If you are not eyeing the side of folding smartphones, the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 + and Galaxy S23 Ultra have something to seduce you. The prices of these smartphones range from €960 to €1420.
If looking at your current smartphone, you think it might be a good time to upgrade. Samsung and Apple, the two biggest smartphone makers, both launched their latest high-end smartphone releases recently.
Technical characteristics
Galaxy S23
- Price : from 960 €
- Screen : 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O FHD+
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Weight : 168g
- Processor : Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage : 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
- Rear sensors: 8K/30 fps, 50 MP f1.8 wide-angle, 12 MP f2.2 ultra wide-angle, 10 MP f2.2 telephoto X3
- Front sensor: 4K/60fps, 12MP f2.2
- Battery : 3900mAh
- Connectivity: 5G, WiFi 6E
- Protection: IP68
- Colors: lavender, cream, black, green
Galaxy S23 Plus
- Price : from 1220 €
- Screen : 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O FHD+
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Weight : 196g
- Processor : Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage : 256 GB, 512 GB
- Rear sensors: 8K/30 fps, 50 MP f1.8 wide-angle, 12 MP f2.2 ultra wide-angle, 10 MP f2.2 telephoto X3
- Front sensor: 4K/60fps, 12MP f2.2
- Battery : 4700mAh
- Connectivity: 5G, WiFi 6E
- Protection: IP68
- Colors: lavender, cream, black, green
Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Price : from €1,420
- Screen : 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O QHD+ Edge Screen.
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Weight : 234g
- Processor : Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- RAM: 8 GB, 12 GB
- Storage : 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
- Rear sensors: 8K/30 fps, 200 MP f1.7 wide-angle with laser autofocus, 12 MP f2.2 ultra wide-angle, 10 MP f2.2 telephoto X3, 10 MP f4.9 telephoto X10
- Front sensor: 4K/60fps, 12MP f2.2.
- Battery : 5000mAh
- Connectivity: 5G, WiFi 6E
- Protection: IP68
- Colors: lavender, cream, black, green
Which model to choose?
You should buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra if…
Image: June Wan/ZDNET.
…you want the fastest Galaxy
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the fastest Galaxy smartphone yet, boasting 12GB of RAM for both 512GB and 1TB devices.
Add to that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, present on all models of the Galaxy S23 line – against the Gen 1 on the Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 – and you have the perfect recipe for a lightning-fast user experience. .
…you want a camera that can do it all
The Samsung S23 Ultra shatters other phones with its impressive camera system. The main camera is rated to reach up to 200MP, a pixel bump from the S22 Ultra’s 108MP. This is the highest definition on a Samsung smartphone.
The rear camera also features laser autofocus and an aperture of up to f/1.7 for capturing low-light shots. Samsung is also one of the few companies that makes phones capable of recording 8K video, which is sure to look stunning on a larger screen.
…you like the handwriting experience of the stylus on a phablet
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is not marketed as a phablet. Yet he might as well be. It’s the largest of the three new smartphones in the S23 lineup with a 6.8-inch display. In the purest tradition of phablets (old Note range), the S23 Ultra also has an integrated S Pen stylus to take quick notes and accomplish a multitude of multitasking functions. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Ultra versions of Samsung Galaxy phones keep Edge technology (window tabs) front and center on all sides. On the S23 Ultra, there are no more (or almost) borders around the screen, which makes it an elegant smartphone.
You should buy the Galaxy S23+ if…
Image: June Wan/ZDNET.
…you want Ultra features without the Ultra price
The S23+ sits in the middle of the S23 range. Almost identical to the S23, it nevertheless borrows a few features from the top model, the S23 Ultra: Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology, Super Fast Charging 2.0 with cable and a larger battery. But also, of course, a bigger screen.
…you want a mid-size smartphone
With its weight of 196 g and its 6.6 inch screen, the S23+ is neither too big nor too small. If you like the heft of a good-sized smartphone, but don’t want to go so far as to get one of the biggest consumer phones out there, the S23+ is the perfect choice.
You should buy the Galaxy S23 if…
Image: June Wan/ZDNET.
…you prefer a phone that doesn’t stick out of your pocket
One of the advantages of this model is its compact size. If you’re one of those people who prefers a smaller smartphone that can easily slip into your pocket and fit in the palm of your hand, this is the one for you. It weighs 169g. That said, with its 6.1-inch screen, it in no way seeks to replace the iPhone Mini (with a 5.4-inch screen).
…you want the same screen for less
The standard Galaxy S23 (425 ppi) has a slightly higher pixel-per-inch rate than the S23+ (393 ppi). Although the difference is not very visible to the naked eye, it is still an advantage when you consider that you pay less for the same FHD + screen (2340 x 1080 pixels). Without forgetting that the small S23, whose screen has a definition of 1080 pixels, has, as on the S23+, a Samsung AMOLED panel with a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz.
…you want the best value for money
The Galaxy S23 is ultimately not much different from the S23+: it is more compact, and has a smaller battery and storage capacity, the only options being 128 GB and 256 GB. But it is also the most affordable of the range. It doesn’t have the super fast charging 2.0 feature like the other two, but it does have 8GB of RAM and the same camera system as the S23+, making it a powerful yet compact smartphone from from €960.
To sum up
All S23 models are a marked improvement on their respective predecessors, although admittedly they look a lot alike from the outside. The new optical system and faster chipset, plus the strongest displays yet, featuring Gorilla Glass Victus 2, make this upgrade worthwhile. The switch to the S23, S23+ or S23 Ultra would be justified for those who own a model of the S21 or an older smartphone.
Source: ZDNet.com