This wasn’t some fluke or careful battery management either – I’m generally terrible about closing background apps and I refuse to lower my screen brightness to preserve battery. The M30s just kept going anyway. During my three weeks testing this phone, I consistently got 2-3 days between charges with normal use. On a weekend camping trip where I only used it sparingly for photos and occasional texts, it lasted from Friday morning until Monday afternoon.

What shocked me most wasn’t just the longevity, but how Samsung managed to pack such a massive battery into a device that doesn’t feel like a brick. At 188g and 8.9mm thick, it’s barely heavier than my previous phone with its measly 3,500mAh battery. The engineering achievement here shouldn’t be overlooked – Samsung has addressed the number one smartphone pain point without creating an unwieldy monster.(Samsung Galaxy M30s)

That Screen Though: AMOLED Excellence on a Budget

Budget phones usually compromise somewhere, and the display is typically first on the chopping block. Not here. The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel is gorgeous, with those deep blacks and vibrant colors that make content pop. Reading text messages in direct sunlight? No problem. Watching Netflix in bed? The colors are rich and immersive.

The FHD+ resolution (2340 x 1080) strikes that sweet spot between sharpness and battery efficiency. Text appears crisp, videos look detailed, and nothing ever feels fuzzy or pixelated. The small U-shaped notch housing the selfie camera quickly fades from notice – your brain just filters it out after a day or two.

During a particularly sunny hike through the Peak District last week, I was still able to frame photos and check trail maps without struggling to see the screen. Try that with most LCD-equipped budget phones and you’ll be squinting and shading the display with your hand.

Triple Camera: Ambitious But Not Quite Flagship-Killer

The camera system is where you start to see some evidence of the price constraints. The triple setup featuring a 48MP main sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and 5MP depth sensor is capable of taking very good photos in the right conditions, but it’s not going to challenge flagship devices.

In good lighting, the main camera captures detailed images with natural colors. Samsung’s scene optimizer technology makes smart adjustments that usually improve rather than detract from photos. The 8MP ultra-wide proved genuinely useful during my testing, capturing expansive landscape shots that simply wouldn’t have been possible with the main lens.

Low-light photography reveals the limitations. While the dedicated night mode does brighten dark scenes significantly, the results lack the clarity of premium offerings. That said, for Instagram and Facebook sharing, most users will find the quality perfectly acceptable.

Everyday Performance: Smooth Without Breaking Records

Powered by Samsung’s Exynos 9611 paired with 4GB of RAM (my review unit), the M30s delivers solid performance for everyday tasks. App switching, social media, messaging, and video streaming all happen without noticeable lag or frustration.(Samsung Galaxy M30s)

Gaming capabilities exceeded my expectations. While graphic-intensive titles like PUBG Mobile won’t run at maximum settings, they remain thoroughly playable at medium settings with only occasional frame drops during intense action sequences. More casual games run flawlessly.

What particularly impressed me was the thermal management. Even during extended gaming sessions or while fast-charging, the phone never became uncomfortably hot – something that can’t be said for many competitors that prioritize raw performance over sustained usability.