Samsung Galaxy S23 Vs. Galaxy S22: Should You Upgrade?

Samsung

Phone producers are likely to launch a brand new telephone yearly, main many individuals to show in or discard their outdated telephones in favor of a more moderen mannequin. As 2023 enters its second month, it is Samsung’s flip to unveil its new vary of flagship telephones. As with earlier years, the Galaxy S23 will are available three flavors. A regular mannequin, a bigger “Plus” mannequin, and a premium “Ultra” version. Samsung’s essential rival Apple has obtained loads of criticism for primarily re-releasing the identical telephone yearly. Is Samsung doing the identical factor? Is the S23 actually definitely worth the improve prices? 

The Galaxy S23 base tier mannequin will begin at $799.99, the S23 Plus will begin at $999.99, and the S23 Ultra will begin at $1,199.99. Compare that with final yr’s costs, which ranged from $749 for the base-tier Galaxy S22, $899 for the S22 Plus, and a hefty $1,049 for the S22 Ultra. Even with a trade-in, an improve remains to be prone to price you just a few hundred {dollars}. The S23 line is available in 4 colours: Phantom Black, Green, Cream, and Lavender.

The Ultra editions of Samsung’s Galaxy S vary have arguably been the very best Android flagship telephones for a number of years. They supply extraordinarily high-end specs at a premium value, however that value seemingly would not dissuade patrons. According to a SlashGear Survey, over 40% of respondents would go for the Ultra when buying one thing from the S22 vary. Because the S23 and S23 Plus share the vast majority of specs and the Ultra is a special beast fully, we’ll have a look at them each individually. 

Samsung

The very first thing you discover about any telephone is its dimension, and nothing has modified between generations right here. Like the S22, the S23 has a 6.1-inch show. Both Plus fashions stretch that out to six.6 inches. Both have a Dynamic AMOLED 2X show operating at 120hz — identical to final yr. The telephones even have the very same weight inside a gram as their predecessors. 

The cameras are the place you begin to see a slight distinction. The S23 has gained just a few megapixels on the selfie digicam, from 10 MP to 12 MP. The three essential cameras on the again look like the identical as final yr. Both 4K and 8K video may be shot from the again, whereas the entrance can file 4K at 60 fps.

The S23’s batteries have gained round 200 mAh this yr, with the usual mannequin now able to holding 3,900 mAh and the Plus packing 4,700 mAh into its cell. While you get the identical 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB storage choices of final yr, that further juice could also be wanted for the machine’s new processor. The 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor on this yr’s fashions outperforms the Snapdragon 778G used within the S22 throughout most metrics (through ChipGuider). It’s additionally protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which might take a barely larger knock than the Victus+ used final yr. The physique is protected by “armor aluminum.”

Samsung

With the S23 Ultra, Samsung says you possibly can anticipate a 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O QHD+ show with a 120 Hz refresh charge. You’ll additionally get a 12 MP selfie digicam. Samsung claims that whereas it has dropped just a few megapixels in comparison with the S22, the brand new selfie digicam is extra superior and able to issues like recording at 60 fps with Super HDR. On the again, you’ve got a laser auto-focused 200 MP vast digicam, 12 MP Ultrawide, and a pair of 10 MP tele lenses. The wide-angle digicam is sort of double the decision of the 2022 version. 100x Zoom is accessible once more this yr. Video choices embrace 4k and 8k from the primary cameras, whereas the selfie digicam can shoot 4k at 60 fps. 

Under the hood, there’s a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform chip, which is an improve on the Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 present in final yr’s Ultra however not as large a leap as what we’re seeing within the fundamental S23 fashions. 8 GB of RAM comes as normal and is upgradeable to 12 GB. 

The 8 GB mannequin comes with 256 GB of storage. If you go for 12 GB, you possibly can choose 512 GB or 1 TB of space for storing. Powering it is a 5,000 mAh battery, the identical as final yr. You additionally get an embedded Samsung S-Pen, identical to final yr. In phrases of drop safety, the S23 Ultra has obtained the identical improve to Victus 2 as the essential fashions.

Samsung

As far because the S23 and S23 Plus are involved, the marginal processor enhance would not justify the improve price, even in the event you go for a trade-in low cost. Similar to latest iPhones, little has modified between generations. Yes, the S23 vary has a greater chip, however you are unlikely to wish the minor efficiency enhance. The telephone’s configuration hasn’t actually modified. The efficiency enhance can also be seemingly offset by the upper drain the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 locations on the battery. Samsung may do a number of issues to mitigate this and the S23 has extra battery capability, however head-to-head, there is a good probability an S22 will final a little bit longer. 

Obviously, a spec sheet would not inform the entire story. Chips on the identical platform can have wildly totally different specs. But as issues stand, the S23 Ultra actually would not appear price it. There’s a brand new processor and a little bit of a digicam improve on the again, but when the data we have obtained is correct then that is offset by a downgrade to the selfie digicam. Not solely is it not a lot of an improve from the S22 Ultra, however there’s additionally an excellent probability will probably be nearer to the essential S23 and S23 Plus when it comes to specs than the S22 Ultra was to its fundamental fashions. 

Our impressions would possibly change once we get one in for evaluate however as issues stand, individuals with a latest Samsung may be higher off ready for subsequent yr. Pre-orders begin in the present day, and the brand new telephones will likely be in shops beginning on February 17.