Samsung Galaxy M33 5G review – dependable device with an all-day battery

• The Samsung Galaxy M33 5G is the latest offering in the affordable Galaxy M series.
• The device is part of the highly competitive sub-₹20,000 segment.
• Here’s our review of the Galaxy M33 5G that will help you decide whether you should buy the device or not.

Samsung had launched the Galaxy M33 5G in India earlier this month, adding another option to its affordable Galaxy M series. The device is part of the highly competitive ₹20,000 segment and is packed with features.

The Galaxy M33 5G comes with several upgrades over its predecessor, the Galaxy M32. The device is also future-proof as it comes with 5G support. The company has used its own Exynos 1280 chipset to power the device and like other Galaxy M series devices, the Galaxy M33 5G features a plastic body.

I have been using the Galaxy M33 5G for a few weeks now and here is my review of the latest affordable offering from the Korean giant.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy M33 5G is priced at ₹17,999 for the 6GB RAM variant and ₹19,499 for the 8GB RAM variant. The device comes in Deep Ocean Blue and Mystique Green colour options and is available from Amazon India, Samsung online store and the company’s authorized retail stores across the country.

As part of an introductory offer, users can claim an instant discount of ₹2,000 on the device by purchasing it using an ICICI Bank credit card or by purchasing the device on EMI.

The Galaxy M33 5G competes with the likes of the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, and the Realme 9 Speed Edition, among others.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G pros and cons

Pros

• Battery life
• 120Hz refresh rate display
• 5G support
• Dedicated SD card slot

Cons

• TFT display
• Charging time
• No charging brick
• Bulky

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G design

The Samsung Galaxy M33 5G features a similar design as other Galaxy M series devices. It comes with a plastic back with a glossy finish. The device comes in two colour options – Deep Ocean Blue and Mystique Green. We received the Mystique Green variant which looks elegant.

You don’t have to worry about fingerprint smudges and there is no need to get a protective case. However, the weight is an issue as the device is 215 grams even without a case. This is one of the trade-offs of having a huge 6,000mAh battery.


At the bottom, the device comes with a 3.5mm audio jack, USB Type-C port, a microphone and a speaker.


On the right side, the device sports the volume rockers and the power button, which doubles up as a fingerprint sensor. The power button offers a good tactile feel and the fingerprint sensor is responsive.


On the left side, the device features the SIM tray. It supports dual nano SIMs and features a dedicated microSD card slot that allows you to expand the storage up to 1TB.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G software and bloatware

The Galaxy M33 5G runs on Android 12 with the company’s OneUI 4.1 on top. The user interface is easy to understand and offers a clutter-free experience.


In addition to Samsung’s suite of apps, the device also comes with other apps such as Netflix, Facebook, Snapchat and Truecaller. It also comes with bloatware such as Moj, Josh, ShareChat and BYJU’s. However, these apps can be easily uninstalled.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G display

The Samsung Galaxy M33 5G features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The device comes with a water-drop notch for the selfie camera.

Samsung has used a TFT display instead of an AMOLED display to bring down the costs. The device’s primary rival, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ on the other hand offers an AMOLED display.

While the TFT display is not as bright or energy efficient as an AMOLED display, it offers vivid colors and offers excellent color reproduction. The LCD panel offered by Samsung is much better compared to other LCD displays offered in the price segment.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G performance and battery life

The Samsung Galaxy M33 5G is powered by the company’s Exynos 1280 chipset coupled with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. We found the device performs well in day-to-day tasks but there are occasional stutters while launching an app or performing heavy tasks.

The device performed well while playing games such as Battlegrounds Mobile India or Call of Duty Mobile. While the device performed well, we did notice the occasional lag.

Coming to the battery, the device is powered by a huge 6,000mAh battery and offers 25W charging support. The device takes around 100 minutes to be fully charged and in regular usage with over an hour of calling, light gaming and video streaming, the phone offered almost one and a half day of battery life.

The battery life is easily one of the highlights of the device and also supports reverse charging, allowing you to charge your other devices with the phone.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G camera

The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G features a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 50MP primary camera, a 5MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro sensor.


In my testing, I found the Galaxy M33’s camera performs decently during daylight conditions and is able to quickly focus. The low light pictures were decent but not as good as the daylight pictures as sometimes the images looked washed-out.


The portrait-mode images turned out well and there was good edge detection.


The phone struggles a bit when it comes to low light conditions. The details were a little blurry but it offers good performance in this segment.


On the front, the device sports an 8MP selfie camera. The selfies captured in daylight turned out good. The images turned out a little noisy in low light conditions.

Wrapping up

The Samsung Galaxy M33 5G is a good device for people looking for an affordable phone that offers a long battery life and runs smoothly with normal usage. However, the device is placed in the highly competitive ₹20,000 price segment and if you are looking for a more powerful device, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G might be a better option.

The main drawbacks of the device are the plastic back, TFT display and slow charging. The main strengths of the device include the battery life, Samsung’s good after-sales and software update guarantee topped with decent performance.

SEE ALSO:
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G review – excellent display, great battery life but slightly pricey

Best phones under ₹40,000 in India

Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 Pro 5G – specs, price and features compared