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Samsung Galaxy A56 5g

Samsung Galaxy A56 5G : The smartphone landscape has witnessed a significant shift in 2025, with Samsung’s Galaxy A56 5G emerging as a compelling mid-range option that challenges traditional boundaries between premium and affordable devices. After months of anticipation and a notably delayed US launch, this device has finally arrived to demonstrate how advanced technology can be democratized without compromising on essential features.

Strategic Positioning Against Premium Competition

The Galaxy A56 5G represents Samsung’s answer to increasingly sophisticated consumer demands within the mid-range segment. Priced at $499 in the US market and £499 in the UK, the device targets users seeking flagship experiences without premium price tags. This strategic pricing positions the A56 5G directly against Google’s Pixel 9a and other competitive mid-range offerings, creating an interesting battleground for value-conscious consumers.

Samsung’s decision to skip the A55 model in certain regions, particularly to avoid pricing overlap with the Galaxy S24 FE, demonstrates careful market segmentation strategy. The A56 5G’s arrival fills this gap while offering meaningful improvements over its predecessor, establishing a clear value proposition that extends beyond simple specifications.

Display Technology Bridges Premium Gap

The centerpiece of the Galaxy A56 5G experience lies in its impressive display technology. The device features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution (1080×2340) and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, complemented by HDR10+ support. This combination delivers visual experiences previously reserved for much more expensive devices.

 

MTN mobile

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MTN’s mobile money business in South Africa, known as MoMo, said on Thursday that it will make 4G and 5G smartphones available on credit to prepaid customers – without the need for background credit checks.

The “Handset Rent-to-Own” solution is aimed at getting millions of South Africans, many of whom still rely on outdated feature phones, to get connected with modern technology.

The phones will be made available for “as little as R10/day” through the MoMo app, with no credit checks or paperwork required, MTN said in a statement.

The service uses advanced AI-driven affordability assessments – with no payslip and no credit check history required

The move comes just two months after MTN South Africa announced plans to sell subsidised 4G smartphones costing as little R99 each.

“Powered by MTN’s trusted fintech platform in partnership with Airvantage, the service uses advanced AI-driven affordability assessments – with no payslip and no credit check history required. The process is smart, secure and tailored to the realities of South Africa’s informal and underbanked economy,” MTN said in Thursday’s statement.

“Once approved, customers choose a flexible payment plan – either three, six, nine or 12 months – and once payments are complete, the device is theirs to own, forever.”

The launch phase features 4G-enabled Samsung smartphones, with other brands to follow. Users must place their order in the MTN MoMo app, where they will pay a “small deposit”.

Under pressure

When MTN South Africa launched its R99 smartphone deal in May, CEO Charles Molapisi told TechCentral that the aim was to migrate millions of people still using 2G devices to more modern devices. South Africa’s operators are under pressure to reduce their reliance on legacy carrier technologies so that radio frequency spectrum can be freed up to deliver modern carrier technologies such as 4G and 5G.

MTN said it planned to roll out the subsidised phones to as many as 1.2 million of its prepaid customers.

“On the MTN network today, we have about 85% smartphone penetration, meaning there are some five or six million customers on the network who do not have smartphones,” said Molapisi. “When you zoom in on those customers, 60-70% of them are in our constant customer base, meaning they have been with us for 10-15 years – they are very loyal, but they cannot afford a smartphone. Those are the customers we are targeting.

Read: MTN to sell 4G smartphones for as little as R99

“There are four generations of technology (2G, 3G, 4G and 5G) in South African networks and that’s too many layers of technology to manage. You cannot migrate if you still have customers sitting on old technologies like 2G and 3G – and you can’t leave them behind either. So, what do you do? You have to find different funding models to promote financial inclusion and bring them along,” he said.  – © 2025 NewsCentral Media

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