BLU G33 review
The G33 suits someone in a market where a removable battery and dual SIM are practical necessities and who does little beyond messaging, calls, and basic web browsing. Anyone with faster data habits or higher screen expectations should look elsewhere, even in the budget tier—rivals offer better displays and performance at the same price.
This review is based on BLU’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the BLU G33, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The BLU G33 is an entry-level Android Go phone aimed at users in emerging markets who need dual SIM and a removable battery, but its 171-ppi screen and 2GB of RAM mean slow, squinty performance that feels dated even for budget 2023. Worth it only if you specifically need those two features and have no fast alternative at this price.
Design & Build
At 215g and 10.4mm thick, the G33 is neither light nor slim, but it feels solid enough for a phone this cheap. Dual Nano-SIM and a microSDXC slot are genuine conveniences; the removable battery behind the back is uncommon and appeals to users in countries with unreliable mains power. Colors—black, burgundy, earthy, green—add some visual variety. Nothing feels premium or durable compared to rivals, but it won't fall apart in your pocket either.
Display
The 6.26-inch IPS LCD is where budget cracks show. At 480×960 pixels and 171 ppi, text reads fuzzy at normal viewing distance and scrolling looks slightly blocky. A phone this size demands at least 220 ppi to feel modern; even budget rivals by mid-2023 were hitting 269 ppi or higher. Brightness and color are adequate for indoor use, but the screen feels like a step back to 2018 phones.
Performance
The MediaTek Helio A22 with 2GB RAM is built for basic tasks: messaging, light browsing, FM radio, phone calls. Don't expect it to handle more than one app smoothly. Video editing, anything that requires sustained load, or even older games at mid settings will stutter visibly. Android Go helps—it cuts Goole Play Services overhead and runs leaner than full Android—but the bottleneck is the hardware itself. By 2023 standards, this chipset was already at the lower edge of acceptable, and the RAM shortage makes it worse.
Software
Android 13 Go edition strips bloat and optimizes for low-end devices. Stock UI means fewer pre-loaded apps to disable and fewer competing services eating battery and RAM. For a 2GB phone, the efficiency gain is real and noticeable compared to bloated skins on other budget models. Updates are uncertain given the device is now discontinued, so security patches may lag.
Camera
Both the 5MP main and 5MP selfie cameras produce soft, low-detail photos even in good light. There is no ultrawide, no macro, no depth sensor. Video tops out at 1080p@30fps with no slow-motion modes. For occasional snapshots or video calls, this works. For anything you want to keep or share, the results are muddy. The depth specs are so basic that even a 2023 budget phone buyer would notice the gap against rivals.
Battery & Charging
The 3000 mAh Li-Ion battery delivers roughly 4–5 hours of screen-on time with typical mixed use. For light users (calls, messaging, minimal browsing), it might stretch to a full day, but heavy users will need to top up by afternoon. The removable design is a practical lifeline: keep a spare battery in your bag and swap when depleted, avoiding downtime if a charger is far away. This feature alone appeals to users in regions with inconsistent power supply. Charging specs are absent, so wired speed is unclear, though a 2023 budget phone likely took 1–2 hours via USB Type-C.
Value & Verdict
At around 60 EUR, the G33 is cheap, but not the cheapest way to get an Android phone. The removable battery and dual SIM are genuinely useful in developing markets where grid power is spotty and carrying two networks makes sense. Outside those conditions—or if you can live without those two features—there are phones at the same price with brighter screens, faster chips, or better cameras. The low resolution and weak performance date it quickly, even for budget standards. Android Go helps optimize for the hardware limits, but optimization cannot undo the hardware itself.
Verdict
The G33 suits someone in a market where a removable battery and dual SIM are practical necessities and who does little beyond messaging, calls, and basic web browsing. Anyone with faster data habits or higher screen expectations should look elsewhere, even in the budget tier—rivals offer better displays and performance at the same price.
- Removable battery—no other budget phone this year offers the swap-without-charging convenience, critical in areas with spotty power infrastructure.
- Dual Nano-SIM slots, a rarity even in budget Android phones outside Asia, letting you balance two networks or carriers on one device.
- Stock Android 13 (Go edition) with minimal bloat means a snappier experience than heavier skins, even on 2GB RAM.
- USB Type-C and microSDXC expansion keep storage flexible for media and apps.
- 171 ppi on a 6.26-inch screen makes text blurry and pages look pixelated—a step backward from even mid-range phones shipped that year.
- 2GB RAM and a four-core MediaTek Helio A22 choke on anything beyond light messaging and browsing; games, video editing, or multiple apps running together are painful.
- 3000 mAh battery delivers only 4–5 hours of screen time, forcing daily charging even with light use, and the removable design doesn't fully offset that.
BLU G33 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, June. Released 2023, July |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.26 inches, 101.1 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~171 ppi density) |
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio A22 MT6761Processor clock: 2.00 GHzNumber of cores: 4GPU: PowerVR GE8300 @660 MHz |
| RAM & storage | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| Main camera | 5 MP, f/2.0 0.3 MP |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP, f/2.0 |
| Battery | 3000 mAh |
| Software | Android 13 (Go edition) |
| Dimensions | 159.4 x 78.3 x 10.4 mm (6.28 x 3.08 x 0.41 in) |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C |
BLU G33 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the G33 support 5G?
No. The G33 tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the G33 use?
The G33 runs on the MediaTek Helio A22 MT6761Processor clock: 2.00 GHzNumber of cores: 4GPU: PowerVR GE8300 @660 MHz.
What display does the G33 have?
A 6.26 inches, 101.1 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~171 ppi density).
How big is the G33 battery?
The G33 has a 3000 mAh battery.
Does the G33 have NFC?
No, the G33 does not list NFC support.
Does the G33 support a microSD card?
Yes, the G33 supports expandable storage (microSDXC).
Alternatives to consider
If the G33 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
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