The Samsung Galaxy M32 is a compelling contender in the budget smartphone arena, offering a tempting blend of features for its price. Boasting a vibrant full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a massive 6,000mAh battery, and the latest One UI 3.1 on top of Android 11, it promises a smooth and immersive user experience. However, amidst its attractive features, the Galaxy M32 also presents some compromises, such as a slightly bulky design and a pre-installed app bloatware which may not sit well with all users. Let’s delve deeper into the Galaxy M32 and see if it truly lives up to its promised value.
Design and Build
The Samsung Galaxy M32, starting at Rs. 14,999 for the base variant, is available in Light Blue and Black. While sporting a sleek design with curved edges, the phone’s 9.3mm thickness and 196g weight make it noticeably chunky. The side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner offers ease of access, however, the volume buttons are positioned too high, requiring an awkward stretch to reach. The SIM tray on the left side houses two Nano-SIM slots and a dedicated microSD slot, offering flexible storage options.
The back panel features a striped pattern and is crafted from plastic, contributing to the phone’s overall weight. The camera module is flush-mounted on the top left corner ensuring a stable flat surface when placed on a table. Interestingly, the top of the phone only features the secondary microphone, while the bottom houses the 3.5mm headphone jack, primary microphone, USB Type-C port, and loudspeaker.
Display Experience
The Galaxy M32 boasts a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a full-HD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) resolution, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks that are hallmarks of AMOLED technology. The 90Hz refresh rate further enhances the overall user experience by delivering smooth scrolling and animations. Samsung also claims a peak brightness of 800 nits in High Brightness mode, which will be thoroughly tested in the full review. The dewdrop notch, referred to as "Infinity-U" by Samsung, houses a 20-megapixel selfie camera.
Performance and Power
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy M32 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 processor. Our initial impressions with the base variant, featuring 4GB of RAM, indicate that it handles regular daily tasks with ease. However, for a conclusive assessment of its performance, the Galaxy M32 will be put through a comprehensive set of benchmark tests. The results of these tests will be included in the full review.
Battery Life and Charging
To power the Galaxy M32, Samsung has included a 6,000mAh battery, promising excellent battery life. While the phone supports 25W fast charging, Samsung only includes a 15W charger in the box, which may lead to slower charging times.
Camera Features
The Samsung Galaxy M32 features a quad-camera system, comprising:
- 64-megapixel primary camera: This sensor is expected to capture detailed and high-resolution images.
- 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera: This camera allows for wider perspectives and captures more of the scene.
- 2-megapixel macro camera: This camera is designed for close-up shots and delivers greater detail in macro photography.
- 2-megapixel depth sensor: This sensor is used for portrait mode, enabling subject separation and background blur.
While the camera performance is promising, it will be thoroughly tested and evaluated in the full review to determine its capabilities in low-light conditions and overall image quality.
Software Experience
The Samsung Galaxy M32 runs One UI 3.1 on top of Android 11, which brings a familiar and user-friendly experience. However, the phone comes pre-installed with a number of apps, which might be seen as bloatware by some users. During the setup process, the phone also suggests additional apps for installation, making it challenging to skip this step entirely.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy M32 presents itself as an attractive budget smartphone, offering features like a high-refresh-rate AMOLED display, a powerful battery, and a compelling camera system. However, its bulkiness due to the large battery and the pre-installed apps might not appeal to all users. In the full review, the Galaxy M32 will be subjected to rigorous testing to assess its performance, camera capabilities, and overall user experience. Stay tuned to find out if this new budget champion truly holds its ground in the competitive smartphone market.
