Samsung Galaxy M40 First Impressions: Major Issues, Unexpected Results, Disappointing Features

So, finally we have the new M series device, the Galaxy M40, a new addition to the current hit M series. The fourth Galaxy M series smartphone comes with the new punch-hole design technology, the first of its kind on a budget.

But, does it have it all?

Galaxy M40 is available at Rs 19,990 in a single variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.

Galaxy M40 is available officially via Amazon India. The smartphone comes with a triple camera system at the back and a big 3,500mAh battery with fast charging support. There’s more into it, and we have done a quick review to find out what’s good and not.

Here’s an in-depth analysis on the details and features offered by the new Samsung Galaxy M40.

Let’s begin.

Design & Build: Plastic Body

Samsung Galaxy M40 comes with the same body and build as its predecessor, Galaxy M30. There’s nothing new. It’s a high quality polycarbonate built with a bit of gradient colour schemes. The size is compact, and it fits perfectly for one-handed usage. Neither too big nor too small.

There’s a rear mounted fingerprint sensor and a three camera setup at the back.

It’s curved at the ends with a glasstic panel backing it. The device has a slim form factor with the power and volume buttons on the right side, fingerprint sensor at the back, all are easy to reach.

In a bid to be more premium, Samsung has ditched the 3.5mm headphone and have packed in a Type-C earphones with the box. There’s a hybrid SIM slot and a single speaker grille at the bottom.

There are two colours available. The Midnight Blue colour variant can be termed as a mix of black and blue, while the Seawater Blue has a lighter blue hue. Both are refreshing, but again, the overall ergonomics remain the same.

Display: No AMOLED & Call Quality Issues!

Galaxy M40 features a 6.3-inch full-screen Full HD+ TFT display with 409 PPI without any notch to offer a little more than 91 percent screen-to-body ratio. Unlike its predecessor, Galaxy M30 which comes with a Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy M40 uses a TFT LCD panel, big downgrade.

The company ditched the notch for this Galaxy M smartphone to offer a full-screen viewing experience with a punch-hole.

It’s Widevine L1 certified though, so you can stream content on different OTt platforms in true HD resolution.

The hole-punch lies at the left top corner with a screen resolution of 2340×1080 pixels and Corning Gorilla Glass protection on top. They punch-hole inside the display have the front camera. The bezels are very thin with a slightly larger bottom.

The Galaxy M40 has an on-screen sound technology. It uses the display to emit sound from under the display. We tried it, and there’s some issues with the call quality. We made a few calls, and the quality isn’t up to the mark.

Hardware: How’s The Performance?

Galaxy M40 is powered by the entry-flagship Snapdragon 675 chip with 6GB of RAM and Adreno 612 GPU. Based on a 11nm architecture, the Snapdragon SoC offers some top-level performance on a budget.

The Snapdragon 675 is said to be closer to the previous generation flagship Snapdragon chips in terms of performance.

Galaxy M40 did well, and there weren’t any issues in terms of multitasking and mid-level gaming.

But, Samsung could have used a better chip. Xiaomi offers the same chip at under 14,000 rupees. If the company really wants to take on Xiaomi and Realme in India, it needs to keep a keen eye on these important things.

It comes in a single storage variant with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage, expandable via an external microSD card.

There won’t be any noticeable difference in daily use given the memory-heavy apps and social media, and Snapdragon 675 works quite well when it comes to extended gaming and extensive multitasking.

Finally, the OneUI have a heavy bloatware with multiple customisations which does impact the real-world smartphone performance and user experience. In all, it does okay in terms of daily performance.

Software: First Galaxy M Device To Run Android 9 Pie

Samsung Galaxy M40 runs on Android 9 Pie based on company’s OneUI with multiple customisations and bloatware. Samsung’s OneUI comes loaded with features and tweaks making the interface quite heavy. The pre-installed apps can be uninstalled.

The apps open fast and load times are above average. The touch response is good and works fine.

This won’t be an issue. Though, Samsung is really slow when it comes to sending updates and patches.

Again, the UI is an individual choice, so we leave it up to you, whether you prefer the new Samsung OneUI or not. This is the first Galaxy M device to run Pie out of the box. It loads a few new features as system-wide night mode, an improved interface and a few more customisations.

Camera: Sharp Images & Good Detailing

Samsung Galaxy M40 features a rear triple camera system additionally featuring an ultra wide-angle camera in the mix. Samsung Galaxy M40 flaunts a 32-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and a 5-megapixel secondary depth sensor with an f/2.2 aperture.

Finally, M40 has a 8-megapixel tertiary an ultra-wide-angle lens with an f/2.2 aperture and 123 degree wide angle view with AI supported features.

The images capture a lot of detail and are quite sharp. In good lighting, they are clear. The main camera can take in a lot of details and colours. The wide-angle shots are great as well with a bit less details.

Up front, Galaxy M40 features a 16MP shooter with an f/2.2 aperture inside the punch-hole. It does a decent job as well. The camera interface is quite minimal and has modes to enhance the overall photography. AI works on both to adjust to the particular lighting and adjust the filters.

Battery: Can Run For A Day!

The dynamic range is good, and both capture quite accurate details and produce good colours. The HDR works fine with the ultra-wide lens being handy at times.

Galaxy M40 packs in a 3,500mAh battery, capable of running a whole day on a single charge and moderate usage. The smartphone supports fast charging, and will ship with a 15W fast charger inside the box.

It will take around 90 minutes (approximately) to charge fully from 0 percent to 100 percent.

Pricing, India Availability: Does It Justify The Price?

Galaxy M40 has been launched in the country in a single variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage at Rs 19,990. The smartphone is available in two colour options: Sea Water Blue and Midnight Blue in India, exclusively online via Amazon India.

Being an M-series smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy M40 is an online exclusive model only.

Samsung Galaxy M40 have a good set of features backed by some flagship level specs, but has its own set of flaws. The new punch-hole design technology may look good, but again it’s just a TFT FHD display.

At an upper range budget-friendly price, there could have been more. There has been some call quality issues and it only dons a plastic body on the out.

The processor does okay, while the camera does well above average.

If your sole purpose is to get a punch-hole display smartphones at a budget price, you should also consider the new Moto One Vision with a 21:9 taller display, 48MP camera with OIS and more. Vivo Z1 is also on its way, and Galaxy M40 is definitely not the best bet at under 20,000 bucks as of now.