The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ are here. There are sensible upgrades in key hardware and software features, but no radical changes. The biggest upgrade is the bespoke Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with slightly higher clock speeds compared to other SD 8 Gen 2 phones on the market. The Samsung smartphones can be configured with different storage sizes, but the RAM is fixed at 8 GB like the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21.
New 50 megapixel main camera
The cameras have also been revised. It’s not as big an upgrade as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, but there are some helpful changes under the hood. For example, the Camera RAW app can now shoot at the full 50-megapixel resolution (up from 12-megapixel on the Galaxy S22 series), taking full advantage of the main camera. Thanks to the new chipset, the main camera now records 8K videos at 30 instead of 24 fps. The 12-megapixel ultra wide camera with a 120-degree field of view and the 10-megapixel 3x telephoto camera remain largely the same. The 12-megapixel selfie camera with autofocus, on the other hand, is new in all three models. It allows Super HDR videos at 60 fps.
Like the cameras, the displays have also been improved but still follow the same concept as last year. That means flat Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with FHD+ resolution and 48 – 120 Hz refresh rate. A touch sampling rate of 240 Hz is available in game mode. The smaller Samsung Galaxy S23 has a 6.1 inch display, the Galaxy S23+ has a 6.6 inch panel. Both have center punchholes for the selfie cameras and a fingerprint sensor. A new addition this year is the Vision Booster, which adapts the colors and contrast to the ambient lighting conditions. There is also an Enhanced Comfort function that adjusts the colors in the evening, thereby reducing eye strain.
Samsung Galaxy S23 series with larger batteries and Wi-Fi 6E
The batteries of the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ have grown by 200 mAh, bringing the total capacity to 3,900 mAh and 4,700 mAh respectively. Wired charging is limited to 25 watts on the S23 (50% in 30 minutes). With the S23+, 45 watts go through the cable (65% in 30 minutes). Wireless charging and wireless power sharing will also continue to be supported. The new chipset also brings better connectivity options. This includes support for 6 GHz Wi-Fi 6E as well as Bluetooth 5.3.
The S23 series is IP68 protected against dust and water (1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes). There are Gorilla Glass Victus 2 fronts and backs and four color options: Cream, Green, Lavender, and the traditional Phantom Black.
Samsung is already taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S23 and S23+, but actual sales only start in a few weeks. The starting prices for the 8/128 GB version are $800 / €950. The 8/256GB S23+ costs $1,000 / €1,210.
