Verdict
It might not be all that dissimilar from the Galaxy S22 , but the Samsung Galaxy S23 remains an splendid compact selection without much via media , boasting top - goal performance , various television camera chops and , for the first time , lawful all - day battery life – and with the release of the newer S24 , it ’s cheaper than ever .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the most low-cost phone from the 2023 generation of Samsung ’s S - Series , and with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S24 , the S23 is more of a bargain than ever .
The Galaxy S23 shares many of the same high - end feature of speech as itsGalaxy S23 PlusandGalaxy S23 Ultrasiblings , include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor , 120Hz refresh rate and the AMOLED presentation .
It ’s smaller and light than the other Galaxy S23 phones too , with the 6.1 - inch CRT screen making it light to drop away into your pocket and type with one hand .
You will confessedly miss out on a bigger battery and superior television camera by opting for the root word Galaxy S23 , but it still represents terrific value – especially now that it ’s cheaper with the reveal of the newerGalaxy S24range .
The S24 is n’t a vast jump from the S23 either , with minor improvements like a 0.1 - inch video display growth , a slenderly faster processor and some unequalled GenAI capabilities . That essentially think of you ’re not missing out onthatmuch if you opt for the more or less one-time , but still implausibly capable , S23 .
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S23 might look very intimate if you ’ve seen or used a Galaxy S22 , but there are a few key changes on offer from the 2023 flagship that meliorate things pretty .
The most immediately noticeable variety for many will be the removal of the contour tv camera housing on the bum , replaced instead by a minimalist short letter of cameras that mimics that of the top - endGalaxy S23 Ultra , though I ’d argue that it looks more like an iPhone than ever – especially when combined with the comparatively categoric side and the curving recess of the phone . But hey …
It ’s doubtless a nice move consider thestandard Galaxy S22felt like a different brute to theGalaxy S22 Ultra . And although I still detect it a little too minimalistic , I ’m certain there will be many consumers that adore the cleaner aesthetic .
Otherwise , the lightweight 168 one thousand Galaxy S23 could be the ideal small - covert smartphone with a excogitation that ’s incredibly promiscuous to employ one - handed , and it feel much nicer in the hand than the larger framework .
Some may lament the expiration of the genuine big - screen door experience with a 6.1 - in display , but having come from the 6.78 - inchVivo X100 Pro , I must say that it was a novel experience . It was easier to hold and use , specially one - handed , and I did n’t really sense like I was miss out when gaming on the slightly small display either , though some may palpate differently .
It ’s also lowly but mighty , sporting a compounding of Corning ’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 which is specifically said to execute better when dropped onto concrete , and withIP68dust and water system resistivity protecting from unwanted Ingres , it ’s more than safe for a trip to the beach .
Dimensions apart , it ’s just a good - looking smartphone with solid build timbre and a high level of attention to contingent . Everything , from the side - mounted power and loudness keys to the position of the antenna bands , feels purposeful .
It ’s also available in the same colours as the Plus and Ultra models , with phantom black , ointment , green and lavender conclusion . It ’s nice not to have to raise to a more expensive model just to get the colour you want , right ?
Screen
The main driver behind the Samsung Galaxy S23 ’s pocketable nature is the 6.1 - inchdynamic AMOLED 2X display . It boasts a buttery - smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate that lay down everything feel responsive , and the display can mechanically drop down to save on bombardment animation , though it ca n’t neglect to the same 1Hz as the LTPO 2 - enabled S23 Ultra , capping out at 48Hz rather .
It ’s something that has been reform with the Galaxy S24 , rollick the same LTPO technical school as the top - end mannikin , so it might be deserving considering the new model if that is particularly important to you .
There ’s also reinforcement for HDR10 + message to improve the dynamic reach in supported capacity , but like always , Dolby Vision keep is notably missing .
A maximal brightness level of 1250nits ( or a boosted 1750nits when look out HDR content ) entail it ’s easy to apply in direct sunshine without track down for wraith ( as I can testify during a trip-up to Barcelona ) and , just as you ’d expect from a high - end Samsung display , it ’s bright , intense and detailed .
I for sure had no complaints watch TikToks and YouTube videos , though I must admit , I did miss the large display dimensions when it came to catching up with shows on Netflix .
The Full HD+ resolution may let down compare to the WQHD+ resolution from the likes of the S24 Ultra andOnePlus 12 , but it ’s arguably not a big a deal on such a small screen show ; textbook and images are just as nippy and unmortgaged as they appear on high - Re models , and videos look just as elaborated as ever too . You certainly wo n’t be pixel - peeping , that ’s for sure .
So , whether you ’re into small - screen phones or simply desire a change from big - silver screen option , the Galaxy S23 is a solid succinct choice , though it is drop a few primal toll and whistle equate to vie flagships .
Cameras
While the S23 Ultra get an all - new 200MP snapper upgrade , the same ca n’t be said for the received Galaxy S23 , which sports the same combining of a master 50MP television camera with twofold - pixel PDAF and OIS alongside a 12MP 120 - point ultrawide and a 10MP 3x telephoto with OIS as its herald .
While that will be unsatisfying for those looking for a true camera rise , I will say that the S23 ’s rearward camera frame-up remains pretty up to for the money . It ’s also the same as the Galaxy S24 , so upgrading wo n’t get you much else , either .
The independent 50MP sensor sportspixel - binningtech that essentially coalesce multiple pixels together to ameliorate item and light . And when compound with improved AI that can enhance images by splitting them into segments , it produces well - lit , elaborated shots in both well - light and low - light source environs .
It ’s also jolly good with HDR capture , maintaining a decent level of detail in both shiny and moody touch , even in challenging light conditions like sunsets .
What I will say is that images can look a minuscule too vivid , sometimes bordering on unnatural . That ’ll be all right for some – it certainly makes sunsets expect more colorful , and it makes for great societal media fodder – but it ’s not quite what I ’d distinguish as an precise histrionics of what I actually saw .
Despite the deficiency of a 200MP rear detector like its larger sib , the S23 use the 50MP sensor and f/1.8 aperture to squeeze every minuscule bit of Inner Light and detail from downcast - luminousness environments .
effect on dark scenes with some inflammation , like a street at night , are pretty comme il faut for the money , though its limitation are more obvious when light levels drop even further .
There are also new Expert altogether capability , a lineament first introduced with the S22 series . While last year ’s example was capped at capturing RAW icon at 12MP despite the inclusion of a 50MP independent sensor , that has been rectified this year with full 50MP altogether range of a function available with the water tap of a button .
The 10MP 3X telephoto lens is a handy to have when you ca n’t get quite as close to the subject of your photo as you ’d like , while also offer a besotted slant for portrait photography – an orbit where the S23 excels in particular . OIS also serve capture elaborated images at higher level of rapid climb .
you may press past the full 3X rapid growth , though it does n’t quite have the zoom capabilities of the S23 Ultra . Though you ’ll get noteworthy results at 10X , there is some loss of detail .
you’re able to crank that to 30X , though results are n’t that great for anything aside from taking snaps of the moon . I ’d weigh it on a par with the S23 Ultra in terms of item capture , which makes me marvel how much of the original image is used and how much is leave by AI …
in conclusion , the 12MP 120 - level ultrawide is expectant for rent grand shots of buildings – great for eye - catching edifice in London , like the below – without absurd image warping towards the edges .
But with a fairly narrow f/2.2 aperture , it ’s not the best when low-cal levels begin to drop off . Images are all right , but look comparatively sonant compared to stroke accept on the higher - ray chief lens .
Flip the phone over and the selfie tv camera has also had a bit of TLC with a megapixel hump from 10MP to 12MP , and while that does n’t go like much , the new camera setup enable new feature like Samsung ’s ‘ Super HDR ’ and 60fps picture recording capabilities .
It ’s certainly enough for selfies and video call , and it ’s surprisingly decent in low - light conditions too , but you ’ll want to use the rearward lenses for any serious photography .
Performance
At the heart of the Samsung Galaxy S23 is Qualcomm ’s ‘ Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy ’ , a unique chipset exclusive to Samsung smartphones .
Qualcomm says the upgraded chipset boasts better C.P.U. execution with an increased 3.36GHz peak stop number compared to the 3.2GHz you ’ll find in the already top - end received Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 . It ’s a similar tale with GPU performance , with an upgraded Adreno GPU that ’s both well execute and more energy efficient than the stock edition .
It ’s also the same chipset as that discover in the Plus and Ultra models , as well as theSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 5andSamsung Galaxy zed Fold 5foldable phones that surpass the £ 1000/$1000 scrape . And , unlike the newer Galaxy S24 , there ’s no Snapdragon and Exynos rive with the S23 series either , have in mind you ’ll get the same level of power no matter of the model you opt for and where you are in the world .
With that all enounce , it should come as no surprisal that the Samsung Galaxy S23 feel blisteringly tight in use , handling just about everything I could throw at it including top - end AAA play with maximal graphics enabled without nary a stammer . geminate with the 120Hz refresh rate and antiphonal animations , opening apps and scrolling felt up instantaneous .
That ’s quantifiable too , with an impressive Geekbench 5 single - magnetic core score of 1551 and a multi - core score of 4819 , and although the 3DMark Extreme Wild Life score of 3741 is similar to that of the S23 Ultra ’s 3766 , it ’s quicker when it comes to skeletal system rate with a lower - res FHD+ presentation that tally 90fps in GFXBench ’s top - end Aztec Ruins ( eminent ) , compare to 55fps from the to - end S23 Ultra .
See how the Galaxy S23 liken to the challenger and the Galaxy S22 in our benchmark breakdown :
When it comes to store you ’ve got the same 128 GiB or 256 GB options as last year , which while not quite as much as the 512 GB option from the S23 Plus and the 1 TB from the S23 Ultra , should be enough for the absolute majority of users . The 256 GB variant does boast faster UFS 4.0 memory board equate to the UFS 3.1 of the 128 GB chance variable , but I doubt very much that anyone will detect a difference in everyday usage .
Software
The Samsung Galaxy S23 , like the remainder of the orbit , ranAndroid 13with Samsung ’s OneUI 5.1 update at launch , though it has since had the upgrade to Android 14 and OneUI 6.1 . It ’s Samsung ’s own whirl on the Android OS and while it for sure is n’t as close to stock certificate as you ’ll feel from Motorola and Nokia , it ’s a mostly polished OS with plenty of unique feature film for Samsung users to take advantage of .
That includes lock screen customisation in much the same direction as Apple ’s iPhone with the iOS 16 update . I can change not only the manner of the clock but its size and position on screen , tailor-make the cutoff that seem at the bottom of the screen and even how incoming notifications are expose . There ’s even whatsis documentation .
There ’s alsoSamsung DeXwhich essentially turn your smartphone into an Android - powered desktop that lets you run your favorite Android apps on a machine-accessible display , and you may mate a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse too . It ’s not my personal favourite – I think Motorola ’s ReadyFor is more innovative with well Windows integration – but it ’s a gracious contact if you like the idea of having a portable PC in your pouch .
I will say , I ’m not a huge fan of the number of Samsung - branded apps you ’ll find in OneUI 6.1 , with some apps – like the Messages app – feature some queer design selection .
You ’ve get the selection of instal the Google strain of apps , as I did during my metre with the phone , but I did acknowledge that the telephone designedly did n’t reinstall Google - branded apps from my backup where a Samsung variant was useable , in all probability in a bid to get you to switch . That ’s moderately brash , Samsung .
Overall though , it ’s an easy - to - consumption skin with some helpful features , and it does n’t require as much of a acquisition curved shape as some Android skins . I ’m calculate at you , Xiaomi .
Samsung is also provide four years of OS upgrades and five year of security updates , which should comfortably take the Galaxy S23 through to Android 17 – though it ’s worth observe that this has been extended to 7 years of O upgrades with the newer S24 series .
Battery life
With the smallest battery in the Galaxy S23 orbit and most of the rival at 3900mAh – an increase of 200mAh compare to the Galaxy S22 – I was a small concerned about assault and battery longevity , but my awe were mostly unwarranted .
The combination of a smaller , low - reticuloendothelial system FHD+ display than its large siblings , and the improved battery efficiency of the Samsung - exclusive Snapdragon chipset , provided well-to-do all - day bombardment liveliness in my week with the smartphone .
exact the phone off mission at around 7:30am , I ’d apply the phone to send messages , surf societal media , listen to music and take the occasional snap . Most of the fourth dimension it ’d get to around 11 postmortem with about 25 % electric battery remain .
It ’s not quite a two - sidereal day machine with what I ’d account as fair use , but on days when I sour from home and did n’t habituate the phone for much else than sending the occasional text edition and draw a call every now and again , it would get to the conclusion of the day with close to 50 % charge remaining .
That performance is back up by trial run too , with an hour of HDR playback on Netflix drain just 6 % of battery , while half an hour of loose gaming will run out 7 % of battery .
Charge velocity are a little disappointing , however , even by Samsung ’s standard . I complained about the 45W charging of the Galaxy S23 Ultra , but the standard Galaxy S23 is even dull at just 25W , resulting in a 50 % charge in 29 minutes and a full charge in 1 hour and 20 minutes . I ’ve get a intuitive feeling this has been unnaturally stunted by Samsung to verify the standard S23 does n’t charge any faster than the top - destruction Ultra fashion model …
That said , it ’s still a phone that you ’ll most likely shoot down every Nox , unlike the likes of competing flagship like theRealme GT 3and its 240W charge which provides a full guardianship in just 9 and a half minutes .
Here ’s how the Galaxy S23 ’s barrage fire and charge speeds compare to the rivalry :
Should you buy it?
The scoop - well-disposed S23 vaunt flagship - level feature and carrying out in a minuscule packet than most of the rivalry .
With the slowest charging in the reach , the Galaxy S23 ’s 25W charge speeds may depart you wanting more .
Final Thoughts
little phones usually have one particular ruination – barrage life history – but it seems Samsung has posit that issue with the S23 and the impressively battery - effective Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy , with the phone ’s 3900mAh stamp battery well capable to get me through the day without get through for a charger .
Still , it means that you could now relish a more pocketable frame ingredient without much of a downgrade . The 6.1 - inch dynamic AMOLED 2X showing is star even without LTPO tech , with plenty of cleverness and item , the rear tv camera offering remains capable even without a big upgrade and Samsung ’s OneUI has some pretty ready to hand features .
TheGalaxy S23 PlusandGalaxy S23 Ultrawill extend you even expert photography if you ’re uncoerced to pass a little more , as will the new Galaxy S24 reach .
Overall , the Samsung Galaxy S23 offer a great ( though not top - end ) excerption of technical school in a portable form factor , and that remains the case even with the release of the new Galaxy S24 , with a very similar slate of technical school on offer . If anything , it progress to the S23 a little more tempting as it ’s now usable at a discount at most retailers .
As ever , check out out ourbest smartphoneandbest mid - range phonelists for even more options .
Trusted Score
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We try out every mobile phone we review exhaustively . We use industriousness - standard tests to compare lineament in good order and we expend the earphone as our main machine over the limited review period . We ’ll always state you what we recover and we never , ever , accept money to survey a product .
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FAQs
It ’s usable in Phantom Black , Cream , Green and Lavender finish .
Yes , it ’s IP68 rated to protect against junk and H2O ingress .
While technically it does , at just 25W , it ’s far behind what you ’ll get from much of the flagship competition .
