The Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+: A Refinement, Not a Revolution
Samsung’s Galaxy S series has consistently been a top choice for those seeking a premium Android experience. While the S23 Ultra boasts a standout S Pen and cutting-edge camera hardware, it also comes with a hefty price tag. This makes the standard Galaxy S series the go-to option for those seeking a flagship Samsung smartphone without breaking the bank. However, with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+, the upgrades seem minimal compared to their predecessors. These new models primarily offer battery enhancements, design tweaks, and a newer processor. Let’s delve into the details and see what sets them apart.
Familiar Fronts, Refined Rears
From the front, the Galaxy S23 and S23+ appear strikingly similar to their predecessors. It’s only when you turn them over that the subtle changes become apparent. The sleek Armour Aluminum frame remains as flat as before, but the iconic contour-cut camera housing has undergone a transformation.
Samsung has adopted a new floating camera design, giving each lens its own individual cutout. While this design feels more in line with the Galaxy S22 Ultra from the previous year, the rings surrounding each camera lens now boast a shiny chrome finish, making them stand out. Samsung has also incorporated a significant upgrade in the glass used for both phones.
Both the front and rear glass on the Galaxy S23 and S23+ are now crafted from Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2. This latest generation of glass promises greater resistance to shattering upon impact compared to its predecessors. Continuing their focus on durability, the phones maintain an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, offering peace of mind in challenging environments. The color palette for these models includes Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender.
Displays and Performance: Familiar Ground
The 6.1-inch and 6.6-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED displays on the Galaxy S23 and S23+ respectively maintain their impressive specifications. Both retain a 120Hz maximum refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate when engaged in Game Mode, creating a smooth and responsive visual experience. While visually appealing, the displays themselves appear largely unchanged from their predecessors, lacking any substantial upgrades.
Thankfully, the Galaxy S23 and S23+ benefit from the same custom SoC as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung calls it the "Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform for Galaxy," and it boasts a number of performance enhancements over the standard version across the CPU, GPU, and NPU. This translates to significant performance gains for demanding tasks and gaming. Both models come equipped with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, ensuring ample memory and storage space for even the most demanding users.
Camera: Tweaks and Refinements
The rear camera configuration on the Galaxy S23 and S23+ mirrors that of the previous generation. It features a 50-megapixel primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, also featuring OIS, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.
However, the 12-megapixel front-facing camera now has the capability to record videos in HDR10+ and capture RAW photos, adding a touch of versatility. This camera setup remains a strong contender in the smartphone camera landscape, capturing impressive still images and video footage.
Battery Life and Charging: Upgraded Capacities
The Galaxy S23 boasts an increased battery capacity, moving from 3,700mAh to 3,900mAh. While this is a welcome upgrade, the charging speed remains capped at 25W for wired charging and 10W for wireless charging.
The Galaxy S23+ also receives a larger battery, stepping up from 4,500mAh to 4,700mAh. The highlight here is the increased wired charging speed, now reaching 45W, significantly accelerating the charging process. However, wireless charging still remains at 10W. Both smartphones run One UI 5.1, which is built upon Android 13.
The Verdict: A Calculated Evolution
For the most part, the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ represent a calculated evolution rather than a revolutionary overhaul. Beyond minor cosmetic changes and increased battery capacities, the upgrades seem iterative in nature. Samsung clearly places its focus on the customized Qualcomm SoC as the primary differentiator for these models.
While we’ll have to await our detailed review to form a definitive opinion, the S23 and S23+ still hold the potential to be compelling choices for those desiring a refined, premium Android smartphone experience within a narrower price range. The subtle enhancements, coupled with the familiar strengths of the S series, could make these models a strong contender in the ever-competitive flagship market.
