The Samsung Galaxy M31 and Realme 7 Pro represent compelling options in the crowded mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a feature-rich experience without breaking the bank, they take distinctly different approaches. The M31 prioritizes a large display and battery capacity, while the 7 Pro focuses on processing power and incredibly fast charging. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Realme 7 Pro is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 720G chipset, built on an 8nm process, offers noticeably better performance and efficiency than the Samsung Galaxy M31’s Exynos 9611. The 65W charging is a game-changer, fully charging the device in just 34 minutes, a significant advantage over the M31’s 15W charging.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - Asia |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 25. Released 2020, March 05 | 2020, September 03. Released 2020, September 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3+), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) | 160.9 x 74.3 x 8.7 mm (6.33 x 2.93 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 182 g (6.42 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 420 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 65W wired, 50% in 12 min, 100% in 34 min |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Ocean Blue, Space Black, Red | Mirror Blue, Mirror Silver |
| Models | SM-M315F, SM-M315F/DS, SM-M315F/DSN | RMX2170 |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | 0.52 W/kg (head) 0.69 W/kg (body) | 0.73 W/kg (head) 0.52 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.48 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body) | - |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | C$ 885.00 | - |
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | Rp 3,498,000 |
| RENEWED | £ 199.00 | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 278414(v8)
GeekBench: 1811 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy M31
- Potentially larger battery capacity (spec not provided)
- Large display size (likely)
- Samsung brand recognition
- Slower Exynos 9611 processor
- Significantly slower 15W charging
- Less RAM (6GB vs 8GB)
Realme 7 Pro
- Faster Snapdragon 720G processor
- Incredibly fast 65W charging
- More RAM (8GB)
- Higher display brightness
- Potentially smaller battery capacity
- Realme brand may be less familiar to some
Display Comparison
The Realme 7 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 585 nits, a crucial advantage for outdoor visibility compared to the M31, where brightness data is unavailable. While both displays have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for LCD/OLED panels), the Realme 7 Pro’s higher brightness translates to a more vibrant and usable experience in direct sunlight. The M31’s larger screen size (spec not provided, but generally larger in the M series) may appeal to media consumers, but the 7 Pro’s brightness and potentially better color accuracy (data unavailable for M31) offer a superior viewing experience overall.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are limited. The Realme 7 Pro likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 720G, offering improved image processing and noise reduction. Without sensor size or aperture data for either device, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the Realme 7 Pro’s chipset is generally known for better camera performance in this price segment. The M31’s camera system may rely more heavily on software processing to compensate for potentially less capable hardware.
Performance
The Realme 7 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm) significantly outperforms the Samsung Galaxy M31’s Exynos 9611 (10nm) in both CPU and GPU benchmarks. The 8nm process node of the Snapdragon 720G is more efficient, leading to less heat generation and sustained performance during demanding tasks like gaming. The 7 Pro’s octa-core CPU, with 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver cores, provides a more responsive experience than the M31’s 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 configuration. Furthermore, the 7 Pro’s 8GB of RAM (vs. the M31’s 6GB) allows for more apps to remain open in the background without performance degradation.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the M31’s potentially larger capacity (spec not provided). However, the Realme 7 Pro’s 65W fast charging is a massive advantage. It can charge from 0-50% in just 12 minutes and reach 100% in 34 minutes, while the M31’s 15W charging is considerably slower. This difference in charging speed significantly impacts usability, allowing the 7 Pro to quickly top up its battery when needed, minimizing downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M31 if you prioritize maximum battery longevity and a large screen for media consumption, and are willing to accept slower performance and charging speeds. Buy the Realme 7 Pro if you value a smoother user experience, faster app loading times, and the convenience of incredibly rapid charging, even if it means slightly less raw battery capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy M31 suffer from thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9611, built on a 10nm process, is more prone to thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 720G (8nm). While it can handle casual gaming, demanding titles may experience frame drops and reduced performance after prolonged use. The larger process node generates more heat, forcing the phone to reduce clock speeds to prevent overheating.
❓ Is the 65W charging on the Realme 7 Pro safe for the battery's long-term health?
Realme employs multiple safety mechanisms within the 65W SuperDart Charge system to protect the battery. These include temperature control, over-voltage protection, and optimized charging algorithms. While fast charging can generate heat, the system is designed to minimize any potential long-term impact on battery health.
❓ How does the 8GB of RAM in the Realme 7 Pro improve multitasking compared to the 6GB in the Samsung Galaxy M31?
The additional 2GB of RAM in the Realme 7 Pro allows the phone to keep more apps active in the background without needing to reload them. This results in smoother multitasking, faster app switching, and a more responsive user experience, especially when running multiple demanding applications simultaneously.
