The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the only compact Android flagship available in India, offering a compelling proposition for those who prefer a smaller phone. However, with the arrival of Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, the Galaxy S23 is no longer the sole player in the premium compact segment. The Pixel 7 series boasts its own custom-designed SoC, promising a smooth "Pixel Experience" with smart features, timely updates, and a renowned imaging experience. This begs the question: in 2023, does the Samsung Galaxy S23 still offer the best experience for users seeking a powerful compact phone? Let’s delve deeper into the review to find out.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Price in India
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is available in four color variants: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. It comes in two storage configurations: 8GB RAM with 128GB storage priced at Rs. 74,999 and 8GB RAM with 256GB storage priced at Rs. 79,999.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Design
The Samsung Galaxy S23 borrows heavily from its predecessor, the Galaxy S22. However, the contour cutout for the camera module is replaced with three individual cutouts, resembling the design of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung calls this the "floating camera" design. The rest of the design remains consistent, including the thin bezels surrounding the flat display, and the IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
While the updated camera design helps differentiate the new model from the old, it doesn’t quite contribute to the S23’s premium appeal. Samsung’s newer mid-range offerings, the Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34, feature a strikingly similar design, diminishing the S23’s distinctiveness.
Despite the design similarities, the Samsung Galaxy S23 remains one of the few compact flagships in the Android space, rivaling Apple’s iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. Though it might not possess the capabilities of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it provides a compelling option for users with smaller hands or those who value one-handed usability, which is increasingly rare among premium Android devices. The S23’s size trumps even the smaller Pixel 7 in terms of one-handed user experience.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Specifications and Software
The Samsung Galaxy S23 features a 6.1-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The fingerprint reader is integrated into the display and boasts reliable performance.
Like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 uses the same custom "Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy" SoC. Samsung offers the phone with a maximum of 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage. It’s worth noting that the faster UFS 4.0 storage is only available on the top-end model, while the 128GB variant features UFS 3.1 storage. The SIM card tray accommodates two nano-SIM cards, and the phone supports various 5G radios with dual-5G standby. Unfortunately, expandable storage is not an option on the Galaxy S23.
Communication standards include Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB Type-C port, and support for common satellite navigation systems. The Galaxy S23 features a slightly larger 3,900mAh battery, an upgrade from the 3,700mAh unit in its predecessor. However, wired charging speeds remain at a disappointing 25W, and wireless charging stays at 15W. As with many modern smartphones, Samsung does not include a charger in the box.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 comes pre-loaded with OneUI 5.1, based on Android 13. Samsung promises four generations of Android upgrades and five years of security updates, a testament to its commitment to software support. This is one area where Samsung has demonstrated excellence over time, consistently providing timely updates for recent and older devices to the latest Android versions.
Beyond the promise of extended support, OneUI 5.1 feels smooth and delivers new features like the ability to remove objects, people, and pets from images in the Gallery app, two new battery widgets, and an improved dynamic weather widget. Updates also allow Samsung Galaxy Book laptop owners to use their trackpad and keyboard with their phones, adding to the ecosystem’s interconnectedness.
While OneUI has much to offer, it still comes with a plethora of pre-installed third-party apps, including Microsoft 365, OneDrive, LinkedIn, Outlook, Facebook, Spotify, and Netflix. This bloatware feels out of place on a smartphone priced at over Rs. 70,000, especially considering Google’s Pixel 7 series manages to avoid such baggage.
Further complicating the experience is Samsung’s inclusion of its own versions of Google apps, creating redundant options that can confuse casual users. Fortunately, the majority of these Samsung-branded apps can be uninstalled, providing some control over the user experience.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S23’s Super AMOLED display delivers vibrant colors at the default "Vivid" setting. However, for more accurate color representation, switching to the "Natural" setting is recommended. The display achieves impressive brightness outdoors, effectively maintaining color accuracy and contrast even in challenging lighting conditions.
The 120Hz refresh rate proves useful in select games, but the 240Hz touch sampling rate doesn’t feel as responsive as expected, particularly in titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact. Accurate aiming and responsiveness can become challenging, which may be a concern for avid mobile gamers. The display also features an HDR10+ certification, and playback of supported streaming content appears as intended.
Leveraging its new custom processor, the Samsung Galaxy S23 actually achieved higher benchmark scores than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, primarily due to its lower resolution display. It scored 1,944 and 5,008 points in Geekbench 6’s single and multi-core tests, respectively, and 1,186,610 points in AnTuTu. Despite these higher scores, the phone did not heat up as readily as its predecessor under load. However, it throttles considerably faster than the Galaxy S23 Ultra when running the CPU Throttling app.
While the Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra were upgraded with vapor chamber cooling systems, Samsung opted for graphite sheets for the Galaxy S22. Now, for the first time, Samsung claims to have implemented a vapor chamber cooling system in its smallest Galaxy S series model, and the results are noticeably better. The phone does experience some heating when using the camera in bright sunlight, but it’s more manageable compared to the noticeable overheating of the Galaxy S22.
This improvement extends to gaming. The Galaxy S23 maintains sustained performance and runs cooler than its predecessor. However, it will still heat up when pushing high graphics settings in demanding titles like Genshin Impact, which is more suited for gaming-centric devices like the Asus ROG 6.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 enjoys a small but significant increase in battery capacity. It easily lasted a full day of intensive use on a single charge, including gaming, though the latter activity contributed to faster battery depletion. In our HD video loop test, the Galaxy S23 achieved a commendable 17 hours, 56 minutes of runtime.
While the Galaxy S23’s battery life surpasses the Galaxy S22, it’s still a one-day-use phone. Larger competitors with bigger batteries often offer one and a half or even more days of usage. Charging the Galaxy S23 from empty to full takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, aligning with its predecessor, which is somewhat disappointing.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S23 implements limited hardware changes, with only the selfie camera receiving a significant upgrade from a 10-megapixel sensor to a 12-megapixel sensor, the same one used on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. This upgrade, according to Samsung, enables HDR10+ recording on the front camera. The rest of the camera hardware remains unchanged from the previous model and includes a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera.
Similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Expert RAW app now boasts a shortcut within the main camera app. The rest of the camera interface remains familiar.
Since the Pixel 7 Pro emerges as the Galaxy S23’s main competitor, it makes sense to compare their camera performance. The Galaxy S23 captures high-quality images with ample detail and good dynamic range in daylight. However, the colors appear somewhat oversaturated, even with the phone’s "Scene Optimise" AI enhancement feature disabled. When compared to the Pixel 7 Pro, the Galaxy S23 falls short in terms of resolved detail, dynamic range, and color accuracy.
Close-ups of objects showcase the Samsung Galaxy S23’s prowess in capturing exceptional detail, even to the point of being excessive. The Pixel 7 Pro, on the other hand, excels in color accuracy and dynamic range, areas where the S23 struggles to match.
The Samsung Galaxy S23’s ultrawide camera effectively mirrors the color tone of its primary camera, promoting consistency, but the images appear somewhat saturated. Dynamic range and detail are excellent on both smartphones.
In low light, both smartphones utilize their auto-night modes, allowing their cameras to decide if Night mode is necessary. The Samsung Galaxy S23 exhibited the same issues observed when comparing the Galaxy S23 Ultra to the iPhone 14 Pro—captures with a slightly dreamy appearance in dimly lit scenes and a noticeable halo effect around objects. However, unlike the S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 lacks the high-resolution sensor, resulting in less detail. The Pixel 7 Pro has minor issues with bright lights but delivers far superior low-light photos with better detail, color accuracy, and dynamic range than the Galaxy S23.
Zooming performance is an area where both phones show their strengths and weaknesses. At 2X magnification, the Samsung Galaxy S23 produces slightly oversharpened photos, while the Google Pixel delivers photos with better resolved detail. Both phones achieve similar levels of quality at 3X zoom—the Galaxy’s optical zoom limit. The Pixel’s photos at 3X are, however, digital crops from the primary camera. At 5X zoom, the Pixel’s optical zoom limit, it produces better quality photos, while the Galaxy S23’s photos appear flat with some oversharpening (as they are digitally cropped images). In low light, the Samsung Galaxy S23’s 3X telephoto camera’s optical zoom performance falters, struggling to focus properly. The Pixel 7 Pro delivers a significantly better performance at 5X optical zoom.
Selfies in Portrait mode from the front camera look excellent on both phones, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 takes the lead due to its newer sensor. The Pixel 7 Pro displays natural skin tones, while the Galaxy S23 produces a slightly reddish appearance. The Galaxy S23 also captures sharper images thanks to its PDAF system, but the Pixel boasts a much wider field of view, proving beneficial for group shots.
Low-light selfies benefit from the Samsung Galaxy S23’s use of the screen flash. The Pixel’s images appear messy with the same settings. However, both cameras exhibit comparable quality when shooting selfies in their respective Night modes.
Video recording at 4K is a shared strength for both smartphones. The Galaxy S23 captures slightly sharper video, while the Pixel 7 Pro delivers a more realistic look when recording at 4K 60fps. The Pixel also manages more accurate colors, while the Galaxy exhibits cooler tones. Both phones demonstrate consistent bitrate and effective stabilization when panning and moving.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 also supports 8K video recording. Though not as detailed as footage captured from the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it performs well with a steady bitrate. Remember that 8K recordings consume a significant amount of storage space.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 also supports HDR video recording. While the Pixel’s HDR capabilities haven’t progressed since the last shootout against the iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung displays much better performance, albeit with saturated colors. In low light, both phones deliver decent performance at 4K 60fps, but Samsung manages noise control far more effectively than the Pixel. However, the Galaxy S23’s aggressive noise reduction comes at the cost of reduced detail.
Verdict
Samsung currently holds the sole position in the Indian smartphone market as the provider of a truly compact flagship phone, year after year. Many manufacturers have abandoned this form factor in the premium segment, prioritizing larger displays and battery life based on consumer demand. Even Apple, known for its steadfast design principles, introduced its second XL-sized smartphone, the iPhone 14 Plus, last year.
While last year’s Samsung Galaxy S22 just about met the mark in terms of battery life, this year’s Galaxy S23 delivers a notable improvement. It tackles the primary concern that many buyers have with compact flagships, which should increase its appeal. If you’re searching for a compact flagship and are willing to accept the compromises associated with this niche (relatively smaller battery and display), then the Samsung Galaxy S23 is a strong contender as it faces minimal competition.
When it comes to value, however, the Samsung Galaxy S23’s Rs. 74,999 price tag becomes harder to justify. Samsung’s own Galaxy S22 closely matches the S23 in terms of features and performance, including that compact form factor. Since it’s over a year old, you can often find it for around Rs. 57,999, or even less, in online stores.
If you’re comfortable with a slightly larger phone, Google’s Pixel 7 is a worthy alternative. Although it features fewer rear cameras and only comes in one storage option, its pricing is significantly lower than the Galaxy S23 at Rs. 59,999. The larger Pixel 7 Pro adds a third camera with impressive telephoto capabilities at a price comparable to the Galaxy S23’s 256GB variant. Google’s Pixel devices are also known for being the first to receive software updates, and they offer a clean stock Android experience, devoid of the bloatware that Samsung continues to include on its smartphones. Vivo’s X80 Pro, also available at the same price, provides incredible camera capabilities and better battery life.
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S23 remains a compelling option for users who prioritize a compact form factor in a premium Android phone. However, its price and the presence of strong competitors like the Google Pixel 7 series make it a challenging investment for consumers seeking the best value for their money. Ultimately, choosing the right device depends on your individual priorities and preferences.
Disclaimer: _The price mentioned in the article is a suggested retail price and may vary based on retailer promotions and offers.
