatically retracts to prevent streaks. The aim is to get closer to the walls, and it works extremely well.

Although heavy to lift, the auto-traction (powered) wheels mean its pretty easy to push around in use, and it also boasts excellent limbo-skills – it can slink under the lowest furniture, thanks to a lie-flat design.

There are four power modes, including a low-effort automated mode, and one you can customize via the Dreamehome app, and a vacuum-only mode. On test, was outstanding for cleaning spillages on hard floors, and great for deep-cleaning carpet with water too. Like almost all wet-dry vacuums, it's not effective on uneven flooring, and approach with extreme caution on delicate floors too – in Turbo mode it marked my engineered timber flooring with its over-zealous cleaning (sob).

Price-wise, it's one of the more expensive wet-and-dry vacuums on the market, but if you have a lot of (tough) hard floors and are looking for a low-effort, ultra-effective cleaner, it's worth the investment. Read on for my full Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: price & availability

  • List price: £599
  • Launch date: January 2025
  • Availability: UK

The Dreame H15 Pro officially launched in January 2025, and at time of writing it's currently only available in the UK. I've asked about US launch plans and will update this review when I hear back.

With a list price of £599 (equivalent to around $775 / AU$1,230), the H15 Pro is one of the priciest wet and dry vacuums on the market. It's available to buy direct from Dreame, and at various third party retailers like Amazon and Very.

Its price reflects the advanced technology on offer – think AI-driven robotic arm, retractable squeegee and hot water bath brush washing. You might also be able to avoid paying full price – I've already spotted a £100 off discount on the Dreame UK website. With its recent market debut, it's likely that additional deals and promotions will emerge over time, potentially making for a more palatable price-tag moving forwards.

In terms of the wider market, one of the biggest competitors is Tineco, whose priciest wet-dry vacuum is $699.99 / £599 (head to our Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review to find out more about that one). Alternatively there's the well-established Shark HydroVac, which is our favorite budget option with a list price of $199 / £199.

Ultimately, if you’re after the latest cleaning technology and are willing to invest in a high-performance device, the H15 Pro is well worth a gander. For those on a tighter budget, however, it might be wise to wait for further discounts or consider less tech-packed alternatives.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry specs

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: design

  • 180-degree lie-flat design and self-cleaning base
  • Range of cleaning modes, including automated and vacuum-only
  • Large, intuitive display panel, and optional audio commentary

The Dreame H15 Pro arrived in a large cardboard box – quite heavy but manageable for one able adult – and, once removed, was easy to put together. I just had to slot the handle into the main unit and plug the floor/cleaning base into the wall. Besides the main unit and charging base, it arrived with a bottle of detergent, a replacement filter, spare roller and cleaning brush.

dreame H15 Pro box contents

The overall design isn't quite as slick-looking as I expected (Image credit: Future)

My initial impression of the design was a little underwhelming. The black and grey color scheme, accented with chrome trim, isn’t ugly, but it doesn’t quite convey the high-tech aesthetic I expected from a product boasting cutting-edge innovation. The floorhead feels large and boxy, while the main unit lacks the refined, streamlined look of competitors like Dyson.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

The LED display is bright and intuitive (Image credit: Future)

Things improved once I’d charged the battery to full juice and turned it on. The bright, LED display panel is generous and intuitive, making it easy to keep an eye on battery life, cleaning modes and error codes (such as empty water and blocked tube). During self-cleaning cycles, the display counts down progress.

There’s also a running audio commentary of every move you make, including turning on, drying, set cleaning mode etc, with a rather irritating robotic accent. You can’t change it, but I did turn the volume down in the app, and you can turn it off altogether if preferred.

App screens

Fine-tuning cleaning in the Dreamehome App [click to open large version] (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of which, connecting to said app (Dreamehome) was relatively painless, I just needed to make sure I used our 2.4 GHz connection. The App platform is well designed and set out, though not terribly exciting in terms of functions – but this is not a robot so I guess there’s only so much you can set it up to do. (But if you really want zero effort and a multitude of control options, check out the best robot vacuums with mopping capabilities – Narwal’s Freo Z Ultra is my current favorite.)

I did tweak a few settings, such as personalizing a custom mode (with the most water and power of course) and changed the drying process to high speed, which takes it from 30mins to 5mins, because I’m impatient like that! But if you can’t be bothered with another app in your life, I don’t think you’d be missing too much by not connecting it.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

The vacuum can lie flat to the floor to shimmy under furniture (Image credit: Future)

The main design highlight in terms of user ease is the 180-degree, lie-flat design, which as the name suggests, means the whole thing can limbo right down to the ground to scoot under any furniture or gap measuring a minimum of 5.5in (14cm). This was handy for getting under my kitchen sofa and wall-hung toilets, but the floorhead was too bulky to slink under my kitchen island unit.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

It's a bit of a leaning tower when docked (Image credit: Future)

The charging base is quite large and not in any way beautiful – I’d need it to live in the utility room or other out of the way spot if it was a permanent resident in my home. I also didn’t like how the vacuum pitches forward when docked, like a drunkard, rather than sitting up straight.

Looks aside, the charging base does way more than just top up the battery – it’s a full-on cleaning station. When docked, it acts like a bath for the roller mop, using 240ml of 100C water to clean away dirt and bacteria, before drying with hot air. The idea is you’ll never have a smelly old water situation and the next time you reach for the cleaner, it’ll be ready with a clean mop, and it works really well.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

The charging base also works as a water bath to clean the roller mop (Image credit: Future)

Overall, the design is average, and the build quality could be better, but the functionality is superior, so I guess it depends on your priorities in life. Personally, I like everything in my home to look beautiful – shallow, I know – but the fact that the Dreame H15 Pro is exceptionally good (more on that next) and not offensive to look at, means I’d happily make an exception here.

  • Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: performance

  • Excellent cleaning (including edges) on almost all hard floor types
  • Struggles with uneven floors, and so-so suction on carpet
  • Beware: Turbo mode can damage delicate floors

I do have a robot mop that I love for day-to-day use but if I want my floors really clean, I’ve always found it hard to beat a good old-fashioned mop and bucket. While I am still not ready to ditch that completely, I’ll admit that on performance, the Dreame H15 Pro exceeded my expectations.

Right from the start, I was impressed by its decent suction power, and once I’d tweaked the water output to max on the app, the mopping performance matched it. With multiple cleaning programs at my fingertips (a button in the handle), I could easily switch between a deep clean Turbo mode for tougher stains to Smart mode for general use.

This latter mode automatically adjusts cleaning according to the surface/dirt levels and seemed to work well. Movement is self-propelled backwards and forwards, which makes light work of pushing it around the floors, and the head pivots smoothly, too.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

There are no edge gaps! (Image credit: Future)

Edge cleaning is often a challenge for vacuum/mop devices, but the Dreame H15 Pro truly excels in this area thanks to its innovative squeegee feature and adaptive cleaning technology. I particularly enjoyed watching the squeegee in action – it automatically lowered as you pull back, and rose moving forwards, dragging dirt away from the edges and corners as it went. During my testing, I placed flour right up to the skirting board, and the H15 Pro managed to pick up every last bit with impressive precision.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

Roller mark damage on wood flooring (Image credit: Future)

One of the first things I discovered, to my absolute horror, was that the Turbo mode marked my engineered timber flooring (sob), creating random ridges where the mop roller was presumably spinning too fast in one spot. Once I’d realized, or rather my husband pointed them out (he was not impressed), I went into the App and changed the custom mode to the gentlest power (soft) and the lower of the two water settings, and made sure I kept it moving at all times while the roller was rolling.

This did prevent any additional damage but made me quite nervous to use it on our wood flooring, especially since it was one of the main expenses of our renovation. If you have any kind of real timber flooring, I’d recommend you avoid the Turbo mode like the plague.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

On terracotta, it's a fail (Image credit: Future)

Beside the wood flooring, I also have vinyl laminate floors, porcelain tiles, reclaimed terracotta tiles and carpets through my home. I’d say the best results were on the vinyl and porcelain – truly excellent and easily as good, if not better, than using a manual mop. (The wood floor cleaning results were also good to be fair, but the fact they got badly marked wasn’t ideal – here's more on how to clean wooden floors.)

Our terracotta floors have such deep grout lines and so much rugged texture, the Dreame H15 Pro only really licked the surface, even in Turbo mode, so I still had to reach for my faithful mop and bucket. That's not surprising – figuring out how to deal with not-flat floors is a challenge that wet-dry vacuum makers have yet to overcome.

This particular floor cleaner can also be used on carpet. I gave the beige colored 100% wool carpet in my living room a quick mop in Turbo mode and was astonished by the dirt that came out – very satisfying. The stains stayed put sadly, and probably need specialist cleaning.

It can also used in Suction Only mode for carpets, but I'd say it was only so-so in this setting. I’d occasionally use it on the living room carpet if I was already busy mopping everywhere else, but if I really needed to get deep into the pile and dig out all the dog hairs, I had to bring out my normal cordless vacuum.

Mine is a Miele and super sucky, but TechRadar's best cordless vacuum guide has more recommendations if you need them. There’s also the issue of no detail tools for upholstery, cobwebs, skirting boards and so on. In short, I don’t think you could use this as your only vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning tests

During my standard vacuuming tests – using flour to simulate fine debris and oats for larger particles – the performance truly surpassed my expectations. For the flour test on engineered wood flooring, I used Smart mode so the machine could choose the setting that would offer the best results. And it clearly knows its onions because it only took one pass to completely clear away the flour, including those hard-to-reach grooves between the planks. The efficiency was nothing short of impressive.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

(Image credit: Future)

Next came the oats test, again on engineered wood, and this time the Smart mode wasn’t quite cutting it – the oats were being pushed around rather than suctioned up – so I switched to Turbo mode, and they were eradicated in just a few more passes.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

In Auto mode, the H15 cleared all this flour in a single pass – impressive (Image credit: Future)

Next, I spilled the beans, literally, on the porcelain tiles in our cloakroom (I wasn’t risking staining our wood flooring I’m afraid; divorce is too expensive these days!). In Smart mode, the Dreame H15 Pro gobbled them up in two sweeps: mind = blown.

I also tried a puddle of blackcurrant squash on the porcelain and the same results, gone in two passes. Over the weeks of reviewing, I reached for the Dreame H15 Pro whenever there was a liquid spill (usually around the dishwasher and dog bowls), and it never once failed me.

Maintenance

Filling and emptying the unit was hassle-free thanks to a smart design that separates the wet and dry compartments. The latter did get pretty grim because the contents were all mushy and wet but that’s where the brush accessories comes in handy.

You do have to put the detergent in the water reservoir each time, but the bottle comes with a handy dosing cap and it really wasn’t difficult. I found I could mop my entire ground floor (five rooms plus hallway) before needing to refill the reservoir, usually before it could clean the mop roller. The App and audio alert tells you when to refill and empty the waste-water unit. Both clip in and out easily.

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review

Cleaning the waste tanks is a little gross, but straightforward (Image credit: Future)

After each mopping session, the self-cleaning base kicked in. It was rather noisy – my decibel meter App recorded cleaning at 74 dBA, which is pretty intrusive given that I’d located the base in my open-plan kitchen/living space. To cut down on disruption, I mostly used the rapid 5 minute program. I also turned off automatic cleaning, preferring to do it myself as and when I felt it was required, because it seemed a bit excessive to go through a clean cycle if I’d just mopped up one small spill.

Another bonus of this model is the hair-evading mop roller, which has some kind of hidden cutting tool that ensures hair doesn’t tangle around it. I can confirm it works perfectly.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry review: battery life

I found the battery life on the Dreame H15 Pro to be more than adequate for our four-bedroom home – admittedly I didn’t use it as much on the carpeted bedrooms or living room but I could cover the rest of the house, including the two upstairs bathrooms and play room, without running out of power if I stuck to Smart mode. The battery lasts an impressive 60 mins and the LED panel kept me updated on the current charge, so I could tell if I’d need to recharge but I never did. I did notice the power draining more quickly in Turbo mode, but that’s to be expected.

  • Battery score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum?

Buy it if…

You have plenty of vinyl, stone or porcelain tiles

On scratch-resistant hard flooring this machine is an absolutely beast – taking no prisoners when it comes to stains, spills and general dirt.

You have lots of leggy furniture

Getting down and dirty under furniture is a specialty of this machine – those dust bunnies will be history.

You want a low-effort option

With its effective auto mode, anti-hair wrap features and automatic mop cleaning, this is an impressively effort-free solution.

Don't buy it if…

It will be the only vacuum you own

While it can be used to vacuum carpets, it's not as impressive in its vacuum-only mode, and the lack of detail tools means it's limited in what it can clean. It's fine for the occasional dust-bust, but it won't replace a dedicated vacuum.

You have lots of stairs

I am reasonably strong, but the unit is bottom-heavy, especially when the water tank is full. I think my elderly mother-in-law would struggle to lift it in and out of the charging base or up any steps/stairs.

You like a quiet life

The sound levels aren’t great – around 70dBA in Turbo Mode and higher when self-cleaning/drying the mop roller. I found the 30 min self-cleaning program especially annoying on the noise front too (I'm pleased there's a 5 minute option).

How I tested the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry cordless

I put the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum through its paces for four weeks this spring in our Victorian, four-bed detached family home, which hosts two messy children and two even messier and especially hairy spaniels. With an open-plan downstairs and a mix of flooring – porcelain, terracotta, luxury vinyl, engineered oak, wool carpets, and plenty of flat-weave rugs – I had the perfect testing ground. I used it as my main vacuum (except on the staircase – too heavy!) and tried every cleaning mode. I even ran some messy tests with flour, oats, and baked beans, measured noise levels with my iPhone, studied edge-closeness and tracked battery life and charging times.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

After 3 weeks with Samsung’s Galaxy A56, I’m closer than ever to ditching my iPhone for Android
6:55 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Samsung Galaxy Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: Two-minute review

Mid-range and budget smartphones are growing in popularity as flagship devices increasingly come with heftier price tags. That doesn’t mean the best cheap phones are slower, less durable versions of their high-end counterparts – in fact, they offer unique value to budget-conscious buyers. In this category, the Samsung Galaxy A5X series is perhaps the best example, and the A56 carries on the tradition.

Having launched alongside the A36 and A26, the Galaxy A56 is the most premium of the trio, boasting more RAM and better cameras. That doesn’t mean it’s expensive – far from it as it’s priced at just $499 / £499 / AU$699. The three siblings, however, share key features, like a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery and an IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is the ideal smartphone for the average user, offering seriously fantastic showings across its cameras, display, design and battery.

The Galaxy A56 exudes class with its metal and glass design, feeling just as premium in hand and on the eyes, with a finish reminiscent of high-end devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but at a fraction of the cost.

I received the Awesome Olive model for this review – though I must admit, I had my eyes on the pink variant. Regardless of color choice, the A56’s build quality is undeniable. Improving upon the already impressive Galaxy A55 in every way, Samsung's mid-range marvel is bigger, thinner and lighter.

Featuring a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel, its display delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth visuals thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. As someone who values high-quality screens for watching content, I was genuinely impressed.

Samsung Galaxy A56 side buttons, metal frame, and cameras

Every inch of the Galaxy A56 looks and feels premium (Image credit: Future)

This quality continues in its battery life. It sports the same 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor, but that's still an impressive capacity in a budget phone – and my experience backs up Samsung's claim of up to 29 hours of video playback. The Samsung Galaxy A56 has also seen an upgrade from 25W to 45W charging, making top-ups faster and more convenient for most users, with a charging speed now equal to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Both serious and casual photographers will be happy too, as the Galaxy A56 rivals the Motorola Edge 50 Pro for the title of best budget camera phone, though it's still far away from competing with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The setup includes a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP macro camera and a 12MP front-facing shooter. Whether you're capturing night shots, macro details or everyday moments, the A56 delivers sharp, well-balanced images with a variety of useful features.

Speaking of useful features, Samsung's famous Galaxy AI isn't present in its budget line of phones. However, the sprinkling of AI features Samsung does provide – like AI photo editing, note-taking, Google Gemini functionality and more – add a tasteful amount of flair without overwhelming users who may not want AI integration.

Fortnite on the Galaxy A56

I played Fortnite on the Galaxy A56 and it struggled (Image credit: Future)

Ironically, the one area in which the A56 isn't up to scratch – even compared to similarly priced phones – is its power. Don't get me wrong: it's still perfectly suited to the average user who wants to call, text, video chat, scroll socials, watch the best streaming services and play games like Clash Royale, but I think it could do with a touch more grunt under the hood. It's simply not the phone to buy if you need power from your handset. When playing Fortnite, for example, gameplay was seriously choppy even at low graphics settings and the minimum 20FPS.

That’s not a deal breaker, though. At its price point, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is a fantastic choice for the cost-conscious user who wants a well-balanced phone that looks and feels premium.

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: price and availability

  • Launch price: $499 / £499 / AU$699
  • Released March 19 in the UK and March 27 in Australia
  • Landing in the US later in 2025

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is one of the best budget phones on the market in terms of value, offering a seriously good experience for a truly wallet-friendly $499 /£499 / AU$699 price, with other phones either performing better at higher price points, or offering lesser experiences at a similar price.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy A55, which never made it to the US market, Samsung officially confirmed on March 1 that the A56 would debut in the US "later this year", while the A36 and A26 became available on March 28 and 26 respectively.

Australians enjoy the same price on the Samsung Galaxy A56 as they did with its predecessor. However, potential owners in the UK will have to fork out an extra £60 compared to last year, with the A55 releasing for only £439.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is only available in the 8GB RAM, 256GB storage configuration in the UK, and comes in Awesome Olive, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lightgrey and Awesome Pink.

Importantly, while Australians only get two color options – olive and graphite – they also get two storage options, with a 128GB model priced at AU$699, and the 256GB model costing AU$799. There is also a 12GB RAM model available in select regions.

The only other comparable phone in terms of price versus performance is the near-flagship Google Pixel 9a, releasing soon at $499 / £499 / AU$849. We haven't reviewed the Pixel 9a yet, but if it continues the success of its predecessor, it makes the A56 harder to recommend in the US and UK given they are the same price.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: specs

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: design

  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • 1,900-nit peak outdoors
  • 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display

Watching a nature documentary on the Galaxy A56

Watching a nature documentary on the Galaxy A56 is a lovely experience (Image credit: Future)

I already loved the 6.6-inch display on the A55 – it struck a perfect balance between being comfortable to hold and offering an upgraded viewing experience over my 6.1-inch iPhone 15.

Samsung has taken that a step further with the A56, making it even more comfortable in hand while increasing the screen size to 6.7 inches for an even better entertainment experience. Whether I was watching videos, reading, gaming or video calling, the 1080 x 2340 Super AMOLED display provided one of the best viewing experiences I’ve had on a budget smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A56 home screen outdoors

Peak brightness is fine on the Galaxy A56 home screen, but it could be better (Image credit: Future)

The only noticeable cost-cutting comes in the display’s peak brightness. While I never struggled to see the screen, its 1,200-nit brightness is lower than I’d like to see in 2025 – though it does bump up to 1,900 in direct sunlight. While this improves on the Galaxy A55’s 1,000-nit peak, it falls short of competitors like the Google Pixel 9a (2,700 nits) and the Poco F6 Pro (4,000 nits).

In every other aspect, though, the A56’s display feels truly premium. It’s even protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Invictus, adding durability against scratches and drops. While I didn’t test a full 2m drop onto concrete, a few accidental drops left it completely unscathed.

  • Display score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: design

  • Thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A55
  • Gorilla Glass Invictus
  • IP67 water and dustproof rating

Samsung Galaxy A56 back design

The Samsung Galaxy A56 in the Olive looks quite good even though it's my least favorite color (Image credit: Future)

I loved the Samsung Galaxy A55, particularly its design – a blend of metal and glass that gave it a supremely premium feel at a truly budget price. The A56 improves on that in every way – refining an already impressive formula. I received the Awesome Olive colorway, which was probably my least favorite of the four options, yet I was still thoroughly impressed by how good it looks.

The A56 features a slightly larger 6.7-inch display (up from 6.6 inches) and is about a millimeter taller and wider to accommodate the bigger screen. Bigger may not always be better, but Samsung has offset the increased size with a 1.2mm reduction in thickness and a significant 15g drop in weight – making an exceptional design near perfect.

Or perhaps just perfect. Not only does the metal frame enhance the phone’s premium feel and sturdy build, but Samsung has also added subtle ridges to the frame – something I don’t recall seeing or feeling on the A55 when I reviewed it. The ridges didn’t necessarily improve the grip for me, but they served as a satisfying fidget point when I ran my fingers across them.

Samsung Galaxy A56 back cover and side design ridges

The slightly ridged chassis edges don't necessarily improve grip, but I don't mind it at all (Image credit: Future)

That’s about all the superlatives I can give the A56’s design. It’s everything you want a phone to look and feel like, regardless of its price. It’s also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, offering excellent resistance against scratches and drops.

As with avoiding the 2m drop test, I didn’t throw the IP67-rated Galaxy A56 in the bath; however, my colleagues and I have spent plenty of time with Gorilla Glass to know how good the durability can be – and I had absolutely no issue the few times I did get the phone wet while doing the dishes and walking in the rain.

Big, beautiful, lightweight, and impressively durable, the A56 is an exceptionally designed piece of technology. The fact that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg makes it all the more impressive.

  • Design score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: software

  • No full Galaxy AI suite, but some “Awesome Intelligence” features are available
  • Six years of software and security support
  • Plenty of UI customizations with new Now Bar feature

Galaxy A56 software

The software package on Samsung's cheaper phones are as good as that on the flagships (Image credit: Future)

From a software perspective, the Samsung Galaxy A56 might be the most impressive budget-focused phone I’ve personally used. And that’s despite my colleagues praising the Google Pixel 8a for bringing Google’s AI tools to a wider audience. That’s not to say the A56 misses out entirely on AI features – it has a smattering of useful ones that won’t overwhelm the average user – but if AI is your top priority, you’ll need to shell out for the Samsung Galaxy S25 or wait for the Pixel 9a.

The AI-powered tools in the A56 aren’t being called Galaxy AI, instead appearing under the branding “Awesome Intelligence”, although similarities abound.

Samsung lays these features out neatly within the Settings menu and includes tools that let you remove objects from photos, capture the perfect group photo and receive AI-powered suggestions for improving images during editing.

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AI image remastering on the Galaxy A56

A screenshot of the Galaxy A56's AI remastering tool (Image credit: Future)
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AI object removal Galaxy A56

Removing objects with the object eraser – see the next image for results (Image credit: Future)
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AI Object removal Galaxy A56

Same image with several objects in the background removed with AI (Image credit: Future)

That's far from it, though. Within the camera app, you can create Custom Filters based on mood and style, quickly edit videos with Auto Trim or even translate real-world text when in foreign lands with Bixby Vision. AI Select provides suggested actions when you highlight something on-screen, Read Aloud will read articles or passages aloud for you, and you even get Google's Circle to Search tool.

That’s about it for AI, but there's plenty more to love about the Galaxy A56's software. For starters, you get an exceptionally clean user experience with minimal pre-installed bloatware.

Customization options are also extensive. On the wallpaper front, there are featured selections, interesting graphic designs and a variety of colors with different personalization options within. You can also set a dynamic lock screen that changes wallpapers every time you unlock the device, with five categories to choose from.

And that’s just the beginning. Once you settle on a wallpaper color, you can customize the system-wide color palette to match – or opt for basic colors instead. If that’s not enough, you can buy a full theme from the Galaxy Themes store to overhaul your device's entire aesthetic.

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Personalisation software within the Galaxy A56

Wallpaper customization options galore! (Image credit: Future)
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Personalisation software within the Galaxy A56

If you don't like the themes on offer, you can spend a little extra cash on purchasing a new one direct from the phone (Image credit: Future)

You can choose between a traditional home screen or one with a separate app drawer, adjust icon sizes, and independently tweak the grid layout for the home screen, app drawer and folders.

One of my favorite additions, though, is the Now Bar. Originally a flagship feature in One UI 7, I was surprised (and delighted) to see it make its way to Samsung’s budget line.

It may seem like a small addition, but it can be an incredibly useful tool. Acting much like Apple’s Dynamic Island, the Now Bar sits at the bottom of the lock screen, working as a media manager that displays your current song or countdown timer, or displaying live notifications for specific apps like Maps, Samsung Health, Clock, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes and Emergency Sharing.

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Samsung Galaxy A56 Now bar

The new Now Bar feature is nice to have on a budget phone (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 Now bar

Just tap it from the lock screen to open further actions (Image credit: Future)

With flagship-level features and a remarkably clean UI, the Samsung Galaxy A56 delivers an outstanding user experience for a budget phone. It also strikes a perfect balance with AI – offering just enough functionality to be useful for those who want it, while remaining unobtrusive for those who don’t.

And, more than just the cherry on top, especially for penny-pinching buyers, is the fact that the Galaxy A56 will see six years of security support and software updates – letting you enjoy its value for years to come.

  • Software score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: cameras

  • Rear camera trio with 50MP main
  • 12MP front camera
  • Helpful AI tools like Best Face

Unless you have a specific need – like top-tier gaming performance or a battery that can handle marathon sessions – a smartphone’s camera is arguably one of its most important features. From a parent wanting to capture family moments, a hobbyist hiker aiming for the perfect summit selfie, to a serious photographer looking for a reliable backup, any phone worth considering needs to nail its camera. And the Samsung Galaxy A56 does just that.

Simply put, the Galaxy A56 takes some seriously good photos – at any distance.

Its rear camera array includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. While a higher megapixel count is great, it’s the phone’s image processing that determines the results.

The Galaxy A55 struggled with this: while it produced crisp, well-defined shots, many mid-range and budget phones tend to over-process images, making colors look too saturated and unnatural. The A56 avoids both extremes. While photos come out slightly cooler than I’d prefer, they’re impressively natural, detailed and well balanced.

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Camera samples

Skyscraper with the 50MP main camera (Image credit: Future)
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Camera samples

Capturing the beautiful blue sky (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

A kookaburra sitting with the 12MP ultra-wide (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

The same kookaburra, captured with 10x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

Sunny mornings with 1x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

Same trees in 2x zoom (Image credit: Future)

The camera app includes several modes: Fun (which applies Snapchat-like filters), Portrait, Photo, and Video. It also allows easy toggling between the 12MP and 50MP lenses, quick filter application, aspect-ratio adjustments, and motion-photo settings.

For video, you can enable Super Steady mode to counteract shaky hands or turn it off to adjust frame rates: Space-saving HD at 30fps, Full HD at up to 60p, and Ultra HD at 30fps. Auto Framing keeps subjects centered automatically.

That’s not all – Samsung delivers a feature-rich camera experience on a budget here. Tapping ‘More’ unlocks additional modes, including Pro, Pro Video, Night, Food, Panorama, Macro, Slow Motion, Hyperlapse, Dual Rec, and Single Take.

When it comes to macro and night photography, the A56 is one of the more impressive budget phones I’ve used. Macro shots are often incredibly difficult to get right, especially if your subject isn't still, but I had no issue with the A56. And while taking photos in the middle of the night might not be common practice, the A56 performed impressively in low-light environments – taking clear snaps even with almost zero light present.

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Photos taken using the Galaxy A56's macro lens

The Galaxy A56's macro lens gets good results even when the subject is swaying in the wind or slowly crawling (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

Bluey and Bingo captured in night mode (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

The same photo with night mode turned off (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

The same photo with the (weak) light turned on (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A56 isn’t the best camera phone I’ve ever used, nor is it necessarily the camera phone I've used in this price range – that battle is fought between the Pixel 8a and Motorola Edge 50 Pro – but it continues the A56’s overarching theme: consistent, excellent performance across the board.

  • Camera score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: performance

  • Performs well under long periods of stress
  • Not built for gaming

Fortnite home page on the Galaxy A56

While Fortnite looks good on the Galaxy A56, the phone struggles with high-intensity tasks (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A56's weakest feature is without a doubt its performance. That’s not to say it’s bad – as I’ve previously mentioned, it’s more than enough for the average user. But to keep prices down, concessions have to be made. For some cheap phones, it's a lower-quality display or increased fragility. In the case of the Galaxy A56 and its Exynos 1580 chipset, it was how it performed under heavier loads – like mobile gaming.

In our Geekbench benchmark tests – which measure the phone's CPU performance in everyday tasks and GPU performance in real-world applications, the A56 performed well – beating the gaming-powered Poco F6 Pro, and only falling a few hundred points short of the Pixel 9.

However, in our two 3DMark benchmarks – Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme – that test the overall graphics performance and how the phone deals with both high performance in short bursts, it didn't look so good.

Its numbers aren't necessarily bad. In fact, it showed a massive improvement over the A55 in both. However, its single and multi-core scores of 1,330 and 3,759 weren't too far ahead of the Motorola Edge 50 Pro (1,132 / 3,076) – which isn't known for its gaming power. The A56 was also thoroughly beaten by the Poco F6 Pro (1,375 / 4733), and both phones can easily be found for around the same price or less.

In terms of sustained performance though, the A56 was impressive. In the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test – a 20-minute benchmark that assesses stability under heavy loads – it scored a top loop of 4,907, a low of 4,649, an impressive 94.9% stability and remained cool temperature-wise. For reference, I've seen the S25 Ultra score higher peaks, but also show less stability in this test, dropping to a loop score of less than 3,000.

As good as some of those numbers look on paper, it was a different experience during real-world use, with the A56 struggling when I played games like Fortnite Mobile – it failed to maintain even 20FPS, frequently stuttering on the lowest graphics settings. For comparison, the similarly priced Poco F6 Pro easily sustains 60FPS at high settings for hours.

Fortnite frames per second on the Galaxy A56

11FPS while playing Fortnite on the Galaxy A56 was the best I could do (Image credit: Future)

That said, these results still mark a significant improvement over the A55, a phone I loved when I tested it last year. The benchmark numbers may not impress, but they don’t take away from the A56’s status as an excellent budget phone for the average user, and I can attest that it holds up really well for the daily duties you’d want from a smartphone.

  • Performance score: 3.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: battery

  • 5,000 mAh battery that easily sees you through the day
  • 45W wired charging

Samsung Galaxy A56 charging

It's not groundbreaking, but the battery life is quite impressive (Image credit: Future)

Keeping in line with its display, design, performance and cameras, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy A56 is perfectly suited to the average user.

My daily testing routine started at 5:30am, with an hour-long podcast while I walked the dog, followed by a quick music-fuelled workout accompanied by music before getting ready for work. Then there was about an hour of scrolling and listening during my commute, before I arrived at the office, where I’d use it for background music via a set of Bluetooth headphones.

Naturally, I needed a phone that could keep up, and the A56’s 5,000mAh battery delivered. Samsung claims the device offers up to 29 hours of video playback, so I put it to the test. Watching a YouTube video at 50% brightness, I picked up the phone 18 hours later to find it still had 39% battery remaining.

As another test, I played The Dark Knight Rises twice back-to-back (totaling 5 hours, 30 minutes) at 50% brightness, and the phone lost just 27% battery. Though these tests were conducted in different environments and with varying starting percentages, the results reinforced one thing: the A56 can go the distance.

For everyday use – texting, calling, video chatting, scrolling social media, checking emails and some light gaming – the A56 is more than up to the task, easily lasting a full day.

As for charging, you won’t get ultra-fast speeds like 120W or even 67W, but the A56 does offer 45W fast charging – an upgrade from the middling 25W speed of the Galaxy A55. That puts the new budget phone on par with itsGalaxy S25 Ultra cousin.

Using a 67W wall charger, the A56 gained:

• 8% in 5 minutes
• Just under 30% in 15 minutes
• A little over 55% in 30 minutes
• A full charge in around 85 minutes

A 5,000mAh battery is far from an astounding inclusion in a specs list in 2025, but it’s still a notable positive. Paired with moderately fast charging, the A56’s battery – like the rest of the phone – is great.

And while 120W or even 67W charging is a helpful addition when you have it, it's far from necessary – and 55% battery in a quick 30-minute charge is plenty if you forget to plug it in overnight on the rare occasion.

  • Battery score: 4/5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A56?

Buy it if...

You want a large display without spending top dollar

The Samsung Galaxy A56's 6.7-inch display is an expansive screen that improves upon its predecessor, rivals the S25 series, and produces a vibrant and immersive experience.

You want a jack-of-all-trades handset
The A56 excels as an all-around performer, balancing design, display, camera and battery life in a way that caters to a wide range of needs. It handles daily tasks like texting, social media and video calls seamlessly, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable, versatile phone.

You're shopping for value on a budget
If you’re after a phone that offers impressive features without breaking the bank, the A56 is a standout option. With a solid camera, long-lasting battery and smooth performance, it provides excellent value for those seeking a capable device without spending a fortune.

Don't buy it if...

You're a serious mobile gamer
While the A56 can handle light gaming, it’s not built for heavy gaming sessions or more intense games. If you're looking for a phone that can deliver high frame rates and smooth performance in graphically intense games, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

You want the best AI tools
 The A56 offers basic AI features, but if you’re after the cutting-edge AI tools, you’ll need to shell out more for the likes of the Galaxy S25 or the Pixel 9 flagships.

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: also consider

Google Pixel 9a
We loved the Google Pixel 8a, and we're expecting five big upgrades from the Pixel 9a – namely a wealth of AI features alongside possibly the best camera on the market at its price and a 5,100mAh battery. Easily the biggest competitor to the Galaxy A56, if you want AI and cameras, it might be the better choice.

Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro
If you have more of a mobile gaming focus, but still want a phone that offers solid all-round performance and 120W charging, consider the Poco F6 Pro. Its bloatware will be confronting for first-time users, but once you get past that, it's a very good smartphone at this price range.
Read our full Poco F6 Pro review

Apple iPhone 16e
Android devices offer a greater amount of value compared to iPhones, with even older Apple devices still asking for a considerable price. However, the iPhone 16e offers Apple Intelligence, smooth performance and seamless Apple integration at a much more affordable price than the mainline iPhone 16 family.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy A56

  • Review test period: 3 weeks
  • Testing included: Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark, native Android stats

The Samsung Galaxy A56 was my sole mobile device for the three weeks I spent with it, and I frankly wish I didn't have to return it after my testing period. As my regular daily device, I used it to listen to podcasts, check social media, watch YouTube and text, with some light reading thrown in. Oh, and a whole heap of dog photos.

Of course, I also put the Galaxy A56 through its paces with Geekbench 6 and 3DMark benchmark tests to see how the phone would handle activities that I may not use in my regular daily use, but someone else might. I did these tests several times, in different environments and different battery stages to ensure accurate results.

Why you can trust TechRadar

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This leads me to my gaming tests. It's always nice when you can make playing games part of your job, but I'm far from a mobile gamer. I love Marvel Snap, enjoy a few rounds of Clash Royale and dabble in some Wordle and Connections every now and then, but that's it. As part of my testing, I did play – or attempt to play – more serious mobile games like Fortnite on my Galaxy A56 to see how it would handle the life of a mobile gamer.

Given my experience testing other budget phones, including the Samsung Galaxy A55, I was equipped with the knowledge to make good comparisons with the A56.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed April 2025]

After 3 weeks with Samsung’s Galaxy A56, I’m closer than ever to ditching my iPhone for Android
6:55 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Samsung Galaxy Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: Two-minute review

Mid-range and budget smartphones are growing in popularity as flagship devices increasingly come with heftier price tags. That doesn’t mean the best cheap phones are slower, less durable versions of their high-end counterparts – in fact, they offer unique value to budget-conscious buyers. In this category, the Samsung Galaxy A5X series is perhaps the best example, and the A56 carries on the tradition.

Having launched alongside the A36 and A26, the Galaxy A56 is the most premium of the trio, boasting more RAM and better cameras. That doesn’t mean it’s expensive – far from it as it’s priced at just $499 / £499 / AU$699. The three siblings, however, share key features, like a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery and an IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is the ideal smartphone for the average user, offering seriously fantastic showings across its cameras, display, design and battery.

The Galaxy A56 exudes class with its metal and glass design, feeling just as premium in hand and on the eyes, with a finish reminiscent of high-end devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but at a fraction of the cost.

I received the Awesome Olive model for this review – though I must admit, I had my eyes on the pink variant. Regardless of color choice, the A56’s build quality is undeniable. Improving upon the already impressive Galaxy A55 in every way, Samsung's mid-range marvel is bigger, thinner and lighter.

Featuring a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel, its display delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth visuals thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. As someone who values high-quality screens for watching content, I was genuinely impressed.

Samsung Galaxy A56 side buttons, metal frame, and cameras

Every inch of the Galaxy A56 looks and feels premium (Image credit: Future)

This quality continues in its battery life. It sports the same 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor, but that's still an impressive capacity in a budget phone – and my experience backs up Samsung's claim of up to 29 hours of video playback. The Samsung Galaxy A56 has also seen an upgrade from 25W to 45W charging, making top-ups faster and more convenient for most users, with a charging speed now equal to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Both serious and casual photographers will be happy too, as the Galaxy A56 rivals the Motorola Edge 50 Pro for the title of best budget camera phone, though it's still far away from competing with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The setup includes a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP macro camera and a 12MP front-facing shooter. Whether you're capturing night shots, macro details or everyday moments, the A56 delivers sharp, well-balanced images with a variety of useful features.

Speaking of useful features, Samsung's famous Galaxy AI isn't present in its budget line of phones. However, the sprinkling of AI features Samsung does provide – like AI photo editing, note-taking, Google Gemini functionality and more – add a tasteful amount of flair without overwhelming users who may not want AI integration.

Fortnite on the Galaxy A56

I played Fortnite on the Galaxy A56 and it struggled (Image credit: Future)

Ironically, the one area in which the A56 isn't up to scratch – even compared to similarly priced phones – is its power. Don't get me wrong: it's still perfectly suited to the average user who wants to call, text, video chat, scroll socials, watch the best streaming services and play games like Clash Royale, but I think it could do with a touch more grunt under the hood. It's simply not the phone to buy if you need power from your handset. When playing Fortnite, for example, gameplay was seriously choppy even at low graphics settings and the minimum 20FPS.

That’s not a deal breaker, though. At its price point, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is a fantastic choice for the cost-conscious user who wants a well-balanced phone that looks and feels premium.

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: price and availability

  • Launch price: $499 / £499 / AU$699
  • Released March 19 in the UK and March 27 in Australia
  • Landing in the US later in 2025

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is one of the best budget phones on the market in terms of value, offering a seriously good experience for a truly wallet-friendly $499 /£499 / AU$699 price, with other phones either performing better at higher price points, or offering lesser experiences at a similar price.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy A55, which never made it to the US market, Samsung officially confirmed on March 1 that the A56 would debut in the US "later this year", while the A36 and A26 became available on March 28 and 26 respectively.

Australians enjoy the same price on the Samsung Galaxy A56 as they did with its predecessor. However, potential owners in the UK will have to fork out an extra £60 compared to last year, with the A55 releasing for only £439.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is only available in the 8GB RAM, 256GB storage configuration in the UK, and comes in Awesome Olive, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lightgrey and Awesome Pink.

Importantly, while Australians only get two color options – olive and graphite – they also get two storage options, with a 128GB model priced at AU$699, and the 256GB model costing AU$799. There is also a 12GB RAM model available in select regions.

The only other comparable phone in terms of price versus performance is the near-flagship Google Pixel 9a, releasing soon at $499 / £499 / AU$849. We haven't reviewed the Pixel 9a yet, but if it continues the success of its predecessor, it makes the A56 harder to recommend in the US and UK given they are the same price.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: specs

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: design

  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • 1,900-nit peak outdoors
  • 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display

Watching a nature documentary on the Galaxy A56

Watching a nature documentary on the Galaxy A56 is a lovely experience (Image credit: Future)

I already loved the 6.6-inch display on the A55 – it struck a perfect balance between being comfortable to hold and offering an upgraded viewing experience over my 6.1-inch iPhone 15.

Samsung has taken that a step further with the A56, making it even more comfortable in hand while increasing the screen size to 6.7 inches for an even better entertainment experience. Whether I was watching videos, reading, gaming or video calling, the 1080 x 2340 Super AMOLED display provided one of the best viewing experiences I’ve had on a budget smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A56 home screen outdoors

Peak brightness is fine on the Galaxy A56 home screen, but it could be better (Image credit: Future)

The only noticeable cost-cutting comes in the display’s peak brightness. While I never struggled to see the screen, its 1,200-nit brightness is lower than I’d like to see in 2025 – though it does bump up to 1,900 in direct sunlight. While this improves on the Galaxy A55’s 1,000-nit peak, it falls short of competitors like the Google Pixel 9a (2,700 nits) and the Poco F6 Pro (4,000 nits).

In every other aspect, though, the A56’s display feels truly premium. It’s even protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Invictus, adding durability against scratches and drops. While I didn’t test a full 2m drop onto concrete, a few accidental drops left it completely unscathed.

  • Display score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: design

  • Thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A55
  • Gorilla Glass Invictus
  • IP67 water and dustproof rating

Samsung Galaxy A56 back design

The Samsung Galaxy A56 in the Olive looks quite good even though it's my least favorite color (Image credit: Future)

I loved the Samsung Galaxy A55, particularly its design – a blend of metal and glass that gave it a supremely premium feel at a truly budget price. The A56 improves on that in every way – refining an already impressive formula. I received the Awesome Olive colorway, which was probably my least favorite of the four options, yet I was still thoroughly impressed by how good it looks.

The A56 features a slightly larger 6.7-inch display (up from 6.6 inches) and is about a millimeter taller and wider to accommodate the bigger screen. Bigger may not always be better, but Samsung has offset the increased size with a 1.2mm reduction in thickness and a significant 15g drop in weight – making an exceptional design near perfect.

Or perhaps just perfect. Not only does the metal frame enhance the phone’s premium feel and sturdy build, but Samsung has also added subtle ridges to the frame – something I don’t recall seeing or feeling on the A55 when I reviewed it. The ridges didn’t necessarily improve the grip for me, but they served as a satisfying fidget point when I ran my fingers across them.

Samsung Galaxy A56 back cover and side design ridges

The slightly ridged chassis edges don't necessarily improve grip, but I don't mind it at all (Image credit: Future)

That’s about all the superlatives I can give the A56’s design. It’s everything you want a phone to look and feel like, regardless of its price. It’s also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, offering excellent resistance against scratches and drops.

As with avoiding the 2m drop test, I didn’t throw the IP67-rated Galaxy A56 in the bath; however, my colleagues and I have spent plenty of time with Gorilla Glass to know how good the durability can be – and I had absolutely no issue the few times I did get the phone wet while doing the dishes and walking in the rain.

Big, beautiful, lightweight, and impressively durable, the A56 is an exceptionally designed piece of technology. The fact that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg makes it all the more impressive.

  • Design score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: software

  • No full Galaxy AI suite, but some “Awesome Intelligence” features are available
  • Six years of software and security support
  • Plenty of UI customizations with new Now Bar feature

Galaxy A56 software

The software package on Samsung's cheaper phones are as good as that on the flagships (Image credit: Future)

From a software perspective, the Samsung Galaxy A56 might be the most impressive budget-focused phone I’ve personally used. And that’s despite my colleagues praising the Google Pixel 8a for bringing Google’s AI tools to a wider audience. That’s not to say the A56 misses out entirely on AI features – it has a smattering of useful ones that won’t overwhelm the average user – but if AI is your top priority, you’ll need to shell out for the Samsung Galaxy S25 or wait for the Pixel 9a.

The AI-powered tools in the A56 aren’t being called Galaxy AI, instead appearing under the branding “Awesome Intelligence”, although similarities abound.

Samsung lays these features out neatly within the Settings menu and includes tools that let you remove objects from photos, capture the perfect group photo and receive AI-powered suggestions for improving images during editing.

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AI image remastering on the Galaxy A56

A screenshot of the Galaxy A56's AI remastering tool (Image credit: Future)
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AI object removal Galaxy A56

Removing objects with the object eraser – see the next image for results (Image credit: Future)
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AI Object removal Galaxy A56

Same image with several objects in the background removed with AI (Image credit: Future)

That's far from it, though. Within the camera app, you can create Custom Filters based on mood and style, quickly edit videos with Auto Trim or even translate real-world text when in foreign lands with Bixby Vision. AI Select provides suggested actions when you highlight something on-screen, Read Aloud will read articles or passages aloud for you, and you even get Google's Circle to Search tool.

That’s about it for AI, but there's plenty more to love about the Galaxy A56's software. For starters, you get an exceptionally clean user experience with minimal pre-installed bloatware.

Customization options are also extensive. On the wallpaper front, there are featured selections, interesting graphic designs and a variety of colors with different personalization options within. You can also set a dynamic lock screen that changes wallpapers every time you unlock the device, with five categories to choose from.

And that’s just the beginning. Once you settle on a wallpaper color, you can customize the system-wide color palette to match – or opt for basic colors instead. If that’s not enough, you can buy a full theme from the Galaxy Themes store to overhaul your device's entire aesthetic.

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Personalisation software within the Galaxy A56

Wallpaper customization options galore! (Image credit: Future)
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Personalisation software within the Galaxy A56

If you don't like the themes on offer, you can spend a little extra cash on purchasing a new one direct from the phone (Image credit: Future)

You can choose between a traditional home screen or one with a separate app drawer, adjust icon sizes, and independently tweak the grid layout for the home screen, app drawer and folders.

One of my favorite additions, though, is the Now Bar. Originally a flagship feature in One UI 7, I was surprised (and delighted) to see it make its way to Samsung’s budget line.

It may seem like a small addition, but it can be an incredibly useful tool. Acting much like Apple’s Dynamic Island, the Now Bar sits at the bottom of the lock screen, working as a media manager that displays your current song or countdown timer, or displaying live notifications for specific apps like Maps, Samsung Health, Clock, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes and Emergency Sharing.

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Samsung Galaxy A56 Now bar

The new Now Bar feature is nice to have on a budget phone (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 Now bar

Just tap it from the lock screen to open further actions (Image credit: Future)

With flagship-level features and a remarkably clean UI, the Samsung Galaxy A56 delivers an outstanding user experience for a budget phone. It also strikes a perfect balance with AI – offering just enough functionality to be useful for those who want it, while remaining unobtrusive for those who don’t.

And, more than just the cherry on top, especially for penny-pinching buyers, is the fact that the Galaxy A56 will see six years of security support and software updates – letting you enjoy its value for years to come.

  • Software score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: cameras

  • Rear camera trio with 50MP main
  • 12MP front camera
  • Helpful AI tools like Best Face

Unless you have a specific need – like top-tier gaming performance or a battery that can handle marathon sessions – a smartphone’s camera is arguably one of its most important features. From a parent wanting to capture family moments, a hobbyist hiker aiming for the perfect summit selfie, to a serious photographer looking for a reliable backup, any phone worth considering needs to nail its camera. And the Samsung Galaxy A56 does just that.

Simply put, the Galaxy A56 takes some seriously good photos – at any distance.

Its rear camera array includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. While a higher megapixel count is great, it’s the phone’s image processing that determines the results.

The Galaxy A55 struggled with this: while it produced crisp, well-defined shots, many mid-range and budget phones tend to over-process images, making colors look too saturated and unnatural. The A56 avoids both extremes. While photos come out slightly cooler than I’d prefer, they’re impressively natural, detailed and well balanced.

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Camera samples

Skyscraper with the 50MP main camera (Image credit: Future)
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Camera samples

Capturing the beautiful blue sky (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

A kookaburra sitting with the 12MP ultra-wide (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

The same kookaburra, captured with 10x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

Sunny mornings with 1x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

Same trees in 2x zoom (Image credit: Future)

The camera app includes several modes: Fun (which applies Snapchat-like filters), Portrait, Photo, and Video. It also allows easy toggling between the 12MP and 50MP lenses, quick filter application, aspect-ratio adjustments, and motion-photo settings.

For video, you can enable Super Steady mode to counteract shaky hands or turn it off to adjust frame rates: Space-saving HD at 30fps, Full HD at up to 60p, and Ultra HD at 30fps. Auto Framing keeps subjects centered automatically.

That’s not all – Samsung delivers a feature-rich camera experience on a budget here. Tapping ‘More’ unlocks additional modes, including Pro, Pro Video, Night, Food, Panorama, Macro, Slow Motion, Hyperlapse, Dual Rec, and Single Take.

When it comes to macro and night photography, the A56 is one of the more impressive budget phones I’ve used. Macro shots are often incredibly difficult to get right, especially if your subject isn't still, but I had no issue with the A56. And while taking photos in the middle of the night might not be common practice, the A56 performed impressively in low-light environments – taking clear snaps even with almost zero light present.

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Photos taken using the Galaxy A56's macro lens

The Galaxy A56's macro lens gets good results even when the subject is swaying in the wind or slowly crawling (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

Bluey and Bingo captured in night mode (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

The same photo with night mode turned off (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

The same photo with the (weak) light turned on (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A56 isn’t the best camera phone I’ve ever used, nor is it necessarily the camera phone I've used in this price range – that battle is fought between the Pixel 8a and Motorola Edge 50 Pro – but it continues the A56’s overarching theme: consistent, excellent performance across the board.

  • Camera score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: performance

  • Performs well under long periods of stress
  • Not built for gaming

Fortnite home page on the Galaxy A56

While Fortnite looks good on the Galaxy A56, the phone struggles with high-intensity tasks (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A56's weakest feature is without a doubt its performance. That’s not to say it’s bad – as I’ve previously mentioned, it’s more than enough for the average user. But to keep prices down, concessions have to be made. For some cheap phones, it's a lower-quality display or increased fragility. In the case of the Galaxy A56 and its Exynos 1580 chipset, it was how it performed under heavier loads – like mobile gaming.

In our Geekbench benchmark tests – which measure the phone's CPU performance in everyday tasks and GPU performance in real-world applications, the A56 performed well – beating the gaming-powered Poco F6 Pro, and only falling a few hundred points short of the Pixel 9.

However, in our two 3DMark benchmarks – Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme – that test the overall graphics performance and how the phone deals with both high performance in short bursts, it didn't look so good.

Its numbers aren't necessarily bad. In fact, it showed a massive improvement over the A55 in both. However, its single and multi-core scores of 1,330 and 3,759 weren't too far ahead of the Motorola Edge 50 Pro (1,132 / 3,076) – which isn't known for its gaming power. The A56 was also thoroughly beaten by the Poco F6 Pro (1,375 / 4733), and both phones can easily be found for around the same price or less.

In terms of sustained performance though, the A56 was impressive. In the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test – a 20-minute benchmark that assesses stability under heavy loads – it scored a top loop of 4,907, a low of 4,649, an impressive 94.9% stability and remained cool temperature-wise. For reference, I've seen the S25 Ultra score higher peaks, but also show less stability in this test, dropping to a loop score of less than 3,000.

As good as some of those numbers look on paper, it was a different experience during real-world use, with the A56 struggling when I played games like Fortnite Mobile – it failed to maintain even 20FPS, frequently stuttering on the lowest graphics settings. For comparison, the similarly priced Poco F6 Pro easily sustains 60FPS at high settings for hours.

Fortnite frames per second on the Galaxy A56

11FPS while playing Fortnite on the Galaxy A56 was the best I could do (Image credit: Future)

That said, these results still mark a significant improvement over the A55, a phone I loved when I tested it last year. The benchmark numbers may not impress, but they don’t take away from the A56’s status as an excellent budget phone for the average user, and I can attest that it holds up really well for the daily duties you’d want from a smartphone.

  • Performance score: 3.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: battery

  • 5,000 mAh battery that easily sees you through the day
  • 45W wired charging

Samsung Galaxy A56 charging

It's not groundbreaking, but the battery life is quite impressive (Image credit: Future)

Keeping in line with its display, design, performance and cameras, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy A56 is perfectly suited to the average user.

My daily testing routine started at 5:30am, with an hour-long podcast while I walked the dog, followed by a quick music-fuelled workout accompanied by music before getting ready for work. Then there was about an hour of scrolling and listening during my commute, before I arrived at the office, where I’d use it for background music via a set of Bluetooth headphones.

Naturally, I needed a phone that could keep up, and the A56’s 5,000mAh battery delivered. Samsung claims the device offers up to 29 hours of video playback, so I put it to the test. Watching a YouTube video at 50% brightness, I picked up the phone 18 hours later to find it still had 39% battery remaining.

As another test, I played The Dark Knight Rises twice back-to-back (totaling 5 hours, 30 minutes) at 50% brightness, and the phone lost just 27% battery. Though these tests were conducted in different environments and with varying starting percentages, the results reinforced one thing: the A56 can go the distance.

For everyday use – texting, calling, video chatting, scrolling social media, checking emails and some light gaming – the A56 is more than up to the task, easily lasting a full day.

As for charging, you won’t get ultra-fast speeds like 120W or even 67W, but the A56 does offer 45W fast charging – an upgrade from the middling 25W speed of the Galaxy A55. That puts the new budget phone on par with itsGalaxy S25 Ultra cousin.

Using a 67W wall charger, the A56 gained:

• 8% in 5 minutes
• Just under 30% in 15 minutes
• A little over 55% in 30 minutes
• A full charge in around 85 minutes

A 5,000mAh battery is far from an astounding inclusion in a specs list in 2025, but it’s still a notable positive. Paired with moderately fast charging, the A56’s battery – like the rest of the phone – is great.

And while 120W or even 67W charging is a helpful addition when you have it, it's far from necessary – and 55% battery in a quick 30-minute charge is plenty if you forget to plug it in overnight on the rare occasion.

  • Battery score: 4/5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A56?

Buy it if...

You want a large display without spending top dollar

The Samsung Galaxy A56's 6.7-inch display is an expansive screen that improves upon its predecessor, rivals the S25 series, and produces a vibrant and immersive experience.

You want a jack-of-all-trades handset
The A56 excels as an all-around performer, balancing design, display, camera and battery life in a way that caters to a wide range of needs. It handles daily tasks like texting, social media and video calls seamlessly, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable, versatile phone.

You're shopping for value on a budget
If you’re after a phone that offers impressive features without breaking the bank, the A56 is a standout option. With a solid camera, long-lasting battery and smooth performance, it provides excellent value for those seeking a capable device without spending a fortune.

Don't buy it if...

You're a serious mobile gamer
While the A56 can handle light gaming, it’s not built for heavy gaming sessions or more intense games. If you're looking for a phone that can deliver high frame rates and smooth performance in graphically intense games, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

You want the best AI tools
 The A56 offers basic AI features, but if you’re after the cutting-edge AI tools, you’ll need to shell out more for the likes of the Galaxy S25 or the Pixel 9 flagships.

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: also consider

Google Pixel 9a
We loved the Google Pixel 8a, and we're expecting five big upgrades from the Pixel 9a – namely a wealth of AI features alongside possibly the best camera on the market at its price and a 5,100mAh battery. Easily the biggest competitor to the Galaxy A56, if you want AI and cameras, it might be the better choice.

Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro
If you have more of a mobile gaming focus, but still want a phone that offers solid all-round performance and 120W charging, consider the Poco F6 Pro. Its bloatware will be confronting for first-time users, but once you get past that, it's a very good smartphone at this price range.
Read our full Poco F6 Pro review

Apple iPhone 16e
Android devices offer a greater amount of value compared to iPhones, with even older Apple devices still asking for a considerable price. However, the iPhone 16e offers Apple Intelligence, smooth performance and seamless Apple integration at a much more affordable price than the mainline iPhone 16 family.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy A56

  • Review test period: 3 weeks
  • Testing included: Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark, native Android stats

The Samsung Galaxy A56 was my sole mobile device for the three weeks I spent with it, and I frankly wish I didn't have to return it after my testing period. As my regular daily device, I used it to listen to podcasts, check social media, watch YouTube and text, with some light reading thrown in. Oh, and a whole heap of dog photos.

Of course, I also put the Galaxy A56 through its paces with Geekbench 6 and 3DMark benchmark tests to see how the phone would handle activities that I may not use in my regular daily use, but someone else might. I did these tests several times, in different environments and different battery stages to ensure accurate results.

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This leads me to my gaming tests. It's always nice when you can make playing games part of your job, but I'm far from a mobile gamer. I love Marvel Snap, enjoy a few rounds of Clash Royale and dabble in some Wordle and Connections every now and then, but that's it. As part of my testing, I did play – or attempt to play – more serious mobile games like Fortnite on my Galaxy A56 to see how it would handle the life of a mobile gamer.

Given my experience testing other budget phones, including the Samsung Galaxy A55, I was equipped with the knowledge to make good comparisons with the A56.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed April 2025]

After 3 weeks with Samsung’s Galaxy A56, I’m closer than ever to ditching my iPhone for Android
6:55 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Samsung Galaxy Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: Two-minute review

Mid-range and budget smartphones are growing in popularity as flagship devices increasingly come with heftier price tags. That doesn’t mean the best cheap phones are slower, less durable versions of their high-end counterparts – in fact, they offer unique value to budget-conscious buyers. In this category, the Samsung Galaxy A series is perhaps the best example, and the A56 carries on the tradition.

Having launched alongside the A36 and A26, the Galaxy A56 is the most premium of the trio, boasting more RAM and better cameras. That doesn’t mean it’s expensive – far from it as it’s priced at just $499 / £499 / AU$699. The three siblings, however, share key features, like a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery and an IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is the ideal smartphone for the average user, offering seriously fantastic showings across its cameras, display, design and battery.

The Galaxy A56 exudes class with its metal and glass design, feeling just as premium in hand and on the eyes, with a finish reminiscent of high-end devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but at a fraction of the cost.

I received the Awesome Olive model for this review – though I must admit, I had my eyes on the pink variant. Regardless of color choice, the A56’s build quality is undeniable. Improving upon the already impressive Galaxy A55 in every way, Samsung's mid-range marvel is bigger, thinner and lighter.

Featuring a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel, its display delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth visuals thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. As someone who values high-quality screens for watching content, I was genuinely impressed.

Samsung Galaxy A56 side buttons, metal frame, and cameras

Every inch of the Galaxy A56 looks and feels premium (Image credit: Future)

This quality continues in its battery life. It sports the same 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor, but that's still an impressive capacity in a budget phone – and my experience backs up Samsung's claim of up to 29 hours of video playback. The Samsung Galaxy A56 has also seen an upgrade from 25W to 45W charging, making top-ups faster and more convenient for most users, with a charging speed now equal to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Both serious and casual photographers will be happy too, as the Galaxy A56 rivals the Motorola Edge 50 Pro for the title of best budget camera phone, though it's still far away from competing with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The setup includes a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP macro camera and a 12MP front-facing shooter. Whether you're capturing night shots, macro details or everyday moments, the A56 delivers sharp, well-balanced images with a variety of useful features.

Speaking of useful features, Samsung's famous Galaxy AI isn't present in its budget line of phones. However, the sprinkling of AI features Samsung does provide – like AI photo editing, note-taking, Google Gemini functionality and more – add a tasteful amount of flair without overwhelming users who may not want AI integration.

Fortnite on the Galaxy A56

I played Fortnite on the Galaxy A56 and it struggled (Image credit: Future)

Ironically, the one area in which the A56 isn't up to scratch – even compared to similarly priced phones – is its power. Don't get me wrong: it's still perfectly suited to the average user who wants to call, text, video chat, scroll socials, watch the best streaming services and play games like Clash Royale, but I think it could do with a touch more grunt under the hood. It's simply not the phone to buy if you need power from your handset. When playing Fortnite, for example, gameplay was seriously choppy even at low graphics settings and the minimum 20FPS.

That’s not a deal breaker, though. At its price point, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is a fantastic choice for the cost-conscious user who wants a well-balanced phone that looks and feels premium.

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: price and availability

  • Launch price: $499 / £499 / AU$699
  • Released March 19 in the UK and March 27 in Australia
  • Landing in the US later in 2025

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is one of the best budget phones on the market in terms of value, offering a seriously good experience for a truly wallet-friendly $499 /£499 / AU$699 price, with other phones either performing better at higher price points, or offering lesser experiences at a similar price.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy A55, which never made it to the US market, Samsung officially confirmed on March 1 that the A56 would debut in the US "later this year", while the A36 and A26 became available on March 28 and 26 respectively.

Australians enjoy the same price on the Samsung Galaxy A56 as they did with its predecessor. However, potential owners in the UK will have to fork out an extra £60 compared to last year, with the A55 releasing for only £439.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is only available in the 8GB RAM, 256GB storage configuration in the UK, and comes in Awesome Olive, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lightgrey and Awesome Pink.

Importantly, while Australians only get two color options – olive and graphite – they also get two storage options, with a 128GB model priced at AU$699, and the 256GB model costing AU$799. There is also a 12GB RAM model available in select regions.

The only other comparable phone in terms of price versus performance is the near-flagship Google Pixel 9a, releasing soon at $499 / £499 / AU$849. We haven't reviewed the Pixel 9a yet, but if it continues the success of its predecessor, it makes the A56 harder to recommend in the US and UK given they are the same price.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: specs

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: display

  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • 1,900-nit peak outdoors
  • 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display

Watching a nature documentary on the Galaxy A56

Watching a nature documentary on the Galaxy A56 is a lovely experience (Image credit: Future)

I already loved the 6.6-inch display on the A55 – it struck a perfect balance between being comfortable to hold and offering an upgraded viewing experience over my 6.1-inch iPhone 15.

Samsung has taken that a step further with the A56, making it even more comfortable in hand while increasing the screen size to 6.7 inches for an even better entertainment experience. Whether I was watching videos, reading, gaming or video calling, the 1080 x 2340 Super AMOLED display provided one of the best viewing experiences I’ve had on a budget smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A56 home screen outdoors

Peak brightness is fine on the Galaxy A56 home screen, but it could be better (Image credit: Future)

The only noticeable cost-cutting comes in the display’s peak brightness. While I never struggled to see the screen, its 1,200-nit brightness is lower than I’d like to see in 2025 – though it does bump up to 1,900 in direct sunlight. While this improves on the Galaxy A55’s 1,000-nit peak, it falls short of competitors like the Google Pixel 9a (2,700 nits) and the Poco F6 Pro (4,000 nits).

In every other aspect, though, the A56’s display feels truly premium. It’s even protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, adding durability against scratches and drops. While I didn’t test a full 2m drop onto concrete, a few accidental drops left it completely unscathed.

  • Display score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: design

  • Thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A55
  • Gorilla Glass Victus
  • IP67 water and dustproof rating

Samsung Galaxy A56 back design

The Samsung Galaxy A56 in the Olive looks quite good even though it's my least favorite color (Image credit: Future)

I loved the Samsung Galaxy A55, particularly its design – a blend of metal and glass that gave it a supremely premium feel at a truly budget price. The A56 improves on that in every way – refining an already impressive formula. I received the Awesome Olive colorway, which was probably my least favorite of the four options, yet I was still thoroughly impressed by how good it looks.

The A56 features a slightly larger 6.7-inch display (up from 6.6 inches) and is about a millimeter taller and wider to accommodate the bigger screen. Bigger may not always be better, but Samsung has offset the increased size with a 0.8mm reduction in thickness and a significant 15g drop in weight – making an exceptional design near perfect.

Or perhaps just perfect. Not only does the metal frame enhance the phone’s premium feel and sturdy build, but Samsung has also added subtle ridges to the frame – something I don’t recall seeing or feeling on the A55 when I reviewed it. The ridges didn’t necessarily improve the grip for me, but they served as a satisfying fidget point when I ran my fingers across them.

Samsung Galaxy A56 back cover and side design ridges

The slightly ridged chassis edges don't necessarily improve grip, but I don't mind it at all (Image credit: Future)

That’s about all the superlatives I can give the A56’s design. It’s everything you want a phone to look and feel like, regardless of its price. It’s also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, offering excellent resistance against scratches and drops.

As with avoiding the 2m drop test, I didn’t throw the IP67-rated Galaxy A56 in the bath; however, my colleagues and I have spent plenty of time with Gorilla Glass to know how good the durability can be – and I had absolutely no issue the few times I did get the phone wet while doing the dishes and walking in the rain.

Big, beautiful, lightweight, and impressively durable, the A56 is an exceptionally designed piece of technology. The fact that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg makes it all the more impressive.

  • Design score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: software

  • No full Galaxy AI suite, but some “Awesome Intelligence” features are available
  • Six years of software and security support
  • Plenty of UI customizations with new Now Bar feature

Galaxy A56 software

The software package on Samsung's cheaper phones are as good as that on the flagships (Image credit: Future)

From a software perspective, the Samsung Galaxy A56 might be the most impressive budget-focused phone I’ve personally used. And that’s despite my colleagues praising the Google Pixel 8a for bringing Google’s AI tools to a wider audience. That’s not to say the A56 misses out entirely on AI features – it has a smattering of useful ones that won’t overwhelm the average user – but if AI is your top priority, you’ll need to shell out for the Samsung Galaxy S25 or wait for the Pixel 9a.

The AI-powered tools in the A56 aren’t being called Galaxy AI, instead appearing under the branding “Awesome Intelligence”, although similarities abound.

Samsung lays these features out neatly within the Settings menu and includes tools that let you remove objects from photos, capture the perfect group photo and receive AI-powered suggestions for improving images during editing.

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AI image remastering on the Galaxy A56

A screenshot of the Galaxy A56's AI remastering tool (Image credit: Future)
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AI object removal Galaxy A56

Removing objects with the object eraser – see the next image for results (Image credit: Future)
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AI Object removal Galaxy A56

Same image with several objects in the background removed with AI (Image credit: Future)

That's far from it, though. Within the camera app, you can create Custom Filters based on mood and style, quickly edit videos with Auto Trim or even translate real-world text when in foreign lands with Bixby Vision. AI Select provides suggested actions when you highlight something on-screen, Read Aloud will read articles or passages aloud for you, and you even get Google's Circle to Search tool.

That’s about it for AI, but there's plenty more to love about the Galaxy A56's software. For starters, you get an exceptionally clean user experience with minimal pre-installed bloatware.

Customization options are also extensive. On the wallpaper front, there are featured selections, interesting graphic designs and a variety of colors with different personalization options within. You can also set a dynamic lock screen that changes wallpapers every time you unlock the device, with five categories to choose from.

And that’s just the beginning. Once you settle on a wallpaper color, you can customize the system-wide color palette to match – or opt for basic colors instead. If that’s not enough, you can buy a full theme from the Galaxy Themes store to overhaul your device's entire aesthetic.

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Personalisation software within the Galaxy A56

Wallpaper customization options galore! (Image credit: Future)
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Personalisation software within the Galaxy A56

If you don't like the themes on offer, you can spend a little extra cash on purchasing a new one direct from the phone (Image credit: Future)

You can choose between a traditional home screen or one with a separate app drawer, adjust icon sizes, and independently tweak the grid layout for the home screen, app drawer and folders.

One of my favorite additions, though, is the Now Bar. Originally a flagship feature in One UI 7, I was surprised (and delighted) to see it make its way to Samsung’s budget line.

It may seem like a small addition, but it can be an incredibly useful tool. Acting much like Apple’s Dynamic Island, the Now Bar sits at the bottom of the lock screen, working as a media manager that displays your current song or countdown timer, or displaying live notifications for specific apps like Maps, Samsung Health, Clock, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes and Emergency Sharing.

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Samsung Galaxy A56 Now bar

The new Now Bar feature is nice to have on a budget phone (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 Now bar

Just tap it from the lock screen to open further actions (Image credit: Future)

With flagship-level features and a remarkably clean UI, the Samsung Galaxy A56 delivers an outstanding user experience for a budget phone. It also strikes a perfect balance with AI – offering just enough functionality to be useful for those who want it, while remaining unobtrusive for those who don’t.

And, more than just the cherry on top, especially for penny-pinching buyers, is the fact that the Galaxy A56 will see six years of security support and software updates – letting you enjoy its value for years to come.

  • Software score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: cameras

  • Rear camera trio with 50MP main
  • 12MP front camera
  • Helpful AI tools like Best Face

Unless you have a specific need – like top-tier gaming performance or a battery that can handle marathon sessions – a smartphone’s camera is arguably one of its most important features. From a parent wanting to capture family moments, a hobbyist hiker aiming for the perfect summit selfie, to a serious photographer looking for a reliable backup, any phone worth considering needs to nail its camera. And the Samsung Galaxy A56 does just that.

Simply put, the Galaxy A56 takes some seriously good photos – at any distance.

Its rear camera array includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. While a higher megapixel count is great, it’s the phone’s image processing that determines the results.

The Galaxy A55 struggled with this: while it produced crisp, well-defined shots, many mid-range and budget phones tend to over-process images, making colors look too saturated and unnatural. The A56 avoids both extremes. While photos come out slightly cooler than I’d prefer, they’re impressively natural, detailed and well balanced.

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Camera samples

Skyscraper with the 50MP main camera (Image credit: Future)
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Camera samples

Capturing the beautiful blue sky (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

A kookaburra sitting with the 12MP ultra-wide (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

The same kookaburra, captured with 10x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

Sunny mornings with 1x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

Same trees in 2x zoom (Image credit: Future)

The camera app includes several modes: Fun (which applies Snapchat-like filters), Portrait, Photo, and Video. It also allows easy toggling between the 12MP and 50MP lenses, quick filter application, aspect-ratio adjustments, and motion-photo settings.

For video, you can enable Super Steady mode to counteract shaky hands or turn it off to adjust frame rates: Space-saving HD at 30fps, Full HD at up to 60p, and Ultra HD at 30fps. Auto Framing keeps subjects centered automatically.

That’s not all – Samsung delivers a feature-rich camera experience on a budget here. Tapping ‘More’ unlocks additional modes, including Pro, Pro Video, Night, Food, Panorama, Macro, Slow Motion, Hyperlapse, Dual Rec, and Single Take.

When it comes to macro and night photography, the A56 is one of the more impressive budget phones I’ve used. Macro shots are often incredibly difficult to get right, especially if your subject isn't still, but I had no issue with the A56. And while taking photos in the middle of the night might not be common practice, the A56 performed impressively in low-light environments – taking clear snaps even with almost zero light present.

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Photos taken using the Galaxy A56's macro lens

The Galaxy A56's macro lens gets good results even when the subject is swaying in the wind or slowly crawling (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

Bluey and Bingo captured in night mode (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

The same photo with night mode turned off (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

The same photo with the (weak) light turned on (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A56 isn’t the best camera phone I’ve ever used, nor is it necessarily the best camera phone I've used in this price range – that battle is fought between the Pixel 8a and Motorola Edge 50 Pro – but it continues the A56’s overarching theme: consistent, excellent performance across the board.

  • Camera score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: performance

  • Performs well under long periods of stress
  • Not built for gaming

Fortnite home page on the Galaxy A56

While Fortnite looks good on the Galaxy A56, the phone struggles with high-intensity tasks (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A56's weakest feature is without a doubt its performance. That’s not to say it’s bad – as I’ve previously mentioned, it’s more than enough for the average user. But to keep prices down, concessions have to be made. For some cheap phones, it's a lower-quality display or increased fragility. In the case of the Galaxy A56 and its Exynos 1580 chipset, it was how it performed under heavier loads – like mobile gaming.

In our Geekbench benchmark tests – which measure the phone's CPU performance in everyday tasks and GPU performance in real-world applications, the A56 performed well – beating the gaming-powered Poco F6 Pro, and only falling a few hundred points short of the Pixel 9.

However, in our two 3DMark benchmarks – Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme – that test the overall graphics performance and how the phone deals with both high performance in short bursts, it didn't look so good.

Its numbers aren't necessarily bad. In fact, it showed a massive improvement over the A55 in both. However, its single and multi-core scores of 1,330 and 3,759 weren't too far ahead of the Motorola Edge 50 Pro (1,132 / 3,076) – which isn't known for its gaming power. The A56 was also thoroughly beaten by the Poco F6 Pro (1,375 / 4,733), and both phones can easily be found for around the same price or less.

In terms of sustained performance though, the A56 was impressive. In the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test – a 20-minute benchmark that assesses stability under heavy loads – it scored a top loop of 4,907, a low of 4,649, an impressive 94.9% stability and remained cool temperature-wise. For reference, I've seen the S25 Ultra score higher peaks, but also show less stability in this test, dropping to a loop score of less than 3,000.

As good as some of those numbers look on paper, it was a different experience during real-world use, with the A56 struggling when I played games like Fortnite Mobile – it failed to maintain even 20FPS, frequently stuttering on the lowest graphics settings. For comparison, the similarly priced Poco F6 Pro easily sustains 60fps at high settings for hours.

Fortnite frames per second on the Galaxy A56

11FPS while playing Fortnite on the Galaxy A56 was the best I could do (Image credit: Future)

That said, these results still mark a significant improvement over the A55, a phone I loved when I tested it last year. The benchmark numbers may not impress, but they don’t take away from the A56’s status as an excellent budget phone for the average user, and I can attest that it holds up really well for the daily duties you’d want from a smartphone.

  • Performance score: 3.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: battery

  • 5,000 mAh battery that easily sees you through the day
  • 45W wired charging

Samsung Galaxy A56 charging

It's not groundbreaking, but the battery life is quite impressive (Image credit: Future)

Keeping in line with its display, design, performance and cameras, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy A56 is perfectly suited to the average user.

My daily testing routine started at 5:30am, with an hour-long podcast while I walked the dog, followed by a quick music-fueled workout accompanied by music before getting ready for work. Then there was about an hour of scrolling and listening during my commute, before I arrived at the office, where I’d use it for background music via a set of Bluetooth headphones.

Naturally, I needed a phone that could keep up, and the A56’s 5,000mAh battery delivered. Samsung claims the device offers up to 29 hours of video playback, so I put it to the test. Watching a YouTube video at 50% brightness, I picked up the phone 18 hours later to find it still had 39% battery remaining.

As another test, I played The Dark Knight Rises twice back-to-back (totaling 5 hours, 30 minutes) at 50% brightness, and the phone lost just 27% battery. Though these tests were conducted in different environments and with varying starting percentages, the results reinforced one thing: the A56 can go the distance.

For everyday use – texting, calling, video chatting, scrolling social media, checking emails and some light gaming – the A56 is more than up to the task, easily lasting a full day.

As for charging, you won’t get ultra-fast speeds like 120W or even 67W, but the A56 does offer 45W fast charging – an upgrade from the middling 25W speed of the Galaxy A55. That puts the new budget phone on par with its Galaxy S25 Ultra cousin.

Using a 67W wall charger, the A56 gained:

• 8% in 5 minutes
• Just under 30% in 15 minutes
• A little over 55% in 30 minutes
• A full charge in around 85 minutes

A 5,000mAh battery is far from an astounding inclusion in a specs list in 2025, but it’s still a notable positive. Paired with moderately fast charging, the A56’s battery – like the rest of the phone – is great.

And while 120W or even 67W charging is a helpful addition when you have it, it's far from necessary – and 55% battery in a quick 30-minute charge is plenty if you forget to plug it in overnight on the rare occasion.

  • Battery score: 4/5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A56?

Buy it if...

You want a large display without spending top dollar

The Samsung Galaxy A56's 6.7-inch display is an expansive screen that improves upon its predecessor, rivals the S25 series, and produces a vibrant and immersive experience.

You want a jack-of-all-trades handset
The A56 excels as an all-around performer, balancing design, display, camera and battery life in a way that caters to a wide range of needs. It handles daily tasks like texting, social media and video calls seamlessly, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable, versatile phone.

You're shopping for value on a budget
If you’re after a phone that offers impressive features without breaking the bank, the A56 is a standout option. With a solid camera, long-lasting battery and smooth performance, it provides excellent value for those seeking a capable device without spending a fortune.

Don't buy it if...

You're a serious mobile gamer
While the A56 can handle light gaming, it’s not built for heavy gaming sessions or more intense games. If you're looking for a phone that can deliver high frame rates and smooth performance in graphically intense games, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

You want the best AI tools
 The A56 offers basic AI features, but if you’re after the cutting-edge AI tools, you’ll need to shell out more for the likes of the Galaxy S25 or the Pixel 9 flagships.

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: also consider

Google Pixel 9a
We loved the Google Pixel 8a, and we're expecting five big upgrades from the Pixel 9a – namely a wealth of AI features alongside possibly the best camera on the market at its price and a 5,100mAh battery. Easily the biggest competitor to the Galaxy A56, if you want AI and cameras, it might be the better choice.

Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro
If you have more of a mobile gaming focus, but still want a phone that offers solid all-round performance and 120W charging, consider the Poco F6 Pro. Its bloatware will be confronting for first-time users, but once you get past that, it's a very good smartphone at this price range.
Read our full Poco F6 Pro review

Apple iPhone 16e
Android devices offer a greater amount of value compared to iPhones, with even older Apple devices still asking for a considerable price. However, the iPhone 16e offers Apple Intelligence, smooth performance and seamless Apple integration at a much more affordable price than the mainline iPhone 16 family.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy A56

  • Review test period: 3 weeks
  • Testing included: Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark, native Android stats

The Samsung Galaxy A56 was my sole mobile device for the three weeks I spent with it, and I frankly wish I didn't have to return it after my testing period. As my regular daily device, I used it to listen to podcasts, check social media, watch YouTube and text, with some light reading thrown in. Oh, and a whole heap of dog photos.

Of course, I also put the Galaxy A56 through its paces with Geekbench 6 and 3DMark benchmark tests to see how the phone would handle activities that I may not use in my regular daily use, but someone else might. I did these tests several times, in different environments and different battery stages to ensure accurate results.

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
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☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

This leads me to my gaming tests. It's always nice when you can make playing games part of your job, but I'm far from a mobile gamer. I love Marvel Snap, enjoy a few rounds of Clash Royale and dabble in some Wordle and Connections every now and then, but that's it. As part of my testing, I did play – or attempt to play – more serious mobile games like Fortnite on my Galaxy A56 to see how it would handle the life of a mobile gamer.

Given my experience testing other budget phones, including the Samsung Galaxy A55, I was equipped with the knowledge to make good comparisons with the A56.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed April 2025]

The phone-sized Onyx Boox Palma 2 is the compact ereader I can’t put down, even if it’s not the upgrade I was hoping for
1:24 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers eReaders Gadgets Tablets | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Onyx Boox Palma 2: Two-minute review

I might wish for more ereaders like the Onxy Boox Palma 2, but I also recognize that its form factor is exactly what makes it so unique – just like its predecessor. And if it had competition, I suppose I'd be hard pressed to appreciate it as much I do.

The 2:1 aspect ratio on this 6-inch ereader makes it resemble a smartphone, complete with speakers, a mic, side buttons and rear camera, and that's also what makes it so pocket friendly. It replaces the older Boox Palma as my favorite compact ereader as I have a sneaking suspicion the previous model could be discontinued in the near future.

Physically, the two generations are near identical and, while I don’t mind that, I’d have loved to see a slightly more premium-looking chassis to match the price tag.

There’s only one physical difference between the original Boox Palma and the Palma 2 – the power button. It’s oh-so-marginally longer and flatter to accommodate a built-in fingerprint scanner. While I appreciate the addition, I don’t see the need for it on an ereader that can be set up with a passcode if security is top of mind, but it also doesn’t function as expected. It’s more miss than hit as you have to place your finger just so for it to be effective.

I might find the fingerprint scanner superfluous, but learning that the Palma 2 got a new chipset to boost performance had me chomping at the bit to try it out. Strangely, the upgraded processor hasn’t made much of a difference in real-world use. That’s not to say the performance is bad, it's just not any better (or worse) than what I experienced with the previous generation.

The home screen on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 comes with a refreshed user interface, including redesigned app icons (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

What’s really a standout for me with the Palma 2 is its new user interface. Onyx has redesigned the app icons and NeoReader (native library app) settings, giving it a cleaner, more modern appeal. Even the settings list looks fresh thanks to less weight (thickness) to the text and the boxes. The whole setup is still more complicated than it needs to be – which is an issue I have with all Boox tablets – but it looks much nicer which, in turn, makes it easier to find the adjustments you need while reading.

Onyx has also upgraded the OS to Android 13, which is good news for getting security updates for a little while yet.

My biggest disappointment with the Palma 2 is that Onyx has stuck with using the same E Ink Carta 1200 display it did for previous model, and that stings when you consider how expensive the Palma 2 is over other 6-inch ereaders that sport the latest in E Ink screen technology.

I still think there’s a missed opportunity here to add more functionality to the Palma 2 – writing capabilities would have made it a lot more appealing, something I noted about the older Palma too. Being able to slip it into my pocket to jot notes at media events and meetings would have made the Palma 2 an integral part of my daily life, not just being a portable ereader.

Despite my complaints, I still can’t help but like the Palma 2, just for being the most compact and unique ereader I’ve tested.

A hand holding the Onyx Boox Palma 2 with a page of an ebook displayed

A palm-friendly size makes the Boox Palma 2 an enticing ereader option (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: Price & availability

  • Announced Q3 of 2024
  • List price: $299.99 / €299.99 (about £250) / AU$499
  • Available now directly from the Boox Shop and select authorized retailers

The Palma 2 shares the same launch price as its predecessor and will set you back $299.99 / €299.99 (about £250) / AU$499 at full price. It’s possible to see discounts on the US and European Boox Shop online storefronts during major sales, but Australian retailers stocking Boox tablets don’t usually have offers to make these expensive ereaders more accessible.

Given its plastic build and features, it would be difficult for me to recommend the Palma 2 at its full price, but I can also see its form factor alone being a good justification to spend the extra cash. Also the versatility of running Android – getting you access to the Play Store to download third-party apps and games – might just convince some users to make the switch.

That said, the older Palma is now cheaper – listed for as low as $199.99/ €229.99 (around £190) / AU$399 on the Boox Shop and third-party resellers at the time of writing – and might be the better buy as there’s really no difference in performance between the two. The drop in price might also indicate that the original Palma might be discontinued once current stock has gone.

If the choice of ereader isn’t really about the form factor – which is the Palma 2’s biggest selling point – you can save cash by opting for a simpler 6-inch ereader like the 2024 Amazon Kindle or the Kobo Clara BW. The former will cost you $129.99 / £104.99 / AU$199 without ads, while the latter has a list price of $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$239.95 – both considerably cheaper than either of the Palmas.

However, you have very limited storage on the Kindle and Kobo alternatives, while there’s 128GB of internal storage on the Palma 2, which is expandable via microSD.

• Value score: 3 / 5

A refreshed page formatting setup on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

The new page-styling setup in the native library app is cleaner and more modern (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: Specs

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: Design & display

  • Available in black and white colorways
  • Looks like a smartphone, but not designed to be one
  • Rear 16MP camera is fun to have but not great to scan documents

As I’ve already mentioned, the Palma 2 is physically identical to the older model with one very minor difference that’s easy to miss even if you’re familiar with the previous generation. That’s the slightly longer power button to accommodate a fingerprint scanner. And to make sure you can place your finger properly on it, it's also the only flat button on the device.

Strangely, though, Onyx thinks its Palma 2 really is a phone because when you go to Settings to save a fingerprint for the first time, it tells you that the sensor is at the back of the device (go figure!). This might confuse some first-time users, but if you know where the sensor is, you’ll know where to place your finger.

The power and volume buttons on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

The power button on the Boox Palma 2 is the only physical control that's got a flat surface (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Everything else from a design perspective is the same – dimensions, weight, physical buttons, speaker, microphone, microSD card tray and rear camera. I won’t go into too much detail for these – you can take a look at my Onyx Boox Palma review for an in-depth look – but I am disappointed that the Palma 2 still sports the same cheap-looking plastic body, and the device is anything but cheap. At least the white model has silver buttons for a touch of pizzazz, but the black model has no such feature to break the plasticky monotony.

What makes it look cheaper still is the white model – the one reviewed here – can quickly pick up stains and scratches, or get discolored with use. So it’s a good thing that it ships with a case in the box, which I would recommend you use. After being in my work backpack for just one commute to the office, my white Palma 2 ended up with a small pink stain near its USB-C port and a scratch on the rear, neither of which I can clean or fix.

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The custom button and microSD card tray on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

A customizable button and a microSD card tray are extras many other ereaders don't offer (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The USB-C port on the bottom edge of the Onyx Boox Palma 2

The USB-C port has OTG support but hasn't worked for me (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The display, as I’ve previously said, is the E Ink Carta 1200 display, which is now previous-generation technology. While it’s fantastic to read on, with plenty of contrast to render text in sharp relief, the responsiveness of the display isn’t as good as what I’ve experienced with ereaders featuring the Carta 1300 screen.

The 2:1 aspect ratio is still a novelty when it comes to e-paper devices which, when combined with the 6.13-inch display, is such a wonderful size for a compact and portable ereader. If you’re someone who typically reads on your phone when you’re commuting, you might want to consider the Palma 2 just for the reduced eye strain thanks to the e-paper screen.

I would, however, advise against being too close to water with the Palma 2 in hand as the plastic body is only splashproof – there's no waterproofing certification that Onyx has revealed, which was the same with the previous model too.

• Design & display score: 3.5 / 5

The same page of a book displayed on the Onyx Boox Palma 2 and Onyx Boox Palma

The Boox Palma (left) and the Boox Palma 2 (right) offer the same reading experience (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: User experience

  • OS updated to Android 13 from Android 11
  • More modern interface makes for a cleaner user experience
  • Native apps are great, so you don’t necessarily need third-party options

Just because it looks like a phone, doesn’t mean it should work like one – the Palma 2’s functionality is limited by its screen tech and yet it can do a fair few things most other mainstream ereaders can’t.

For example, it can run a plethora of third-party apps thanks to running on a trimmed-down version of Android 13 (an upgrade from the older Palma’s Android 11), including music streaming platforms and mobile games. That said, you will have to contend with a rather slow refresh rate compared to the standard smartphone, but I will admit that even some graphics-heavy mobile games aren’t too bad on the Palma 2.

If you want to stick to reading applications, both the Kindle and Kobo apps work quite well on the Palma 2. That said, the native library application – NeoReader – is very good and the refreshed interface makes it a lot nicer to adjust fonts and page styling now.

Even the little niggle I’ve had with the Fonts folder not set up correctly within Storage in previous Boox devices has been sorted, which makes me happy.

The library app on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

Even the ebook titles have less text weight than before, making the library app look clean and nice (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I'm still disappointed with the inability to plug the Palma 2 (or any other Boox device for that matter) into an iMac or MacBook to transfer ebooks and other files via a wired connection. This method of sideloading files works fine if you have a Windows machine, so I really don’t see why connectivity with an Apple computer should be exempt.

I’m also unable to take advantage of the OTG support on the USB-C port to transfer files directly from an external hard drive. While the Palma 2 can read my 2TB Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD, it refuses to let me move ebooks back and forth. It’s the same with my older 1TB Samsung T5 Portable SSD as well.

Thankfully, BooxDrop is an easy enough tool to use – if you have your files saved on any PC – Windows or Mac – you can use the web platform to transfer files via the cloud.

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The different page styling setups on the Onyx Boox Palma 2 and the Onyx Boox Palma

The older page-styling setup (left) was cluttered, but the Palma 2 (right) is easier to use (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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Onyx Boox Palma 2 beside the Onyx Boox Palma

New icons and less weight to the design gives the user interface of the Palma 2 (right) an airier look compared to the older model (left) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The sleep screens of the Onyx Boox Palma 2 and the Onyx Boox Palma

The default sleep screen is different between the two generations, but these can be changed in Settings (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The identical rear panels and cameras of the Onyx Boox Palma 2 and the Onyx Boox Palma

The rear camera is identical – the Palma 2 is the one on top (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The one other issue I faced with using the Palma 2 is the responsiveness of the screen. While page turns are fine, using the on-screen keyboard isn’t as smooth as I expected it to be. I had to occasionally tap on a letter or number a couple of times before it registered. It wasn’t a consistent issue, and another colleague said he had no such problems when he tried it out for a short period of time, so I’ll put this down to being an isolated problem (or blame it on my sausage fingers).

Using the fingerprint scanner is a lot more frustrating though. While easy to set up, I found you have to place your finger just right for it to work every time, something I don’t think any of us can do unless we’re concentrating. Using the fingerprint scanner to wake the device up or make purchases would have been a lot faster than a passcode, but if it doesn't work each time, what's the point?

The rest of the user experience is quite good, particularly if you're judging it as an ereader. While the built-in speaker is perfectly fine for listening to audiobooks, I’d advise against using it for music – the sound quality isn’t good and you’ll be better served pairing a set of Bluetooth headphones or a speaker with the Palma 2.

• User experience score: 4 / 5

The camera app on the Onyx Boox Palma 2 being used to take a photo

Taking pics with the Boox Palma 2's camera can be fun, but don't expect much (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: Performance

  • Updated processor, but no difference in performance in real-world use
  • Handles graphics quite well for an e-paper device
  • Scanning and OCR performance could be better

The older Palma already had a decent processor in the form of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, but Onyx has stepped it up by using a Snapdragon 690 chip in the Palma 2. On paper, the latter is the more powerful chipset and running Geekbench 6 benchmarking proves it to be so.

In real-world use, though, that doesn't translate as well as I had expected. There's no improvement in page turns, for example, and neither is there any discernible difference in app performance and multitasking, although individual apps open a smidge quicker. As I've already said, that's not a deal breaker as the performance of the older model was just fine and the Palma 2 barely beats it by the skin of its teeth (figuratively speaking).

With integrated graphics and 6GB of RAM, the Palma 2 handles mobile games – albeit in black and white – just as well as its predecessor. Games like Alphabear 2 and Two Dots work smoothly, but more graphics-heavy games like Monument Valley 2 and Sky: Children of the Light aren’t too bad either. I can only imagine how much the experience would improve if the next Palma came with a color screen!

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A benchmarking application running on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

It's an Android device, so running a benchmark app is easy enough (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The Floating Toolbar of the library application on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

Readability is fantastic, but overall performance hasn't seemed to improve much (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

One of the biggest issues I’ve had with other Boox tablets while reading is ghosting, wherein a light overlay of the previous page can be seen. Thankfully this isn’t a problem on the Palma 2, and I didn’t even have to adjust refresh rates.

The performance of the rear camera hasn’t improved at all. It’s the same 16MP lens from the original Palma and it’s not intended for taking photos, although I will admit it was fun doing so for a short while. While you see the frame in grayscale, you can export the images in color, just not in very good quality.

The camera is meant for scanning documents but, again, the quality isn’t great and I think your smartphone will do a better job if it has scan functionality.

If you do use the rear camera to scan a document, the native DocScan app has an OCR (optical character recognition) feature to convert the words on the scan into text. There's a marked difference in performance here with the text converting well, compared to the "gibberish" I experienced with the previous Palma.

Image 1 of 3

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 being used to scan a document

Scan quality is quite dismal with the Boox Palma 2... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Image 2 of 3

The black-and-white photo of a person taken on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

..but the photos aren't half bad – just don't expect phone-quality pics (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Image 3 of 3

A scanned document on the Onyx Boox Palma 2 with OCR text

OCR text conversion on the DocScan app is now much better than before (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I can’t fault its battery life, though. It’s still the same 3,950mAh pack from the previous Palma and, if you read for an hour a day, you’ll easily get around 6-7 weeks out of a single charge. Battery life, however, is dependent on a lot of other factors, including the apps you use, the screen brightness and the refresh rate. Even with more extensive use, you can eke out four weeks before plugging it into the mains.

Charging speed will also depend on whether you use a wall adaptor or your PC/laptop to charge the Palma 2. The former will be the faster top up, and it took about 2.5 hours to go from about 20% to full the two times I had to give it a charge during my testing period using an USB-A to C cable plugged into a port of a 65W adaptor. The only time I had it plugged into a dock for my laptop, it took an hour for the battery level to go from 25% to 38%.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

The power and volume buttons on the side of the Onyx Boox Palma and Palma 2

The only difference between the two Palmas is the power button, which is slightly longer and flat on the new model (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Should I buy the Onyx Boox Palma 2?

Buy it if...

You want a unique device

There’s no other ereader quite like the Palma devices, which makes them quite the novelty. And I can tell you that the novelty doesn’t wear off quickly either. It’s not the 6.13-inch display that makes it so, but the 2:1 aspect ratio that no other ereader brand has on offer at the time of writing.

You want a very compact ereader

Like its predecessor, the Palma 2 is the most compact ereader on the market. It’s phone-like size means it can be carried around in your pocket or slipped into any bag. It’s also very lightweight, making it perfect for travel.

You want to ease eye strain because you mostly read on your phone

The LCD and OLED displays on smartphones emit more blue light than e-paper displays, making the latter easy on the eyes. So if you find yourself tiring after reading a page or two on your phone, consider getting a similarly sized ereader.

Don't buy it if...

You want a cheaper 6-inch ereader

The Palma 2 can be versatile, thanks to access to the Google Play Store. But if you only want to use it for reading, you’ll save a lot of cash by opting for a 6-inch Kindle or Kobo alternative.

You want more bang for buck

A device like the Palma 2 needs to justify its price tag better, and one way to do that is to offer more functionality – aka adding writing capabilities. That would make it really easy to recommend the Palma 2 at its price point.

You need a bigger screen

If you typically use larger font sizes, you might get frustrated by the small screen of the Palma 2. A larger e-paper screen – perhaps 7 or 8 inches – would be ideal in those cases.

Also consider

As with the original Palma, there's not a lot that can be directly compared to the Palma 2 and I'm hesitant to offer up the older model as an alternative in case it gets discontinued.

That said, there are other 6-inch ereaders that are lightweight and portable, but not necessarily pocketable. I've picked three that I think would cover a few bases, including budget and usability. I've also listed some of their basic specs as a comparison with the Palma 2.

Amazon Kindle (2024)

Also using the older E Ink Carta 1200 screen, but getting software upgrades that make it a slightly more responsive/faster ereader than the 2022 edition, the latest Amazon Kindle is also an affordable option. It misses out on any kind of waterproofing, but it's great for a basic ereader.
Find out more in my in-depth Amazon Kindle (2024) review

Kobo Clara BW

It's my pick for the best budget ereader on account of getting a waterproof body, adjustable light temperature and baked-in OverDrive support to borrow library books in select countries. It also features the latest E Ink Carta 1300 screen and is repairable.
Read more in my full Kobo Clara BW review

Onyx Boox Poke 5

If you want an ereader that runs Android, the Boox Poke 5 is the better option than the newer Onyx Boox Go 6 as it's got a few less bugs than the latter. Giving you a similar reading experience to the Palma 2, just in a different form factor, it's also a lot cheaper.
Learn more in my Onyx Boox Poke 5 review

How I tested the Onyx Boox Palma 2

  • Used as daily reading device for nearly 6 weeks
  • Sideloaded all content via BooxDrop, including ebooks and music
  • Downloaded Android apps for benchmarking, reading and streaming music

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 lying on a pile of books

The Boox Palma 2 is a unique device, thanks to its form factor (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

As with every Boox device I test, I began by following the on-screen setup instructions to connect to Wi-Fi, then customized some of the settings for refresh rate, power-saving and system navigation. There's a lot of customization options on a Boox tablet, far more than on a Kindle or Kobo, so it's always best to get familiar with them before you start using a Boox ereader.

Next, I used BooxDrop to access files (ebooks and music) from my Onyx cloud storage account that I've had from previous Boox reviews. I also connected to Google Drive to test other means of cloud transfer.

I downloaded a few apps from the Play Store, including benchmarking, Kindle and Kobo (the last two were deleted after a short testing period of a couple off days).

For the majority of the six-week testing period, I used the Palma 2 mainly as an ereader for an average of three hours a day. I occasionally used the native browser to surf the internet, and even used the native music player to play some sideloaded MP3 files. All other music listening was down via Spotify.

To compare the two generations of Palmas side by side, I scanned a document to test the rear camera, took some sample photos with both models and ran Geekbench 6 on them to determine chipset performance. I also used CPU X, an Android app, to find out what exact chipset is being used as Onxy doesn't reveal this spec.

Having tested nearly 30 ereaders in the past few years, I've got the experience to determine whether a digital reader is a worthwhile investment.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed April 2025]

The phone-sized Onyx Boox Palma 2 is the compact ereader I can’t put down, even if it’s not the upgrade I was hoping for
1:24 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers eReaders Gadgets Tablets | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Onyx Boox Palma 2: Two-minute review

I might wish for more ereaders like the Onxy Boox Palma 2, but I also recognize that its form factor is exactly what makes it so unique – just like its predecessor. And if it had competition, I suppose I'd be hard pressed to appreciate it as much I do.

The 2:1 aspect ratio on this 6-inch ereader makes it resemble a smartphone, complete with speakers, a mic, side buttons and rear camera, and that's also what makes it so pocket friendly. It replaces the older Boox Palma as my favorite compact ereader as I have a sneaking suspicion the previous model could be discontinued in the near future.

Physically, the two generations are near identical and, while I don’t mind that, I’d have loved to see a slightly more premium-looking chassis to match the price tag.

There’s only one physical difference between the original Boox Palma and the Palma 2 – the power button. It’s oh-so-marginally longer and flatter to accommodate a built-in fingerprint scanner. While I appreciate the addition, I don’t see the need for it on an ereader that can be set up with a passcode if security is top of mind, but it also doesn’t function as expected. It’s more miss than hit as you have to place your finger just so for it to be effective.

I might find the fingerprint scanner superfluous, but learning that the Palma 2 got a new chipset to boost performance had me chomping at the bit to try it out. Strangely, the upgraded processor hasn’t made much of a difference in real-world use. That’s not to say the performance is bad, it's just not any better (or worse) than what I experienced with the previous generation.

The home screen on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 comes with a refreshed user interface, including redesigned app icons (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

What’s really a standout for me with the Palma 2 is its new user interface. Onyx has redesigned the app icons and NeoReader (native library app) settings, giving it a cleaner, more modern appeal. Even the settings list looks fresh thanks to less weight (thickness) to the text and the boxes. The whole setup is still more complicated than it needs to be – which is an issue I have with all Boox tablets – but it looks much nicer which, in turn, makes it easier to find the adjustments you need while reading.

Onyx has also upgraded the OS to Android 13, which is good news for getting security updates for a little while yet.

My biggest disappointment with the Palma 2 is that Onyx has stuck with using the same E Ink Carta 1200 display it did for previous model, and that stings when you consider how expensive the Palma 2 is over other 6-inch ereaders that sport the latest in E Ink screen technology.

I still think there’s a missed opportunity here to add more functionality to the Palma 2 – writing capabilities would have made it a lot more appealing, something I noted about the older Palma too. Being able to slip it into my pocket to jot notes at media events and meetings would have made the Palma 2 an integral part of my daily life, not just being a portable ereader.

Despite my complaints, I still can’t help but like the Palma 2, just for being the most compact and unique ereader I’ve tested.

A hand holding the Onyx Boox Palma 2 with a page of an ebook displayed

A palm-friendly size makes the Boox Palma 2 an enticing ereader option (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: Price & availability

  • Announced Q3 of 2024
  • List price: $299.99 / €299.99 (about £250) / AU$499
  • Available now directly from the Boox Shop and select authorized retailers

The Palma 2 shares the same launch price as its predecessor and will set you back $299.99 / €299.99 (about £250) / AU$499 at full price. It’s possible to see discounts on the US and European Boox Shop online storefronts during major sales, but Australian retailers stocking Boox tablets don’t usually have offers to make these expensive ereaders more accessible.

Given its plastic build and features, it would be difficult for me to recommend the Palma 2 at its full price, but I can also see its form factor alone being a good justification to spend the extra cash. Also the versatility of running Android – getting you access to the Play Store to download third-party apps and games – might just convince some users to make the switch.

That said, the older Palma is now cheaper – listed for as low as $199.99/ €229.99 (around £190) / AU$399 on the Boox Shop and third-party resellers at the time of writing – and might be the better buy as there’s really no difference in performance between the two. The drop in price might also indicate that the original Palma might be discontinued once current stock has gone.

If the choice of ereader isn’t really about the form factor – which is the Palma 2’s biggest selling point – you can save cash by opting for a simpler 6-inch ereader like the 2024 Amazon Kindle or the Kobo Clara BW. The former will cost you $129.99 / £104.99 / AU$199 without ads, while the latter has a list price of $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$239.95 – both considerably cheaper than either of the Palmas.

However, you have very limited storage on the Kindle and Kobo alternatives, while there’s 128GB of internal storage on the Palma 2, which is expandable via microSD.

• Value score: 3 / 5

A refreshed page formatting setup on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

The new page-styling setup in the native library app is cleaner and more modern (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: Specs

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: Design & display

  • Available in black and white colorways
  • Looks like a smartphone, but not designed to be one
  • Rear 16MP camera is fun to have but not great to scan documents

As I’ve already mentioned, the Palma 2 is physically identical to the older model with one very minor difference that’s easy to miss even if you’re familiar with the previous generation. That’s the slightly longer power button to accommodate a fingerprint scanner. And to make sure you can place your finger properly on it, it's also the only flat button on the device.

Strangely, though, Onyx thinks its Palma 2 really is a phone because when you go to Settings to save a fingerprint for the first time, it tells you that the sensor is at the back of the device (go figure!). This might confuse some first-time users, but if you know where the sensor is, you’ll know where to place your finger.

The power and volume buttons on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

The power button on the Boox Palma 2 is the only physical control that's got a flat surface (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Everything else from a design perspective is the same – dimensions, weight, physical buttons, speaker, microphone, microSD card tray and rear camera. I won’t go into too much detail for these – you can take a look at my Onyx Boox Palma review for an in-depth look – but I am disappointed that the Palma 2 still sports the same cheap-looking plastic body, and the device is anything but cheap. At least the white model has silver buttons for a touch of pizzazz, but the black model has no such feature to break the plasticky monotony.

What makes it look cheaper still is the white model – the one reviewed here – can quickly pick up stains and scratches, or get discolored with use. So it’s a good thing that it ships with a case in the box, which I would recommend you use. After being in my work backpack for just one commute to the office, my white Palma 2 ended up with a small pink stain near its USB-C port and a scratch on the rear, neither of which I can clean or fix.

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The custom button and microSD card tray on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

A customizable button and a microSD card tray are extras many other ereaders don't offer (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The USB-C port on the bottom edge of the Onyx Boox Palma 2

The USB-C port has OTG support but hasn't worked for me (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The display, as I’ve previously said, is the E Ink Carta 1200 display, which is now previous-generation technology. While it’s fantastic to read on, with plenty of contrast to render text in sharp relief, the responsiveness of the display isn’t as good as what I’ve experienced with ereaders featuring the Carta 1300 screen.

The 2:1 aspect ratio is still a novelty when it comes to e-paper devices which, when combined with the 6.13-inch display, is such a wonderful size for a compact and portable ereader. If you’re someone who typically reads on your phone when you’re commuting, you might want to consider the Palma 2 just for the reduced eye strain thanks to the e-paper screen.

I would, however, advise against being too close to water with the Palma 2 in hand as the plastic body is only splashproof – there's no waterproofing certification that Onyx has revealed, which was the same with the previous model too.

• Design & display score: 3.5 / 5

The same page of a book displayed on the Onyx Boox Palma 2 and Onyx Boox Palma

The Boox Palma (left) and the Boox Palma 2 (right) offer the same reading experience (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: User experience

  • OS updated to Android 13 from Android 11
  • More modern interface makes for a cleaner user experience
  • Native apps are great, so you don’t necessarily need third-party options

Just because it looks like a phone, doesn’t mean it should work like one – the Palma 2’s functionality is limited by its screen tech and yet it can do a fair few things most other mainstream ereaders can’t.

For example, it can run a plethora of third-party apps thanks to running on a trimmed-down version of Android 13 (an upgrade from the older Palma’s Android 11), including music streaming platforms and mobile games. That said, you will have to contend with a rather slow refresh rate compared to the standard smartphone, but I will admit that even some graphics-heavy mobile games aren’t too bad on the Palma 2.

If you want to stick to reading applications, both the Kindle and Kobo apps work quite well on the Palma 2. That said, the native library application – NeoReader – is very good and the refreshed interface makes it a lot nicer to adjust fonts and page styling now.

Even the little niggle I’ve had with the Fonts folder not set up correctly within Storage in previous Boox devices has been sorted, which makes me happy.

The library app on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

Even the ebook titles have less text weight than before, making the library app look clean and nice (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I'm still disappointed with the inability to plug the Palma 2 (or any other Boox device for that matter) into an iMac or MacBook to transfer ebooks and other files via a wired connection. This method of sideloading files works fine if you have a Windows machine, so I really don’t see why connectivity with an Apple computer should be exempt.

I’m also unable to take advantage of the OTG support on the USB-C port to transfer files directly from an external hard drive. While the Palma 2 can read my 2TB Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD, it refuses to let me move ebooks back and forth. It’s the same with my older 1TB Samsung T5 Portable SSD as well.

Thankfully, BooxDrop is an easy enough tool to use – if you have your files saved on any PC – Windows or Mac – you can use the web platform to transfer files via the cloud.

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The different page styling setups on the Onyx Boox Palma 2 and the Onyx Boox Palma

The older page-styling setup (left) was cluttered, but the Palma 2 (right) is easier to use (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Image 2 of 4

Onyx Boox Palma 2 beside the Onyx Boox Palma

New icons and less weight to the design gives the user interface of the Palma 2 (right) an airier look compared to the older model (left) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Image 3 of 4

The sleep screens of the Onyx Boox Palma 2 and the Onyx Boox Palma

The default sleep screen is different between the two generations, but these can be changed in Settings (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Image 4 of 4

The identical rear panels and cameras of the Onyx Boox Palma 2 and the Onyx Boox Palma

The rear camera is identical – the Palma 2 is the one on top (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The one other issue I faced with using the Palma 2 is the responsiveness of the screen. While page turns are fine, using the on-screen keyboard isn’t as smooth as I expected it to be. I had to occasionally tap on a letter or number a couple of times before it registered. It wasn’t a consistent issue, and another colleague said he had no such problems when he tried it out for a short period of time, so I’ll put this down to being an isolated problem (or blame it on my sausage fingers).

Using the fingerprint scanner is a lot more frustrating though. While easy to set up, I found you have to place your finger just right for it to work every time, something I don’t think any of us can do unless we’re concentrating. Using the fingerprint scanner to wake the device up or make purchases would have been a lot faster than a passcode, but if it doesn't work each time, what's the point?

The rest of the user experience is quite good, particularly if you're judging it as an ereader. While the built-in speaker is perfectly fine for listening to audiobooks, I’d advise against using it for music – the sound quality isn’t good and you’ll be better served pairing a set of Bluetooth headphones or a speaker with the Palma 2.

• User experience score: 4 / 5

The camera app on the Onyx Boox Palma 2 being used to take a photo

Taking pics with the Boox Palma 2's camera can be fun, but don't expect much (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Onyx Boox Palma 2 review: Performance

  • Updated processor, but no difference in performance in real-world use
  • Handles graphics quite well for an e-paper device
  • Scanning and OCR performance could be better

The older Palma already had a decent processor in the form of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, but Onyx has stepped it up by using a Snapdragon 690 chip in the Palma 2. On paper, the latter is the more powerful chipset and running Geekbench 6 benchmarking proves it to be so.

In real-world use, though, that doesn't translate as well as I had expected. There's no improvement in page turns, for example, and neither is there any discernible difference in app performance and multitasking, although individual apps open a smidge quicker. As I've already said, that's not a deal breaker as the performance of the older model was just fine and the Palma 2 barely beats it by the skin of its teeth (figuratively speaking).

With integrated graphics and 6GB of RAM, the Palma 2 handles mobile games – albeit in black and white – just as well as its predecessor. Games like Alphabear 2 and Two Dots work smoothly, but more graphics-heavy games like Monument Valley 2 and Sky: Children of the Light aren’t too bad either. I can only imagine how much the experience would improve if the next Palma came with a color screen!

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A benchmarking application running on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

It's an Android device, so running a benchmark app is easy enough (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The Floating Toolbar of the library application on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

Readability is fantastic, but overall performance hasn't seemed to improve much (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

One of the biggest issues I’ve had with other Boox tablets while reading is ghosting, wherein a light overlay of the previous page can be seen. Thankfully this isn’t a problem on the Palma 2, and I didn’t even have to adjust refresh rates.

The performance of the rear camera hasn’t improved at all. It’s the same 16MP lens from the original Palma and it’s not intended for taking photos, although I will admit it was fun doing so for a short while. While you see the frame in grayscale, you can export the images in color, just not in very good quality.

The camera is meant for scanning documents but, again, the quality isn’t great and I think your smartphone will do a better job if it has scan functionality.

If you do use the rear camera to scan a document, the native DocScan app has an OCR (optical character recognition) feature to convert the words on the scan into text. There's a marked difference in performance here with the text converting well, compared to the "gibberish" I experienced with the previous Palma.

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The Onyx Boox Palma 2 being used to scan a document

Scan quality is quite dismal with the Boox Palma 2... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Image 2 of 3

The black-and-white photo of a person taken on the Onyx Boox Palma 2

..but the photos aren't half bad – just don't expect phone-quality pics (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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A scanned document on the Onyx Boox Palma 2 with OCR text

OCR text conversion on the DocScan app is now much better than before (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I can’t fault its battery life, though. It’s still the same 3,950mAh pack from the previous Palma and, if you read for an hour a day, you’ll easily get around 6-7 weeks out of a single charge. Battery life, however, is dependent on a lot of other factors, including the apps you use, the screen brightness and the refresh rate. Even with more extensive use, you can eke out four weeks before plugging it into the mains.

Charging speed will also depend on whether you use a wall adaptor or your PC/laptop to charge the Palma 2. The former will be the faster top up, and it took about 2.5 hours to go from about 20% to full the two times I had to give it a charge during my testing period using an USB-A to C cable plugged into a port of a 65W adaptor. The only time I had it plugged into a dock for my laptop, it took an hour for the battery level to go from 25% to 38%.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

The power and volume buttons on the side of the Onyx Boox Palma and Palma 2

The only difference between the two Palmas is the power button, which is slightly longer and flat on the new model (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Should I buy the Onyx Boox Palma 2?

Buy it if...

You want a unique device

There’s no other ereader quite like the Palma devices, which makes them quite the novelty. And I can tell you that the novelty doesn’t wear off quickly either. It’s not the 6.13-inch display that makes it so, but the 2:1 aspect ratio that no other ereader brand has on offer at the time of writing.

You want a very compact ereader

Like its predecessor, the Palma 2 is the most compact ereader on the market. It’s phone-like size means it can be carried around in your pocket or slipped into any bag. It’s also very lightweight, making it perfect for travel.

You want to ease eye strain because you mostly read on your phone

The LCD and OLED displays on smartphones emit more blue light than e-paper displays, making the latter easy on the eyes. So if you find yourself tiring after reading a page or two on your phone, consider getting a similarly sized ereader.

Don't buy it if...

You want a cheaper 6-inch ereader

The Palma 2 can be versatile, thanks to access to the Google Play Store. But if you only want to use it for reading, you’ll save a lot of cash by opting for a 6-inch Kindle or Kobo alternative.

You want more bang for buck

A device like the Palma 2 needs to justify its price tag better, and one way to do that is to offer more functionality – aka adding writing capabilities. That would make it really easy to recommend the Palma 2 at its price point.

You need a bigger screen

If you typically use larger font sizes, you might get frustrated by the small screen of the Palma 2. A larger e-paper screen – perhaps 7 or 8 inches – would be ideal in those cases.

Also consider

As with the original Palma, there's not a lot that can be directly compared to the Palma 2 and I'm hesitant to offer up the older model as an alternative in case it gets discontinued.

That said, there are other 6-inch ereaders that are lightweight and portable, but not necessarily pocketable. I've picked three that I think would cover a few bases, including budget and usability. I've also listed some of their basic specs as a comparison with the Palma 2.

Amazon Kindle (2024)

Also using the older E Ink Carta 1200 screen, but getting software upgrades that make it a slightly more responsive/faster ereader than the 2022 edition, the latest Amazon Kindle is also an affordable option. It misses out on any kind of waterproofing, but it's great for a basic ereader.
Find out more in my in-depth Amazon Kindle (2024) review

Kobo Clara BW

It's my pick for the best budget ereader on account of getting a waterproof body, adjustable light temperature and baked-in OverDrive support to borrow library books in select countries. It also features the latest E Ink Carta 1300 screen and is repairable.
Read more in my full Kobo Clara BW review

Onyx Boox Poke 5

If you want an ereader that runs Android, the Boox Poke 5 is the better option than the newer Onyx Boox Go 6 as it's got a few less bugs than the latter. Giving you a similar reading experience to the Palma 2, just in a different form factor, it's also a lot cheaper.
Learn more in my Onyx Boox Poke 5 review

How I tested the Onyx Boox Palma 2

  • Used as daily reading device for nearly 6 weeks
  • Sideloaded all content via BooxDrop, including ebooks and music
  • Downloaded Android apps for benchmarking, reading and streaming music

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 lying on a pile of books

The Boox Palma 2 is a unique device, thanks to its form factor (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

As with every Boox device I test, I began by following the on-screen setup instructions to connect to Wi-Fi, then customized some of the settings for refresh rate, power-saving and system navigation. There's a lot of customization options on a Boox tablet, far more than on a Kindle or Kobo, so it's always best to get familiar with them before you start using a Boox ereader.

Next, I used BooxDrop to access files (ebooks and music) from my Onyx cloud storage account that I've had from previous Boox reviews. I also connected to Google Drive to test other means of cloud transfer.

I downloaded a few apps from the Play Store, including benchmarking, Kindle and Kobo (the last two were deleted after a short testing period of a couple off days).

For the majority of the six-week testing period, I used the Palma 2 mainly as an ereader for an average of three hours a day. I occasionally used the native browser to surf the internet, and even used the native music player to play some sideloaded MP3 files. All other music listening was down via Spotify.

To compare the two generations of Palmas side by side, I scanned a document to test the rear camera, took some sample photos with both models and ran Geekbench 6 on them to determine chipset performance. I also used CPU X, an Android app, to find out what exact chipset is being used as Onxy doesn't reveal this spec.

Having tested nearly 30 ereaders in the past few years, I've got the experience to determine whether a digital reader is a worthwhile investment.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed April 2025]

A Minecraft Movie had the building blocks to be an epic video-game film, but it fails to make full use of its creative mode
10:00 pm | April 2, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Entertainment Gadgets Streaming | Comments: Off

It's not hyperbole to say we're in the midst of a golden age of video game adaptations.

From Arcane, Fallout, and The Last of Us TV shows, to the Sonic the Hedgehog films and The Super Mario Bros Movie on the big screen, there have been plenty of fantastic animated, live-action, and hybrid reimaginings to enjoy recently.

That's not to say there hasn't been the occasional dud and, unfortunately, A Minecraft Movie falls squarely into that category. Lacking a clear identity, and at times hideous and garish to look at, Warner Bros' take on the best-selling game of all time isn't the blockbuster video game adaptation I was hoping for.

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Natalie, Dawn, Henry, and Garrett standing in an Overworld village in A Minecraft Movie

Four human outcasts accidentally travel to the Overworld, aka Minecraft's block-based universe (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

A Minecraft Movie tells the story of four human misfits who are inadvertently transported to the Overworld, a surreal, cube-based reality where your imagination is the only limitation to what you can craft.

However, the quartet – washed-up gaming champion Garrett (Jason Momoa), struggling realtor Dawn (Danielle Brooks), and orphaned siblings Henry (Sebastien Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers) – soon realize that this idyllic dimension isn't all it seems.

It's hard not to be impressed by... how incredibly faithful A Minecraft Movie is to Mojang's hugely popular sandbox game

When the malevolent Piglin leader/sorceress Malgosha (voiced by Rachel House) learns that the group possesses the Orb of Dominance, a magical cube that grants its wielder unlimited power, she sends her Nether-based forces after them. Cue Henry and company teaming up with Steve (Jack Black), another human outcast who's made the Overworld his home, to stop the Orb falling into Malgosha's hands – or, rather, hooves.

Right off the bat, it's hard not to be impressed by the scope of this film, nor how incredibly faithful A Minecraft Movie is to Mojang's hugely popular sandbox game.

Indeed, the attention to detail is tremendous. From the gorgeous, block-based backdrops, whose draw distance adds to the movie's scale, to the sheer number of Minecraft references and other gaming secrets dotted throughout its 100-minute runtime, A Minecraft Movie is a near-perfect example (from an Easter egg viewpoint, anyway) of a video game adaptation done right.

A pink sheep bleats in Warner Bros.' A Minecraft Movie

Many Minecraft fans have taken exception to its movie adaptation's art style (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)

Unfortunately, that's where A Minecraft Movie's positives largely begin and end. Awestruck though I was by the background imagery, Warner Bros' live-action-animated hybrid flick isn't pleasant to look at.

That's being polite about its visuals, too. When its first trailer dropped last September, I couldn't decide if A Minecraft Movie looked beautiful or horrifying. Having seen the full film and spoken to its director, Jared Hess, about its incredibly divisive visuals, which he described as being "taken out of context" by audiences, I'm firmly entrenched in the latter camp.

Warner Bros' live-action-animated hybrid flick isn't pleasant to look at

Whether it's the uncanny valley nature of the fauna that inhabits the Overworld or the film's fleshy, nightmare-fuel-inducing take on Minecraft's villager contingent, I just couldn't get on board with its aesthetic.

There's no reason, as some long-time fans like Alumio on YouTube have demonstrated, that A Minecraft Movie couldn't have stuck with the game's block-based, pixel art style. In fact, I'd argue it would have a far better chance of not only succeeding but also getting fans on side if its creative team had retained the video game's 16-bit-esque visual approach.

Player selection issues

Henry holding the Orb of Dominance while standing next to Dawn and Natalie in A Minecraft Movie

A Minecraft Movie doesn't know who it wants its protagonist to be (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

There's little to shout about on the human cast front, too.

For one, A Minecraft Movie doesn't know who it wants its protagonist to be. Yes, there's an argument to be made that Minecraft is more enjoyable as a multiplayer experience than a single-player one. From that perspective, it makes sense to build the movie's plot around an ensemble and ensure each character, who all possess unique personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, has their fair share of screentime.

A Minecraft Movie doesn't know who it wants its protagonist to be

A Minecraft Movie fumbles the bag with this approach. Its prologue, which outstays its welcome by a good 10 minutes, suggests Steve will be its central character. One quick pivot later, though, and Garrett is set up as the movie's primary hero. No sooner has Momoa's character been established as the protagonist than Henry is installed as its champion-in-chief. Simply put, A Minecraft Movie's multifaceted main character energy outweighs the group dynamic nature it desperately wants to emulate.

Jennifer Coolidge's Marlene sitting at a desk in A Minecraft Movie

The subplot involving Jennifer Coolidge's Marlene is the funniest thing that A Minecraft Movie has to offer (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

It doesn't help that it somewhat relegates its female characters to the sidelines.

A Minecraft Movie tries to make Dawn and Natalie feel important to the story, but they're just kind of... there. Character-wise, they're not as fully formed as their male counterparts, which feels like a huge misstep in the current climate. Their burgeoning friendship is only fleetingly explored when the boys are off having much more thrilling adventures, too.

A Minecraft Movie... doesn't devote enough time to establishing bonds between its core cast of characters

But theirs isn't the only dynamic that feels half-baked. A Minecraft Movie spends so much time on slapstick moments and winking to the camera that it doesn't devote enough time to establishing bonds between its core cast of characters.

The exception to that rule is the slightly gratifying expansion of Steve and Garrett's relationship. What starts out as an amusing rivalry, as they attempt to one-up each other, leads to a deep respect for what their former frenemy has to offer. Black and Momoa may be playing archetypal individuals – Black's character, in particular, is just a heightened version of himself – that we've seen them portray many times before, but they play the parts well, so I can excuse their trite character portrayals to some degree.

Refusing to enable creative mode

Natalie holding a diamond sword in A Minecraft Movie

A Minecraft Movie should be more creative than it actually is (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

What's less forgivable is A Minecraft Movie's lack of innovation from narrative and thematic standpoints.

As I said, Hess and company deserve credit for their meticulous approach to Minecraft's in-game lore and other homages to Mojang's hugely popular video game. But, in a virtual world where creativity is king, A Minecraft Movie's inflexible and derivative approach to its story, and lack of action-based invention, leaves a lot to be desired.

A Minecraft Movie would've shone far brighter if it had been braver on the originality front

There are moments when A Minecraft Movie seems like it's ready to break free from its self-imposed shackles.

Henry and Garrett's respective crafting of a Tater Tot Gun and Buck-Chuckets (the latter being two buckets joined by an iron-link chain) are unorthodox, but at least they're wholly original weapons that aren't copy-and-paste jobs from Minecraft's extensive items list. The movie's final battle does something similar with the leader of an Iron Golem army, too – further evidence that A Minecraft Movie would've shone far brighter if it had been braver on the originality front.

A creeper stalking someone at night in a forest in A Minecraft Movie

A Minecraft Movie's plot doesn't creep along like one of the game's iconic Creepers do (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

I'm always hesitant to criticise a movie or TV show for its plot pacing, especially one like A Minecraft Movie that, at its core, is designed for kids.

However, it gets off to a slow start due to the aforementioned sluggish prologue before performing a dizzying U-turn and barreling through its main quest. It's certainly lean in its make-up and, therefore, tailor-made for young minds with shorter attention spans, but I do wish it had been slightly more methodical tempo-wise.

My verdict

Two questions have dominated my thoughts since the press screening of A Minecraft Movie.

The first – 'Will families and/or Minecraft devotees enjoy this?' – can be answered with an emphatic 'yes'. Whichever way you slice it, A Minecraft Movie is a child-friendly film that's also designed to nostalgically appeal to those of us who have spent countless hours exploring procedurally-generated maps that allowed our imaginations to run wild.

As much as I want to recommend A Minecraft Movie, though, the answer to the second question that's been on my mind means I can't. Whenever I leave a film screening, I always ask myself, 'Did I enjoy that?' and, unfortunately for this movie, the answer is a firm 'no'.

A Minecraft Movie had the building blocks to be a great video-game film, but, for me, it's been crafted on shaky ground, rather than a layer of bedrock. My advice? Quit this game while you're ahead and wait for one of 2025's new movies to be available to stream on Max instead.

A Minecraft Movie launches exclusively in theaters worldwide on April 4.

The Logitech G703 Lightspeed is a competent gaming mouse, but I couldn’t get on with its shape
4:03 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Mice Peripherals & Accessories | Comments: Off

Logitech G703 Lightspeed: Two-minute review

The G703 Lightspeed is a wireless gaming mouse with a thick body and an offset sloping design that aims to improve ergonomics.

It looks more understated than your typical gaming peripheral, adopting Logitech’s muted aesthetic, with just enough concessions made to the gaming crowd thanks to its sleek form and RGB lighting (although this is relatively subtle, confined to the small Logitech G logo and a thin bar along the scroll wheel).

The G703 Lightspeed also stays true to the brand’s high build quality standards. The chassis and button materials feel premium to the touch, as do the rubberized side grips, which have a smoother texture than most and mercifully don’t collect as much detritus as others. The overall construction is solid and matches that of the best gaming mouse offerings.

Underneath you’ll find a small compartment with a magnetic lid. Numerous Logitech mice have such a compartment to store USB wireless dongles, but here it’s used to house the optional weight included in the box, which adds 10g to the 95g default. This stock weight is quite heavy compared to its rivals, but the G703 Lightspeed does an admirable job of hiding this heft thanks to the even distribution.

Close-up of mouse buttons on Logitech G703 Lightspeed

(Image credit: Future)

Another nice touch is the USB cable with its trident design, featuring two extra prongs either side of the jack for added security. Indeed, I found this to be the case when using the G703 Lightspeed in wired mode. The cable itself isn’t braided, but it’s still very thin and light, so I didn’t experience any drag.

The G703 Lightspeed can be customized using Logitech’s G HUB software. You’ll find a generous selection of button mapping options here, with plenty of common shortcuts alongside more obscure system functions available for assignment, such cycling audio input and output devices.

G HUB also lets you assign keyboard keys and macros, as well as customize the RGB lighting. However, you won’t find the more advanced tweaks present in pro-level gaming mice software, such as slam click filters or angle snapping. The most you can alter on the performance front are the DPI sensitivities for cycling (from 100 to 25,600) and the polling rate, which has a 1K maximum.

When gaming, the G703 Lightspeed acquits itself reasonably well. The mouse buttons are quite snappy, although they rebound a little slower than I would’ve liked. What’s more, the rightward slope of the body made it harder for me to tap the buttons quickly, as I couldn’t push them downwards as directly as usual.

The bulging front right side also gave me grief, as it resulted in an unnatural middle finger placement that led to discomfort after only a short while. The G703 Lightspeed isn’t a mouse you can hold loosely; it’s at its best when you envelope your entire palm around it and grip tightly on the sides. This makes controlling the G703 Lightspeed much easier, but if you’re not a fan of this grip style, then the G703 Lightspeed might not be for you.

Underneath of Logitech G703 Lightspeed, on table with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

The other buttons perform well enough: I appreciated the large side buttons, which makes them easy to use, and they provide extremely snappy actuation too. However, the scroll wheel is a little too eager, as I occasionally flicked it accidentally when pressing middle click.

I experienced no connectivity issues, with the G703 Lightspeed performing flawlessly via the 2.4GHz Lightspeed dongle. Battery life is fine, although it’s not the best, dropping about 15% after several days of use, which seems roughly in line with the quoted 35-hour lifespan (although Logitech claims it can last up to 60 hours with the RGB turned off).

The G703 Lightspeed costs $99.99 / £94.99 / AU$199.95, although you can usually find it for cheaper than that if you shop around. Still, it’s a fair price for a wireless gaming mouse with a rechargeable battery. However, it’s the same price as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which boasts a much better battery life, as well as a much lighter weight.

There’s also the Cooler Master MM311, which is considerably cheaper and the best budget gaming mouse to our mind, thanks to its smooth and fast performance. With competition like this, the various foibles of the G703 Lightspeed make it harder to recommend over its rivals.

Close-up of Logitech G logo on Logitech G703 Lightspeed

(Image credit: Future)

Logitech G703 Lightspeed: Price & availability

  • $99.99 / £94.99 / AU$199.95
  • Available now in black
  • Middle of the market

The G703 Lightspeed costs $99.99 / £94.99 / AU$199.95 and is available now in one colorway: black. It comes with a USB cable and a wireless Lightspeed USB dongle with an extension adapter. There’s also an optional insertable 10g weight, although this has to be removed if you want compatibility with Logitech’s Powerplay wireless charging mats.

For a wireless gaming mouse, it sits somewhere in the middle of the market – and Logitech’s lineup. It’s the same price as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which lasts much longer than the G703 Lightspeed on a single charge, is much lighter, and can be upgraded to have an 8K polling rate.

There are also some great picks that are even cheaper than the G703 Lightspeed. If you want something seriously light on your wallet, the Cooler Master MM311 is one of the best on this front, offering capable performance for a fraction of the price of many wireless gaming mice. Again, though, It requires an AA battery.

Logitech G703 Lightspeed: Specs

Should I buy the Logitech G703 Lightspeed?

Buy it if...

You want to grip your mouse fully
I found that the G703 Lightspeed performs best when engulfed in your palm, providing a more secure grip, easier swiping, and easier clicking.

You want a well-made gaming mouse
The G703 Lightspeed is up to the usual Logitech standards, which is to say it’s solid and premium feeling all-round.

Don't buy it if...

You want a conventional shape
Logitech has tried to make the G703 Lightspeed more ergonomic with its side slant, but I couldn’t get along with this, nor the bulbous front right side.

You want something lightweight
At 95g, the G703 Lightspeed is far from the lightest gaming mouse around, although some may prefer heavier pointers, as evinced by the included optional 10g weight.

Logitech G703 Lightspeed: Also consider

Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed
For the same list price as the G703 Lightspeed, you could also get the DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed. This mouse is lighter and smaller, so may be a better pick for those with smaller hands. It also has a rechargeable battery like the G703 Lightspeed, but with a much longer battery life at a claimed 100 hours. What's more, its polling rate can be boosted all the way up to 8K, although you need to purchase an optional dongle.

Cooler Master MM311
The MM311 has been the undisputed king of budget wireless gaming mice for a while, thanks to its excellent performance at an ultra-low price. It does require an AA battery as well, but considering just how cheap it is, we’re happy with this sacrifice. Read our Cooler Master MM311 review.

How I tested the Logitech G703 Lightspeed

  • Tested for several days
  • Played various games
  • Plentiful PC gaming experience

I tested the G703 Lightspeed for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, productivity, and general browsing.

I played Counter-Strike 2, a good litmus test for peripherals, as it requires quick and accurate movements and aiming. I also played S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which similarly requires precision.

I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I have experienced a large number of mice, reviewing numerous models in the process, including those made by Logitech.

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