Samsung is enjoying its cushy throne this year, revelling in success across several device categories, including an enviable smartphone range. Its latest budget phone — the Galaxy M17 5G — checks all the right boxes. It’s a fairly large smartphone with a 6.7-inch sAMOLED display and a 90Hz refresh rate. We had no trouble using it under bright sunlight, as the screen gets impressively luminous and colours remain vivid rather than washed out. The display is interrupted only by a teardrop-style selfie camera.
On the hardware front, the M17 retains the microSD slot, allowing storage expansion beyond the internal 128GB. The phone features both a fingerprint sensor and facial recognition. There’s support for 25W fast charging, and the 5,000mAh battery easily delivers more than a day’s use.
Galaxy M17 comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and IP54 protection
Minimal design
The phone follows Samsung’s minimal design philosophy. Even though it’s made of polycarbonate, the matte finish feels premium, giving it the air of a mid-range device. There’s a hybrid SIM slot that can accommodate either two SIMs or one SIM and a microSD card (up to 2TB).
The review unit includes 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. Overall, the specifications are impressive for a budget device. Connectivity options include support for 12 5G bands, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC.
It would have been better to include dual speakers instead of just one. If you use earbuds, however, there’s little to complain about — Dolby Atmos support helps elevate the experience.
Despite being inexpensive, the phone carries an IP54 rating, meaning it can handle splashes of water and sweat. At just 7.5mm thick, it also compares well with rival models in this category.
The display earns extra points: a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1,100 nits of brightness. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front adds protection against accidental drops. What’s puzzling, though, is Samsung’s continued use of the U-shaped notch on its budget line-up.
Colour reproduction is excellent and remains consistent even when viewed from different angles. There’s also Widevine L1 certification for high-definition streaming.
Power up
The phone is powered by the Exynos 1330 processor. For everyday tasks, performance is smooth. It’s not built for serious gaming but handles most casual titles with ease.
What gives it an edge is the software — One UI 7.0 based on Android 15. While most budget phones offer limited updates, Samsung promises six generations of OS and security updates.
Easy access to Google Gemini will ensure you can recognise plants or pet breeds easily
There’s some bloatware, such as Snapchat and PhonePe, but most of it can be uninstalled. Thanks to NFC, tap-and-pay functionality works seamlessly. Among the extra software features we liked are Voicemail and Now Bar, which let you access key information with a simple tap. Also included is Circle to Search, a feature once reserved for Samsung’s premium models. Users also get access to Gemini Live for select AI tools.
Make the call
As for the cameras, the main shooter is a 50MP sensor with OIS, accompanied by a 5MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro lens. The front camera offers 13MP resolution. The primary camera produces pleasing results for a budget device, with colours that are vibrant but not overly saturated. The ultra-wide lens performs well in daylight but introduces some noise in low light. Selfies capture natural skin tones. Video recording is capped at 1080p at 30fps, with a decent degree of stabilisation. For the price, image quality from the main camera is more than satisfactory.
Overall, the Galaxy M17 5G delivers a well-rounded experience for its price, making it one of the most compelling options in Samsung’s affordable line-up this year.
At a glance
Device: Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Price: Upwards of ₹14,499 (Sapphire Black and Moonlight Silver)
High notes
Bright screen
Six years of software support
Solid battery life
Decent cameras
Expandable microSD support
Muffled note
The company needs to rethink the waterdrop-style notch design
