The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G and A33 5G represent different approaches to the mid-range 5G market. The M42, released earlier, focused on delivering 5G connectivity at a competitive price point with a Snapdragon chipset. The A33 5G, a later release, aims for a more balanced experience with Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1280, improved display technology, and faster charging. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G is the better choice. While both phones offer comparable battery endurance, the A33 5G’s more powerful Exynos 1280 chipset, brighter display, and faster 25W charging provide a more refined and future-proof experience, justifying its typically higher price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 28 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 01 | Available. Released 2022, April 20 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) | 159.7 x 74 x 8.1 mm (6.29 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@480fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot Gray | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | SM-M426B, SM-M426B/DS | SM-A336E, SM-A336B, SM-A336B/DS, SM-A336B/DSN, SM-A336E/DS, SM-A336M, SM-A3360 |
| Price | About 220 EUR | £ 174.99 / € 187.50 / ₹ 21,999 |
| SAR | 0.69 W/kg (head) | 0.35 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.57 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 354420 (v8), 394918 (v9)
GeekBench: 1900 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy M42 5G
- More affordable price point
- 5G connectivity
- Decent battery life
- Less powerful chipset
- Slower charging speed
- Likely lower display quality
Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
- More powerful Exynos 1280 chipset
- Faster 25W charging
- Brighter and potentially more accurate display
- Typically higher price
- Exynos chipsets can sometimes exhibit thermal throttling
- Similar battery endurance to M42 5G despite more powerful hardware
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A33 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 728 nits compared to an unspecified brightness for the M42 5G. This higher peak brightness translates to better visibility outdoors. While both displays have an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), the A33 5G’s panel likely benefits from improved color accuracy and viewing angles. The M42 5G’s display specs are less detailed, suggesting a more basic LCD panel, potentially impacting the overall viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are missing. However, given Samsung’s typical segmentation, the A33 5G likely features a more sophisticated camera system. The Exynos 1280’s image signal processor (ISP) is more advanced than the Snapdragon 750G’s, enabling better image processing, noise reduction, and dynamic range. While both may include a 2MP macro camera (often of limited utility), the main sensor and ultrawide lens on the A33 5G are likely to be of higher quality, resulting in superior image and video capture.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The A33 5G’s Exynos 1280, fabricated on a 5nm process, offers a performance advantage over the M42 5G’s Snapdragon 750G (8nm). The Exynos 1280’s CPU configuration – 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 – is clocked higher and utilizes more efficient CPU cores than the Snapdragon 750G’s 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570. The 5nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones are capable of handling everyday tasks, the A33 5G will exhibit smoother performance in demanding applications and games.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both the M42 5G and A33 5G achieve an endurance rating of 104 hours. This suggests similar real-world battery life despite the M42 5G’s unspecified battery capacity and the A33 5G’s more powerful chipset. However, the A33 5G’s 25W wired charging is a significant advantage over the M42 5G’s 15W charging. This translates to considerably faster charging times, reducing downtime and improving convenience. A full 0-100% charge on the A33 5G will be noticeably quicker.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G if you prioritize maximizing value and are primarily concerned with 5G connectivity on a budget. It’s ideal for users who don’t heavily game or require a top-tier display. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G if you prefer a smoother user experience, a brighter and more vibrant display, and faster charging, even if it means spending a bit more. This phone caters to users who enjoy multimedia consumption and light to moderate gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the A33 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1280 is a capable chipset, some users have reported thermal throttling during extended gaming. However, the 5nm fabrication process and Samsung’s thermal management solutions generally mitigate this issue, providing a reasonably stable gaming experience. The M42 5G’s Snapdragon 750G, while less powerful, may also throttle under sustained load, but the lower performance ceiling means the impact might be less noticeable.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget and mid-range phones offer limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. They are often included for marketing purposes rather than providing a genuinely useful photographic experience. You're better off using the main camera and cropping for close-up shots.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G reliably maintain 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The A33 5G can generally maintain 60fps in PUBG Mobile with medium to high graphics settings. However, achieving consistently smooth frame rates at the highest settings may require adjusting the graphics options to reduce the load on the GPU. The Snapdragon 750G in the M42 5G will likely require lower settings to achieve similar frame rates.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G with the 25W charger?
With the included 25W charger, the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G can typically charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on usage during charging. This is significantly faster than the M42 5G’s 15W charging, which would likely take over 3 hours for a full charge.
