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D.You don’t have to get a new phone every year or two, no matter what companies want you to believe. So while Samsung’s lineup of Galaxy S flagship phones for 2023 may seem underwhelming when compared to previous generations, it’s not a bad thing that these devices have little reason to upgrade. No. After saying the same thing about the 2022 models and competing Apple and Google phones, it’s hard to get excited about non-foldable smartphones anymore.
Like most of its competitors, Samsung has focused on tweaking the camera and software features of the S23 series, as well as tweaking the display and design. There was also the typical processor upgrade and promised improved battery life. These are objectively good things on paper, but in practice they don’t really affect day-to-day use.
Strong Points
- excellent battery life
- vivid display
- zippy performance
Cons
- Rear camera struggles in low light compared to other flagships
We’ve already reviewed the S23 Ultra, which aggressively targets power users thanks to its large screen, onboard S-Pen, and 200-megapixel camera. For those who want a new Android phone, there is the S23+ or S23. Samsung hasn’t made the smallest model available for review yet, so we’re focusing on the Plus model here. It may be of value only if you are in the United States, or if you are outside of the United States.
design
One of the most noticeable changes between the S23+ and its predecessor is this year’s cleaned up look. The two phones are basically the same but the older model has the glossy camera housing on the back that wraps around the top left corner Samsung introduced this ‘contour cut’ housing to his S21 especially the lavender and I just fell in love with the aesthetic of the pink version.
Seeing the S22+ and S23+ side by side, neither is jarring. Whether you prefer a cleaner look or not depends on your personal preference. Functionally, there is not much difference between the two designs. The S23+ has slightly less wobble, but it wasn’t much of an issue with the S22. We liked the lavender color of our review unit and the green version we saw at Samsung’s hands-on event, but we got tired of the cream and black options.
In terms of physical dimensions, the difference between the two generations is negligible. The weight, width and length are almost the same, and the thickness is exactly the same. The S23+ is slimmer and lighter than the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Plus, but these two have larger displays.
display and audio
Speaking of which, one area where Samsung has made some improvements on the S23+ is the screen. Yes, it’s pretty much the same as before, with the same size, same FHD+ resolution, and up to 120Hz refresh rate. You’ve heard reviewers like me raving about the benefits of a high refresh rate screen and how good it is for scrolling through Instagram and Reddit feeds. The S23+ is no exception.
Charlyn Law / Engadget
However, it can now reach up to 1,750 nits outdoors, compared to 1,200 nits previously. That means it should be easier to read in daylight. There aren’t many sunny days these days, so it was a challenge to try this. However, the S23+ offers a vibrant and colorful screen typical of Samsung’s mobile offerings.
Meanwhile, when it comes to audio, the Galaxy S23+ rivals any flagship smartphone. That said, it offers clear vocals and plenty of volume, but is slightly lacking in bass.The Weeknd, SZA, and Rihanna’s voices all sounded clear on the songs I heard, but the instruments on Rihanna’s cover love on the brain It sounded a little messy.
camera
The S23+’s triple rear camera system is the same as before. So the main 50-megapixel sensor comes with a 10MP telephoto and a 12MP ultra wide angle. However, the S23+ has a new 12MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 80-degree field of view.
Charlyn Law / Engadget
As a professional pixel peeper (™), I Slight Differences in sharpness between selfies taken with S22+ and S23+, especially the highlighted hair. Photos taken with my old phone had some distortion, but the 12MP version had the same lines crisp. It was difficult to tell them apart.
Compared to the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro, the S23+ has a slight advantage in retaining detail, thanks to dual pixel autofocus. I took a selfie with a friend one night while laughing maniacally, Samsung’s flagship being the only one to capture every strand of her lashes while retaining the gorgeous greens, purples and blues in her hair. I could even see the texture of her purple eyeshadow pigmentation.
The Pixel’s 10.8-megapixel front-facing camera was also able to capture the shade of her hair, but the photo simply wasn’t detailed or clear. In a 12MP photo of her on the iPhone, on the other hand, I could barely see the color of her friend’s tresses.
Although unchanged, the S23+’s rear camera is still quite capable. In most situations with good lighting, it delivers photos on par with the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro. Shots of the New York City skyline on one overcast day all showed slightly different colors. The S23+ was the deepest, brightest blue, while the Pixel was the most neutral. His 3x telephoto lens from Samsung allows you to get the closest and sharpest photos of distant buildings, but Google’s algorithm still delivers clean results.
Gallery: Galaxy S23+ Camera Samples | | 18 photos
Gallery: Galaxy S23+ Camera Samples | | 18 photos
In low light, however, the Pixel consistently outperformed the S23+, delivering better exposure and clarity retention on my numerous shots of appetizing food. Even with a plate of mouthwatering scallops, the Pixel delivered more even highlights than the S23+. Google’s Portrait mode also consistently kept the subject in focus, and at times the S23+ produced photos with surprisingly accurate subject outlines.
While not on the same level as Google’s and Apple’s flagship cameras, the S23+ isn’t far behind and offers versatility for those who want to take photos from a distance.
performance and battery life
This year will be the first time Samsung will use Snapdragon processors in all variants of the Galaxy S series, regardless of where you buy them. So if you’ve been relegated to using versions with Samsung’s own Exynos chips in the past, getting an S23 means it’s going to be a bigger upgrade than anyone in the US. It’s been criticized for its performance and battery life shortcomings compared to its Snapdragon counterpart, so swapping the S22 for an S23 makes more sense in Europe or Asia than in the US.
The S23 series is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, a customized version of Qualcomm’s top mobile processor. Clock speeds are slightly higher than the regular version, so if that’s the only factor in deciding between the Galaxy and the OnePlus, know that this difference is very minor.
Charlyn Law / Engadget
In daily use, the S23+ felt as nimble as any new phone I’ve tested recently. Drag and drop faces between apps, learn Japanese with “Hey Japan”, scroll mindlessly through Instagram, Genshin: Impact, the S23+ did not hiccup. I usually expect pretty smooth performance from a new phone like this, so I can’t say I’m particularly impressed. Perhaps it’s more realistic to evaluate performance after a few months on the phone.
However, we can talk about how impressive the battery life was. I was able to use it for over 2 days. Admittedly, I didn’t use either a lot during that time. Most of the time I used them to take pictures and videos all day long.
In our video rundown battery test, the S23+ clocked in at a whopping 25 hours, beating almost every phone we tested in 2022, as well as the Galaxy S23 Ultra and OnePlus 11.
wrap up
It may seem silly, but there are so few meaningful changes that I don’t think it’s worth upgrading to the S23+ if you’re on an S22 or S21. At least if you’re in the US. Those using the Exynos version of the older Galaxy flagship may find it a more worthwhile upgrade, with significant performance and battery life improvements.
But just because the S23+ isn’t chock-full of surprises and updates doesn’t mean it’s not a good phone. It still ranks as one of the best Android phones. Samsung has consistently delivered high-performing phones with thoughtful software and features over the last few years.
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