The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ are the latest evolution of the long-running S series formula. Yes, an improvement – Samsung has improved the basic hardware and software features, but there are no radical changes.
Samsung Galaxy S23
The biggest upgrade this generation is that all S23 phones sold worldwide will use only Qualcomm’s custom chipset, officially known as Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for the Galaxy (you can hear the cheers from Europe). This features a higher clock speed compared to other 8 Gen 2 chipsets. The phones come in several storage configurations, but the RAM is fixed at 8GB (as it was last year and the year before).
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
| 8/128 GB | – |
| 8/256 GB | 8/256 GB |
| 8/512 GB | 8/512GB |
The cameras have also been upgraded. It’s not as big an upgrade as the Ultra got, but there are some significant changes under the hood. For example, the Camera RAW app can now shoot at 50MP (up from 12MP on the S22 series), making full use of the main camera.
This camera still has a 50MP sensor that (thanks to the new chipset) can record 8K video at 30fps (up from 24fps last year). The 12 MP ultra-wide camera (120° FoV) and the 3 x 10 MP telephoto camera remain essentially the same.
One update is the move to a 12MP selfie camera, which is shared by the three models. Its video recording capabilities now include Super HDR support at 60fps.
Like the cameras, the displays have been improved, but still follow the same general formula as last year. This means flat Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with FHD+ resolution and 48-120Hz refresh rate (240Hz touch sampling rate in game mode).
The smaller Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch screen, the Galaxy S23+ has a 6.6-inch screen. Both have a center hole for the selfie camera and a fingerprint scanner at the bottom.
New additions this year are Vision Booster, which adjusts colors and contrast to match ambient lighting conditions, and Enhanced Comfort, which does the same at night to reduce eye strain.
The batteries in the S23 and S23+ are 200mAh larger than their predecessors, giving them a total capacity of 3,900mAh and 4,700mAh respectively. S23 wired charging is 25W (30 minutes to 50%), S23+ 45W (30 minutes to 65%). Of course, wireless charging and wireless power sharing are still supported.
Samsung Galaxy S23+
The new chipset improves connectivity. This includes support for the new 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 (compared to the original Wi-Fi 6 and BT 5.2).
This generation of Galaxy S23 and S23+ have adopted the Ultra style, removing the Contour Cut camera body and leaving only three camera lenses. The dust and water resistance rating is IP68 (1.5m of water for 30 minutes, same as last year). The phones are the first to feature the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is more durable and features recycled materials. Some plastics are also recyclable, as is 100% of the paper used for packaging.
All four models will be available in the following four colors: Cream, Green, Lavender and the traditional Phantom Black.
Samsung is already accepting pre-orders for the Galaxy S22 and S23+, with sales starting in a couple of weeks. We’ll have more detailed pricing soon, but here are the starting prices: S23 (8/128GB) is $800/€950/Rs 80,000, S23+ (8/256GB) is $1,000/€1,210.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+, check out our Galaxy S23 series hands-on for live photos and hands-on impressions.