Buzz
Do the two mid-range phones, M33 and M23, excel in balancing the demands of the renowned battle royale game PUBG Mobile?
Overview of design and specifications
According to information from the manufacturer, M23 and M33 share similar dimensions (M33 is 165.4×76.9×8.4, while M23 is 165.5×77.0x8.4) with a matching weight of 198g. The comfortable size and lightweight make these phones suitable for gamers who frequently indulge in mobile gaming. The 'waterdrop' design of the Infinity-V screen, though not overly modern, does not significantly impact the user experience. With a 6.6' screen, gamers on M23 and M33 will have a broad and expansive field of view.
Regarding the chipset, M23 5G is equipped with a powerful gaming-centric Snapdragon 750G 5G processor, introduced to optimize performance and enhance speed in tasks ranging from basic entertainment to specialized activities like 3D gaming and livestreaming
On the other hand, M33 is equipped with a multi-core Exynos 1280 processor for rapid multitasking and speed control when using multiple work and entertainment applications simultaneously.
Additionally, Samsung includes the RAM Plus feature in the Galaxy M Series, enabling users to expand RAM capacity by utilizing storage memory as virtual RAM, facilitating rapid multitasking.
Furthermore, both phones feature a 120Hz refresh rate display with TFT panels. While some tech enthusiasts may consider this a drawback, users may find that despite using TFT panels, the display quality is vibrant, providing an experience comparable to Super AMOLED panels. For a mid-range phone, such image quality is entirely acceptable.
Both phones only have a single speaker, but a distinctive feature is the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack – a design seemingly disappearing in modern smartphones. This might cause some inconvenience for gamers accustomed to using Bluetooth headphones but addresses the audio drawback if gamers accidentally cover the speaker while using them.
PUBG Mobile experience on M23 and M33 using 5G
- FPS and graphics experience
Both phones experience PUBG Mobile with a 5G network and the highest possible graphics settings. A common point is that with the support of Game Booster, the PUBG Mobile experience on both phones is significantly optimized. However, M23 seems to lag slightly behind M33. Specifically, while experiencing the same PUBG Mobile game, M33 maintains a stable FPS ranging from 50 to over 55, occasionally reaching 70 or higher.
Meanwhile, for M23, the FPS experiences a significant drop, ranging from 28 to 30 during normal game movement and sometimes dropping to 20-24 during the onset of combat. Even with the use of Game Booster, there isn't much improvement.
- Device temperature, grip sensation, battery life
After a brief period of usage, both devices exhibit only slight warmth. The temperature ranges from 39 to just over 40 degrees, entirely acceptable. Even with prolonged gaming sessions, the temperature fluctuates below 42, causing no discomfort or overheating.
With a square yet rounded corner design and a lightweight build, the devices provide a comfortable grip without causing fatigue or hand strain, even during extended continuous gaming sessions (lasting 30 minutes or more). This design is consistent across Samsung's products released in 2022 to date, including flagships like the S22 Ultra and budget-friendly lines like the A Series.
Both M23 and M33 come equipped with a 5000mAh battery - the highest capacity for a Samsung phone currently, and support 25W fast charging. These factors ensure a day-long experience, not just for gamers but also for various tasks like studying and working. Furthermore, the battery depletion rate is minimal, only around 3-4% during continuous 20-minute gaming sessions.
Conclusion
When compared to M23, M33 emerges as the worthy budget-friendly gaming device that Samsung introduces with the intention of creating a distinct mid-range product line separate from the A Series. However, M23 falls short of being the 'elder sibling,' despite housing the Exynos 1280 chip known for stable gaming performance. This could be a drawback for this affordable phone. Nevertheless, considering overall performance, for lighter games like PUBG Mobile or Arena of Valor, the M23 still holds its ground well and is worth considering for gaming enthusiasts.
