The vivo Z3x and Samsung Galaxy M30s represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. Both devices aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches. The Z3x relies on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660, while the M30s features Samsung’s in-house Exynos 9611. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which phone offers the best overall package.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and a slightly more efficient chipset, the Samsung Galaxy M30s emerges as the better choice. Its Exynos 9611, built on a 10nm process, offers a performance edge and potentially better thermal management compared to the vivo Z3x’s Snapdragon 660. Both offer similar battery life, but the M30s’ brighter display is a significant advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, April. Released 2019, May | 2019, September 18. Released 2019, October 30 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 154.8 x 75 x 7.9 mm (6.09 x 2.95 x 0.31 in) | 159 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm (6.26 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 150 g (5.29 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.26 inches, 97.8 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 420 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 512 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3260 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Aurora | Opal Black, Sapphire Blue, Pearl White |
| Models | V1730GA | SM-M307F, SM-M307FN, SM-M307F/DS, SM-M307FN/DS, SM-M3070 |
| Price | About 160 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.47 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.49 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -93.2dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 130h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 152075 (v7), 180321 (v8)
GeekBench: 5566 (v4.4), 1288 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo Z3x
- Proven Snapdragon 660 chipset reliability
- Potentially lower price point
- Decent battery life (130h endurance)
- Older 14nm chipset architecture
- Likely lower display brightness
- Unspecified charging speed
Samsung Galaxy M30s
- More modern Exynos 9611 chipset (10nm)
- Brighter 642 nit display
- Faster 15W wired charging
- Exynos chipsets sometimes have thermal concerns
- Potentially higher price point
- Samsung's software update policy can be inconsistent
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy M30s boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 642 nits. This is a crucial advantage for outdoor visibility, where the Z3x’s display specifications are not provided, implying a lower peak brightness. While both displays are described as having an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for AMOLED/OLED panels), the higher brightness of the M30s translates to a more vibrant and usable experience in direct sunlight. The lack of information regarding the Z3x’s panel type and resolution makes a detailed comparison difficult, but the M30s clearly holds the advantage in display quality.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but without specific sensor details, a meaningful comparison is limited. The absence of information regarding megapixel counts, aperture sizes, or optical image stabilization (OIS) on either device makes it difficult to assess camera quality. It’s likely both phones rely on multi-camera setups with a primary sensor and supporting lenses, but the quality of those sensors will be the determining factor. We can assume the M30s, being a slightly newer device, may benefit from improved image processing algorithms.
Performance
The Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy M30s, fabricated on a 10nm process, offers a theoretical advantage over the Snapdragon 660’s 14nm process. The 10nm node allows for greater transistor density and improved power efficiency, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. The M30s’ CPU configuration – 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 – is architecturally more modern than the Z3x’s 4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver. While clock speeds aren’t everything, the Cortex-A73 cores generally offer better single-core performance, impacting app launch times and responsiveness. The Snapdragon 660 is still a capable chip, but the Exynos 9611 provides a noticeable step up in processing power.
Battery Life
Both the vivo Z3x and Samsung Galaxy M30s achieve an endurance rating of 130 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the M30s supports 15W wired charging, while the Z3x’s charging speed is unspecified. This faster charging capability on the M30s translates to quicker top-ups, reducing downtime. While both phones offer all-day battery life for moderate users, the M30s’ faster charging provides a convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Z3x if you prioritize a proven, stable chipset with a long track record and are comfortable with potentially slightly lower peak performance. Buy the Samsung Galaxy M30s if you prefer a brighter display, a more modern chipset architecture, and potentially better long-term software support from Samsung, even if it means a slightly higher price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy M30s tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 9611 can generate heat under heavy load, its 10nm process generally offers better thermal efficiency than the Snapdragon 660’s 14nm process. This suggests the M30s is less likely to experience significant throttling during extended gaming, but performance will still be affected by the phone's cooling solution and ambient temperature.
❓ Is the 15W charging on the Samsung Galaxy M30s a significant improvement over potentially slower charging on the vivo Z3x?
Yes, 15W charging is noticeably faster than typical slow charging solutions. While the Z3x’s charging speed is unknown, 15W allows for a quicker top-up, reducing the time spent tethered to a power outlet. This is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to recharge their phones throughout the day.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 660's image signal processor (ISP) compare to the Exynos 9611's in terms of image processing quality?
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is difficult. However, newer chipsets like the Exynos 9611 generally incorporate more advanced ISPs with improved noise reduction, dynamic range, and image processing algorithms. This *could* translate to better image quality in challenging lighting conditions for the M30s, but the quality of the camera sensors themselves is equally important.
