Samsung Galaxy M32 4G smartphone review – A bright 90-Hz screen for less than 300 Euros (~$345)
Samsung's Galaxy M series has a strange intermediate position in the portfolio of the Korean manufacturer. On the one hand, it stands in direct competition to the Galaxy A series that also covers the complete mid-range and on the other, it is often available exclusively from selected vendors for several months. With its sometimes-high battery capacity and various interesting equipment, it represents an interesting extension of Samsung's mid-range offerings.
The Samsung Galaxy M32 is the successor of the Galaxy M31, which was particularly attractive due to its large battery and great AMOLED display. The newest model also offers a high-quality display and this time with a 90-Hz refresh rate. However, the battery has become significantly smaller. Now, the Galaxy M32 has to prove itself in our tests whether it is really better than its predecessor.
Possible Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78.6 % v7 (old) | 02 / 2022 | Samsung Galaxy M32 Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2 | 180 g | 128 GB eMMC Flash | 6.40" | 2400x1080 | |
| 79.8 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2020 | Samsung Galaxy M31 Exynos 9611, Mali-G72 MP3 | 191 g | 64 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 6.40" | 2340x1080 | |
| 79.4 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2020 | Samsung Galaxy M31s Exynos 9611, Mali-G72 MP3 | 203 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 80.9 % v7 (old) | 09 / 2021 | Motorola Moto G60s Helio G95, Mali-G76 MP4 | 212 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.80" | 2480x1080 | |
| 81.1 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2021 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Helio G95, Mali-G76 MP4 | 178.8 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.43" | 2400x1080 |
Case – Light and made of plastic
With pinstripes on the back and colorful light refractions of our dark blue test unit, the Galaxy M32 does feel like an upgrade compared to its predecessor. The fingerprint sensor has moved to the side, so that the back is now only interrupted by the camera module. The dark version continues to be very susceptible to fingerprints due to the shiny surface.
The color alternatives are bright blue and white, but in central Europe not all variants are available from all vendors. The case shows solid workmanship, and the smartphone is comfortable to hold with its rounded corners.
At a weight of 180 g (~6.3 oz), the Galaxy M32 is also fairly light. The smaller battery compared to the predecessor becomes noticeable here. Even though the Galaxy M32 is only a mid-size smartphone, it might still be too large for really small hands.
Equipment: Lots of storage space but only eMMC
In terms of storage equipment, the Galaxy M32 is competitive in its price class. There is now 128 GB of eMMC storage space, which is twice as much as in the predecessor but the standard is also slower. This is accompanied by an ample 6 GB of RAM.
NFC also continues to be onboard, allowing you to use mobile payment and other services. The USB-C port supports only support the USB-2.0 standard, but this is normal in this price class.
microSD Card Reader
The microSD card reader is separate from the two SIM slots. It operates at an average speed but is faster in the copy test than the comparison devices in this price range.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 (Angelbird V60) | |
| Motorola Moto G60s (Angelbird V60) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software: Samsung promises an upgrade to Android 12 soon
The Galaxy M32 has Android 11 with Samsung's in-house One UI 3.1 preinstalled. According to Samsung, there will be an update to Android 12 and One UI 4 in June 2022. At the time of our testing, the security patches are on the level of November 2021, so they are already a little older.
While you will be confronted with the preinstalled apps from Samsung, Microsoft, Meta, and Spotify, most of them can be uninstalled without any problems, if you prefer a clean system.
Communication and GNSS: No 5G in the Galaxy M32
5G continues to be unsupported by the Samsung smartphone even though, at this point, you can get smartphones for less than 300 Euros (~$345) that support the fast Internet, such as the Nokia G50, the Poco M4 Pro, or the in-house Galaxy A22 5G. While a Galaxy M32 version with 5G is available in some parts of the world, it is currently not available in Europe.
The number of supported 4G frequencies is decent and should also be sufficient for some travel abroad. However, since the Galaxy M32 is not a world phone, you should still find out ahead of time whether the smartphone is indeed capable of accessing mobile networks at your travel destination.
Our spot check of the smartphone reception shows that the Galaxy M32 offers a decent signal quality indoors as well as outdoors near the city, even though it is lower than that of some of our comparison devices.
The smartphone supports Wi-Fi 5 and shows stable, high transfer rates that are at the class level in the tests with our Netgear Nighthawk AX12 reference router.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Motorola Moto G60s | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 | |
| Motorola Moto G60s | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | |
The GPS takes a bit of time when we step outdoors. While it recognizes the satellites initially, the signal quality is insufficient to locate us. Only after restarting the device, could it locate us with an accuracy of 4 m (~13 ft.) after some time. Also, the number of satellites it recognizes isn't particularly high.
When taken for a bike ride, the Samsung Galaxy M32 has some problems. It only records a usable route after the second try, but that is at least fairly accurate. During the first time, it couldn't find a route at all, even though our comparison GPS in the Garmin Venu 2 smartwatch didn't have any problems. Therefore, those who need to rely on navigation features should avoid the Galaxy M32.
Telephone functions and voice quality: Clear but not very loud
The phone app of the Samsung Galaxy M32 supports all important standards including VoLTE and VoWiFi.
We evaluate the voice quality by making several test calls. While our conversation partner attests a good voice reproduction of the microphone, it is marred by various annoying noises.
We hear the voice of our conversation partner clearly, but it isn't particularly loud. The sound is fairly similar using the built-in speaker, but you can also speak at a slightly lower volume here. In quiet surroundings, the microphone still records our voice reliably.
Cameras: Full-HD videos only
The Galaxy M32 uses a 64 MP lens in the main camera. By default, it records images at a 16 MP resolution, combining 4 pixels into one in order to be able to reach a higher light sensitivity. However, those who prefer can also use the full number of megapixels.
There is also an 8 MP wide-angle lens and a 2 MP macro lens, as well as a support camera for blurring the depth information in portrait recordings.
The main camera produces fairly sharp images both outdoors and in good light conditions while also reproducing the details reliably. While the dynamic range is acceptable for this price class, it isn't exceptional.
In low-light conditions and with high contrasts, the camera does well in reproducing details, but some of the darker areas are not illuminated sufficiently.
The wide-angle lens takes decent pictures, but some of the larger areas do not appear cleanly and small details are hardly recognizable.
Videos can be recorded at a maximum of 1080p and 30 fps while, at this point, 4K videos are standard with some other devices in this price class. You cannot switch between the wide-angle and the standard lens while recording. In addition, the videos suffer from pronounced stuttering of the image that is particularly visible with faster movements around the edges of objects.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Hauptkamera PflanzeHauptkamera UmgebungHauptkamera Low LightWeitwinkelkamera
Under controlled light conditions in our lab, the pictures from the main camera turn out a bit pale and with too little contrast. While some separate details are still visible at only 1 Lux light, a good illumination looks different than that.
Accessories and warranty: Slow charger
The box of the Galaxy M32 includes a SIM tool, a USB cable, and a charger. However, the latter is annoying since it only charges at a maximum of 15 W, even though the manufacturer advertises the smartphone with a maximum charging capability of 25 W.
For this, you would need a different charger that you either already have at home or would need to buy. We had a hard time finding a corresponding charger on the German website for Samsung, but at least you can get the right charger at amazon.com at an affordable price.
Samsung offers a 24-month warranty to European customers. In case of a repair, you can either send your device in or bring it to one of the numerous repair points. Outside the warranty, there are fixed charges for repairs in Germany that you can check in advance on the website.
Input Devices and operation: Reliable fingerprint sensor
The system appears a little more responsive due to the 90 Hz screen, but it is still not very fast overall. The touchscreen can be operated reliably.
The hardware buttons on the right are made of plastic. They offer a good and clear pressure point. The slightly recessed standby button also includes the integrated fingerprint sensor. This responds fairly quickly and reliably when you place a finger on it, and the phone is unlocked promptly.
Display: Bright, fast, and with good color accuracy
While the predecessor also included an OLED screen with expanded Full-HD resolution, the maximum refresh rate of 90 Hz is new in the Galaxy M32. This makes movements on the screen look smoother, for example, when scrolling websites, and the system appears more responsive overall.
At an average brightness of 720 cd/m², the display appears quite bright. None of the comparison devices offer such high brightness. Thanks to OLED technology, you don't have to worry about the black value. Since the individual pixels can be turned off completely and there is no background illumination, black appears infinitively dark in theory, which also causes other colors to look more vibrant.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 95 %
Center on Battery: 718 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.94 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.86
ΔE Greyscale 1.5 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
99.1% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.089
| Samsung Galaxy M32 Super AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | Samsung Galaxy M31 Super AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.4" | Samsung Galaxy M31s Super AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.5" | Motorola Moto G60s IPS, 2480x1080, 6.8" | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -22% | -22% | -18% | 1% | |
| Brightness middle | 712 | 622 -13% | 584 -18% | 602 -15% | 706 -1% |
| Brightness | 720 | 615 -15% | 586 -19% | 564 -22% | 701 -3% |
| Brightness Distribution | 95 | 97 2% | 95 0% | 83 -13% | 98 3% |
| Black Level * | 0.56 | ||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.94 | 2.25 -16% | 2.09 -8% | 2.23 -15% | 2.1 -8% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.81 | 6.22 -7% | 7.96 -37% | 3.99 31% | 4.9 16% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.5 | 2.7 -80% | 2.2 -47% | 2.6 -73% | 1.5 -0% |
| Gamma | 2.089 105% | 2.019 109% | 2.084 106% | 2.32 95% | 2.29 96% |
| CCT | 6593 99% | 6810 95% | 6512 100% | 7127 91% | 6447 101% |
| Contrast | 1075 |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 362.3 Hz | ≤ 99 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 362.3 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 362.3 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8439 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
In our measurements with the spectrophotometer and the CalMAN software, we determine that the smartphone is able to reproduce colors and grayscale fairly accurately in the "Natural" color mode. There are only slightly higher deviations in bright green color tones and bright red. So, those who have to depend on accurate colors will receive a usable display.
We measure some PWM and it is also used at fairly high brightness level. The curve in the oscilloscope hardly changes, so the Galaxy M32 appears to have a fairly simple PWM brightness control.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 5 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 19 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.7 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 10 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 7 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 21 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.4 ms). | ||
With its screen becoming quite bright, you can easily use the smartphone outdoors. Even on sunny days, there are hardly any problems and you only have to look for a shady place when the sun shines directly on the display.
The smartphone owes its highly stable viewing angles to AMOLED technology, so you can read the display from any position without any noticeable color changes.
Performance: Not much power in the class comparison
The SoC of the smartphone is the MediaTek Helio G80. Since it is already almost three years old at the time of this test, we would have wished for a more modern processor for the Galaxy M32. In terms of the processor performance, the Galaxy M32 is only barely ahead of its predecessor but at least the gap becomes wider when it comes to graphics performance. That being said, the Moto G60s and the Redmi Note 10S are significantly more powerful smartphones in this price range.
In everyday operation, this often translates into some waiting with the Galaxy M32. Starting up the smartphone already takes some time. When demanding apps are running, even adjusting the volume requires some patience. While those who only use simple apps such as WhatsApp or the Internet browser won't have to worry, some slightly more demanding apps may cause the device to start sweating.
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G80 (177851 - 181928, n=4) | |
| AImark - Score v2.x (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s | |
| Motorola Moto G60s | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G80 (6865 - 7292, n=4) | |
When surfing the Internet, the Galaxy M32 doesn't make such a bad impression in its class. But in everyday operation, it might take a while until a web page is loaded and you might have to wait even longer until the images are loaded.
| Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G60s (Chrome93) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G80 (29 - 40, n=8) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 (Chrome 98) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 (Chrome 83) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s (Chrome 86) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S (Chrome 91) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Motorola Moto G60s (Chrome93) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 (Chrome 98) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G80 (54 - 60.8, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s (Chrome 86) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 (Chrome 83) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S (Chrome 91) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=146, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G60s (Chrome93) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 (Chome 83) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s (Chome 86) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G80 (21.8 - 32, n=8) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 (Chome 98) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S (Chrome 91) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=68, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G60s (Chrome93) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 (Chrome 83) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s (Chrome 86) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G80 (43 - 60, n=7) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 (Chrome 98) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S (Chrome 91) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=206, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G60s (Chrome93) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G80 (10432 - 12744, n=9) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 (Chrome 98) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s (Chrome 86) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 (Chrome 83) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S (Chrome 91) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S (Chrome 91) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s (Chrome 86) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 (Chrome 83) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G80 (3227 - 4076, n=8) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 (Chrome 98) | |
| Motorola Moto G60s (Chrome93) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=166, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
We do not understand why Samsung only uses eMMC memory, since the predecessor already had faster memory. This contributes to the sluggish impression of the system overall.
| Samsung Galaxy M32 | Samsung Galaxy M31 | Samsung Galaxy M31s | Motorola Moto G60s | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Average 128 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 61% | 55% | 51% | 66% | -6% | 498% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 297.3 | 489.5 65% | 490.3 65% | 498.5 68% | 498.8 68% | 294 ? -1% | 2054 ? 591% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 178.7 | 221.7 24% | 318.4 78% | 200.5 12% | 372 108% | 195.8 ? 10% | 1667 ? 833% |
| Random Read 4KB | 98 | 128.9 32% | 105 7% | 123.3 26% | 110.5 13% | 83.9 ? -14% | 286 ? 192% |
| Random Write 4KB | 68.8 | 152.4 122% | 117.1 70% | 135.3 97% | 121 76% | 56.7 ? -18% | 327 ? 375% |
Games: 60 Hz gaming on the 90-Hz screen
You won't get real 90 Hz gaming with the Samsung Galaxy M32, at least not in the games that we tested. Armajet, which really doesn't pose high demands, reaches a stable 60 Hz, which makes it easily playable — just not at a smooth 90 Hz.
In the more demanding PUBG Mobile, we measure around 30 fps at high settings and around 40 fps at lower settings. This makes the shooter just barely playable at high settings, and you still cannot avoid the occasional stutter. We measured frame rates with the GameBench software suite.
The control via touchscreen and position sensor works without any problems in our tests.
Emissions: Limited warming
Temperature
Under longer load, the Samsung smartphone can get fairly warm at times, and we measure 43.5 °C (110.3 °F) at the bottom as the maximum temperature. While this is noticeable, it is not problematic. However, those who happen to carry the smartphone to higher temperature environments should be aware that the heat development of the smartphone could become critical under load.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.3 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.5 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.8 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 | |
| Motorola Moto G60s | |
| Motorola Moto G60s | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Motorola Moto G60s | |
| Motorola Moto G60s | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 | |
Speaker
The small mono speaker of the Samsung smartphone doesn't get very loud. Perhaps this is the reason for the highs not to sound uncomfortably over-emphasized. However, the sound is still very bright, and music fans shouldn't plan on longer listening sessions using the speaker.
On the other hand, you can use Bluetooth or the 3.5 mm audio port to connect external audio devices. This works without any trouble and the sound is transferred clearly. While the aptX codec is supported, the more modern ones such as aptX HD or aptX Adaptive are not.
Samsung Galaxy M32 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 63% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 31% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 78% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy M31 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 64.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 64.8% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 64.8% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (120.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 88% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 96% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery Life: Smaller battery with shorter battery life
Power Consumption
When we look a little closer at the power consumption of the Samsung Galaxy M32, we notice that the smartphone is overall significantly more efficient than its Galaxy M31 predecessor. However, the Moto G60s and Redmi Note 10S are even more efficient.
Particularly under medium and high load, the Galaxy M32 uses more power than some comparison devices. This might be due to the brighter display but could also be because of the overall power management.
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.3 Watt |
| Idle |  1 / 1.8 / 2.4 Watt |
| Load |
5.1 / 7.4 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Samsung Galaxy M32 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy M31 6000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy M31s 6000 mAh | Motorola Moto G60s 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S 5000 mAh | Average Mediatek Helio G80 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -40% | -30% | 32% | 28% | 2% | -2% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1 | 1.6 -60% | 1.4 -40% | 0.7 30% | 0.69 31% | 1.025 ? -3% | 0.872 ? 13% |
| Idle Average * | 1.8 | 2.3 -28% | 2.2 -22% | 0.9 50% | 1.46 19% | 2.04 ? -13% | 1.415 ? 21% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.4 | 3.7 -54% | 3.4 -42% | 1.2 50% | 1.5 37% | 2.35 ? 2% | 1.556 ? 35% |
| Load Average * | 5.1 | 6.7 -31% | 6.3 -24% | 4.3 16% | 3.67 28% | 4.18 ? 18% | 7.04 ? -38% |
| Load Maximum * | 7.4 | 9.4 -27% | 8.9 -20% | 6.4 14% | 5.58 25% | 6.95 ? 6% | 10.6 ? -43% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power Consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery Life
The 6000 mAh battery of the predecessor is now history. The Galaxy M32 has to make do with just a 5000 mAh cell, but it this also makes the device slightly lighter as a result.
This has a significant effect on battery life. While clocking 18:18 hours in our WLAN test isn't a bad result, the predecessor lasted for several hours longer. However, the Galaxy M32 should still be able to last through several work days with its battery capacity depending on how you use it. When gaming, it lasts for almost 5 hours under high load.
We also should mention again here that the device could be charged at up to 25 W with the corresponding charger, but this is not included in-box. Using the 15 W charger that is included in the box, the phone takes significantly longer than 2 hours until the battery is completely recharged. A faster charger shortens the charging time significantly.
| Samsung Galaxy M32 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy M31 6000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy M31s 6000 mAh | Motorola Moto G60s 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S 5000 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 19% | 17% | -22% | 25% | |
| Reader / Idle | 2076 | 2456 18% | 2439 17% | 1519 -27% | 3612 74% |
| H.264 | 1137 | 1432 26% | 1416 25% | 867 -24% | 1172 3% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 1098 | 1324 21% | 1309 19% | 763 -31% | 1087 -1% |
| Load | 296 | 326 10% | 319 8% | 283 -4% | 368 24% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict: Samsung is hardly able to keep up
Of course, it is great that the Galaxy M32 brings a bright AMOLED screen with support for a 90 Hz refresh rate. After all, Samsung made this display technology to what it is now. On the other hand, you also have to accept several other compromises: there is no fast 5G reception, and the location system often doesn't work. The large battery of the predecessor is also gone, being replaced by a standard model that offers 5000 mAh.
The performance values also cannot move the Galaxy M32 ahead — the Motorola Moto G60s or Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S offer significantly more power at the same price. The fact that Samsung includes a 15 W charger like with many others in its affordable smartphone range but advertises the 25 W charging technology is simply bad, particularly if you consider that the Moto G60s charges at up to 50 W and naturally also includes the corresponding charger.
With the Galaxy M32, Samsung brings a 4G smartphone that isn't quite convincing, considering its competitors and mediocre GPS locating system.
By itself, the Samsung Galaxy M32 is a decent mid-range 4G smartphone that is light, not too bulky, and looks elegant with an impressively bright display. However, you have to look elsewhere to get the best price-performance ratio.
The Motorola Moto G60s brings an even faster screen, but it uses IPS technology. In addition, you get fast charging technology and more power. Those who absolutely need an AMOLED screen can pick the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S, which also offers more power than our test unit.
Price and availability
Samsung Galaxy M32
- 08/30/2022 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt
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