Samsung Galaxy M56 – A Fresh Take on Mid-Range Smartphones

These days, the mid-range smartphone market is packed with new launches, and finally, Samsung has stepped in with something that stands out – the Galaxy M56. If you’ve been waiting for a Samsung phone that checks most of the boxes and stays within budget, this one might just be it.

The first thing that grabs your attention is the phone’s screen. It has a Super AMOLED+ display with really thin edges and a small punch-hole camera. The colors look great, and the screen is bright enough even when you’re outside in sunlight. Surprisingly, this phone supports HDR on Netflix – something you don’t often see in Samsung’s mid-range options.

Now let’s talk design. Samsung has gone back to a classic style with a vertical camera layout, similar to the Note 10 Plus. The back is made of glass and feels premium. It even has Gorilla Glass Victus+ for added protection. And even with a big 5000mAh battery inside, the phone feels light and comfortable in the hand.

When it comes to performance, the Galaxy M56 uses the Exynos 1480 chip. It runs smoothly for daily use, and the newer RAM and storage types (LPDDR5X and UFS 3.1) make app launching and switching between tasks quicker. However, if you’re into gaming, there’s something to keep in mind. Games like Withering Waves don’t run great on high settings. You’ll have to lower the graphics a bit to get smoother performance. The phone does heat up slightly but doesn’t overheat, thanks to a larger cooling system inside.

For photography, the M56 has a main and an ultra-wide camera (the third one is a basic macro lens). In good lighting, photos turn out natural and sharp. Portraits also look nice with a soft blur in the background. Video recording goes up to 4K, and it works well, even when filming in tricky lighting conditions. The front camera is also decent, and it supports 4K video too.

Software-wise, this phone runs Samsung’s One UI 7, based on Android 15. It brings a lot of useful features. You get the split notification and quick settings, a smart lock screen that shows timers or music, and support for Samsung’s Good Lock tools for customizing your phone’s appearance. You can even use your Samsung laptop’s keyboard and mouse with this phone, and copy-paste between devices – super handy.

Samsung also adds value with its wallet app. You can store your cards, tap to pay without needing internet, and even keep documents like your Aadhaar and PAN card through DigiLocker.

One thing missing in this mid-range version of One UI is Galaxy AI – so no AI photo editing tools like in the flagships. Also, there are a few third-party apps pre-installed, but you can remove them easily.

In terms of updates, Samsung is giving six years of software and security support for the M56, which is impressive for a phone in this price bracket. Battery life is strong – it lasts a full day easily, and the 45W fast charging gets you up to 50% in just half an hour.

So, is it perfect? Not quite. While it handles regular use well, heavy gamers might miss smoother performance, especially the 90 fps option in games like BGMI, which some cheaper phones offer. But if gaming isn’t your top priority, the M56 delivers a well-rounded experience.

With a starting price under ₹25,000, the Galaxy M56 offers solid value – a beautiful screen, durable build, long software support, and smooth day-to-day performance. For someone looking for a dependable, feature-rich phone without going over budget, this one deserves a close look.