Samsung launched the Galaxy M33 5G as an exclusive online model on Lazada Malaysia recently. As the latest model in its mid-range Galaxy M series, the Galaxy M33 5G is officially priced at an affordable RM1,499 for a 5G device promising a large battery capacity, powerful processors, and great cameras.
First off, a shoutout to Samsung and Lazada for providing us with a review device. Since the M33 5G is an exclusive online model, we purchased the phone from Samsung’s Lazada Flagship store. Notably, the checkout process was smooth and delivery was swift, which is why we are able to complete this review so quickly.
Based on our hands-on experience with the Galaxy M33 5G, our impression of the phone is overall positive. This is a no-frills device that checks all the boxes for an affordable 5G smartphone.
What’s in the box
- 1 x Samsung Galaxy M33 5G
- 1 x Type-C USB Cable
- 1 x Sim Card Ejection Pin
- 1 x User Guide
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Specs
- Processor: 5nm Samsung Exynos 1280, Octa-core
- Display: 6.6” full FHD+, Infinity-V, 120Hz refresh rate
- Memory: 128GB + 8GB RAM with expandable virtual RAM
- Rear Camera: 50.0 MP + 5.0 MP + 2.0 MP + 2.0 MP
- Front Camera: 8.0 MP
- Battery: 5,000 mAh, 25W fast-charging
- Connectivity: USB Type-C, WiFi Direct, NFC, 3.5mm Stereo
- Operating System: Android 12, One UI 4
- Other Features: Dual-SIM + microSD, side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Built & Design
On its website, Samsung proclaims that the Galaxy M33 5G comes with a “minimal look, quality design” with soft rounded edges and a simple core frame that “goes best with your everyday style." For the most part, they aren’t wrong.
The back and sides of the phone are all plastic, which makes it quite prone to fingerprints, and comes in three colours: blue, green, and brown. Our review model was green.
On the back of the phone, the camera lenses are set in a perfect square that doesn’t take up too much space.
The right side of the phone is furnished with the power button that has an integrated fingerprint sensor and the volume buttons. The SIM and SD card tray is on the left side. At the bottom of the phone, there is a single bottom-firing speaker that supports Dolby Atmos, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
With all that being said, the M33 feels pretty sturdy in hand with a weight of 198g – not too heavy to be a burden, but not too light to feel flimsy. Much of the weight is attributed to its impressive 5,000 mAh battery, which we will get to later.
Display
The Galaxy M33 5G has a 6.4” screen with rounded corners. Compared to some of its cousins on the more expensive ranges, the screen-to-body ratio isn’t exactly great, and the front camera is situated right smack in the middle of the top edge of the screen, also known as Samsung’s Infinity-V display. It’s not a deal breaker per se, but it gives the M33 5G a somewhat outdated look from the front.
Despite that, the Full HD+ LCD panel offers sharp, crisp, and clear images and is pretty bright, so the screen is still clear under the sun. The 120 Hz high refresh rate also keeps the animations and scrolling smooth, making for a very enjoyable viewing and gaming experience.
Performance
Galaxy M33 5G is powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 1280 octa-core processor, with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Like most of Samsung’s recent devices, the Galaxy M33 5G can convert unused ROM to provide extra virtual RAM of up to 8GB, giving you a total of 16GB RAM to run your apps. This is more than enough for multitasking and gaming.
We tested the phone with Sky: Children of the Light and was pleasantly surprised by the amazing gaming experience. The graphics were bright and vivid, and there were no lags or stutters whatsoever, even after three hours of continuous playing. A downside to the gaming experience was that the phone warms up relatively fast during gameplay.
Camera
One of the highlights of the Galaxy M33 5G is its camera setup. The phone’s quad rear camera setup is comprised of a 50MP main camera, a 5 MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP depth camera, and a 2MP macro unit. Meanwhile, the 8MP front camera is pretty standard for smartphones of its range and features a bokeh effect for better selfies.
In short, the Galaxy M33 5G does take decent pictures under different lighting conditions. For other modes, the ultra-wide camera works best for daylight shots, while the macro camera yields slightly blurry pictures when zoomed in to the max.
Battery
The Galaxy M33 5G comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, and supports 25W of Fast Charging, which is enough to get you to a full charge in less than two hours. Not the most impressive, but the phone can stay active for the entire day on a full charge with regular usage, so it’s still a great option for daily users.
When we were playtesting the device, three hours of continuous gaming drained the battery by 20%; another hour of Internet browsing and downloading lost us about 3%. Suffice to say, the battery performance is truly phenomenal on the Galaxy M33 5G.
The bad news: the charger is sold separately and isn’t included in the box, like most recent Samsung devices, which is a slight disappointment.
Conclusion
- Our Rating: 7/10
- Pros: Superb display; long battery life;
- Cons: No AMOLED, less premium build
- Who is it for? If you’re looking for an affordable 5G device that can still power your simple day-to-day usage, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy M33 5G!
With the Galaxy M33 5G, you get what you pay for. Where it falls short of its slightly more expensive cousins in the A series in terms of build and performance, it makes up in lasting battery life and remarkable performance.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M33 5G
In conjunction with the Lazada Super Brand Day on May 24th, 2022, Samsung is offering the Galaxy M33 5G at RM1,399 only on their Lazada Flagship Store. Moreover, grab an extra RM50 off with Product Nation’s exclusive discount code: SSPR50
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