Built for India. Every specification is source-checked before it goes live.
GGadzela

Samsung Galaxy M56 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Side-by-side comparison of specifications, price, camera, battery and performance in India

Samsung Galaxy M56
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy M56

₹21,380

View details →
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy M56 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy M56 is priced lower at ₹21,380, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹1,084.

Samsung Galaxy M56 wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy M56 features a — display. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers —. Both offer the same refresh rate.

Performance

Samsung Galaxy M56 runs the —. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is powered by the —. Both phones share the same chipset, so raw performance will be near-identical.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy M56 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has —. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy M56 packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G uses —. Both phones have the same battery capacity.

Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy M56 runs —. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G ships with —. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy M56

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy M56

₹21,380

Pros

  • 45W charging on an M-series phone under ₹22K is exceptional — most rivals in this range offer 18W–25W
  • Super AMOLED Plus display brightness and colour rendering match phones ₹10,000 more expensive
  • NFC inclusion enables Google Pay and Samsung Pay
  • 7.6mm slim body stands out in the M-series lineup for pocketability

Cons

  • Exynos 1480 delivers good everyday performance but trails Dimensity and Snapdragon rivals in sustained workloads
  • No IP67/IP68 rating — only IP52 splash resistance
  • Plastic construction at this price is expected but not premium-feeling
  • Single speaker — no stereo audio

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

Pros

  • At ₹22,464 it carries IP68 water resistance — extremely rare at this price in 2025
  • 177g weight is exceptionally light for a phone with these specifications
  • 32MP selfie camera with portrait video — still competitive for social media users
  • Wireless charging support is rare at this price point

Cons

  • Exynos 2100 has reached a performance ceiling — newer mid-range chips can outpace it in benchmarks
  • OS updates have ended (hit 4-year limit) — no longer receives Android version upgrades
  • No expandable storage — 256GB only
  • 25W wired charging is slow and no charger is included in box
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy M56 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M56
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Starting Price
₹21,380
Lower price
₹22,464
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
—
User Rating
—
—
Available colours
2 options
1 options
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M56
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Screen Size
6.7 inches
6.4 inches
Resolution
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
Panel Type
Super AMOLED Plus
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
Brightness
1000 nits peak
1300 nits peak
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M56
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Processor
Samsung Exynos 1480 (4nm)
Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm)
CPU Cores
Octa-core (4× 2.75GHz + 4× 2.0GHz)
Octa-core (1× 2.9GHz + 3× 2.8GHz + 4× 2.2GHz)
RAM
8GB LPDDR4X + 8GB RAM Plus
8GB LPDDR5
Storage
128GB / 256GB UFS 2.2
256GB UFS 3.1
Expandable Storage
Up to 1TB via microSD
No
GPU
—
Mali-G78 MP14
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M56
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Main Camera
50MP f/1.8
12MP f/1.8 OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera
8MP f/2.2
12MP f/2.2
Macro Camera
2MP f/2.4
—
Front Camera
12MP f/2.2
32MP f/2.2
Video Recording
4K @ 30fps
4K @ 60fps
Telephoto Camera
—
8MP f/2.4 OIS (3× optical)
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M56
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
4500 mAh
Charging Speed
45W wired
25W wired
Wireless Charging
No
15W (Qi)
Reverse Wireless
—
4.5W
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M56
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.0
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
USB Type-C 2.0
NFC
Yes
Yes
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M56
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Body Material
Plastic frame, patterned back
Plastic frame and back (matte finish)
Dimensions
163.5 × 77.5 × 7.6 mm
155.7 × 74.5 × 8.2 mm
Weight
185g
177g
Water Resistance
IP52 splash resistant
—
Fingerprint Sensor
Side-mounted
Under-display (optical)
SIM
Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)
—
IP Rating
—
IP68 (1.5m, 30 min)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M56
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
OS at Launch
Android 15
Android 12
UI
One UI 7
One UI 4.1
Update Promise
4 years OS, 5 years security
—
Current OS
—
Android 15 (One UI 7)
Update Status
—
Reached end of OS updates (4 years completed)
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy M56

8GB RAM / 128GB
₹21,380
8GB RAM / 256GB
₹24,999

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

8GB RAM / 256GB
₹22,464
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy M56 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy M56 or Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy M56 and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy M56 starts at ₹21,380 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and offers — with —. If battery life is the priority, compare their mAh capacities. If display quality matters, compare refresh rates and panel types. Neither has a universal advantage — the choice depends on your use case and ecosystem preference.
What is the price difference between Samsung Galaxy M56 and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy M56 starts at ₹21,380 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹1,084. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy M56 have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
Samsung Galaxy M56 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G provides —. Camera quality depends on factors beyond megapixels — including sensor size, aperture, OIS, and computational photography. For the most accurate comparison, refer to independent review sites that run controlled camera tests in the same conditions.
Which phone has longer battery life: Samsung Galaxy M56 or Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
Samsung Galaxy M56 comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G includes —. Battery life also depends on the display resolution, refresh rate, and software optimisation. A larger mAh does not guarantee proportionally longer life if the display or processor is more power-hungry.
What makes Samsung Galaxy M56 different from M36?
The M56 runs the faster Exynos 1480 (4nm) versus the M36's Exynos 1380, offers 45W charging versus 25W, and comes with NFC. The M36 has a slight price advantage. For users who value faster charging and NFC, the M56 is worth the premium. The M36 is a better choice purely on cost.
Is Samsung Galaxy S21 FE still worth buying in 2025?
The S21 FE at ₹22,464 is a unique case: IP68 water resistance, wireless charging, 32MP selfie, and a lightweight 177g body in this price range is genuinely rare. However, its OS updates ended in 2026 (4-year limit from 2022 launch). Security patches continue until 2027. If you plan to use it for 1–2 years, it is still capable. For longer ownership, consider newer phones with active update cycles.
More comparisons

Related smartphone comparisons

M56
M36

Samsung Galaxy M56 vs Samsung Galaxy M36

₹21,380 · ₹25,990

M56
F56

Samsung Galaxy M56 vs Samsung Galaxy F56

₹21,380 · ₹29,999

M56
A36

Samsung Galaxy M56 vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

₹21,380 · ₹35,999

S21FE
S24FE

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

₹22,464 · ₹39,999

S21FE
S25FE

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

₹22,464 · ₹48,700

S21FE
A55

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

₹22,464 · ₹17,999

Editorial note

Specifications on Gadzela are sourced from official brand announcements and cross-referenced against published datasheets. Prices shown reflect India launch prices and may vary by retailer or over time. Always verify before purchasing. This page does not contain sponsored placements.