When you find a winning strategy for mid-range devices, you bet on it as a locomotive. That's exactly what's happened with the A series in 2019. Its most successful model in terms of value for money has been the Galaxy A50. With the 2020 refresh, the cute Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A31 hit the market. Let's take a look at what the latter offers.
Samsung Galaxy A31 Specifications
- Release date: 2020, March 24
- Colors: Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Red, Prism Crush White
- Dimensions: 159.3 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm.
- Weight: 185 g.
- Screen: 6.4" in, 1080 x 2400, Super AMOLED
- Camera : Quad, 48MP
- Chipset: Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65 (12nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55)
- Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
- Battery: 5000, Non-removable Li-Po
- Network: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Operating system: Android 10.0; One UI 2.0
- Sensors: Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
If you are curious to find out all the details before reading the full review, visit the page for Samsung Galaxy A31 Specs, where you will find even the smallest detail about the phone.
Design
The face of the Galaxy A31 looks similar to that of its predecessor. The body has rounded edges, there's a teardrop notch under the front camera, the bezels are relatively thin on the sides and top, and noticeably thicker underneath. Overall, this is a standard design for a budget model in recent times. We find nothing original in it. However, the Galaxy A31 looks immaculate and contemporary.
Glasstic (a combination of the words Glass and Plastic) attracts interest. We are talking about plastic, which is covered with a glossy protective layer that creates a mirror effect, in the sun and at different angles the housing begins to play. It looks a little different. In the Galaxy A31, glass is only used on the screen.
On the right side of the device is the volume rocker and also the on/off button. On the opposite side, you can see the slot for 2 nanoSIM cards and a microSD memory card. The slot is not combined. I.e. you can use the memory expansion slot without sacrificing a SIM card.
The model is available in 4 color options - black, blue, white and red. The back cover and the frames on the sides are plastic. The body has average dimensions - 159.3 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm. It weighs only 185 grams. More than average. The Galaxy A31 lies securely in the user's hand. Rounded edges help comfort and the device does not feel slippery. This makes it a good fit for people who are careless.
Display
The screen characteristics of the Galaxy A31 are practically the same as its predecessor. The display has a diagonal of 6.4 inches. It is made with Super AMOLED technology. The aspect ratio is 20:9, the resolution is 1080 x 2400 pixels. The pixel density per inch is about 411.
The screen of the Galaxy A31 is bright and contrasty. It is easy to read even in direct sunlight. Since the display is AMOLED, you can adjust the modes in the smartphone's settings.
One feature of the Galaxy A31, which is not available in most of its competitors in this price range, is the Always On Display mode. It allows the user to see the time and date, notifications and other information at will without turning on the screen.
Scanners
To unlock the smartphone, Samsung has provided facial recognition, which is handled by the front camera. The procedure requires a certain amount of time - depending on the environmental conditions, unlocking takes between half a second and a second. When registering the face, there are two options - with glasses and without glasses. The user can add an "alternative look" - in case you periodically consider changing your appearance. The hat and scarf are not an obstacle to correct facial recognition.
The other way to protect the information is the fingerprint scanner. The top is built under the screen. It works slower than the standard one. You'll have to take a second. The accuracy of the scanner is not in question.
Performance
Unlike the Galaxy A30, which features the Exynos 7904 chipset, the Galaxy A31 uses the Mediatek Helio P65. It packs an 8-core CPU (two Cortex-A75 cores running at up to 2 GHz and another 6 Cortex-A55 cores at up to 1.7 GHz. The graphics core is Mali-G52. The smartphone comes in two variants - with 4/6 GB of RAM and 64/128 GB of internal storage.
If you recall, the Helio P65 was unveiled in mid-2019. It is manufactured on a 12nm process and is designed for use in budget smartphone models. Compared to the Galaxy A30, this device demonstrates a remarkable increase in performance.
The Galaxy A31 runs Android 10 operating system, complemented by the company's One UI 2.1 interface. Standard applications are represented by a calculator, file manager, voice recorder and others that are necessary for comfortable work.
Camera
The rear camera of the Galaxy A31 consists of four modules. The main one is 48 MP with f/2.0 aperture, 26 mm equivalent focal length, has phase autofocus support. The other modules are an 8 MP, ultra-wide, 5 MP macro module and another, again 5 MP, which is tasked with measuring the depth of the scene.
The camera application is traditional for the smartphones of the South Korean company Samsung. However, in it we will find fewer operating parameters compared to the A51 model. For example, we find only panorama, macro, "food" and professional mode. The camera in this model is devoid of slow motion and night mode, which may upset some users. The default main unit takes 12-megapixel photos.
In ideal conditions, on the street in sunny weather, the photos are satisfactory quality and detail. The dynamic range is medium. You can trigger HDR in auto mode or turn it off altogether.
Autonomous operation
The Galaxy A31 uses a 5000 mAh battery. Combined with the platform, which is not the most powerful, the user gets excellent autonomous operation. In real conditions, it can count on two nights even under considerable load. In moderate operation - even on three.
Tentatively, we can say that with continuous video viewing at maximum brightness you can count on up to 22 hours of operation. When playing audio - up to 97 hours. Surfing the Internet will discharge the battery up to 20 hours.
The Galaxy A31 comes with a 15W charger. Wireless charging technology is not supported, but fast charging is available. It takes about 75 - 80 minutes to fully recharge the device.
Conclusion:
The Galaxy A31 is a worthy representative of the mid-budget smartphone segment. It has a beautiful and quality display, large battery and decent performance. Compared to its predecessor, released a year earlier, it sees an improvement on the autonomy metric. There is also an improvement in the performance of the main camera. It is equipped with additional modules, which will please a lot of users from the youth audience.
Pros:
- Quality display;
- Excellent autonomy;
- Good quality of daily photos;
- Uncombined SIM and memory card slot.
Minuses:
- Relatively fast fingerprint scanner;
- Lacks wireless charging technology;
- Mediocre night shots.
Samsung Galaxy A31 video review
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on our team's personal experience with the Samsung Galaxy A31 and third-party sources. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and reliable information, readers should keep in mind that this is a subjective assessment. The writing of this article was not paid for or sponsored by Samsung.
