Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Ten years in the past, a brand new smartphone launch was extremely thrilling. Know-how moved so quick again then that each new smartphone appeared to come back with a characteristic we had by no means seen earlier than. At the moment, although, cellphone launches are more and more, properly, boring with every passing 12 months. The Samsung Galaxy S23 isn’t any exception.“Boring” would possibly seem to be a powerful phrase, however I’ve seen it thrown round fairly a bit this launch. It’s simple to see why. For those who simply glanced at these telephones, you’d say that there are some beauty adjustments, just a few minor upgrades underneath the hood, and a handful of latest software program options. Hardly thrilling. When Samsung spends a number of its launch occasion speaking concerning the environmental impression of its merchandise and the way it’s making two brief movies with big-name administrators, it doesn’t have a lot to say concerning the telephones both.It could be very easy to jot down a scathing critique of Samsung on this regard. I may go on and on about how these telephones are an entire lot of “meh,” and the way there’s no motive to improve when you personal a flagship from the previous two years. That will be the incorrect transfer, nonetheless, as a result of regardless of how uninteresting these telephones appear to be, they’re just about precisely what we requested for in 2022.
Only some adjustments, however they’re large onesRyan Haines / Android AuthorityYou don’t should go hands-on with the Galaxy S23 to identify the important thing change to the vanilla and Plus fashions. Final 12 months, these two seemed wildly totally different from the higher-end Extremely; it wasn’t even clear they had been all a part of the identical household. In 2023, nonetheless, the three telephones look cohesive, every with an identical triple-lens floating digital camera format on the again. The Galaxy S23 Extremely nonetheless seems to be a bit misplaced with its boxier design, additional lenses, and curved show, however a minimum of there’s no mistaking the household anymore. This can be a nice change.On the within, the Samsung Galaxy S23 sequence has some small however vital upgrades. The batteries within the vanilla and Plus fashions are larger, for one. Whereas a 200mAh improve doesn’t seem to be a lot, that’s higher than nothing — and positively higher than the lower we noticed in 2022.
Larger batteries and extra storage handle two of our largest complaints.
Likewise, an improve to the extra environment friendly Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers loads of pace and energy throughout all three telephones. This chipset now seems on each Galaxy S23 globally, which is a large deal. Prospects within the UK, Europe, and lots of different nations now not must worry characteristic disparity from an Exynos chip. It’s all Snapdragon on a regular basis, which is what we’ve needed for years.The cameras discovered some love too. The selfie digital camera on all three fashions is a more moderen 12MP system, and the Galaxy S23 Extremely has an enormous 200MP major shooter on the again. Samsung additionally launched quite a few software-based options for the cameras, which had been in a position to impress the likes of Ridley Scott.
There are not any Exynos-based Galaxy S telephones this 12 months, an enormous change we have been wanting for years.
Lastly, there are now not measly 128GB storage variations of the Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Extremely. 256GB is the brand new ground and it gained’t value you any additional. That’s one other change we’ve needed for years, and now we lastly have it.We didn’t see all of the adjustments we might need, in fact, however the tweaks we did see had been a lot wanted, particularly as they aren’t at all times simple to identify on paper.
Enhancements that gained’t present on a spec sheetRyan Haines / Android AuthorityThe two largest issues we had with the Galaxy S22 sequence had been warmth and battery life. Whereas we haven’t put these Galaxy S23 telephones by means of our rigorous testing but, we’re assured issues will likely be considerably higher this 12 months.
Our 2022 evaluations: Galaxy S22 | Galaxy S22 Plus | Galaxy S22 UltraFirst, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is leaps and bounds forward of the 8 Gen 1 relating to thermal efficiency and energy effectivity. A minimum of from what we’ve seen in our preliminary 8 Gen 2 testing. The distinctive overclocked model of the 8 Gen 2 contained in the Galaxy S23 sequence — formally generally known as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy — could be a bit totally different from what we’ve already seen, however we’re positive we’ll see higher sustainable efficiency than we did with the 8 Gen 1.
The Galaxy S23 sequence may not appear all that totally different, however there’s greater than meets the attention.
Not solely is the 8 Gen 2 shaping as much as be higher for temperatures and battery life, however the telephones all have improved heatsinks too. Within the case of the Galaxy S23, it has a graphite-based cooler for the primary time, which can probably make a big distinction. In different phrases, will probably be extremely shocking if the Samsung Galaxy S23 sequence doesn’t have higher thermals, and due to this fact efficiency, when in comparison with the Galaxy S22 sequence. Samsung has clearly attacked these issues head-on.The design of the telephones can also be higher this 12 months. The Galaxy S23 Extremely has much less of a curve to its show, for instance. It’s not flat (which is what most of our readers and we wish), nevertheless it’s nearer to flat than ever earlier than. Sturdiness is up due to Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and the aluminum rails are stronger this 12 months and incorporate extra recycled supplies, making their environmental impression barely smaller. In reality, Samsung doubled the variety of parts that incorporate recycled supplies in 2023, each inside and outside.The takeaway is that the Galaxy S23 sequence may not appear all that totally different, however there’s greater than meets the attention.
All this and no worth improve (within the US, anyway)Robert Triggs / Android AuthorityIn america, the Galaxy S23 sequence prices the identical because the Galaxy S22 sequence. The Galaxy S23 begins at $799, whereas the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Extremely keep at $999 and $1,199, respectively.The sequence looks like a terrific purchase contemplating the enhancements we’ve already gone over. The Galaxy S23, particularly, may find yourself being the proper cellphone for the marginally extra finances aware. Within the US, 55% of smartphone customers personal an iPhone, but the Galaxy S23 is now leaps forward of the iPhone 14, which begins on the identical $799 worth.
The Galaxy S23 gives superior {hardware} than an iPhone 14 on the identical worth.
The iPhone 14 doesn’t have a 120Hz refresh price, nor does it have a telephoto lens. It has weaker glass, much less RAM, a chipset from 2021, is marginally bigger in each dimension, and might’t seize 8K video. The one factor the iPhone 14 has going for it over the Galaxy S23 is a barely higher-resolution show, MagSafe help, and deep integration with the Apple ecosystem. For those who don’t care about MagSafe and the Apple world, it’s arduous to argue in favor of an iPhone 14 over a Galaxy S23.Sadly, this worth construction isn’t the identical all over the world. Within the UK, for instance, the Galaxy S23 begins at £849 (~$1,041), a big soar over the £769 ($943) worth of final 12 months’s Galaxy S22. The opposite fashions are not any totally different, with the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Extremely going up by £100 (~123) every. We’ve seen related will increase in different elements of the world, together with Europe and India. These adjustments make the choice to purchase a Galaxy S23 way more troublesome.Right here within the US, although, the Galaxy S23 sequence needs to be at or close to the highest of each smartphone consumers record.
$999.99 at SamsungSamsung Galaxy S23 PlusLarge AMOLED show
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 energy
Larger battery
$1,199.99 at SamsungSamsung Galaxy S23 UltraNew 200MP primary digital camera
Lovely show
S Pen performance
The Samsung Galaxy S23 isn’t what we wish, however that’s OKRyan Haines / Android AuthorityI gained’t deny it: that is an evolution 12 months reasonably than a revolution 12 months for the Galaxy S23 sequence. I’ve no illusions about that. Nevertheless, the issues Samsung has modified are small however vital. These usually are not simply beauty prospers like we noticed with the iPhone 14, which is principally an iPhone 13.5. These are tangible alterations that can positively have an effect on your expertise utilizing the telephones.Positive, it could have been good to see sooner charging speeds, extra RAM, and possibly even some extra new digital camera {hardware}. The audio system may in all probability use a refresh, and it’s disappointing that satellite tv for pc connectivity didn’t debut this 12 months. Whereas not crucial, it’s at all times thrilling to see wild revamps within the total design, too, and we didn’t get that, both.Right here within the US, although, with the Galaxy S23 sequence, we primarily have the Galaxy S22 sequence with many of the issues mounted and on the identical worth. That’s not tremendous thrilling, nevertheless it’s additionally not nothing. Samsung has made necessary adjustments. They may not be horny ones, however possibly calling these telephones “boring” belittles them unfairly.
Has Samsung modified sufficient with the Samsung Galaxy S23?43 votesYes, the adjustments are ok.65percentNo, the telephones are boring.35percentComments
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