Samsung’s SmartThings Energy to offer improved power-saving feature in Korea

Samsung had launched the power-monitoring and power-saving feature called SmartThings Energy in 2019. It monitors home appliances and smart home devices that are compatible with SmartThings to lower electricity bills. The company has now announced that it is improving the feature by joining hands with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

The South Korean firm signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Korea Electric Power Corporation earlier today to develop an intelligent power-saving solution. The business agreement was signed by Park Chan-woo, VP of Samsung Electronics’ Home Appliance Business, and Kim Tae-yong, Head of Digital Transformation at KEPCO.

The new power-saving feature will use a combination of power consumption data provided by KEPCO and SmartThings Energy. It will offer hourly, daily, and monthly power consumption data along with electricity bill information. To prevent excessive electricity bills, it can save power by adjusting the AC’s settings and turning off home appliances when there is no one in the home.

The new and improved service will go live in South Korea in the second half of this year, and it will be available to those who have installed KEPCO’s AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Intelligent Remote Metering Device) watt-hour meter and activated the Samsung SmartThings Energy service.

SmartThings Energy is compatible with Samsung’s smart ACs, air dressers, air purifiers, dryers, microwave overs, ovens, refrigerators, robot vacuum cleaners, shoe dressers, and washing machines. Over 6.6 million consumers use the company’s SmartThings feature to control and automate their smart home appliances and devices remotely.

Park Chan-woo, said, “Samsung SmartThings Energy has developed into a true home energy saving service through cooperation with KEPCO. It will provide an experienced energy management experience.”

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Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M32: Are there enough improvements?

Samsung recently unveiled the Galaxy M32, a successor to the Galaxy M31. Both phones are targeted towards those who want a big display and long battery life. Does the Galaxy M32 offer enough improvements to upgrade from the Galaxy M31 from last year? This comparison article should give you a clear answer to that question.

The Galaxy M32 does come with a few improvements in display quality, performance, and charging speeds, but it is a downgrade in terms of front and rear-facing cameras. You can read our Galaxy M31 review here and the Galaxy M32 review here. Let us check out all the differences between the Galaxy M31 and the Galaxy M32 in detail.

Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M32: Design

The Galaxy M32 is still made out of plastic, but it does look quite attractive compared to the Galaxy M31. It has a more modern-looking camera layout. Both phones have roughly the same size (around 9mm) and weight (around 190g). The Galaxy M31 has a rear-mounted fingerprint reader, while the Galaxy M32 has a side-mounted fingerprint reader. It is easier to access the Galaxy M32’s fingerprint reader.

Winner: Galaxy M32

Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M32: Display

The Galaxy M32 comes with a significant improvement over the Galaxy M31 in terms of display quality. Both phones sport a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-U display with Full HD+ resolution, but the Galaxy M32 has a 90Hz refresh rate and up to 800 nits brightness in outdoor mode. The Galaxy M32 offers smoother animations, scrolling, and transitions, offering you a more fluid UI.

Winner: Galaxy M32

Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M32: Cameras

The Galaxy M31 features a quad-camera setup, featuring a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 5MP depth camera. The Galaxy M32 features a quad-camera setup as well, and it uses a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. Not only does the newer phone drops the resolution of its depth and macro cameras, but it also drops the video recording resolution to just Full HD 1080p. The Galaxy M31 can record 4K 30fps videos using both front and rear cameras. So, the Galaxy M32 is a downgrade in terms of camera abilities.

Winner: Galaxy M31

Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M32: Performance & Software

The Galaxy M31 comes equipped with the 10nm Exynos 9611 processor, 6GB/8GB RAM, 64GB/128GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot. The Galaxy M32 uses a 12nm MediaTek Helio G80 processor, 4GB/6GB RAM, 64GB/128GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot. In terms of performance, the Galaxy M32 offers a slight improvement in gaming and you can play AAA gaming titles (but not at 90fps to take advantage of the 90Hz refresh rate screen). And there are still some stutters and frame drops during day-to-day tasks and scrolling through the UI.

Both phones are currently running Android 11 with One UI 3.1, but the Galaxy M32 will get two more Android OS updates as it was launched recently. So, the Galaxy M32’s last major OS update will be Android 13, while the Galaxy M31 will be limited to Android 12.

Winner: Galaxy M32

Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M32: Connectivity

Both smartphones are exactly similar when it comes to connectivity features. The Galaxy M31 and the Galaxy M32 feature GPS, dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, a USB 2.0 Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Winner: Tie

Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M32: Battery Life

Again, the Galaxy M31 and the Galaxy M32 are on par with each other. They are both powered by 6,000mAh batteries. However, the Galaxy M32 offers fast charging at 25W, while the Galaxy M31 uses a slower 15W charging mechanism. While both phones can last 1-1.5 days on a single charge, the Galaxy M32 takes the cake due to faster charging.

Winner: Galaxy M32

Galaxy M31 vs Galaxy M32: Conclusion

The Galaxy M32 offers an upgrade in design, display, performance, and battery charging speeds, but it is a letdown when it comes to camera performance. If you use your smartphone’s camera a lot, you should not upgrade to the Galaxy M32 because the Galaxy M31 offers 4K video recording, while the Galaxy M32 lacks that feature.

Both phones are priced similarly, at least in India right now (INR 16,999 or $230). If you want a high-refresh-rate display but don’t want to lose out on 4K video recording, there’s no clear winner here. Instead, you need to spend a bit more and upgrade to the Galaxy A52, which offers both a 90Hz Full HD+ Super AMOLED display and 4K video recording. It even comes with OIS, stereo speakers, and a much faster processor.

VS.

Galaxy M32

Full comparison

General Information
Model name		Galaxy M32
Model number	SM-M315F	SM-M325F
Model type		Bar
Color		Black (Black) White (White) Blue (Blue)
Announced		2021, June
Released		2021, June
Physical Specifications
Dimensions		Bar: 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm
Weights		184g
Operating System
Operating system		Android 11
One UI version		3.1
Network
Networks		2G 3G 4G
Memory
RAM/ROM sizes		4 GB RAM with 64 GB ROM 6 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM 8 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM
Battery
Standard battery capacity	mAh	5000 mAh
Display
Kind	Main Display
Name	Infinity-U Display
Technology	Super AMOLED Display
Size	6.4 inch / 162.56 mm
Resolution	FHD+ / x pixels
Pixel density	PPI
Screen to body ratio	%
Rear camera
Megapixels	64MP
Aperture	F1.8
View full comparison »

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Galaxy M32 vs Galaxy A32: One of these offers better value

Samsung has launched dozens of mid-range smartphones over the past few months, and among those phones are the Galaxy A32 and the Galaxy M32. The Galaxy A32 made it to the market in February 2021. The Galaxy M32, which is a slightly modified version of the Galaxy A32, was launched in India last week. If you are having a hard time choosing one phone over the other, our comparison article should help you decide.

The Galaxy A32 and the Galaxy M32 have different designs, but they use the same chipset, screen, front-facing camera, and the primary rear-facing camera. They even have the same connectivity features, and the main difference comes down to their pricing and battery life. You can read our Galaxy A32 review here and the Galaxy M32 review here.

Galaxy A32 vs Galaxy M32: Display

Both smartphones feature 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-U displays with Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. They both are equally good screens. They are colorful, bright (up to 800 nits in outdoor conditions), and offer wide viewing angles. Thanks to a high refresh rate display, both phones offer a smooth experience while scrolling. Both phones are equally good, and there’s no winner here.

Winner: Tie

Galaxy A32 vs Galaxy M32: Design

The Galaxy A32 and the Galaxy M32 look quite different. Both phones use a plastic body, but they still look good. The Galaxy A32 looks and feels better, thanks to a slimmer design and a better finish. Its rear-facing cameras are pretty flush with the rest of the body, so if you are someone who doesn’t like camera bumps, the Galaxy A32 should satisfy you. The Galaxy A32 also comes in a lot more (and better) color options than the Galaxy M32.

Winner: Galaxy A32

Galaxy A32 vs Galaxy M32: Camera

Samsung has equipped both smartphones with 20MP front-facing cameras and 64MP quad-camera setups at the rear. However, there is a slight difference between the rear-facing camera setup on the Galaxy A32 and the Galaxy M32. The Galaxy A32 uses 5MP sensors for depth camera and macro camera, while the Galaxy M32 uses 2MP sensors for depth and macro. Both use 64MP wide-angle sensors and 8MP ultrawide sensors, and we think that depth and macro cameras shouldn’t make any practical difference.

Both phones have equally good cameras, so no matter which phone you choose, you will most probably be happy with the camera quality.

Winner: Tie

Galaxy A32 vs Galaxy M32: Performance & Software

As both phones are powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 processor, 4GB/6GB RAM, and 64GB/128GB internal storage, they have similar performance. The Galaxy A32 and the Galaxy M32 can stutter and drop frames from time to time despite the Helio G80 processor. You can play AAA gaming titles, but not at high frame rates to take advantage of the 90Hz refresh rate. Both devices also feature a microSD card slot, so expanding the storage space shouldn’t be a problem.

Both smartphones also run Android 11 out of the box with One UI 3.1, and they are bound to receive at least two major Android OS updates and an additional year of security updates.

Winner: Tie

Galaxy A32 vs Galaxy M32: Connectivity

Connectivity features on the Galaxy A32 and the Galaxy M32 include GPS, dual-SIM card slot, 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB 2.0 Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. None of these phones is better than the other in the connectivity segment, so this round is also tied.

Winner: Tie

Galaxy A32 vs Galaxy M32: Battery Life

Here comes one of the biggest differentiators between the Galaxy A32 and the Galaxy M32. The former has a 5,000mAh battery that supports up to 15W fast charging, while the latter is powered by a 6,000mAh battery that supports up to 25W fast charging. Although the Galaxy A32 can easily last a day with heavy usage, the Galaxy M32 goes the extra mile. Thanks to the 6,000mAh battery, the Galaxy M32 can last 1.5 days on a single charge. And 25W fast charging offers an added convenience. The Galaxy M32 is a clear winner here.

Winner: Galaxy M32

Galaxy A32 vs Galaxy M32: Conclusion

The Galaxy A32 and the Galaxy M32 are quite similar, thanks to the same screen, same processor, same hardware internals, and a similar camera configuration. However, the Galaxy M32 is cheaper (INR 16,999 or $230) than the Galaxy A32 (INR 20,499 or $275) and still offers longer battery life and faster charging, although at the expense of a beefier design. To us, the Galaxy M32 is a winner in this battle of mid-range Galaxy smartphones as it offers slightly better performance and more value.

However, if you want a flashier and slimmer design, the Galaxy A32 can be a better match for your needs. But you need to know that it costs considerably higher than the Galaxy M32, and you need to spend $45 more for just a better design.

Winner: Galaxy M32

• Buy Galaxy A32 from Samsung India
• Buy Galaxy M32 from Samsung India

Galaxy A32

VS.

Galaxy M32

Full comparison

General Information
Model name	Galaxy A32	Galaxy M32
Model number	SM-A325F	SM-M325F
Model type	Bar	Bar
Color	Black (Black) White (White) Blue (Blue) Violet (Violet)	Black (Black) White (White) Blue (Blue)
Announced	2021, January	2021, June
Released		2021, June
Physical Specifications
Dimensions	Bar: 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm	Bar: 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm
Weights	184g	184g
Operating System
Operating system	Android 11	Android 11
One UI version	3.1	3.1
Network
Networks	2G 3G 4G	2G 3G 4G
Display
Kind	Main Display	Main Display
Name	Infinity-U Display	Infinity-U Display
Technology	Super AMOLED Display	Super AMOLED Display
Size	6.4 inch / 162.56 mm	6.4 inch / 162.56 mm
Resolution	FHD+ / x pixels	FHD+ / x pixels
Pixel density	PPI	PPI
Screen to body ratio	%	%
Memory
RAM/ROM sizes	4 GB RAM with 64 GB ROM 6 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM 8 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM	4 GB RAM with 64 GB ROM 6 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM 8 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM
Rear camera
Megapixels	64MP	64MP
Aperture	F1.8	F1.8
Battery
Standard battery capacity	5000 mAh	5000 mAh
View full comparison »

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Samsung Galaxy M32 review: Makes you wonder why the Galaxy A32 exists

The Galaxy M32 is yet another attempt from Samsung to rebrand an existing phone from one of its other lineups. Recently, there came the Galaxy M42 5G, which is identical to the Galaxy A42 5G and doesn’t make a lot of sense at the asking price. But, thankfully, things are a little different when it comes to the Galaxy M32.

The M32 shares a whole lot with the Galaxy A32, like a 90Hz Super AMOLED Full HD+ display, MediaTek Helio G80 chipset, and a 64MP rear camera, but there are a few changes. Samsung has upgraded two key features: You get a larger battery (6,000 mAh vs 5,000 mAh), and support for 25W fast charging even if the box comes with a 15W charger.

Samsung has also downgraded a couple of specs. The 5MP macro and 5MP depth cameras on the back have been replaced by 2-megapixel sensors, but considering both of those cameras are gimmicks that don’t bring much to the table anyway, I wouldn’t call these downgrades, especially when you’re getting something much, much better in return – the bigger battery and faster charging, as mentioned above.

Plus, the Galaxy M32 starts at around $70 lower than the Galaxy A32 for the base variant, and that instantly makes it a much better deal on paper. But is that enough to make this phone worthy of your attention? Well, that’s the question I’m going to answer in this review. However, unlike our usual reviews, this will be a short one, given just how much the M32 is similar to the Galaxy A32.

You can read our Galaxy A32 review to find out everything you need to know about the M32’s display quality, cameras, performance, audio quality, and software. The short version is that you are getting a beautiful high refresh rate Super AMOLED display, a main camera with good daylight performance, the latest — though limited — version of Android and One UI, and fairly decent gaming performance.

What isn’t so good is all the lag and stutter you have to face while navigating the interface and doing the simplest of things, like switching between two apps. The cameras don’t offer a lot of detail when the lighting isn’t right, the speaker is too quiet, and you only get a 15W charger in the box even though the M32 supports 25W charging.

Now, here’s what’s different on the Galaxy M32. First, the design. Instead of the clean, cute and pattern-less rear panel of the Galaxy A32, you’re getting a textured back with thick vertical lines running across it. Whether or not you like it will depend on your preferences. It’s not ugly or anything, I just found it to be a little too flashy. Not bad for the asking price, certainly, but I would have preferred the clean look Samsung has been offering on the 2021 Galaxy A series phones.

Then there’s battery life: The Galaxy A32’s 5,000 mAh battery lets you go through two days of light use on a single charge, but thanks to the bump to a 6,000 mAh cell, you can do two days with a mix of light and heavy use on the Galaxy M32. With heavy use, you’re looking at all-day battery life (with the high refresh rate turned on at all times). In short, it’s terrific, and easily the best thing about this phone.

Charging with the included 15W charger is slow: almost 2.5 hours to go from 0 to 100. But if you spend a little extra and grab Samsung’s 25W super fast charger, the charging time is cut down to an hour and 40 minutes. That’s very quick for a 6,000 mAh battery, and the fact that you’re even getting 25W charging at the Galaxy M32’s price point is impressive, at least as far as Samsung phones are concerned.

All in all, the Galaxy M32’s price tag helps it stand out from everything else that Samsung is offering right now in the sub-$250 segment. I only wish Samsung had used a better processor so the performance wasn’t so bad. Still, for what the M32 costs you, you’re getting plenty of good stuff, and you could do a lot worse. You know, like getting the horribly priced Galaxy A32 instead.

Pros	Cons
Excellent Super AMOLED display	Too much lag and stutter for a 2021 phone
90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smooth… when it works	Cameras suffer from lack of detail in many situations
Versatile camera setup with good daylight performance	Macro camera is mostly useless
Terrific battery life	Speaker too quiet
25W super fast charging support	15W charger in the box
Android 11 and One UI 3.1 out of the box
Decent gaming performance

 

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