Finally! Another mid-range phone has just arrived in the Philippines, which is the Samsung Galaxy M33 5G! It is the addition within the Samsung M Lineup this 2022, alongside with M23 5G. The phone is packed with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for the price of ₱16,990, and it comes in colors Red, Green, and Brown. It is now available to purchase in Samsung Stores, Online Stores, and Authorized Resellers nationwide.
With the price of the device, you can experience a lot with its features. It has 6.6-inch FHD+ display with 120hz refresh rate, powerful 5nm Octa-core processor, quad-camera setup, 5000mAh battery, and from the name of the phone itself, it has a built-in 5G capability.
Are the Galaxy M33 5G’s specifications and features reasonable for the device’s price? Or is it preferable to pick from Samsung’s higher-tier series or other similar-priced manufacturers? Let’s find out in our review!
UNBOXING
The packaging of the device is slim, just like the box of the iPhone. As we open the box, we will see first the small box which contains paperwork and the USB Type C cable inside of it. it’s just sad that it doesn’t include a free case inside of the box despite its price point. And lastly, the phone. It also doesn’t include a power brick, which I think they did to save the environment and be eco-friendly.
DESIGN
The overall design of the Samsung M33 5G is pretty but just bothered by the screen’s thick bezels, especially in the bottom and upper corners of it. It makes the element of the status bar kind of covered and lacking in space. The back design of the phone looks premium because of the reflective effect. The built of the phone is made from plastic and have a matte finish, so it is not prone to severe fingerprint magnets. The color palette also adds to the “minimalist” feel of the phone. You can also see the quad-camera setup in it, and it reminds me of the Huawei Nova 7i.
SPECS AND FEATURES
Inside the device, it has the latest Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.1. Apart from its 128GB of storage, it can also be extended with a microSD card slot up to 1TB and Dual Nano SIM as well. It also has a built-in fingerprint sensor on the power button and face unlock for security. In fairness, the fingerprint sensor responds quickly even with just a single tap. For music enthusiasts, it also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack. It has a Game Booster feature that tracks your gaming patterns to optimize the battery life, temperature, and memory of your phone. It also blocks incoming calls, notifications, and background activities so that the processor can dedicate its power to the game.
CAMERA
The M33 5G has a quad-camera configuration with a 50MP f/1.8 Main camera, 5MP f/2.2 Ultra-Wide camera, 2MP f/2.4 Macro, and Depth camera, and an 8MP front camera.
During the day, the pictures seem great, but you should expect a little grain in the shadows. The shot is enhanced and clearer thanks to excellent post-processing. It can also record in 4K at 30 frames per second. If you disable the beauty setting or filter that is automatically activated, the front camera isn’t all that horrible.
PERFORMANCE
Mobile Legends, PUBG, CODM, and Genshin Impact were used to test the phone’s gaming capabilities. When high graphics are used, Mobile Legends’ gameplay runs smoothly, however when medium graphics are used in PUBG and CODM, I occasionally notice frame drops. Although Genshin Impact still functions with high graphics, there may likely be some lags and frame drops, thus I advise switching to low or medium graphics for a more lag-free experience.
It’s nice to use when in light usage such as social media apps or web browsing, however I did encounter a few frame drops when scrolling in the home screen and especially when viewing notifications. According to the manufacturer’s claims, the battery can last up to a day when used lightly, but only 10+ hours while using demanding apps like games.
5G CONNECTIVITY
Having 5G capabilities is a future-proof feature that keeps the phone usable as time goes on as the networks evolve here in the Philippines. Telcos including Smart, Globe, and DITO are expanding their 5G network coverage all across the archipelago.
In order to determine whether having 5G today is preferable to having only 4G LTE, we performed a speed test here in Quezon City at night using a Globe Telecom SIM.
As we can see from the results, Globe 4G LTE speeds are more reliable than 5G speeds in my area. Since 5G network is still rolling, we’re expecting some improvements in terms of speed in the future. Location, timing, and network provider could all affect the results.
VERDICT
For me, the M33 5G is still a worthy phone because the 120hz display, long battery life, solid performance, and Samsung’s reputation for reliability all contribute to the Galaxy M33 5G’s greatness. I really suggest this phone to anyone who enjoys taking photos or videos for vlogging, and to casual gamers like me.
