Tech Next: Samsung’s budget challenger

Chennai

The M21 is a slightly scaled down version of the M31; does it have enough to hold its own?

For a device with a plastic back, the M21 looks quite refined. We checked out the Midnight Blue colour variant, the back is a fingerprint and smudge magnet though. The dimpled fingerprint sensor is located on the rear of the device. It’s a tad old-school but is easy to set up and responsive. The display is another key win for this device. It’s the same 6.4-inch FHD+ Infinity U display (2340 x 1080 pixels) that we spotted on the M31. It’s vibrant even under direct sunlight and one of the better displays at this price point.

Aside from the build and the display, the other feature that we dig is the battery. The 6000 mAh battery was one of the stellar features of the M31, it’s the same with this device.
 It adds to the heft of the device but might be worth the compromise for the two-day battery life that most average users can extract from this formidable battery. Samsung has bundled a 15W fast charger that powers up the device in quick time. Samsung retains the same Exynos 9611 processor as the M31. While we tested the 4GB/64GB variant, I’d recommend the 6GB/128GB variant, especially if you are a compulsive gamer or need the extra onboard memory. Of course, you can expand the memory (up to 512GB) with a Micro SD card.

The triple rear cam set up includes a 48MP primary lens, an 8MP ultrawide cam and a 5MP depth sensor.
 It’s a slight stepdown from the 64MP primary lens in the M31. It’s the same for the selfie cam — a 20MP lens vs. the 32MP lens on the M31. Results are good in optimal light but sub-par in lowlight. The Samsung Galaxy M21 has quite a few things going for it — a vibrant display, a robust battery and Samsung’s custom One UI interface. (Rs 12,699 onwards)

Wings PowerPods: a unique digital display case with a battery status display is one of the innovative features in Wings’ new Bluetooth ear buds. This allows you to keep tabs on available battery in the charging case at all times. The PowerPods promise 5 hours for each bud after each charging cycle and a total of 50 hours for the case. The other clever feature is the power bank function. The case doubles up as a 2500 mAh power bank — you can charge your smartphone on the go. The PowerPods come with stylish LED rings on each bud and responsive touch controls that allow you to flip tracks and answer calls with its stereo calling feature that includes a built-in HD mic. (Rs 4,499)

(Ashwin Rajagopalan is a lifestyle writer and consumer technology expert.Catch the latest digital and tech updates in this weekly column)