Inexpensive new Samsung Galaxy M31, M21 and M11 are smartphones with budget configurations that will provide performance and ease of use in basic applications, and can handle games with minimal requirements and more advanced ones at low and medium settings. The optics in such models fully comply with the capabilities of amateur shooting indoors and outdoors, and supports the necessary interfaces and technologies.
You can buy M-series smartphones through the “All Prices” price aggregator, and in this article we’ll see how relevant and productive they are.
Budget M-series 2022
In the budget segment, Samsung Galaxy M models are offered with a number of identical options and characteristics:
- completely plastic cases without any degree of protection;
- 2 nano-SIM slots;
- a fingerprint scanner on the rear panel and a face scanner under the display glass;
- 1 speaker with mono sound;
- USB Type-C, 3.5 mm jack for wired headphones;
- a screen with thin frames and rounded edges, a neat separate or teardrop-shaped hole for the front camera in the center or on the left side;
- One UI 2.0 shell based on Android 10.
The characteristics of the models are approximately similar, but some nuances in the configuration give a price range of almost 20-50% between the junior, middle and senior models.
Which Samsung Galaxy M is the most profitable?
At the moment, Samsung's offer includes models from the Galaxy M series. This number may not seem too high until we mention the time when these devices were introduced.
Each phone in the Galaxy M line hit the market in 2020 and early 2022 , with intervals between successive devices being released ranging from two months to several weeks. Thus, the Galaxy M offer starts with the Galaxy M11 device, the market price of which is 13,000 rubles , and ends with the Galaxy M51, the purchase of which costs about 33,000 rubles . There are several more smartphone models between them; let’s look at the most popular ones for now.
In short, to make it easier to separate Samsung smartphones, they can be grouped into phones below and above RUB 20,000 .
- The first group includes Samsung Galaxy M11, M12 and Galaxy M21
- Second - Samsung Galaxy M31, Galaxy M31s and Galaxy M51
So let's see if there are any really significant differences between the various devices.
Read the Samsung Galaxy M52 review
Samsung Galaxy M52 is Samsung's first M series phone with 5G
Galaxy M11
A smartphone with a matte plastic body and a truly budget segment package:
- 6.4-inch PLS with a resolution of 1560x720, 60 Hz;
- 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor with a frequency of 1.8 GHz (14 nm);
- Adreno 506 graphics;
- 3 GB of RAM LPDDR3 (933 Hz);
- built-in memory eMMC 5.1 32 GB, plus microSD support up to 512 GB;
- battery 5000 mAh (Li-Ion) without fast charging.
The smartphone supports major wireless interfaces, including Wi-Fi 4, NFC, LTE, but without IrDA and eSIM.
The oval-shaped block on the rear panel houses 3 lenses:
- main 13 MP;
- ultra-wide-angle 5 MP (120 degrees);
- portrait 2 MP.
Separately, there is an LED flash nearby. Supports shooting up to Full HD (30 fps), panoramic, burst photos/videos, night mode with smile detection. The 8 MP front camera shoots at the same 1080p HD resolution (30 fps). Sharpness, brightness and color rendition largely depend on the lighting in the frame, so the best pictures will be taken in sunny weather.
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Why does Samsung need so many phones?
From year to year, the number of smartphones presented by manufacturers is constantly growing. A long time ago, the brand released one, but very well prepared device, which was waiting for its successor only a few months later. This time the situation has completely changed and brands are introducing a new smartphone model once every month or two on average. In particular, this applies to two manufacturers, the aforementioned Samsung and the Xiaomi .
It seems that both manufacturers have begun to surpass each other in the number of new smartphones, almost completely abandoning quality. However, such product management allows for deliberate confusion among potential customers, who are initially presented with a wide range of cheap and "good" smartphones, among which the choice should be relatively simple.
In addition, it is enough to imagine a situation in which a buyer comes to a store with a certain budget, say 20,000 rubles, then he gets acquainted with the entire offer of all devices of the manufacturer, and then declares that he can add an additional 6,000 rubles to his budget in order to be able enjoy even “better and higher” quality smartphone from the shelf above. This additional 6,000 rubles will be within the acceptable range for the consumer, and will also allow the manufacturer to earn more money.
Such a large number of products means that the buyer loses sight of the quality of the device and may stretch his budget to buy a slightly better smartphone.
Galaxy M21
Model with glossy plastic housing and more powerful equipment:
- 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2340×1080, 60 Hz;
- protective tempered glass;
- 8-core Exynos 7 Octa 9611 (1.7-2.3 GHz, 10 nm);
- 4 GB of memory RAM LPDDR4X (1866 Hz);
- 64 GB UFS 2.1 flash drive;
- microSD support up to 512 GB;
- 6000 mAh battery (Li-Ion) with fast charging (15 W).
The smartphone is equipped with a USB Type-C connector, a 3.5 mm mini-Jack, supports NFC and LTE, and does not have an IR port. Sound speaker – mono (Dolby Atmos).
The rear lenses of the Samsung Galaxy M21 are combined on one platform with an LED flash:
- main 48 MP;
- ultra-wide-angle 8 MP (120 degrees);
- portrait 5 MP.
Front camera 20 MP with the ability to shoot in Full HD (30 fps). The main lens can shoot up to 4K at 30 fps.
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Samsung smartphones with good camera and battery
Galaxy M31
Next, our ranking of the best Samsung smartphones includes the Galaxy M31, equipped with a proprietary Exynos 9611 processor and a 6000 mAh battery. The model has excellent battery life and is pleased with its chic Super AMOLED display technology. The rear camera, which we’ll talk about a little later, also deserves attention; it has 15 W fast charging. It should be immediately noted that not the entire line is equipped with NFC. This module is used only in configuration with article number SM-M315F. Users respond positively to the front camera, whose resolution is 32 megapixels. At the same time, the quad camera received a main lens of 64 megapixels. The amount of RAM in the described line reaches 6 gigabytes, which is enough for performance in current software for mobile chips.
The main advantage of this series is its excellent autonomy. If you like this model, look for the version with NFC.
Pros:
- good screen;
- fast charging;
- battery capacity;
- compact sizes.
Minuses:
- power of a proprietary chip.
Samsung Galaxy A52
The list of smartphones with a good camera and a powerful processor is supplemented by the Samsung Galaxy A52 model, powered by the Snapdragon 720G. This is clearly an advantage compared to the M-line with their proprietary processors. The main camera corresponds to its class and has four sensors, including a 64 MP lens. The display here uses an expensive panel based on Super AMOLED technology, the refresh rate of which is 90 Hz. The finger scanner is located under the screen, there are stereo speakers and NFC. In terms of functionality, this device is clearly superior to the M31. True, there is a plastic lid and a not so laconic design, but this is a matter of taste. It is worth noting that the engineers equipped the model with a good front camera, the resolution of which reaches 32 megapixels. Fast charging power is 25 W. The case is protected according to the IP-67 standard.
One of the most functional A-series smartphones, which has virtually an ideal price/quality ratio. It has a moisture-proof housing, which is typical for a premium class.
Pros:
- protected housing;
- functionality for this class;
- refresh rate 90 Hz;
- fast charging 25 W.
Minuses:
- plastic cover.
Galaxy M62
This model is distinguished by the presence of Super AMOLED Plus technology, when creating which the company decided to return to using RGB instead of the proprietary PenTile RGBG technology, and this is a reasonable decision. There is virtually no grain in the 6.7-inch screen, and the display looks much sharper. It is also worth noting the support for a 7000 mAh battery. In conjunction with the Exynos 9825 processor, good battery life is achieved. However, it’s also hard to find fault with the performance, since 8 gigabytes of RAM and support for the Mali-G76 MP12 graphics accelerator are available. There is enough hardware for any games and applications. The main camera has 4 sensors, including a 64 MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture. The ultra-wide sensor has 12 megapixels with f/2.2. The macro camera and depth sensor are not that effective.
A smartphone with a powerful battery and a good camera, which is designed for practical users who always want to stay connected.
Pros:
- excellent camera;
- improved screen;
- performance in games;
- does not get very hot;
- 7000 mAh battery.
Minuses:
- still not a “snap”.
Samsung Galaxy A72
A fairly popular smartphone from Samsung, which has a good camera and a clear screen. The model differs from many flagships mainly in power, since it uses a mid-level chip of the Snapdragon 720G series from Qualcomm. The semi-flagship has a gorgeous 6.7-inch screen built on Super AMOLED technology with a resolution of 2400 by 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The main camera is also difficult to classify as middle class, because it is based on a lens with a resolution of 64 megapixels. There is a 32 megapixel sensor as a front camera. There is support for fast charging and an NFC module, but there are not too many options for a virtually premium model. The manufacturer abandoned experiments with a retractable front camera, and the increase in performance against the background of the same A51 is not so attractive, in our opinion.
Not the most attractive gadget in terms of price/quality, but in terms of photo quality and power it is above the average class.
Pros:
- improved chip;
- screen refresh rate;
- fast charging;
- stylish design;
- clear picture.
Minuses:
- there are few changes compared to the A51.
Galaxy S10 Plus
The best Samsung smartphone of 2022 in terms of price/quality ratio is the flagship of past generations of the C10 Plus series. It uses the premium Exynos 9820 processor, which is typical for many premium products from the South Korean company. The front camera has two sensors that have modest resolution. However, at the time of the release of this gadget there was no trend to chase the number of megapixels. At the same time, large matrices guarantee clear images even by modern standards. The main camera has three sensors, including an excellent telephoto lens, a wide-angle sensor and an ultra-wide-angle sensor. The battery capacity here is 4100 mAh.
Compact flagship model, but from previous generations. Came out before S20.
Pros:
- flagship series;
- autonomous work;
- picture quality;
- ergonomic model;
- great sound.
Minuses:
- no for this price.
Galaxy M31
Like the previous model, it is assembled in a glossy plastic case with approximately the same configuration:
- 6.4 inches Super AMOLED display (2340×1080, 60 Hz);
- Gorilla Glass 3 screen protection;
- processor Exynos 7 Octa 9611, 8 cores (1.7-2.3 GHz, 10 nm);
- 6 GB LPDDR4X (1866 Hz);
- UFS 2.1 flash drive 128 GB, with microSD support (up to 512 GB).
The battery capacity (6000 mAh), operating time and fast charging (15 W) are completely similar to the Galaxy M21. The main differences from the latter come down to Gorilla Glass 3, more memory and a better 32 MP front camera with the ability to shoot in 4K (30 fps).
Rear lenses:
- main 64 MP;
- ultra-wide-angle 8 MP (120 degrees);
- portrait 5 MP.
Supports 4K shooting at 30 fps, night mode, image stabilization. All wireless interfaces and services are present within the budget options (USB Type-C, 3.5mm connector, NFC, LTE).
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Performance of Galaxy M 2022 smartphones
The performance of the device is approximately the same. But the Samsung Galaxy M12 has an eight-core Samsung Exynos 850, which is more reliable than products from MTK. There is also 3 GB of RAM and 32 or 64 GB of internal storage.
The absolute leader in terms of performance is the SG M32. Even though it has a MediaTek Helio G80 CPU with 8 cores under the hood. But there is as much as 6 GB of RAM. For users' needs, there is a built-in 128 GB storage.
Galaxy M10
Compared to the Galaxy M11, this smartphone loses in a number of parameters:
- outdated Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7870 processor and Mali-T830 MP1 graphics core (2016);
- small amount of RAM 2/3 GB;
- 16/32 GB drive;
- weak 3400 mAh battery and 10-watt charging;
- lack of a portrait lens and a weaker 5 MP front camera (720p, 30 fps);
- Micro USB instead of USB Type-C;
- no NFC support.
The M10 smartphone runs on the now obsolete Android 8.1 OS with the Experience 9.5 shell.
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Galaxy M20
This smartphone appeared more than a year before the release of the M21, but basically it can withstand the competition and has only a few disadvantages:
- 6.3-inch PLS matrix;
- less powerful Exynos Exynos 7904 processor (1.6-1.8 GHz, 14 nm) with Mali-G71 MP2 graphics;
- smaller or similar amount of memory (3-4 GB);
- eMMC 5.1 flash memory (32/64 GB) with lower write/read speeds;
- lower battery capacity (5000 mAh).
The block of main lenses is also weak without a portrait camera and with a main one of only 13 megapixels, a front one of 8 megapixels without the possibility of shooting in 4K. The long-outdated Android 8.1 with One UI 2.0 shell is installed on the smartphone.
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Galaxy M30 and M30s
Last year's M30 has approximately the same characteristics as the M20, so it loses to the new product in the same indicators. The only difference is that the first one has a portrait camera and a 16 megapixel front camera. In general, this is the same outdated smartphone as the M20, so it also cannot stand comparison with the M31.
The superiority over the Galaxy M30s mainly concerns only a smaller amount of RAM (4 GB) and permanent (64 GB) memory, Android 9.0 with the One UI shell. The main and front camera units of the M30s are also more modest. But with certain assumptions, the M31 and M30s can be considered practically analogues.
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Note Series
Note is the same as Galaxy S, but with one important difference - they have a stylus and corresponding software. Some may think that there is no particular point in releasing a separate line for this, but in practice this is necessary to strictly distinguish between the S and Note models by target audience. If Galaxy S is the choice of those who are looking for the best, then Note is the phone for creative individuals and business people.
The software developed by the company for working with a stylus on Note series devices is very convenient. In fact, the owner of the gadget receives an electronic notepad in which you can take notes or sketches. There are almost no differences from notes on paper, but there is a difference in convenience: electronic notes are easier to sort and search, and edit if necessary. In addition, the phone is always near the owner, unlike a regular notepad.
It is worth noting that for a long time Galaxy Note smartphones were an expensive pleasure, and not everyone could afford them. In recent years, affordable models have appeared within the line, with stylus functionality not inferior to flagships, but offering simpler hardware.
Who is the Note suitable for: creative and business people who choose a productive smartphone with advanced work capabilities provided by a stylus and special software.
conclusions
Samsung's budget new products are an excellent update to the M-series line with improved performance and higher levels of photo/video shooting. And although they did not receive a frameless display and a waterproof case, state-of-the-art cameras and advanced processors, these models are quite capable of meeting the demand for inexpensive smartphones. For users who need such a budget device, we recommend taking a closer look at the older models M21 and M31. The youngest M11 can be chosen with very minimal performance requirements.
The best premium Samsung smartphones
Galaxy Z Flip
The Galaxy Z Flip series model with a flexible screen expands the ranking of Samsung smartphones. The body of this gadget can be bent in half. An additional screen is formed on the reverse side. Moreover, the displays are built on Dynamic AMOLED technology. The advantages of this line also include surround sound, which is supported by support for Dolby Atmos technology. There is also Samsung Pay. The screen has a built-in camera, which consists of a large matrix, and it is the size, and not the megapixel resolution, that regulates the excellent quality of the pictures. It is also worth noting support for the premium Snapdragon 855+ processor created by Qualcomm. Of course, reverse charging is implemented, which is typical for all premium devices of this brand.
A flagship with a unique form factor, but far from being a new generation, because the company has relaunched the series. In terms of price/quality ratio, we chose this solution.
Pros:
- the price fell;
- surround sound;
- flexible body;
- screen technology.
Minuses:
- past generation.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
The list of flagship smartphones with a good camera from Samsung is completed by the Galaxy S20 Plus, which runs on the Exynos 990 processor. In other regions, it uses the Snapdragon 865, and this irritates many users. Actually, the main difference between this model and the previous generation (S10 Plus) is the design of the upper frames, as well as a more efficient chip. The front camera has become smaller, but it hardly benefits much in terms of pictures. The refresh rate of the premium panel reaches 120 Hz, so you can count on a gorgeous, smooth picture. The screen is protected by high-strength glass of the Gorilla Glass 6 series. A 4500 mAh battery is responsible for autonomous operation. In conjunction with a proprietary chip, there is no need to complain. The camera has serious zoom, stabilization and great video. True, at night it is inferior to the 12th generation iPhone.
A model of the previous generation, the price for which is falling, but the power and camera parameters are still sufficient to meet trending solutions.
Pros:
- the price falls;
- excellent display;
- flagship series;
- protected housing;
- great sound.
Minuses:
- You cannot select a processor.
Galaxy Z Fold3
This Samsung smartphone has the most expensive and high-quality screen in the brand’s product segment. Naturally, it uses a flexible display, and there is a stylus, which is not present in the Z Flip. The main screen is built on a Dynamic AMOLED matrix with a frequency of 120 Hz. At the same time, the case is protected according to the IPX8 standard. In the last generation there was a problem with glass. It was solved using Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and a proprietary ultra-thin solution from Samsung. The strength was almost doubled. The resource is enough for 200 thousand folds, according to the company’s test results. The main camera has flagship parameters. It is also worth noting the presence of a Snapdragon 888 processor. The 4400 mAh battery capacity, in our opinion, is not enough to power two screens at once.
The best Samsung smartphone with a flexible screen. That says it all.
Pros:
- powerful processor;
- expensive glass;
- excellent screen;
- folding resource;
- model functionality.
Minuses:
- Not enough autonomy.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
We are talking about a branded Samsung smartphone, which has a maximum range of options, which has always been characteristic of the Note series. It’s worth saying right away that you can find a flagship on sale even with a Snapdragon 865+ chip, but there are more varieties with the branded Exinos. The kit includes a proprietary stylus for remote control. Among the main advantages, we note the advanced night mode and wireless charging power. There is a heart rate monitor and support for pairing with other external screens. In terms of all its parameters, the camera is not much inferior to the S21 Ultra. At the same time, the proprietary processor was improved, taking into account user criticism.
This is a branded line with maximum functions and technical equipment. The most expensive screen technology, premium camera and the best proprietary processor are used.
Pros:
- functionality;
- brand line;
- good sound;
- excellent camera;
- high power.
Minuses:
- not found.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The best Samsung smartphone in 2022 is the Galaxy S21 Ultra model with a top-end display and camera. This flagship has a screen on a Dynamic AMOLED 2X matrix with a resolution of 1440 by 3200 pixels. Almost all well-known experts spoke about the accuracy of the reproduction of shades and brightness after the model went on sale. They found fault, as now, only with the Exynos 2100 processor, which was inferior even to the Snap 865 series, not to mention new solutions. However, the device also occupies a high position in terms of power, although not the maximum. The performance is clearly sufficient for gaming, so we consider this factor to be a nitpick. The camera has two telephoto lenses at once, and the maximum zoom reaches 100x. The main camera has a resolution of 108 megapixels. Photo gluing is provided, which guarantees excellent sharpness of the pictures.
Today, this is the most advanced flagship from Samsung in all respects.
Pros:
- focusing;
- 100x zoom;
- display technology;
- laser focus;
- there is a stylus.
Minuses:
- not found.
