Samsung's upcoming mid-range smartphone has appeared in benchmark listings, revealing some unexpected hardware choices that might disappoint fans of the M-series. The Galaxy M56, successor to last year's well-received M55, has been spotted on Geekbench with specifications that suggest Samsung might be taking a different approach with this year's model.
Benchmark Reveals Older Processor
Recent Geekbench listings have uncovered that the Samsung Galaxy M56 (model number SM-M566B) will be powered by the Exynos 1480 chipset. This is particularly noteworthy because the Exynos 1480 is the same processor used in last year's Galaxy A55, not the newer Exynos 1580 that powers the current Galaxy A56. The benchmark entry confirms the chip's identity through its model number (s5e8845), CPU cluster configuration, and the presence of an Xclipse 530 GPU, all hallmarks of the Exynos 1480.
Breaking the Processor Parity Tradition
This processor choice represents a significant departure from Samsung's typical strategy. Historically, the M-series phones have generally matched or closely aligned with their A-series counterparts in terms of processing power, while making compromises in other areas to achieve a more competitive price point. The Galaxy M55, for instance, featured the capable Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor. With the M56 apparently using last year's Exynos 1480 instead of the newer 1580 found in the A56, Samsung appears to be breaking this tradition.
Processor Comparison
- Galaxy M56: Exynos 1480 (Four Cortex-A78 + Four Cortex-A55, Xclipse 530 GPU)
- Galaxy A56: Exynos 1580 (Four Cortex-A720 + Four Cortex-A520, Xclipse 540 GPU)
- Galaxy M55: Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (Four Cortex-A710 + Four Cortex-A510, Adreno 644 GPU)
Performance Implications
The Exynos 1480 features four Cortex-A78 and four Cortex-A55 CPU cores paired with an Xclipse 530 GPU. While this was a solid mid-range processor for 2023, it lacks the more modern architecture of the Exynos 1580, which boasts four Cortex-A720 and four Cortex-A520 cores along with an upgraded Xclipse 540 GPU. This suggests the M56 might not offer the performance leap that upgraders typically expect from a new generation device.
Not Necessarily All Bad News
Despite the apparent downgrade on paper, there may be some silver linings. The Geekbench listing also revealed that the Galaxy M56 will ship with Android 15 out of the box and feature at least 8GB of RAM. Additionally, some reports indicate that the Exynos 1480 actually outperformed the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (found in the M55) in certain real-world usage scenarios, suggesting that the M56 might still feel snappier than its predecessor in day-to-day tasks, even if it falls behind in raw benchmark numbers or sustained gaming performance.
Expected Features and Specifications
While the processor choice has garnered the most attention, other aspects of the Galaxy M56 remain largely consistent with expectations. The device is likely to retain the 45W fast charging capability that was introduced with last year's M-series. Questions remain about whether Samsung will stick with the standard 5,000 mAh battery capacity or follow industry trends by implementing newer silicon/carbon (Si/Ca) battery technology for potentially improved capacity or efficiency.
Galaxy M56 Specifications (Based on Leaks)
- Model Number: SM-M566B
- Processor: Exynos 1480 (4nm)
- CPU: Four Cortex-A78 cores + Four Cortex-A55 cores
- GPU: Xclipse 530
- RAM: 8GB (confirmed, more variants possible)
- Operating System: Android 15
- Expected Charging: 45W wired charging
- Expected Battery: 5,000 mAh (possibly Si/Ca technology)
Market Positioning Challenge
Samsung now faces the challenge of convincing potential buyers that the Galaxy M56 represents good value despite using a processor that's effectively a generation behind. The company will likely need to rely on software optimizations, competitive pricing, and highlighting other aspects of the device to maintain the M-series' reputation for offering solid performance at budget-friendly price points.
Launch Timeline
With the device already appearing in benchmark databases, we can expect the official launch of the Galaxy M56 in the coming months. Samsung typically releases new M-series devices with little fanfare compared to their flagship counterparts, so the phone might arrive with relatively short notice once final preparations are complete.