Samsung Galaxy M06 : In an era where smartphones can easily cost upwards of a thousand dollars, finding a reliable device that won’t break the bank can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Samsung’s latest addition to its budget-friendly M-series, the Galaxy M06 5G, aims to fill this gap by offering a device that handles everyday tasks efficiently without emptying your wallet.
Launched in February 2025, this entry-level smartphone brings several meaningful upgrades over its predecessor while maintaining an accessible price point. Let’s dive into what makes this device tick and whether it deserves your consideration.
Design and Build: Surprising Premium Touches
The Galaxy M06 5G won’t be mistaken for a flagship device, but Samsung has managed to incorporate some premium design elements that elevate it above typical budget offerings.
Available in two attractive colorways—Blazing Black and Sage Green—the phone features a sleek design with a linear camera arrangement that gives it a clean, modern aesthetic.
With dimensions of 167.4 × 77.4 × 8mm and weighing 191 grams, the M06 strikes a good balance between screen size and pocketability.
The device features a plastic frame and back panel, which helps keep costs down while remaining durable for everyday use.
Despite the plastic construction, the phone doesn’t feel cheap in hand, and the matte finish on the back resists fingerprints surprisingly well.
One welcome feature is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, an increasingly rare sight even in budget phones. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor doubles as the power button and offers quick, reliable access to the device.
While the M06 doesn’t boast any official IP rating for water and dust resistance, the solid build quality should withstand minor bumps and everyday wear and tear.
Display: Bright and Smooth for the Price
The front of the Galaxy M06 5G houses a 6.7-inch HD+ PLS LCD panel with a resolution of 1600 × 720 pixels. While not the sharpest display in its class, the screen is perfectly adequate for social media browsing, video watching, and casual gaming.
The 90Hz refresh rate is a pleasant surprise at this price point, offering smoother scrolling and animations than the 60Hz panels typically found in budget devices.
With a peak brightness of 800 nits, the display remains visible even in bright outdoor conditions, though it can’t match the sunlight legibility of higher-end AMOLED panels.
The waterdrop notch housing the front camera feels a bit dated compared to punch-hole designs but allows for more usable screen real estate.
The display is protected by an unspecified version of Corning Gorilla Glass, providing reasonable protection against scratches and minor drops.
Overall, while not spectacular, the display offers a decent viewing experience that exceeds expectations for a phone in this price bracket.
Performance: Everyday Reliability
Under the hood, the Galaxy M06 5G is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 6300 chipset, a substantial upgrade from the Helio G85 processor found in its predecessor.
Built on a 6nm process, this octa-core processor delivers efficient performance for day-to-day tasks while conserving battery life.
The phone comes in two RAM configurations: 4GB and 6GB, with Samsung offering virtual RAM expansion of up to 4GB to help with multitasking.
Storage options include 64GB and 128GB variants, with microSD support for up to 1TB of additional storage—a feature that’s becoming increasingly rare even in mid-range phones.
In benchmark tests, the M06 5G achieves an AnTuTu score of approximately 422,000, while Geekbench results show single-core scores of around 967 and multi-core scores of about 2,750.
These numbers won’t impress power users, but they translate to smooth performance for everyday applications like social media, messaging, web browsing, and light gaming.
The phone handles basic multitasking without significant slowdown, though you may notice occasional hiccups when rapidly switching between apps or attempting more demanding games.
For its intended market—users seeking reliability over raw power—the M06 offers satisfactory performance that won’t frustrate during normal use.
Camera: Capable Shooter for Casual Photography
Photography capabilities on budget phones often leave much to be desired, but the Galaxy M06 5G offers a respectable camera system for its price point.
The primary rear camera features a 50MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and phase detection autofocus, accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor for portrait mode effects.
In good lighting conditions, the main camera captures detailed images with Samsung’s characteristic vibrant color processing.
Dynamic range is decent though not exceptional, with some highlights occasionally being blown out in challenging lighting scenarios.
Portrait mode works reasonably well, with acceptable edge detection for a phone in this segment.
Low-light performance is predictably modest, with noticeable noise and loss of detail when shooting in dimmer environments. Night mode helps somewhat but don’t expect miracles.
Video recording tops out at 1080p at 30fps, with acceptable stabilization for static shots but noticeable shakiness when moving.
The front-facing 8MP selfie camera delivers satisfactory results for social media posts and video calls in good lighting, though it struggles in challenging light conditions.
Overall, the camera system won’t win any awards but proves perfectly capable for documenting everyday moments—exactly what most users in this segment require.
Battery Life: All-Day Endurance
Battery life is often a critical factor for budget-conscious buyers, and the Galaxy M06 5G doesn’t disappoint in this department.
The 5,000mAh battery easily powers through a full day of moderate use, with many users reporting 6-7 hours of screen-on time before needing to recharge.
The phone supports 25W fast charging, though somewhat disappointingly, the charger is sold separately.
When using a compatible charger, the battery can go from empty to full in approximately 90 minutes—not record-breaking but certainly convenient enough for overnight charging or a quick top-up during the day.
Battery efficiency is helped by the relatively modest display resolution and the efficient 6nm processor.
Heavy users who game extensively or stream video continuously might need to recharge before the day’s end, but for typical usage patterns, the M06 should easily last from morning until bedtime.
Software: Surprising Long-Term Support
The Galaxy M06 5G ships with Android 15 and Samsung’s One UI Core 7.0, a slightly streamlined version of the company’s full-featured skin.
The interface is clean and intuitive, with useful features like Secure Folder, Samsung Knox security, and various battery optimization tools.
What’s particularly impressive is Samsung’s commitment to software support for this budget device. The company promises four generations of Android OS upgrades and four years of security updates—a level of support usually reserved for mid-range or flagship devices.
This means the M06 should remain up-to-date and secure until 2029, considerably extending its useful lifespan.
The software experience includes some bloatware, though less than seen on some competing budget devices. Most pre-installed third-party apps can be uninstalled if desired.
Samsung’s ecosystem features like Quick Share and Link to Windows add convenience for users with other Samsung devices.
Connectivity: Future-Proofed with 5G
As the name suggests, the Galaxy M06 5G offers 5G connectivity, ensuring compatibility with next-generation networks as they continue to expand.
The phone supports 12 5G bands, providing good coverage across most regions.
Other connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and USB-C. NFC is notably absent, which means no support for contactless payments—a common omission in this price segment.
Price and Value: Punching Above Its Weight
Priced starting at ₹9,999 (approximately $120) for the 4GB/64GB variant and ₹11,499 (approximately $138) for the 6GB/128GB model, the Galaxy M06 5G represents excellent value in the budget segment.
While not without compromises, the combination of decent performance, good battery life, acceptable camera capabilities, and exceptional software support makes for a compelling package.
Samsung Galaxy M06- Verdict: Sensible Budget Choice
The Samsung Galaxy M06 5G won’t turn heads or top benchmark charts, but it wasn’t designed to.
Instead, it focuses on delivering a balanced, reliable experience for budget-conscious consumers who need a dependable smartphone without unnecessary frills.
Its strengths—long battery life, smooth everyday performance, and extended software support—address the core needs of most users.
The compromises—average camera performance in low light, HD+ rather than Full HD display, and plastic construction—are reasonable given the price point.
For students, seniors, or anyone seeking a backup phone or simple daily driver, the Galaxy M06 5G represents a sensible choice that should provide years of satisfactory service.
In a market segment often defined by corner-cutting, the M06 stands out by focusing on what matters most to everyday users.
