Overview of Design and Specifications
According to the manufacturer’s information, the M23 and M33 have similar dimensions (M33 is 165.4×76.9×8.4 while M23 is 165.5×77.0×8.4) with the same weight of 198g. The comfortable size and lightweight design are advantages that make these two phones suitable for gamers who frequently play on their devices. The “water drop” Infinity-V display design, while not particularly trendy, does not significantly affect the user experience. In return, with a 6.6″ screen, gamers playing on the M23 and M33 will have a broader and more extensive view.
Regarding chipset, the M23 5G is equipped with the powerful gaming processor Snapdragon 750G 5G, which is claimed to optimize performance and improve speed in all tasks from basic entertainment to specialized tasks like 3D gaming and livestreaming.
Meanwhile, the M33 is equipped with the speedy multi-core processor – Exynos 1280 to handle multitasking issues and control speed when using multiple applications for work and entertainment simultaneously.
Additionally, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy M Series with the RAM Plus feature, allowing users to expand RAM capacity by using storage memory as virtual memory, enabling users to perform multiple tasks simultaneously at fast speeds.
Furthermore, both phones feature a 120Hz refresh rate display and utilize a TFT panel. For some tech enthusiasts, this may be a drawback. However, during the experience, users can see that despite using a TFT panel, the displayed image quality is quite vibrant, providing an experience comparable to Super AMOLED panels. For a mid-range phone, such image quality is completely acceptable.
M23 (on the left) and M33 both provide quite decent image quality despite using a TFT panel.
Both phones are only equipped with a single speaker but have one special point: a 3.5mm headphone jack – a design that seems to have disappeared from smartphones today. This may cause some inconvenience for gamers who are used to Bluetooth headphones but compensates for the sound issue if gamers accidentally cover the speaker while in use.
The benchmark scores of M23 are slightly higher than those of M33.
Experience PUBG Mobile on M23 and M33 using 5G
– FPS and Graphics Experience
Both phones experienced PUBG Mobile with 5G and the highest possible graphics settings. A key commonality is that with the support of Game Booster, the PUBG Mobile experience on both phones has been significantly optimized. However, the M23 seems to lag slightly behind the M33. Specifically, during the PUBG Mobile experience, the M33 consistently maintained an FPS of around 50 to over 55, occasionally reaching 70 or more.
Experiencing PUBG Mobile via 5G on M23 (left) and M33 (right).
In contrast, the M23 experiences significant FPS drops, fluctuating between 28 – 30 (during normal movement at the beginning of the game) and sometimes dropping to 20 – 24 (when combat begins). Even with Game Booster, there is not much improvement.
– Device Temperature, Handling Feel, Battery Consumption
After a short gaming experience, both devices only exhibited slight heating. The temperature ranged from 39 to over 40 degrees, which is completely acceptable. Even with prolonged gaming, the temperature only fluctuated below 42 degrees, which did not cause discomfort or burning sensations.
With a rectangular design but rounded corners, the lightweight nature of the phones will not cause discomfort or numbness even during prolonged gaming sessions (in this case, over 30 minutes). This design is also shared among Samsung products launched in 2022 so far, including flagships like the S22 Ultra and budget-friendly A Series.
Both M23 and M33 are equipped with a 5000mAh battery – the highest battery capacity of any Samsung phone currently, along with 25W fast charging. These factors ensure an experience that lasts throughout the day, not only for gamers but for various tasks like studying and working… Moreover, the battery drain is not excessive, only about 3 – 4% in 20 minutes of continuous gaming.
Both phones are equipped with a 5000mAh battery.
Conclusion
Compared to the M23, the M33 deserves to be recognized as a great affordable gaming device that Samsung launched with the intention of creating a mid-range product line distinct from the A Series. However, the M23 does not quite live up to its “brother” despite being equipped with the Exynos 1280 chip, which is considered quite competent for gaming. This could be a drawback for this budget phone. But overall, for lighter games like PUBG Mobile or Arena of Valor…, the M23 can still handle them well, making it a viable option for gamers to consider.