Three and four main cameras, Super AMOLED screens, and autonomy, lots of autonomy. This is Samsung’s offer with its new Galaxy M21 and Galaxy M31, which reinforce its mid-range catalog. Both terminals use a 6,000 mAh battery, a capacity that will help extend battery life beyond a day or even two days of use. And all this at a price below $300. But it doesn’t stop there. Let’s take a look at all the new features of the two launches by the South Korean firm.
Galaxy M21 vs Galaxy M31 Datasheet
| Galaxy M21 | Galaxy M31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.4 inches with Super AMOLED technology, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and Full HD + resolution (2,340 x 1,080 pixels) | 6.4 inches with Super AMOLED technology, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and Full HD + resolution (2,340 x 1,080 pixels) |
| Main camera | – 48-megapixel main sensor and f / 2.0 focal aperture – Secondary sensor with 8-megapixel wide-angle lens and f / 2.2 focal aperture – 5-megapixel depth sensor and f / 2.2 focal aperture | – 64-megapixel main sensor with f / 1.8 focal aperture – Secondary sensor with 8-megapixel wide-angle lens and f / 2.2 focal aperture – Tertiary 5-megapixel depth sensor and f / 2.2 focal aperture – Quaternary sensor with a 5-megapixel macro lens and focal aperture f / 2.4 |
| Front Camera | 20-megapixel main sensor with f / 2.2 focal aperture | 32-megapixel main sensor and f / 2.0 focal aperture |
| Internal memory | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Extension | Through micro SD cards up to 512 GB | Through micro SD cards up to 512 GB |
| Processor and RAM | Samsung Exynos 9166 4 GB of RAM | Samsung Exynos 9166 4 GB of RAM |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh with 15W fast charge | 6,000 mAh with 15W fast charge |
| Operating system | Android 10 under One UI 2.0 | Android 10 under One UI 2.0 |
| Connectivities | 4G LTE, WiFi b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS GLONASS, and Galileo, and USB Type-C | 4G LTE, WiFi b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS GLONASS, and Galileo, and USB Type-C |
| SIM | Dual nano SIM | Dual nano SIM |
| Design | Colors: green, black, and blue | Colors: black, red, and blue |
| Dimensions | 159 x 75.1 x 8.9 millimeters and 189 grams | 159.2 x 75.1 x 8.9 millimeters and 191 grams |
| Featured Features | Fingerprint sensor, software facial unlock, 15W fast charge, 4K video recording, NFC for mobile payments, 3.5mm port for headphones … | Fingerprint sensor, software facial unlock, 15W fast charge, 4K video recording, NFC for mobile payments, 3.5mm port for headphones … |
| Release date | Available | Available |
| Price | $229 | $279 |
Design and Screen
Samsung’s latest batch adds to the design trend with two very similar mobile phones. Both phones have a fairly uncluttered front that extends the screen to the edges of the chassis. This has allowed the company to install a 6.4-inch screen in a chassis that is less than 16 centimeters high and just over 7.5 centimeters wide. But what is most surprising about its dimensions is not so much the height or width, but the weight and thickness.
Although both models have a 6,000 mAh battery, I repeat, 6,000 mAh, the thickness in both cases does not exceed 9 millimeters. As for the weight, both are close to 190 grams, a reasonable figure for all hands and the public, especially if you consider the capacity of the battery.
Returning to the screen of the devices, Samsung has chosen to install a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution. In other words, vibrant colors, pure blacks, and more than enough detail to enjoy the latest Netflix releases or the latest Google Store movies. It is also worth noting the presence of Corning Gorilla Glass version 3. This certification provides the screen with greater resistance to scratches and shocks.
Cameras Versatility
Samsung has opted for versatility in the Samsung Galaxy M21 and M31, with three and four cameras that promise to give us different views of the same scene. Let’s take it one step at a time. Starting with the Galaxy M31, the more advanced model of the two.
The Galaxy M31 has four cameras on its back, 64, 8, 5, and 5 megapixels. The first camera acts as the main sensor, with 4K video recording capability at 30 FPS, slow motion at 240 FPS in HD resolution, and up to eight levels of digital zoom. On the other hand, the secondary sensor allows expanding the field of view of the snapshots thanks to a wide-angle lens that raises the power of two possibilities of the camera.
The third sensor is in charge of improving the blur in the photographs taken through Samsung’s Dynamic Focus mode, a mode that allows focusing at will the body of the scene to obtain the bokeh effect of professional cameras. Finally, the fourth sensor uses a macro lens. This type of lens is designed to capture images of small objects or close bodies thanks to its macro lens. Coins, insects, plants…
It’s time to talk about the Samsung Galaxy M21. The phone replicates the camera layout of its namesake by removing the fourth sensor. The second major difference between the Galaxy M31 and the Galaxy M21 lies in the main sensor. This time Samsung has opted for a 48-megapixel sensor. For practical purposes, the phone allows users to perform up to four levels of digital zoom on images. The good news is that it maintains its big brother’s 4K recording capacity at 30 FPS.
Connectivity: You won’t miss a thing
That’s right. Both phones come loaded with all kinds of connections. Dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE connectivity… Within the specification sheet, there are two points to note. The first concerns the presence of a 3.5-millimeter port for the headset, which is becoming less and less common. The second point concerns the integration of NFC technology.
This technology allows us to make mobile payments with Samsung Pay or any banking application we want without the need for a physical card. Now more than ever, the use of this technology will be extended due to the possible risk of coronavirus infection.
Same Heart and Brain but different Capacities
The technical section of the Samsung Galaxy M31 and Galaxy M21 is made up of the same heart and brain. Both terminals use the same processor, the Samsung Exynos 9611. This unit, with an eight-core scheme inside, runs at 2.3 and 1.7 GHz. In other words, we can play any game without any problems. Also the latest Google Play applications and releases.
As for the capacity of the two devices, the most tangible difference can be found in the RAM. While the Galaxy M21 has 4 GB of RAM, the Galaxy M31 increases this figure to 6 GB. In theory, this difference will allow us to run a greater number of games and applications at once without losing performance along the way. Internal storage is the same in both cases, 64 GB expandable to 512 GB via micro SD cards.
All these specifications are powered by the same heart. We have already mentioned in previous paragraphs that the battery of the two phones is 6,000 mAh, with up to 29 hours of continuous video playback, 131 hours of audio playback, and 22 hours of Internet browsing. What you probably didn’t know is that both are supplied with a 15 W fast-charging system. The advantage of this system is that it takes less time to charge the phone when it is connected to the power supply.
