If you ask the average Indian consumer to list out three key purchase drivers for a smartphone, you’re likely to hear display, camera and battery. Then there are heavy duty users and compulsive gamers who are very picky about the internals – the processor and the RAM. Of course, this is not a 2021 thing. These three variables have almost always been in the mix. Samsung’s all-new Galaxy M32 aims at addressing those three features at a sub Rs 15,000 price point. Samsung goes a step further, pitching the M32 as one of the best displays at this price point. It’s a smart ploy. 

Even as our laptop screen times have increased drastically in a post-pandemic, WFH era, many of us still spend our chill time in front of a screen binge watching or gaming. We all need our ‘after hours’ fix. The M32 plays up two key features in its ‘best display in the segment’ pitch. It’s a 90Hz refresh rate and the display hits a maximum brightness of 800 nits. The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ display (1080 x 2400 pixels / 411 PPI) is our favourite feature on this device. It’s vivid and ultra-smooth, just what you need to catch up on both seasons of Ragnarök in an all-night binge. You won’t need to reach for the charger even if you stream all the episodes. 

The M series devices are pitched as battery monsters. The M32 is no exception. There’s a 6000 mAh battery under the hood. Samsung claims 25 hours of video playback; while we didn’t validate that claim, the battery comfortably lasted over a day with extensive camera usage and hours of screen time. Some of the earlier generations of M series devices were a tad too bulky, Samsung manages to keep the M32 just under 200 gm. This one doesn’t feel too unwieldy in your hand. It’s a refined looking device (we checked out the black colour option) with its striped back and placement of the four rear camera lenses. It likes fingerprints though; a given for a glossy back. 

Staying with the rear camera, the M32 packs four lenses including a 64MP primary lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens with a 123-degree field of view and a 2MP depth sensor. There’s also a 2MP Macro sensor if that’s your thing. Results were good in optimal light but dipped slightly in lowlight. It’s the same for the 20MP selfie shooter that comes with some of the cool portrait mode options that you find in higher-end Samsung devices. 

Samsung opts for a MediaTek G80 processor to power the M32. We’re slightly puzzled with this decision. The device isn’t the zippiest in class but still managed a respectable score of 1338 in our Geekbench benchmark tests. We tested the entry-level 4GB/64GB version, there’s also a 6GB/128GB variant in the mix. The Samsung Galaxy M32 is easily one of the displays in the sub Rs 15,000 segment. This display is backed by a robust battery and a capable shooter that make it a serious contender in a competitive price band where almost all customers want more for less.  

The Samsung Galaxy M32 costs Rs 14,999 (4GB/64GB) / Rs 16,999 (6GB/128GB) and comes in black and light blue. There’s a special offer (Rs 1,250 off) on ICICI cards.