Samsung Galaxy S23 Review. Samsung is back with its most recent lineup of premium S23 smartphones, returning as frequently as the bus that carries me into the city center.
The plain old normal Galaxy S23 might just be the dark horse of the group, despite the marketing push making it seem like the S23 Ultra is the only phone that matters.
Even though the Ultra has all the bells and whistles, not everyone, including myself, wants, needs, or can afford a phone like that. Many individuals want a smaller, more straightforward gadget for their daily vehicle, including many members of the Tech Advisor staff.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Review:
The Galaxy S23 might be the device you’ve been waiting for if that describes you.
I first adored this phone, but even though it didn’t have any obvious flaws, the more I used it, the more I noticed how similar it was to the Galaxy S22, which was released a year earlier, and how competitors continue to offer better value for the money overall. Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.
Design & Build:
- Almost identical to S22
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- More recycled parts
There are a lot more intriguing things to say about this year’s flagship Galaxy, so I won’t spend too much time here.
The phone weighs 168g and is about the same size as its predecessor at 7.6mm thick, making it one of the most manageable and portable flagships on the market. In contrast, the Google Pixel 7 is over 1mm thicker and weighs nearly 200g less.
The iPhone 14 is considerably more compared to other smartphones in terms of size and weight, but it’s only an option if you’re willing to use iOS rather than Android. The Asus ZenFone 9 and, in the mid-range, the Pixel 6a and Sony Xperia 5 IV are two Android alternatives.
The design of the S22 has only really undergone a little alteration from Samsung. Now there is no more surrounding metal or anything like that; the back cameras simply sit apart from one another. If you view them in landscape mode, they may resemble portholes or the three-eyed fish from The Simpsons.
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The slight modification makes a noticeable difference, and I much appreciate the current design over the previous one. The earlier version didn’t appeal to me at all.
Although the front and back glass have been upgraded to Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is ostensibly more scratch- and crack-resistant, you still get the same IP68 rating and aluminum frame.
With more recycled plastic (including fishing nets), aluminum, and glass utilized for some elements, the phone also has greater environmental credentials. Even while it could be better, it represents development.
The S23’s vibration motor, which offers very precise feedback for system navigation and typing, has a lot of appeal to me. Because of its high quality, you hardly even notice it working in the background. Under the settings menu, you can also change the vibration intensity for different purposes.
Screen & Speakers:
- 6.1in Dynamic AMOLED
- Full HD+
- 120Hz
The Galaxy S23’s display is a Dynamic AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution and 6.1 inches in size, just like the Galaxy S22’s. That’s all fine and typically consistent with premium smartphones like the Pixel 7 that are similarly priced.
The ZenFone 9 is even smaller at 5.9 inches, making the 6.1-panel size a vital component for consumers searching for a tiny phone. Although some gamers might want more space and the keyboard can seem a touch claustrophobic, it’s still spacious enough to enjoy entertainment, examine photos and other such activities.
The punch-hole camera on many phones can occasionally be annoying. If you choose the 6.6-inch model, the size
As usual, Samsung provides vivid colors and outstanding contrast, and you have the standard customization choices if you’d want. The resolution is perfectly sharp enough. For services that support it, like Amazon Prime Video, there is also HDR10+ support.
If you’re playing smartphone Top Trumps, the Galaxy S23 still has a refresh rate of 120Hz, beating the Pixel 7 by 30Hz. Although it doesn’t have the most advanced LPTO technology, it can dynamically adapt down to 48Hz and is buttery smooth on the Adaptive setting by default. Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.
The peak brightness of the S22 screen has increased from 1300 nits to 1750 nits, giving it more luminance to function well in bright outdoor circumstances.
Unexpectedly, I encountered a few problems with the display’s integrated ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. It’s not entirely Samsung’s fault because I had to redo my fingerprint registration, and my thumb’s cracked, dry winter skin won’t have helped either. Along with being inconsistent, the facial recognition fell far short of Apple’s Face ID’s level of dependability.
In terms of audio, things are more aesthetically pleasant, though I still wish there were a headphone jack. If you don’t own a Bluetooth speaker or headphones, the stereo speakers integrated into the device are surprisingly loud and provide clean, well-balanced music.
Specs & Performance:
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- 8GB of RAM
- 128- or 256GB storage
The biggest improvement between the Galaxy S23 and earlier models is the processor switch from Samsung’s Exynos to Qualcomm’s most recent flagship Snapdragon, even though it may seem like a minor upgrade. Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.
Since the UK has not previously received Snapdragon models, this move has a significant impact in several crucial areas. The biggest one is battery life, but there are also performance enhancements.
The general operation is simple. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has the expected 5G capabilities and can handle demanding games with ease. Even with the highest settings, the S23 can maintain a steady framerate in Genshin Impact and doesn’t overheat.
Although it may seem like a modest update, the swap from Samsung’s Exynos to Qualcomm’s most recent flagship Snapdragon is the biggest difference between the Galaxy S23 and older generations. Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.
Since Snapdragon models have not previously been available in the UK, this action has a substantial influence in many important areas. The main one is battery life, although there are also improvements to performance.
The overall system is straightforward. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 can easily handle demanding games and features the anticipated 5G capabilities. Genshin Impact runs smoothly on the S23 even on the maximum settings without overheating.
Cameras:
- 50Mp main camera
- 12Mp ultrawide
- 10Mp telephoto
- 12Mp selfie
Samsung kept the same three cameras on the rear of the phone from the previous year, so you have the typical flagship combo of wide, ultrawide, and telephoto options. Keep in mind that the S23+ has comparable photographic capabilities, so if you want a 200Mp main sensor and 10x optical zoom, you must purchase the Ultra.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the performance on offer here is very comparable to that of the S22. Additionally, the trio of lenses gives you good flexibility to take excellent pictures in a variety of settings, and like so many contemporary smartphones, there is a tonne of clever processing going on in the background to make it easier for you to simply point and shoot.
The Samsung camera app is among the simplest to operate, and when shooting in good lighting, both the main and ultrawide cameras frequently provide fantastic pictures. The main camera’s pixel bins photos down to 12Mp by default, so there is a tonne of information, and the ultrawide lens avoids the irritating distortion you sometimes find with less expensive sensors.
Although I don’t personally need a telephoto lens, this one is among the finest ones I’ve tested, producing high-quality results thanks to the integrated optical image stabilization (OIS). The program then enables digital zooming up to 30 times, with occasionally shockingly clear photographs.
There are certain drawbacks, however, including the main camera’s tendency to slightly overexpose, its inability to focus on subjects that are not perfectly steady, and its propensity for oversaturated colors. This is particularly true in the food mode because, as I can attest, my pizza in the slideshow below didn’t look like that.
Although having a variety of modes, the portrait mode sometimes struggles to cut around the hair. The low light performance, though, falls short of what I’d expect from a flagship device, with photos fast becoming mushy, lackluster, and flare-prone.
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Software & Apps:
- Android 13
- One UI 5.1
- Four years of OS support, five security
The S23 line of devices launched with Android 13 and Samsung’s One UI 5.1 on top. The thick Samsung Android skin significantly alters the way Android looks and feels. Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.
Things are much better now with a generally refined and mature experience that’s simple enough to grasp compared to the early days of One UI (or TouchWiz, as it was known).
Yet, Samsung still insists on carrying out some tasks in a unique way, such as making the app tray panels scroll horizontally rather than vertically. Because it is concealed in the notification shade two swipes down, I also find it difficult to operate the screen brightness slider.
While Google Assistant and Chrome are vastly superior to Bixby and the aptly called Samsung Internet, there is still utility in Samsung Health for wearables and wristwatch metrics and SmartThings for smart home equipment.
But, you have a tonne of customization and setup options, and the sidebar that displays your favorite apps can be really useful at times.
The good news is that Samsung provides long-term support for its S series phones, so you can rest easy knowing that the S23 won’t be obsolete after Android 15. You will also receive four years of OS updates and five years of security fixes. In the realm of Android, this is among the longest support and great things. Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.
Price & Availability:
The Galaxy S23 now costs $799/£849 for the cheapest model, which is an increase from $799/£769 for the S22 (at least in the UK).
You will receive 128GB of storage at this price, and upgrading to 256GB will cost $859/£899 more. However, you will receive 8GB of RAM, and as was already said, there is no SD card port, so make a good decision.
The phone is readily accessible, as you might expect, and the official Samsung store provides two distinct colors in addition to some fantastic trade-in deals for your previous phone.
The cost may put some people off but there are several rivals to consider at lower prices including the Asus ZenFone 9, Google Pixel 7, and OnePlus 11.
Specs:
- Android 13 with One UI 5.1
- 6.1in, 120Hz, FHD+, Dynamic AMOLED display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- 8GB RAM
- 128/256GB storage
- Cameras:
- 50Mp f/1.8 main camera
- 12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide camera
- 10Mp f/2.4 3x optical telephoto camera
- 12Mp f/2.2 front facing camera
- 5G
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Stereo speakers
- USB-C
- 3900mAh battery
- 45W wired charging
- 15W wireless charging
- 4.5W reverse wireless charging
- IP68
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm
- 196g
