We know that things change quickly in the smartphone space but this update’s lightning quick even by those standards. In June 2021 we put Samsung’s Galaxy M32 under the scanner, we were impressed with the display and the monster (6000 mAh) battery. It’s just been three months and Samsung has just unleashed a new version of this device. The big pitch for the M32 5G lies in the suffix. This is a 5G ready device, as leading handset manufacturers in India aim to strengthen their 5G portfolio across price points in preparation for the imminent 5G rollout in India.
While there’s no still no clear indication as to when India will keep its date with 5G networks, there’s stuff in this device that you can enjoy in the now. The design aesthetic is one of the things that stood out for us. We’re fans of the ‘minimal camera housing’ design element that Samsung has implemented across multiple devices. There’s no clear camera bump or groove, just a series of rings for the lenses that sit on the rear of the devices. It adds to the minimalist design language of the device. It’s finished in plastic but still looks premium. The glossy surface has an affinity for smudges and fingerprints though. We checked out the pleasing Sky Blue colour variant; it’s also available in slate black.
The M32 5G is an interesting mix of upgrades and downgrades over the M32. This one’s pitched for those who have a clear ‘need for speed’. Aside from faster network connectivity once 5G goes live, you also get a faster processor under the hood. The M32 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 720 5G processor that teams up with 6GB of RAM (there’s also an 8GB variant) and 128GB of Internal memory. There’s also support for external memory (up to 1TB). The device notched up a score of 1671 in our Geekbench (multi-core) benchmark test. This is a significant improvement over the M32 scores when we tested it back in June.
The M32 5G features a 6.5-inch HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels) display with a teardrop notch. While this notch is easy to ignore, we wish, Samsung would opt for a better placement just like it does with its pricier devices. The display is quite vibrant with excellent visibility even under sunlight, but it doesn’t come with the fluidic 90Hz refresh rate that we saw on the M32. The other tweak (vis-à-vis the M32) is the rear camera set up. The M32 packs four lenses including a 48MP primary lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens with a 123-degree field of view and a 2MP depth sensor. While the macro sensor (5MP) is better than its predecessor, the 48MP primary lens is not in the same league as the 64MP lens in the M32. There was no significant difference in the results though. A 13MP selfie shooter completes the camera offering.
The M32 5G also offers a solid battery – a key part of the M series sales pitch. Samsung claims a 20-hour video playback. The battery was solid in our tests; you won’t reach out for your charger before the end of the day even if you’re a heavy user. This device features a 5000 mAh battery (the M32 has a 6000 mAh under the hood); the M32 5G doesn’t feel too unwieldy in your hand despite the large battery.
The Samsung Galaxy M32 5G is aimed at users who are looking at a future-proof 5G device (with guaranteed OS upgrades for 2 years). The device is certainly faster than its predecessor. If speed is your key driver, then the trade-off on the 90Hz display might well be worth it.
The Samsung Galaxy M32 5G costs Rs 20,999 (6GB/128GB) / Rs 22,999 (8GB/128GB) and comes in slate black and sky blue. There’s a special instant cash back (Rs 2,000 off) on ICICI cards.
