Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn't compromise too much? The Ulefone Note 12 and Samsung Galaxy M31s are both contenders, offering a range of features at accessible price points. But which one truly delivers the best value?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy M31s is the clear winner. While the Ulefone Note 12 offers a competitive price, the M31s boasts a significantly more powerful processor, faster charging, and a more established brand reputation, making it the better overall choice for most users.
| 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 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, July | 2020, July 30. Released 2020, August 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 173.6 x 79.1 x 10.2 mm (6.83 x 3.11 x 0.40 in) | 159.3 x 74.4 x 9.3 mm (6.27 x 2.93 x 0.37 in) |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 237 g (8.36 oz) | 203 g (7.16 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~80.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (1x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 3x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T310 (12 nm) | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8300 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP | 3.15 MP, AF |
| Triple | 13 MP, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| | - | No |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | MP4/H.264 player
MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Organizer
Voice memo
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 25W wired
4.5W reverse wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 288 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 7 h |
| Type | Li-Po 7700 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Blue | Mirage Black, Mirage Blue |
| Models | - | SM-M317F, SM-M317F/DS |
| Price | - | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.38 W/kg (head) |
Ulefone Note 12
- Very affordable
- Large battery
- Decent main camera
- Weak processor
- Slow charging
- Lower quality display
- Less established brand
Samsung Galaxy M31s
- Powerful processor
- Fast charging (25W + reverse)
- Excellent display (Super AMOLED)
- Good camera system
- Reliable brand
- Slightly more expensive
- Design may be less unique
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy M31s typically features a larger Super AMOLED display (around 6.5 inches) with vibrant colors and deep blacks, offering a superior viewing experience compared to the Ulefone Note 12's likely smaller and less advanced LCD panel. Expect better brightness and contrast on the M31s.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy M31s generally has a more versatile and higher-quality camera system. While the Note 12 might offer a decent main sensor, the M31s typically includes features like a dedicated ultrawide lens and better image processing, resulting in better photos and videos.
Performance
The Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy M31s is a substantial upgrade over the Unisoc Tiger T310 in the Ulefone Note 12. The M31s handles multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps much more smoothly. The Note 12 will likely struggle with heavier tasks.
Battery Life
Both phones offer large batteries (likely around 6000mAh), but the Samsung Galaxy M31s's 25W fast charging significantly outperforms the Ulefone Note 12's 10W charging. The M31s will charge much faster, a crucial convenience.
Buying Guide
The Ulefone Note 12 is ideal for users on a very tight budget who prioritize affordability above all else and don't need high performance. The Samsung Galaxy M31s is a better choice for those who want a smoother experience, better camera quality, and faster charging without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Ulefone Note 12 good for gaming?
The Ulefone Note 12's processor is not ideal for demanding games. You might experience lag and low frame rates.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy M31s have reverse charging?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy M31s supports 4.5W reverse wired charging, allowing you to charge other devices.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung generally provides better and longer software updates compared to Ulefone.
❓ What is the difference in build quality?
Samsung typically uses higher quality materials and has better build quality control than Ulefone.
