Both launched in early 2025, the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G are aiming to dominate the mid-range segment with devices priced under €500. To separate them, you'll need to look closely, as the two smartphones have many similarities. Their differences will help you decide which model to choose. Depending on your preferred criteria and needs, we will recommend the Samsung Galaxy A56 or the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G.
Obviously, Samsung's range is easier to understand than Redmi's, which offers no fewer than 5 versions of its new Note 14. To best compare it to the new Galaxy A56, we opted for its most premium version, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G. This is the one that comes closest to its South Korean competitor, especially since at their launch the two models only differed by one euro in their price range. Now, instead of the 502 or 503 euros requested, they are displayed at less than 350 euros.
Summary
Design
Let's start this comparison between the Samsung Galaxy A56 and the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G without further ado with a look at their design. Redmi is looking to offer something of quality, with good finishes, a matte black, purple or blue back, and a central photo module in the form of a square with rounded corners, and a textured base. Everything is classic, but neat. It should be noted, however, that the smartphone is thicker than Samsung's (8.75 mm against 7.4 mm) and heavier (210 grams against 198 grams).
Samsung has put its new generation of Galaxy A smartphones on a diet since the new A56 weighs almost 15 grams more than the previous A55 from 2014. The dimensions of the smartphone are contained, 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm, and it is therefore more pleasant to hold than the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G. No more individual photo sensors, on the new A56 we find a brushed metal photo block, a treatment that is also found on the edges of the smartphone, with edges that are not directly formed by edges, but which are slightly rounded.
On the screen part, Samsung and Redmi integrate the front camera with a simple punch-hole, which is not the most aesthetic. This still has the advantage of giving pride of place to the screen. To differentiate the Galaxy A56 and Note 14 Pro Plus 5G, you will have to look more at the edges, while Redmi opts for a curved screen, which is not the case with Samsung. Finally, both smartphone screens hide a fingerprint reader, which is located, on both sides, quite low, perhaps a little too low.
Beyond their design, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A56 stand out in one final respect: their water resistance. Redmi takes the lead with an IP68 certification, compared to Samsung's IP67 certification: in other words, the former can withstand immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters, compared to 1 meter for the latter. It's a small difference that shouldn't be overlooked. Especially since Redmi is adopting a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen against a Gorilla Glass Victus+ (in other words, a classic Victus with Samsung treatment).
Finally, in terms of colors, Samsung is offering its Galaxy A56 in pink, olive green, graphite gray and light gray. At Redmi, the Note 14 Pro Plus 5G is in lavender purple, blue or black.
Screen
Let's now compare the screens and the display of Samsung Galaxy A56 and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G. We've already mentioned that Redmi stands out with its curved display, something Samsung doesn't offer. But Redmi's attention to detail doesn't stop there. Samsung is ahead, as the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G offers a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels, or a pixel density of 446 ppi on its 6.67-inch display. The Samsung Galaxy A56's screen measures 6.7 inches diagonally with a lower resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels or 385 ppi.
According to 01lab measurements taken during our tests of the two smartphones, The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G's display is better from a colorimetric point of view, with an average delta E 2000 of 4.28 in DCI-P3 – a wide and demanding spectrum – compared to 4.41 for the Samsung Galaxy A56. This means that the colors displayed on the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G's screen are more faithful to reality. The difference is not very big, but coupled with a better resolution, the point is worth highlighting. Because otherwise, the two smartphones offer the same capabilities (brightness at 1200 nits, refresh rate at 120 Hz).
Battery and charging
To power Samsung screens Galaxy A56 and Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G, do you still need a good battery? Before we dive into the technical details of the smartphone processor, let's talk about battery life, as Samsung is catching up with the display. The smartphone opts for a 5000 mAh battery, smaller than that of the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G (5110 mAh), but with a battery life of 16 hours and 46 minutes according to our 01Lab measurements. The Redmi displays 13 hours and 25 minutes of battery life.
To avoid being overwhelmed, Redmi offers 120W fast charging, compared to only 45W for Samsung. The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G therefore charges much faster, at just 32 minutes compared to 1 hour and 18 minutes for the Galaxy A56. In ten minutes, the Xiaomi takes 43% while the Samsung takes 24%. Obviously, it is possible to go much higher in terms of battery life on the smartphone market, with some devices reaching 20 hours. But it is clear that Samsung dominates this comparison from a battery life point of view and Redmi from a charging point of view. Both smartphones do not benefit from wireless charging.
Processor and software
If the Samsung A56 and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G belong to the mid-range segment, it's because they benefit from decent processors. At least on paper. What about in reality? The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC in the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G comes with 12GB of RAM and 256 or 512GB of storage, as well as an Adreno 710 GPU. Its performance will be adequate for most uses, but it should be noted that it won't be a lightning bolt for video games. The 4nm chip is surpassed by the Samsung Galaxy A56's 4nm chip, the Exynos 1580.
Surprisingly, Samsung takes the lead in performance, and we see this in our 01Lab measurements. We have 1356 points on Geekbench 6 Single Core and 3894 points on Multi-Core with the Samsung Galaxy A56, against 1161 points and 3189 points for the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G. Samsung's lead is maintained on AnTuTu tests. The same goes for 3DMark, which judges the graphics capabilities of smartphones. In terms of memory, Samsung equips its smartphone with a UFS 3.1, compared to 2.2 for Redmi. The advantage of directly managing the production of such a component...
Samsung's lead is widening as its A56 offers 6 years of major Android updates, starting with One UI 7 (Android 15). Redmi only offers 3 major updates on its Note 14 Pro Plus 5G, starting with the Android 14 version of its HyperOS overlay. The Samsung Galaxy A56 will therefore remain up to date for six years. To counterattack, Redmi offers Wi-Fi 6E (vs. Wi-Fi 6 for the Samsung Galaxy A56) and Bluetooth 5.4 vs. 5.3.
Camera
The final chapter of our comparison of the differences between the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A56 is no small feat, as it concerns the camera match. Thanks to our 01Lab measurements and in-depth smartphone tests, we can go further than a simple comparison of their technical specifications. And on the subject of the cameras of both smartphones, it is important to be wary of appearances.
So, on one side, we have Redmi, which offers a 200 Mpx sensor on the main lens of its Note 14 Pro Plus 5G. As an ultra-wide-angle sensor, there is an 8 MP module. Samsung plays a different game – more classic – with a 50 Mpx main sensor. However, its ultra-wide-angle sensor is larger than that of the Redmi, at 12 Mpx. In reality, Samsung manages to achieve a more natural result with the photos from its main sensor, but the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G's sensor offers more details. On the ultra-wide angle, Redmi manages to beat Samsung with more detailed photos, despite the sensor being only 8 MP.
Otherwise, on the front, Samsung offers a 12 MP front camera compared to 20 MP for the Redmi. That said, it is possible to film in 4K with the Galaxy A56's camera compared to 1080p on the Note 14 Pro Plus 5G's. Samsung is improving the front camera of its A56 compared to its old A55 with the arrival of HDR.
Comparison report: Redmi for screen, Samsung for battery life
As we can see, it's difficult to separate the Samsung Galaxy A56 from the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G, as both smartphones have a fairly balanced number of advantages. That said, if you're looking for a mid-range smartphone based on specific criteria, it will be easy for you to know which one to choose. To summarize, here are the respective strengths of the two devices.
The Galaxy A56 is better in terms of handling (lighter and thinner), has better battery life, better performance, and more software updates. For its part, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G stands out for its screen definition, fast charging, water resistance, modern connectivity, and better quality photos.
Let's remember their prices: very similar, since Samsung and Redmi placed their smartphones at 500 euros when they were launched. Now, it is possible to find them at a discount, for less than 370 euros. Thanks to our price comparison tool, find out where to buy a Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G or a Galaxy A56 at the best price.
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