Samsung Galaxy M56 5G vs the Rest: Best Alternatives You Can Buy Today

Samsung’s latest premium mid-range offering has rolled off the assembly lines. The Galaxy M56 5G succeeds last year’s Galaxy M55 and is 30 per cent thinner, with 36 per cent slimmer bezels and a 33 per cent brighter display. At just 7.2mm, Samsung claims the smartphone is the slimmest in its segment.

The Galaxy M56 5G features a 6.73-inch full-HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired fast charging support, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, a triple rear camera setup with OIS, and UFS 3.1 storage for speedy load times. The smartphone runs One UI 7 based on Android 15 out of the box, and Samsung has promised six years of major OS upgrades and security patches.

Before spending your hard-earned money on the Galaxy M56 5G, you should closely examine the competition. We have curated a list of three alternative smartphones for you to evaluate.

Here are our top 3 alternatives to the newly launched Samsung Galaxy M56 5G:

Samsung Galaxy M56 5G: Full Specs and Price

Before we take a detailed look at the other choices, let us recap the specifications of the Galaxy M56 5G:

• Display: 6.73-inch full-HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
• Processor: Exynos 1480.
• RAM and Storage: 8GB RAM, up to 256GB storage.
• Software: One UI 7 based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 8-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Tertiary camera: 2-megapixel macro with an f/2.4 aperture.
• Selfie Camera: 12-megapixel with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 5,00 mAh battery, 45W wired fast charging.
• Dimensions and weight: 7.2mm thickness, 180 grams.
• Colours: Black and Light Green.

The Galaxy M56 5G is available in two storage variants via Amazon India, with prices listed below. If you have an HDFC bank credit or debit card, you can take advantage of a Rs. 3,000 instant discount.

Samsung Galaxy M56 5G: Three Best Alternatives

Nothing Phone (3a)

Looking for something unique? You can look at the recently launched Nothing Phone (3a). Nothing’s signature transparent back panel with the Glyph light interface certainly helps the Phone (3a) stand out from a sea of similar-looking smartphones. Pair this with good build quality, capable cameras, and solid specifications, and you have a phone that is well-rounded and certainly worth considering.

The Nothing Phone (3a) is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC and features up to 8GB RAM, UFS 3.0 storage, a 5,000mAh battery with 50W fast charging, and Nothing OS 3.1 based on Android 15. Nothing promises three years of Android updates and six years of security patches. For the best software updates, Samsung is your best bet. None of the alternatives mentioned in this article can match Samsung’s six-year OS update policy.

You can also consider the more expensive Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, which has the same unique Glyph interface but adds a periscope lens, a better selfie camera, and IP68 dust and water resistance.

Nothing Phone (3a) specs:

• Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED screen, 120Hz refresh rate, 3000 nits peak brightness, and 387ppi.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC.
• RAM and Storage: 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
• Software: Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel with OIS and an f/1.88 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 8-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Tertiary Camera: 50-megapixel telephoto with an f/2.0 aperture.
• Front Camera: 32-megapixel with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 5,000 mAh, 50W fast charging.
• Other Features: IP64 rating and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 163.52mm x 77.5mm x 8.35 mm, 201 grams.
• Colours: Black, White, and Blue.

IQOO Neo 10R

If you are a power user and want the best processor and specifications in this price range, the IQOO Neo 10R is worth considering. Gamers and performance enthusiasts will appreciate the flagship Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of RAM. The smartphone also features a sleek design, a massive 6,400 mAh battery with 80W wired fast charging, and a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with support for HDR 10+.

The Neo 10R ships with FuntouchOS 15, based on Android 15. IQOO promises three Android updates and four years of security patches. While feature-packed, Funtouch OS is slightly cluttered and bloated. Fans of a clean and simple user interface should look at the Nothing Phone (3a) or the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion.

• Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, 144Hz refresh rate, HDR 10+ and 4,500 nits of peak brightness.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3.
• RAM and Storage: Up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
• Software: Funtouch OS 15, based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera:  50-megapixel Sony IMX882 with OIS and an f/1.79 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 8-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Front Camera: 32-megapixel camera with an f/2.45 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 6,400 mAh battery, 80W wired fast charging.
• Other Features: Optical in-display fingerprint scanner, IP65 rating.
• Dimensions and weight: 163.7 x 75.9 x 7.98 mm, 196 grams.
• Colours: Raging Blue, MoonKnight Titanium.

The IQOO Neo 10R is available in three variants on Flipkart:

Motorola Edge 60 Fusion

The Moto Edge 60 Fusion’s unique features include MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability and a 3D silicone vegan leather back panel.  Equipped with the new MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chipset, the solid all-rounder has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, IP69 dust and water resistance, and a 5,500mAh battery that supports 68W wired fast charging. Motorola’s Hello UI based on Android 15 comes pre-installed, and Motorola promises three Android OS upgrades and four years of security patches.

When it comes to optics, the Edge 60 Fusion has a triple rear camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary, a 13-megapixel ultrawide, and a macro lens. Up front, there is a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The smartphone comes with AI features like Catch Me Up, a digital assistant that can store reminders, analyse images, and perform other productivity tasks, and Magic Canvas, which turns text prompts into AI-generated artwork.

• Display:  6.7-inch All-Curved pOLED, 1.5K resolution, 2712×1220 pixels, 4500 nits of peak brightness, and 120Hz refresh rate.
• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7400.
• RAM and Storage: 8GB RAM + 256 GB storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage.
• Software: Hello UI, based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel Sony LYTIA 700C with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 13-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Selfie Camera: 32-megapixel with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 5,500 mAh battery, 68W wired fast charging.
• Other Features: In-display fingerprint scanner, MIL-STD-810H certification, IP69 rating, and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 8.2mm thickness, 180 grams.
• Colours: Pantone Slipstream, Pantone Amazonite, Pantone Zephyr.

The Moto Edge 60 Fusion is available in two variants on Flipkart: