Samsung’s latest flagship phone, the S23, incorporates the best features of its competitors into a compact and lightweight package. As with recent Apple and Google phones, however, it suffers from the same flaw—namely, that the prior year’s model is still available and cheaper, making it challenging to suggest paying full price (at least for now). This is not to suggest that Samsung hasn’t enhanced its newest flagship phone in some ways; it has. The phone’s back has been redesigned to get rid of the camera bulge altogether; the updated processor is optimized for Galaxy devices and lightning quick, the battery life has been extended, and the screen brightness has been increased. Read on to learn about our review of the Galaxy S23, which includes its specs, release date, price, and vs. the iPhone 14. Just a read away
Samsung Galaxy S23 Design Review
The S23’s improvements mostly occur on the inside, but the design has been fine-tuned. The Ultra’s distinctive elevated camera module has been removed, and the three camera lenses are now flush with the rest of the device’s matte aluminum back panel. When compared to the 6.7-inch Pixel 7 Pro, the S23’s one-handed use is a huge plus.
Despite having the same physical dimensions as the iPhone 14, the S23 is noticeably more compact. This is an extremely pocketable phone, thanks in part to its lightweight and absence of protruding lenses.
The chassis of the smartphone is lightweight and stylish, but not very remarkable. It has some nice design features, such as rounded corners and narrow bezels, and it stands upright when placed on a flat surface (Apple, take note), but it can’t compare to the aesthetics of the newest iPhones or Pixels. Those rivals’ designs are more striking and original.
The S23’s design isn’t terrible, but it is unremarkable. We tried out the black model; perhaps our thoughts might be different if we had access to a different color. You can get it in three different colors (Cream, Green, and Lavender) from the Samsung online store, and two more (Graphite and Lime) there.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Key Specs Review
- Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels
- Operating system: Android 13, OneUI 5.1
- Cameras: 50MP wide, 10MP telephoto, and 12 MP ultrawide
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Battery: 3,900 mAh
- MicroSD slot: No
- RAM: 8GB
- Water resistance: IP68
- Weight: 168g
- Screen size: 6.1 inches
Samsung Galaxy S23 Display Specs Review
We’re not sure when it happened, but a 6.1-inch screen is now considered pretty small, especially when compared to the iPhone 14 Plus and, especially, the huge Galaxy S23 specs Fold 4.
The screen specs of the Galaxy S23 are exactly the same as last year (FHD resolution and up to 120 Hz refresh rate), but the contrast ratio has been increased from 1,500 nits to 1,750 nits, which is much better. We utilized the phone in both dark and bright places, and it was always clear, smooth, and easy to read.
We grabbed an episode of Blue Lights to watch on our way to work, and the Galaxy S23 screen specs didn’t bother us either. It’s also nice to be able to tap and move around with just one hand, and we found that this size was perfect for scrolling through YouTube.
We also turned on the monitor, which stays on all the time. It’s helpful to be able to see messages and the time at a glance without tapping the screen, and we like being able to change the layout, calendar style, and luminosity.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Camera Specs Review
If you didn’t care about anything else about the S23, you’d still find it to be an impressive camera system to carry around in your pocket. The S23 has three of the best cameras we’ve seen on an affordable smartphone: a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. We took it out for a spin on the rainy streets of London and discovered that it easily captures high-quality photos, with a nicely blurred background for close-ups, enough detail for landscape shots, and true-to-life hues in outdoor scenes.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Release Date Price Review
The base model Galaxy S23 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage costs $799, or £849. The Galaxy S23 Plus offers 256GB of storage space at a standard price of $999, or £1,049. The Galaxy S23 series is the top of the line and starts at $1,199 (£1,249). It also has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Despite speculations of price hikes for the new phones before the S23’s introduction, consumers in the United States will see that the starting costs are the same as Samsung charged for the equivalent Galaxy S22 devices. Customers in the United Kingdom aren’t so fortunate, since the S23 has a price increase of £80-£100 compared to its predecessors.
Adding more storage to the Galaxy S23 will, of course, cost you more money. The 256GB model of the Galaxy S23 costs $859. That’s a whopping $60 more on top of what Samsung already paid for an equivalent storage upgrade on the Galaxy S22. The Galaxy S23 Plus’s 512GB storage option costs an extra $200, but it offers twice as much space as the S22 Plus’s 256GB option. The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s price jumps to $1,379 for the 512GB variant and $1,619 for the 1TB model, both of which have 12GB of RAM.
Galaxy S23 Release Date
As part of its Galaxy S line of premium smartphones, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 is an Android-based device that the company has developed, produced, and sold. The Galaxy S23 was introduced and shown off at the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 1st, 2023, and the release date is February 17th. On February 17, 2023, a week earlier than the S22 debut the previous year, Samsung announced the release date of the Galaxy S23 smartphones with nearly an entire month of preorder promotions on top of the reservation bonus Samsung began prior to their public release.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs iPhone 14 Review
As part of its Galaxy S line of premium smartphones, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 is an Android-based device that the company has developed, produced, and sold. The Galaxy S23 release date was announced at the Galaxy Unpacked event on the 1st of February 2023, and they went on sale on the 17th. On February 17, 2023, a week earlier than the S22 debut the previous year, Samsung announced the Galaxy S23 smartphones with nearly an entire month of preorder promotions on top of the reservation bonus Samsung began prior to their public release.
Galaxy S23 vs iPhone 14 Design
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro are almost identical in size. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is 5.76 millimeters by 2.79 millimeters by 0.3 millimeters, while the iPhone 14 Pro is 5.81 millimeters by 2.81 millimeters by 0.31 millimeters. In practical terms, you won’t observe any variation. Similarly, the screens of both phones are the same size. Both the Samsung and the iPhone 14 Pro have 6.1-inch displays, but the Samsung’s is Dynamic AMOLED 2X while the iPhone 14 Pro’s is Super Retina XDR.
The iPhone 14 Pro features ProMotion, which, when combined with Super Retina XDR, allows for adjustable refresh rates of up to 120 hertz. The resolution is comparable to gaming monitors and should be more than adequate for playing and streaming games. The display can be as bright as 2,000 nits outside in direct sunlight, with a maximum of 1,000 nits indoors and 1,600 nits for HDR content. Since it’s a phone, you’ll probably take it outside rather often.
The iPhone 14 Pro’s maximum outdoor illumination of 1750 nits puts it far ahead of the competition, including the Samsung Galaxy S23 with its perpetually active display and high refresh rates of up to 120 Hz with a rate of sampling for touchscreens of 240 Hz in Game Time.
Galaxy S23 vs iPhone 14 Cameras
Everyone wants a top-notch camera on their phone, and at first glance, the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro appear to be quite comparable in this regard. The primary lens of the iPhone 14 Pro is 48 megapixels, and there are other 12-megapixel ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. The Samsung Galaxy S23, in contrast, boasts three cameras: a 50 MP main shooter, a 12 MP ultrawide shooter, and a 10 MP telephoto shooter. Its configuration is the same as that of the Samsung Galaxy S22.
In what ways do they excel? Not surprisingly, their camera quality is unparalleled among mobile devices. Both the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro have excellent contrast across the board, but with some instances of oversaturation.
Both devices come equipped with an automatic night mode feature that enhances low-light photography when turned on. Apple’s new 2x lossless zoom gives the iPhone 14 Pro an edge in magnification, but this is hardly a dealbreaker.
Galaxy S23 vs iPhone 14 Battery life
A 3200mAh battery powers the iPhone 14 Pro, whereas the 3900mAh battery of the Samsung Galaxy S23 comes close to matching that of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Your actual mileage will vary, as it does with every tool, depending on how you put it to use. Apple claims the iPhone 14 Pro can play videos for up to 23 hours straight, or stream for up to 20 hours. When utilizing a charger that puts out 20 W or more, it may charge up to half of the battery in 30 minutes. The equivalent for the Samsung Galaxy S23 will require 25W, although early indications suggest it can outlive the iPhone 14 Pro. The AMOLED screen’s lower power consumption compared to the Super Retina XDR display is likely to blame. The Galaxy S23 is Qi-compatible, whereas the iPhone 14 Pro is compliant with the MagSafe standard for wireless charging.
Why Is Samsung S23 Good?
The Galaxy S23’s selling point is its great performance and compact size. That’s exactly what you get, and it works! It’s a great alternative to the iPhone in 2023 and it rivals the Google Pixel when it comes to basic phone photography. It can fit in your pocket, it’s fast, and it has the potential to get even better with future software updates.
It’s the least expensive of the current S-series models, and if you can live without the most modern processor and design, you can save yourself £300 by purchasing last year’s model. Every 2023 flagship phone has followed the same pattern: so long as the previous models are still available, Samsung is practically competing with itself.
Why Is Samsung Removing the Headphone Jack?
The motivation for Samsung’s move wasn’t “courage” or encouraging consumers to switch to wireless headphones. (It does offer the Galaxy Buds, a competitor to Apple’s AirPods.) Instead, the company claimed that it ditched the jack to make room for a larger battery, which would allow the Note to last longer between charges for power users. It’s a smart move since, despite all the exciting new features available, the one thing consumers always tell me they want most is longer battery life.
If you want a lesser Android phone with the newest premium features, and you live in the United States, your choice is already made: the Galaxy S23 is the only average-sized premium phone option. Fortunately, the Galaxy S23 is a high-quality smartphone, with a battery life that exceeds its price point and a camera that competes favorably with the S23 Ultra. If you want a quality Android phone but prefer something smaller than the S23 Plus or S23 Ultra, the basic S23 is not just your best bet but also your only real alternative.
How Long Does the Galaxy S23 Battery Last?
The battery on the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S23 is 3,900mAh, which is an increase of 200mAh over the battery on the previous model. In our review of the Galaxy S22 from last year, we complained about its poor battery life, which we found to be consistently less than four hours under test conditions. The battery life of most modern smartphones is terrible, even when you refrain from using the device for power-hungry activities like navigation and gaming. The Galaxy S23 from this year, with its larger battery and Qualcomm’s rather efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, has addressed this issue.
How Old Is the Samsung S23?
The phones were introduced and shown off at the Galaxy Unpacked event on the 1st of February 2023, and they went on sale on the 17th. Collectively, they succeed in Samsung’s Galaxy S22 line of smartphones.
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