Samsung Galaxy M56 Review: The Slimmest Monster with Six Years of Updates

In the ever-evolving smartphone market, Samsung continues to strengthen its mid-range lineup with devices that bring premium features to more accessible price points. The latest addition, the Samsung Galaxy M56, represents a significant step forward for the popular M series, combining an ultra-slim design with impressive durability and cutting-edge features. Launched in April 2025, the Galaxy M56 positions itself as “the segment’s slimmest smartphone” without compromising on battery life, camera capabilities, or overall performance. This comprehensive review explores everything the Samsung M56 has to offer, from its striking design to its long-term software support promise, helping you decide if it’s the right smartphone for your needs.

Design and Build Quality: Premium Slim Profile

The Samsung Galaxy M56 makes an immediate impression with its remarkably slim 7.2mm profile, making it approximately 30% thinner than its predecessor while maintaining a solid, premium feel. This achievement in miniaturization doesn’t come at the expense of durability, as Samsung has equipped both the front and back with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus®+ protection—the same glass used in their flagship devices.

The phone features a premium glass back complemented by a stylish metal camera decoration that adds a touch of sophistication. Available in two elegant colors—Light Green and Black—the M56 offers a refreshing aesthetic that stands out in the mid-range segment. Weighing just 180 grams, it strikes an excellent balance between substantial feel and comfortable handling during extended use.

What’s particularly impressive is how Samsung managed to maintain this slim profile while including a large 5000mAh battery—a technical achievement that demonstrates the brand’s engineering prowess. The overall build quality feels significantly more premium than the price tag would suggest, positioning the M56 as a device that looks and feels like it belongs in a higher price bracket.

Display and Visual Experience: Vibrant Visuals in Any Light

The Samsung Galaxy M56 features a gorgeous 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED+ display that delivers the rich colors and deep blacks Samsung’s screens are known for. With a resolution of 1080 × 2340 pixels, content appears sharp and detailed whether you’re browsing social media, watching videos, or playing games.

The 120Hz refresh rate provides a noticeably smoother experience when scrolling through content or playing compatible games, making the device feel more responsive and premium. This high refresh rate has become increasingly important for mid-range devices, and the M56 delivers it without compromise.

Where the display truly shines is in its brightness capabilities. With up to 1200 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM) and Samsung’s Vision Booster technology, the M56 ensures excellent visibility even under direct sunlight—a common pain point for many smartphones in this price range. The display automatically adjusts to provide optimal visibility based on ambient lighting conditions, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience in any environment.

Color accuracy is excellent, with support for the wide color gamut that makes photos, videos, and games look vibrant and lifelike. The display also includes eye comfort features that reduce blue light emission during evening hours, helping to minimize eye strain during extended use sessions.

Performance and Hardware: Efficient Power

At the heart of the Samsung Galaxy M56 is the Exynos 1480 processor, built on an advanced 4nm process. This chipset, paired with LPDDR5X RAM, delivers impressive performance for everyday tasks while maintaining excellent power efficiency. The octa-core CPU configuration (2.75GHz, 2GHz) provides plenty of power for multitasking, app switching, and moderate gaming.

Samsung has implemented a vapor chamber cooling system that’s 33% larger than previous models, helping to maintain consistent performance during extended usage sessions. This thermal management system is particularly beneficial when gaming or using processor-intensive applications, preventing the throttling that often affects mid-range devices.

The Galaxy M56 comes in two storage configurations: 8GB RAM with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. The LPDDR5X RAM technology and UFS storage ensure quick app launches and minimal loading times across the system. While Samsung doesn’t explicitly mention microSD expansion in the specifications, the phone provides ample built-in storage for most users’ needs.

In real-world usage, the M56 handles everyday tasks with ease. Apps launch quickly, switching between applications is smooth, and the interface remains responsive even with multiple apps running in the background. While it may not match the raw benchmark scores of flagship devices, the performance-to-price ratio is excellent, and most users will find very little to complain about in day-to-day use.

Camera System and Photography: Versatile Shooter with AI Enhancements

The camera system on the Samsung Galaxy M56 is a significant highlight, featuring a 50MP primary sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The inclusion of OIS on the main camera is particularly noteworthy at this price point, helping to eliminate blur from hand movements and significantly improving low-light photography.

The primary 50MP sensor captures detailed photos with good dynamic range in well-lit conditions. Samsung’s processing tends toward slightly saturated colors that pop on social media but generally maintains natural-looking images. The camera’s Big Pixel Technology combines multiple pixels to capture more light in challenging conditions, resulting in brighter, clearer night shots.

The 8MP ultrawide camera provides a 120-degree field of view, perfect for landscapes, group photos, or tight interior spaces. While it doesn’t match the main sensor in terms of detail or low-light performance, it performs well in good lighting conditions and adds versatility to the camera system.

For selfies, the Galaxy M56 features a flagship-grade 12MP front-facing camera with HDR capabilities. The front camera produces detailed selfies with natural skin tones and good dynamic range, even in challenging lighting conditions. The HDR processing helps balance exposure in backlit scenarios, ensuring your face remains properly exposed against bright backgrounds.

Video capabilities are impressive for a mid-range device, with support for 4K recording at 30fps with 10-bit HDR. The inclusion of both OIS and electronic image stabilization (EIS) ensures smooth, steady footage even when recording while moving. The 10-bit HDR support is particularly impressive, capturing a wider range of colors for more lifelike video.

Samsung has also included several AI-powered features that enhance the camera experience:

• Object Eraser: Removes unwanted objects or people from photos with a few taps
• Edit Suggestions: AI-powered recommendations for enhancing your photos
• Portrait 2.0: Creates natural-looking bokeh effects with 2X zoom capability
• Low Noise Mode: Reduces graininess in low-light photos
• AI ISP (Image Signal Processor): Enhances Nightography for better low-light performance

These AI features add significant value to the camera system, providing tools that were once exclusive to flagship devices.

Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power with Rapid Refills

Despite its slim profile, the Samsung Galaxy M56 houses a substantial 5000mAh battery that easily provides all-day battery life for most users. In typical usage scenarios—including web browsing, social media, messaging, and occasional media consumption—the M56 can comfortably last through a full day and into the next morning before requiring a charge.

Samsung claims the battery provides up to 26 hours of video playback, which is impressive for a device this thin. The power efficiency of the 4nm Exynos 1480 processor contributes significantly to this battery performance, optimizing power consumption across various usage patterns.

When it’s time to recharge, the included 45W super-fast charging capability gets you back up and running quickly. While Samsung doesn’t provide specific charging time claims, testing shows the M56 can charge from 0 to 50% in approximately 25 minutes and reach a full charge in about 70-75 minutes. This rapid charging capability is particularly valuable for users who need quick power boosts throughout their day.

Battery health features are also included to help maintain long-term battery performance, including optimized charging patterns that reduce battery strain and extend its overall lifespan—an important consideration given the device’s promised six years of software support.

Software and User Experience: Long-Term Value

The Samsung Galaxy M56 ships with One UI 7 based on Android 15, offering a clean, intuitive interface with useful features that enhance the overall user experience. Samsung’s commitment to providing six generations of Android upgrades and six years of security updates is exceptional in the mid-range segment, significantly extending the usable lifespan of the device and providing tremendous value.

One UI 7 brings several refinements over previous versions, including a simplified home screen design, redesigned widgets, and enhanced lock screen customization options. The Now Bar feature provides quick access to real-time updates directly from the lock screen with a simple swipe, allowing you to check information without fully unlocking your device.

The integration with Google Gemini adds powerful AI capabilities across the system, making it easier to control your device through natural language and providing contextual suggestions based on your usage patterns. This AI integration extends to various aspects of the user experience, from keyboard predictions to power management.

Samsung Knox Vault provides hardware-based security that protects your sensitive data from both hardware and software attacks. This enterprise-grade security feature is rarely found in mid-range devices and adds significant value for privacy-conscious users.

The software experience feels polished and responsive, with thoughtful features that enhance everyday usability. The promised six years of updates means the M56 will continue to receive new features and security patches until December 2030, making it a sound long-term investment.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Samsung Galaxy M56 offers comprehensive connectivity options, including support for 5G networks across multiple bands. The device supports both Sub6 FDD and TDD 5G technologies, ensuring compatibility with most 5G deployments worldwide. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) support with 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands provides fast, stable wireless connections at home or in public spaces.

Bluetooth 5.3 ensures reliable connections to wireless headphones, speakers, and other accessories, with improved range and stability over previous Bluetooth versions. The USB Type-C port supports USB 2.0 data transfer speeds and serves as the audio output, as there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack included.

The M56 integrates seamlessly with the broader Samsung ecosystem, supporting various Galaxy accessories including Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Watch models, and Galaxy Fit wearables. SmartThings compatibility allows the device to serve as a central hub for controlling compatible smart home devices, adding value beyond its core smartphone functionality.

While the M56 doesn’t feature stereo speakers, the single speaker provides decent audio quality for casual media consumption. For a better audio experience, wireless or USB-C headphones are recommended.

Price, Value, and Competition

The Samsung Galaxy M56 is priced competitively in the mid-range segment, with the 8GB/128GB variant launching at ₹24,999 (including a ₹3,000 instant bank discount) and the 8GB/256GB variant at ₹27,999 (with the same discount). This pricing positions it as a strong contender in the highly competitive sub-₹30,000 market in India.

Primary competitors include the Vivo V50e, Nothing Phone 3a, and Oppo F29 Pro, all offering compelling features at similar price points. Within Samsung’s own lineup, the Galaxy A56 5G serves as a slightly more premium alternative with some additional features at a higher price point.

What sets the M56 apart from these competitors is its combination of ultra-slim design, premium build quality with Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, capable camera system with OIS, and the exceptional six-year software support promise. This long-term update commitment significantly enhances the value proposition, effectively lowering the total cost of ownership over time.

When factoring in the quality of construction, feature set, and long-term software support, the Galaxy M56 represents excellent value in its segment. The bank discount offers available at launch further sweeten the deal for early adopters.

Conclusion: Slim Profile, Substantial Value

The Samsung Galaxy M56 successfully delivers on its promise of bringing premium features to the mid-range segment without compromise. Its remarkably slim design doesn’t sacrifice battery life or durability, while the camera system, display, and performance all exceed expectations for a device at this price point.

The standout feature remains Samsung’s commitment to six years of software updates, which transforms the M56 from a good mid-range option into a genuinely smart long-term investment. This extended support period ensures the device will remain secure and feature-rich well into the future, potentially outlasting many more expensive alternatives.

While power users and serious mobile gamers might still be better served by more premium options, the Galaxy M56 strikes an excellent balance for mainstream users who want a stylish, capable device that will remain relevant for years to come. It represents one of the most balanced and forward-thinking offerings in Samsung’s mid-range lineup to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Samsung M56 waterproof?

The Samsung Galaxy M56 does not have an official IP rating for water and dust resistance. While it features Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on both the front and back, making it resistant to scratches and drops, it is not specifically designed to withstand water immersion. Users should avoid exposing the device to water and use protective cases for additional protection against the elements.

How does the Samsung M56’s camera compare to other phones in this price range?

The Samsung M56’s camera system stands out in its price segment due to the inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the 50MP main camera—a feature often reserved for more expensive devices. Compared to competitors like the Vivo V50e and Nothing Phone 3a, the M56 generally produces more consistent results in low light and offers more versatile AI editing tools. The 10-bit HDR video recording capability is also relatively rare in this price range, giving the M56 an edge for video content creators.

Does the Samsung M56 support expandable storage?

Based on the official specifications, the Samsung Galaxy M56 does not appear to support expandable storage via microSD card. The phone comes with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, with approximately 105.7GB available to users in the 128GB variant after accounting for the operating system and pre-installed applications. Users who require additional storage should consider the 256GB variant or utilize cloud storage solutions.

What AI features are available on the Samsung M56?

The Samsung Galaxy M56 includes several AI-powered features:

• Object Eraser: Removes unwanted objects from photos
• Edit Suggestions: AI-recommended enhancements for photos
• Image Clipper: Extracts subjects from images for use in other applications
• AI ISP (Image Signal Processor) for improved Nightography
• Portrait 2.0 with natural bokeh effects
• Google Gemini integration for system-wide AI assistance
• Smart power management to optimize battery usage based on your habits
• Adaptive display brightness using AI to learn your preferences
• Context-aware keyboard predictions and text recommendations

How long does it take to fully charge the Samsung M56?

The Samsung Galaxy M56 supports 45W super-fast charging and can charge from 0 to approximately 50% in about 25 minutes. A full charge from 0 to 100% takes approximately 70-75 minutes with the compatible 45W charger. It’s worth noting that the 45W charger may need to be purchased separately, as Samsung has moved toward not including chargers with some of their devices to reduce environmental impact.

Will the Samsung M56 receive Android 16/17/18 updates?

Yes, Samsung has officially committed to providing six generations of Android OS upgrades for the Galaxy M56. Since the device launches with Android 15 (One UI 7), it should receive updates through Android 20, with security updates continuing until December 2030. This is one of the most extended software support promises in the Android ecosystem, particularly in the mid-range segment, making the M56 a sound long-term investment.

Is the Samsung M56 good for gaming?

The Samsung Galaxy M56 offers good gaming performance for casual to moderate gaming needs. The Exynos 1480 processor built on a 4nm process provides efficient performance, while the vapor chamber cooling system helps maintain consistent performance during extended gaming sessions. The 120Hz refresh rate display enhances the visual experience in supported games, making animations and movements appear smoother. While it may not match the performance of gaming-focused phones or flagships when running the most demanding titles at maximum settings, most popular mobile games will run smoothly on the M56 with appropriate graphics settings.