Samsung Galaxy M30 Review: Budget AMOLED Powerhouse

The Samsung Galaxy M30 delivers a stunning Super AMOLED display and massive 5000mAh battery at an affordable price. This 2019 mid-ranger features a triple camera system and upgradable Android software.

Samsung Galaxy M30

Introduction

Released in March 2019, the Samsung Galaxy M30 brought premium features to the budget segment with its vibrant Super AMOLED display and exceptional battery life. Positioned as a value-oriented Android smartphone, it offered Samsung's reliable performance at an accessible price point of approximately €260.

Design & Display

The Galaxy M30 features a plastic frame and back with a glass front, weighing 174 grams with a thickness of 8.5mm. It's available in classic Black and Blue color options.

Its standout feature is the 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution (1080 × 2340 pixels). The 19.5:9 aspect ratio provides an immersive viewing experience with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 84.2%, making it effectively bezel-less for its time.

Performance & Hardware

Powered by Samsung's Exynos 7904 chipset built on a 14nm process, the device features an octa-core CPU configuration with two Cortex-A73 cores at 1.8GHz and six Cortex-A53 cores at 1.6GHz. The Mali-G71 MP2 GPU handles graphics processing.

The phone was available in multiple configurations:

  • 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM options
  • 32GB/64GB/128GB internal storage (eMMC 5.1)
  • Expandable storage via microSDXC card slot

Camera

The Galaxy M30 features a triple camera system on the rear:

  • 13MP primary sensor with f/1.9 aperture and PDAF
  • 5MP ultra-wide sensor with 12mm equivalent lens
  • 5MP depth sensor for portrait effects

The camera supports 1080p video recording at 30fps and features including HDR, panorama, and various shooting modes. For selfies, a 16MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture captures detailed photos and 1080p video.

Battery & Charging

A massive 5000mAh lithium-polymer battery provides exceptional endurance, supporting 15W fast charging through the USB Type-C port. The non-removable battery was one of the device's key selling points for power users.

Software & Features

The device launched with Android 8.1 Oreo but received an upgrade to Android 10 with Samsung's One UI 2.0, providing a modern user experience with improved navigation and features.

Additional features include a fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass.

Connectivity

Connectivity options include dual SIM support, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS with GLONASS and BDS support, FM radio, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Notably, the device does not support NFC.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Excellent Super AMOLED display
  • Outstanding battery life
  • Versatile triple camera system
  • Upgradable to Android 10
  • Expandable storage

Cons:

  • Plastic construction feels budget-oriented
  • No NFC support
  • Processor shows its age for intensive tasks

Tags: Samsung Galaxy M30,budget smartphone,AMOLED display,5000mAh battery,triple camera

The Samsung Galaxy M30 delivers a stunning Super AMOLED display and massive 5000mAh battery at an affordable price. This 2019 mid-ranger features a triple camera system and upgradable Android software.