The Korean brand Samsung has firmly secured all positions in the budget segment of the mobile device market. Literally, not a month passes without the manufacturer presenting the world with another masterpiece at an affordable price and decent technical specifications. Recently, the Samsung Galaxy M11 smartphone was released, which immediately became the best-selling on the global market.
What is the feature of a budget-class device?
Samsung’s marketing team is not paid for nothing. The year 2020 was marked not only by the pandemic but also by the self-liquidation of all budget smartphones from 4-5 years ago. All phones with an outdated Android version (up to v5) and with less than 1.5 GB RAM instantly lost compatibility with Google services. Buyers rushed to the store for another batch of the cheapest phones with attractive features. And there was the excellent Galaxy M11, with a very capacious battery, good cameras, necessary technologies, and a beautiful screen.
Samsung Galaxy M11 Smartphone: Technical Specifications
| Model | SM-M115F |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC |
| Cores | Octa-core Cortex-A53 @1.8 GHz |
| Graphics Adapter | GPU Adreno 506 |
| RAM | 3/4 GB RAM |
| Storage | 32/64 GB |
| Expandable Storage | Yes, microSD cards up to 64 GB |
| AnTuTu Score | 88,797 |
| Display: Diagonal and Type | 6.4″ LCD IPS |
| Resolution and Density | 1560 x 720, 2686 pixels per inch |
| Main Camera | 13 MP (f/1.8) + 5 MP (f/2.2) + 2 MP (f/2.4), video 1080p@30 fps |
| Front Camera | 8 MP (f/2.0) |
| Sensors | Fingerprint scanner, proximity, light, magnetic field, accelerometer, NFC |
| Headphone Jack | Yes, 3.5 mm |
| Bluetooth | Version 4.2, A2DP |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Battery | Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Fast Charging | No, USB 2.0 Type-C, USB OTG |
| Operating System | Android 10, One UI 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 161×76×9 mm |
| Weight | 197 g |
| Price | $135-160 |
Appearance of the Samsung Galaxy M11
The phone’s body is entirely made of inexpensive plastic. The coating is uniform, matte, without special decorative finish. The absence of a glass back with a gradient shimmer and a metal frame on the sides affected the device’s price. The simplified version of the smartphone from a cool South Korean brand received a price matching its appearance. And that’s great.
The phone is available in several colors – black, turquoise, purple. There is no protection against moisture and dust. The display of the smartphone also remains unprotected from physical damage.
Multimedia Features of the SM-M115F
Adding multiple cameras on the back of a smartphone was very trendy in 2020. Moreover, their number, almost across all brands, is at least three. The budget Samsung Galaxy M11 is no exception to this global trend. But unlike competitors, the camera block does not protrude beyond the plane of the back cover. The smartphone sits stably on a table and, without a protective case, does not catch on the edges of clothing pockets.
The front camera is implemented in the left corner of the screen in a round cutout. It is featureless. Some users may not like the absence of an LED indicator or flash. But let’s not forget that this is a budget-class device.
The fingerprint scanner deserves attention. It is located on the back of the smartphone. It is capacitive, traditional. It works quickly and responds to any finger touch. In our case, unlocking was successful 50 out of 50 times. So, the scanner works very effectively.
The audio system of the Samsung Galaxy M11 also deserves attention. There is one speaker for calls and a microphone, both located at the bottom of the body. The voice transmission is of good quality. Noise suppression is present. It is better not to play music through it – it significantly cuts the high and low frequencies. However, the 3.5 mm headphone jack is perfect for listening to music. It worked great with Koss headphones, and the sound was pleasing.
Display Quality of the Samsung Galaxy M11
Undoubtedly, IPS technology in the display is a good choice. But for a 6.4-inch diagonal, a resolution of 1560×720 is quite low. And that’s putting it mildly. The physical size of the screen is 148×68 millimeters. The aspect ratio is 19.5:9. The screen is slightly elongated in length. The pixel density is 268ppi. The refresh rate is 60 Hz. There is no option to change the refresh rate or resolution. And honestly, there is no need to.
The IPS matrix works properly. Good viewing angles, the ambient light sensor behaves adequately. In semi-darkness or under sunlight, text is easily readable, and photos or videos are clearly distinguishable. We were eager to find a display with low resolution, but it was not possible. Samsung’s engineers did a great job – they installed a quality screen.
Communications of the Samsung Galaxy M11
We have not experienced issues with Samsung phones regarding voice calls and internet connectivity. The call radio module is stable, and the voice quality remains clear even with a weak signal. The vibration motor is somewhat weak – considering that such smartphones are often purchased by elderly people, this is a significant shortcoming of the Korean manufacturer.
The digital information transfer is handled by the X9 LTE modem. It supports 4G Category 7 protocol. It works well, providing download/upload speeds of 300/150 Mbps with good coverage. There are questions about the Wi-Fi module – in 2020, why is a 2.4 GHz network used? Where is the 5.8 GHz standard? Fortunately, NFC is available for contactless payments.
In conclusion
Since the budget Samsung Galaxy M11 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset, we did not conduct performance testing. There is no point in wasting time on such tasks. The platform is aimed at maximum autonomy and stability, not gaming. By the way, in standby mode, the phone can last up to 3 days without charging. In reading mode, the 5000 mAh battery lasts for 20 hours. Continuous video playback is nearly 17 hours. The battery charges from zero to 100% in 3 hours (charger included: 9 V, 1.5 A, 14 W).
To buy or not to buy – that is the question. For this price, the smartphone is good. Considering that it is a reliable and proven Samsung product, not a Chinese miracle with an unpronounceable name. But, in terms of usability, the Samsung Galaxy M11 is quite slow. We only needed an hour of testing to start disliking all the Korean tech engineers.
From the previous testing, we still have Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (and 9) Pro. In the same price range – it’s like a breath of fresh air. Fast, with a beautiful screen, and all modern technologies. Ultimately, it’s up to the buyer to decide whether to choose a time-tested brand or opt for a technologically advanced Chinese device.
