Tech Commerce Editor Harriet says the budget Samsung mobile is underrated for its affordable features – and it now comes with a free Galaxy fitness watch when shoppers add it to their online basket
It’s no secret that upgrading your mobile costs an arm and a leg, with the average price of a new Google, Samsung, or Apple phone costing upwards of £800. This is where budget ranges come in. Our Tech Commerce Editor has picked out Samsung’s new A56 5G smartphone for its decent specs but lower price, and it now comes with a free fitness watch.
The Samsung A56 5G model is the Galaxy brand’s newest mid-range device, a lower-cost smartphone that has deliberately been stripped back to offer shoppers a cheaper price, while still hosting AI features, a decent camera, and performance. It gives shoppers a cheaper choice against the more expensive S25 range – as it’s £300 cheaper than its bigger predecessor.
Now £499 upfront the A56 5G is available to buy at Samsung, which is where first spotted this flagship alternative has been added to a host of retailer deals – as Samsung, Sky, and Carphone Warehouse launch freebie deals. But which is best? Well, we’re here to explain.
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Over at the Samsung store the device is selling for the usual £499 price, and anyone who buys it will get a free bundle of gifts worth £138 – a Galaxy Fit 3 smartwatch, fast charger, and a case. Plus, unlike any other retailer it’s offering an extra £100 off the price for shoppers who trade in.
Budget smartphones we recommend:
Those who have an older handset lying around at home can get a ‘guaranteed £100 off the price’ when they hand over an old phone, and Samsung says it can ‘be in any condition’. A sellout deal which isn’t offered by our next spotted retailer, Sky Mobile – but that doesn’t mean it’s best.
That’s because Sky allows shoppers to split the cost of the budget smartphone into smaller pay-as-you-go payments, which is ideal for anyone who can’t fork out the £499 upfront price, no matter how much cheaper it is than the bigger £799 Galaxy S25. Sky shoppers can get the device for £18 per month (data added on top) on a 36-month contract. Plus, it still offers the free £139 accessory bundle, which includes the Galaxy Fit 3 smartwatch.
However, it’s worth noting that Sky shoppers will lock into the longest contract out of all three of our picked retailers – customers have to commit to a 36-month contract. Despite the retailer showing 12 or 24-month options online, the smaller T&C’s highlights the full contract commitment – something we feel is a downside to the deal.
Carphone Warehouse is another retailer offering the same free Galaxy Fit3 fitness watch with the A56 5G smartphone, but it goes a step further with some plans. Anyone who picks its new iD Mobile plan with the smartphone will get an extra £50 Currys gift card to spend as they like – something both Sky or Samsung aren’t offering.