Samsung Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M21

56 out of 100

54 out of 100

Here we compared two mid-range smartphones: the 6.4-inch Samsung Galaxy M31 (with Exynos 7 Octa 9611) that was released on February 25, 2020, against the Samsung Galaxy M21, which is powered by the same chip. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments (1)

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy M31

The front-facing camera can record video at 4K

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy M31 and Galaxy M21 crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Galaxy M31

Galaxy M21

Camera

Photo and video recording quality

Galaxy M31

Galaxy M21

Performance

CPU and memory performance (apps, system)

Galaxy M31

Galaxy M21

Gaming

Capabilities for playing modern games

Galaxy M31

Galaxy M21

Battery

Battery life, charging type and speed

Galaxy M31

78 *

Galaxy M21

78 *

Connectivity

Networks, ports, data transmission

Galaxy M31

Galaxy M21

Scores with a red asterisk ( * ) are approximate and may change in the future as we gather more data.

NanoReview Score

Final comparison evaluation

Galaxy M31

56 *

Galaxy M21

54 *

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Comparison table of technical specifications and tests

Phone:

Galaxy M31

Galaxy M21

Display

Type	Super AMOLED	Super AMOLED
Size	6.4 inches	6.4 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels	1080 x 2340 pixels
Aspect ratio	19.5:9	19.5:9
PPI	403 ppi	403 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	600 nits	630 nits
HDR support	Yes, HDR10	No
Screen protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Screen-to-body ratio	84%	84.2%
Display features	- Always-On Display	- Always-On Display

Display tests
RGB color space	142%	141.3%
PWM	208 Hz	215 Hz
Response time	8.5 ms	9 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Peak brightness test (auto)

Galaxy M31

616 nits

Galaxy M21

615 nits

Design and build

Height	159.2 mm (6.27 inches)	159 mm (6.26 inches)
Width	75.1 mm (2.96 inches)	75.1 mm (2.96 inches)
Thickness	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)
Weight	191 g (6.74 oz)	188 g (6.63 oz)
Waterproof	No	No
Rear material	Plastic	Plastic
Frame material	Plastic	Plastic
Colors	Black, Blue, Red	Black, Blue, Green
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, rear	Yes, rear

Screen-to-body ratio

Galaxy M31

84%

Galaxy M21

84.2%

Performance

Tests of Samsung Galaxy M31 and Samsung Galaxy M21 in the benchmarks

SoC
Chipset	Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 9611	Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 9611
Max clock	2300 MHz	2300 MHz
CPU cores	8 (4 + 4)	8 (4 + 4)
Architecture	- 4 cores at 1.7 GHz: Cortex-A53 - 4 cores at 2.3 GHz: Cortex-A73	- 4 cores at 1.7 GHz: Cortex-A53 - 4 cores at 2.3 GHz: Cortex-A73
Lithography process	10 nanometers	10 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G72 MP3	Mali-G72 MP3
GPU shading units	54	54
GPU clock	850 MHz	850 MHz
FLOPS	~91.8 GFLOPS	~91.8 GFLOPS

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Galaxy M31

509

Galaxy M21 +2%

518

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Galaxy M31

1552

Galaxy M21 +1%

1564

AnTuTu Benchmark 10

Galaxy M31 +7%

262033

Galaxy M21

244409

CPU	66550	81489
GPU	55246	35664
Memory	66684	60833
UX	73431	66199
Total score	262033	244409

3DMark Wild Life Performance

Galaxy M31

820

Galaxy M21

816

Max surface temperature	45.2 °C	44.1 °C
Stability	74%	73%
Graphics test	4 FPS	4 FPS
Graphics score	820	816

Memory

RAM
RAM size	6 GB	4, 6 GB
Memory type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	1866 MHz	1866 MHz
Channels	2	2

Storage
Storage size	128 GB	64, 128 GB
Storage type	UFS 2.1	UFS 2.1
Memory card	MicroSD	MicroSD
Memory card max size	Up to 512 GB	Up to 512 GB

Software

Operating system	Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 12)	Android 10.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12.0)
ROM	One UI 4.1	One Ui 4.1
OS size	15 GB	14.5 GB

Battery

Capacity	6000 mAh	6000 mAh
Max charge power	15 W	15 W
Battery type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	No	No
Reverse charging	No	No
Fast charging	Yes, Samsung Adaptive Fast Charge (45% in 60 min)	Yes, Samsung Adaptive Fast Charge (25% in 30 min)
Full charging time	2:25 hr	2:35 hr

Camera

Specs and camera test of smartphones

Main camera
Matrix	64 megapixels	48 megapixels
Image resolution	9248 x 6920	8000 x 6000
Zoom	Digital	Digital
Flash	LED	LED
Stabilization	Digital	Digital
8K video recording	No	No
4K video recording	Up to 30FPS	Up to 30FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 30FPS	Up to 30FPS
Slow motion	240 FPS (720p)	240 FPS (720p)
Angle of widest lens	123°	123°
Lenses	4 (64 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP)	3 (48 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 64 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.72", ISOCELL Bright GW1 (ISOCELL CMOS) - Phase autofocus	- 48 MP - Aperture: f/2.0 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/2.0", Samsung S5KGM2 (ISOCELL CMOS) - Phase autofocus
Ultra-wide lens	- 8 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 12 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/4.0" (CMOS)	- 8 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 12 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/4.0" (CMOS)
Macro lens	- 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.2	-
Depth lens	- 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/5.0" (CMOS)	- 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 25 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/5.0" (CMOS)
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode

Selfie camera
Megapixels	32 megapixels	20 megapixels
Image resolution	6528 x 4896	5184 x 3888
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.0
Focal length	26 mm	26 mm
Pixel size	0.8 microns	-
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/2.8"	-
Video resolution	2160p (4K) at 30 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

Connectivity

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth version	5	5
Bluetooth features	PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP	PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	2	2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
NFC *	Depends on the region	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Network
Number of SIM *	2	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	No	No
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	12	12
5G support	No	No

Sound

Speakers	Mono	Mono
Headphone audio jack	Yes	Yes
FM radio	Yes	Yes
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes

Speakers test

Max loudness

Galaxy M31

81.7 dB

Galaxy M21 +3%

83.8 dB

Other

Category	Mid-range	Mid-range
Announced	February 2020	March 2020
Release date	March 2020	March 2020
SAR (head)	0.48 W/kg	0.492 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.13 W/kg	1.13 W/kg
Sensors	- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint

* Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.

Conclusion

These smartphones have a lot in common, but we would recommend the Samsung Galaxy M31 .