Galaxy M56 5G First Look: Flagship Features Without the Flagship Price Tag

Published On: April 24, 2025

Samsung has been gradually upping the ante in the mid-range smartphone game, and the new Galaxy M56 5G could very well be its strongest yet. Packed with premium performance and features plucked straight from flagship phones, the Galaxy M56 5G is looking to shake up the scene. Let’s take a look at our impressions covering battery, display, and performance to find out if the hype is real.

An Inexpensive Design That Doesn’t Look Cheap

The Galaxy M56 5G may be an upper-mid-ranger but it definitely has a more premium feel when looked at at a glance compared with even pricier phones. It features a matte finish, rounded edges, and a slim, comfortable shape. With this design, the M56 5G draws a lot of inspiration from Samsung’s higher-priced Galaxy S-series, resulting in a modern, refined aesthetic. The rear camera module with its glass plate is cleanly integrated, and overall build quality feels solid, which suggests decent durability for a mid-range device.

Display: Vibrant and Vivid

Samsung has never disappointed in terms of displays, and it continues to do so in the Galaxy M56 5G as well. It sports a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display with Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels). The picture features vibrant colors, deep blacks and excellent contrast — ideal for binge-watching, gaming and mindlessly scrolling through social media.

The most notable feature is its 120Hz refresh rate for silky smooth scrolling and transitions. It’s a feature that was nearly exclusive to flagship models, but has thankfully made its way to this segment. Whether you’re browsing the web or watching video, the viewing experience is second to none for this class.

Performance: Fast, Smooth and Snappy

Rising up in the hardware department, the Galaxy M56 5G is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, which is paired with 8GB of RAM and internally up to 256GB of storage. This means a responsive user experience in everything from multitasking to casual gaming.

In our initial hands-on testing, apps opened fast, multitasking felt smooth, and there were no noticeable lags. It also impressed in Gaming, with PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 running smoothly with the settings at medium to high. But it is more than enough for most everyday users and even light gamers, even if it won’t compete with top-end gaming phones.

Battery Life: Built to Last

The Galaxy M series excels in battery life, and the M56 5G follows in its predecessor’s footsteps. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that long lasts a day and then some. Even under heavy use — streaming, social media, gaming and camera use — the phone displayed fantastic endurance.

It also has support for 25W fast charging, which is neither the fastest in the segment nor slow but does a relatively quick job of getting the juice into the device. A charge from 0 to 50% is roughly 30 minutes, which will be enough to get you through most of the day if you’re in a hurry.

Camera: Good, But Not a Showstopper

While this review is really about performance, display, and battery, I should point out that the camera system isn’t bad, just not earth-shattering. The primary sensor is said to produce sharp images in good light, with respectable detail and color reproduction. Low-light performance is decent but not going to impress you — which is to be expected at this price point.

Verdict: Mid-Range Marvel?

We expect the Galaxy M56 5G to provide a reasonable amount of value for its expected price range. You’re getting a gorgeous screen, powerful performance and long endurance — all wrapped up in a sleek design feel much more expensive than its price. It might not have Samsung’s premium models’ camera chops, but it delivers where it matters to most users.

The Galaxy M56 5G could be your perfect pick for a bang for the buck phone.

That said, if Samsung will price the Galaxy M56 5G well in India and in other focused markets, then it can become a bestseller of the mid-range category. Stay tuned for its official release — this phone is proving to be a potential crowd-pleaser.