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Source: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Top-notch performance
A well-rounded flagship
The sweet spot in Samsung's flagship smartphone lineup for folks who want bleeding-edge performance with a larger screen and a solid camera system, but don't need all the bells and whistles of the pricier S23 Ultra.
Pros
- Excellent screen with improved brightness
- Outstanding performance
- Four years of software updates
Cons
- Only modest camera improvements over last year's model
- Battery life may still be a problem
$1000 at Samsung From $1000 at T-Mobile (via Samsung) From $1000 at Verizon (via Samsung)
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Source: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Great staying power
Still a solid contender
Samsung's Galaxy S21+ remains a fast, feature-packed phone that offers a great display and solid battery life. While the camera configuration is a bit unusual, it takes decent photos, and sports an attractive design.
(Video) Samsung Galaxy S23+ VS Samsung Galaxy S22+ VS Samsung Galaxy S21+Pros
- Impressive AMOLED display
- Four years of Android updates
- Capable camera system
Cons
- Lacks true optical zoom
- 12 MP primary camera
ANDROIDPOLICE VIDEO OF THE DAY
Samsung's 2023 Galaxy lineup has arrived, and while the new Galaxy S23+ comes with few surprises, the iterative nature of this update serves to solidify Samsung's flagship smartphone platform. That's not to say that the Galaxy S23+ doesn't have a lot to offer; like its predecessors, it's a well-rounded smartphone and one of the best Android phones for folks who want a larger screen but don't need everything the more expensive S23 Ultra offers. However, does it pack in enough of a punch to make it worth the upgrade for folks toting the 2021 Galaxy S21+?
Samsung Galaxy S23+ | Samsung Galaxy S21+ | |
|---|---|---|
SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (U.S.) / Exynos 2100 (International) |
Display | 6.6" FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.7" FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 128GB / 256GB |
Battery | 4,700mAh | 4,800mAh |
Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
Operating System | Android 13 with OneUI 5.0 | Android 13 with OneUI 5.0 |
Front Camera | 12MP f/2.2 | 10MP f/2.2 |
Rear cameras | 50MP f/1.8 primary, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 10MP f/2.4 telephoto | 12MP f/1.8 primary, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 64MP f/2.0 telephoto |
Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth, UWB, NFC | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, UWB, NFC |
Dimensions | 157.73 x 76.2 x 7.62mm | 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm |
Weight | 196g | 200g |
Charging | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Super Fast Charging 2.0 (wired), Wireless PowerShare | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, USB PD 3.0 Fast Charging (wired), Wireless PowerShare |
IP Rating | IP68 | IP68 |
Colors | Standard: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender / Exclusive: Graphite, Lime | Phantom Violent, Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red |
Price & availability
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy S23+ is launching with the same $1,000 price tag as Samsung's prior two plus models. It's available for pre-order from Samsung now in Phantom Black, cream, green, lavender, mint, and graphite in your choice of 256GB and 512GB models.
Samsung still ostensibly sells the Galaxy S21+, although it's not easy to get your hands on one in new condition these days. It's available solely in the Phantom Black 128GB version.
Design: Borrowing from the Ultra
Source: Samsung
While the design of the new Galaxy S23+ still unmistakably identifies it as a Galaxy phone, Samsung has made one big change this year to unify the look of the entire S23 lineup. Gone is the camera bump from the prior models; instead, you're getting the cleaner and more stylish look of the S23 Ultra, where the three lenses are set against a uniform backdrop.
Granted, it's not a look that will appeal to everyone — many folks were fans of the distinctive camera bump design. However, it's a nice change for those who prefer the look of Samsung's S-series Ultra but weren't willing to drop an extra $200 to get it.
Naturally, Samsung has also changed its color selection this year. The company has bee reducing its assortment of "Phantom" colorways over the past couple of years, and this year the S23+ limits that to Phantom Black, which is joined by cream, green, and lavender. The S23+ also has a few exclusive colors if you buy directly through Samsung: Graphite and Lime. In practical terms, the S23+ offers more color options, as many of the S21+ options were exclusive to online orders from Samsung or specific markets like South Korea.
Regarding overall durability, the S23+ is pretty evenly matched with the S21+; both phones offer IP68 water resistance and Gorilla Glass Victus, although the S23+ gets a slight edge thanks to the cutting-edge Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Glassmaker Corning promises that it will survive better against drops on rough surfaces such as concrete, but it remains to be seen how much that will pan out in practical terms. Nevertheless, even if it's only incremental, it's still great to have better protection.
Display: An outstanding screen gets brighter
Source: Samsung
At a glance, the screen specs between the Galaxy S23+ and the S21+ appear nearly identical. Both models boast a Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O edge-to-edge display, and you'll likely have a hard time telling them apart with the naked eye. Samsung offers some of the best AMOLED screens out there, and it naturally puts its best displays forward on its flagship phones.
On paper, the Galaxy S23+ has a slightly smaller screen, at 6.6 inches rather than the 6.7 inches of the S21+, but that's a fairly insignificant difference that you'd hardly notice unless you're comparing the two side-by-side. Both models offer a 120Hz refresh rate with similar FHD+ resolution and pixel density.
The biggest improvement the S23+ offers this year is in overall brightness, which now peaks out at 1,750 nits, which should make it much easier to see when using your phone outdoors on a sunny day. That said, the 1,300-nit brightness on the Galaxy S21+ wasn't anything to scoff at.
Software
The Galaxy S23+ naturally ships with the latest Android 13 release with Samsung's One UI 5, but they'll be the first to deliver the latest OneUI 5.1 update. However, while the S21+ shipped with Android 11 and OneUI 3.1, Samsung pushed out its Android 13 and OneUI 5.0 update late last year, and it's expected to get OneUI 5.1 in the coming weeks.
This means both phones are on par for now and will likely remain so for the next couple of years. Samsung promises four years of major updates for its phones (and five years of security updates), which means the S21+ should be good until at least Android 15. However, the Galaxy S23+ will continue beyond that, likely making it to at least Android 17.
Performance
Source: Qualcomm
Perhaps the biggest place where the Galaxy S23+ pulls ahead of the S21+ is also the least surprising. Thanks to the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform, the Galaxy S23+ is going to be one of the most powerful smartphones on the market. In fact, Samsung is using a custom souped-up version of this chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. It will likely widen the performance gap even more between the Galaxy S23+ and its predecessors.
That said, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in the Galaxy S21+ is certainly no slouch. Hardcore mobile gamers might notice a slight performance increase when pushing the envelope, but the Galaxy S21+ is already snappy and responsive in normal day-to-day use, and both the S23+ and S21+ pack in the same 8GB of RAM. Where the more powerful Snapdragon chip is going to make the biggest difference is not in how fast your Galaxy smartphone operates but in powering all the other things that it can do. Computational photography is the way ahead to making the best use of your smartphone's camera, and the Galaxy S23+ promises a whole assortment of newer and more powerful features such as Super HDR, Nightography, Auto Framing, and more. Granted, the S21+ has most of these, but it's a safe bet that the S23+ will improve on them to produce even better pictures.
Battery and charging
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy S23+ packs in a slightly smaller 4,700mAh battery compared to the 4,800mAh cell found in the S21+, but thanks to the slightly smaller screen and the improvements to power management that nearly always come with newer chips, this shouldn't make any practical difference. The Galaxy S21+ could get most folks through a day of heavy use, so we expect the Galaxy S23+ to last roughly the same amount of time.
Where the Galaxy S23+ gets an edge is in offering support for 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0. That's a notable improvement over the 25W Super Fast Charging of the Galaxy S21+, although you still don't get a charger in the box. However, if wireless charging is more your style, you won't notice much difference as both support the same 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 standard. You also get Wireless PowerShare 4.5W reverse wireless charging to juice up your Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, or just about any other device that supports Qi wireless charging.
Camera
Source: Samsung
The camera system on the Galaxy S23+ differs significantly from the one found on the Galaxy S21+, ditching the 64MP "telephoto" lens in favor of one that actually offers a true optical zoom. While the replacement of the 64MP shooter on the Galaxy S21+ with a 10MP one may seem like a step backward, Samsung's choice to put its highest-resolution sensor on an alternate camera was an odd move in the first place. The method behind this seeming madness was to create a telephoto focal length without the need to put in telephoto optics.
By comparison, the Galaxy S21+ only featured a paltry 12MP primary wide camera. The Galaxy S23+ replaces that with a much more respectable 50MP sensor and uses proper glass on the telephoto lens to get a true 3X optical zoom. Both models feature the same 12MP ultra-wide camera, while the Galaxy S23+ bumps the front camera up slightly to 12MP.
Should you upgrade?
Source: Samsung
On the surface, there's not much that the Galaxy S23+ offers that would make it a "must buy" over the Galaxy S21+, and that's not a bad thing — it proves that Samsung's Galaxy lineup has matured and that its phones have some pretty solid staying power. Two years after its release, the Galaxy S21+ remains a great smartphone, with power to spare and support for the latest Android and OneUI versions that will last for another two years.
Of course, that doesn't mean the Galaxy S23+ isn't a better phone. However, those improvements are a collection of smaller things rather than any single "wow" factor. The Galaxy S23+ will give you better performance, faster wired charging, and undoubtedly take better pictures than its predecessors. Still, none of these things make it a compelling upgrade for anybody who is already happy with their Galaxy S21+. The Galaxy S23+ is a worthwhile upgrade if you're on a two-year upgrade plan, and you certainly won't be disappointed with it. Otherwise, there's no reason you can't hold on to your S21+ for at least another year to see what the Galaxy S24+ may have to offer.
Source: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23+
The sweet spot in Samsung's flagship smartphone lineup for folks who want bleeding-edge performance with a larger screen and a solid camera system, but don't need all the bells and whistles of the pricier S23 Ultra.
$1000 at Samsung From $1000 at T-Mobile (via Samsung) From $1000 at Verizon (via Samsung)
FAQs
Is it worth Upgrading from S21 to S23? ›
Galaxy S23 Vs. Galaxy S21: Display & Processor
Unsurprisingly, the new Galaxy S23 outscores the older device in synthetic benchmark tests and should perform better when multitasking or gaming. Both phones come with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage, but neither have a microSD card slot for expansion.
Battery life and charging
The more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 should allow the S23 Ultra to edge out the S21 Ultra in terms of battery life. This is especially true if your battery has degraded a bit over the past few years. They both support Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 and Wireless PowerShare (reverse charging).
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Plus Conclusion
The Galaxy S22 Plus is certainly better than the Galaxy S21 Plus in every way imaginable. Better display, performance, camera, and battery life make it a no-brainer pick over the Galaxy S21 Plus.
If you're deciding whether or not to upgrade from an S21 to an S22, I'd recommend holding off. If you're upgrading from an older iPhone or Galaxy phone, then the S22 seems like a worthwhile option. With Samsung's Galaxy S22 release, the smartphone maker added three new phones to its lineup.
Is Samsung S23 waterproof? ›All devices in the Galaxy S23 series come with an IP68 rating that denotes resistance to water, dust, dirt, and sand. However, they are not fully waterproof, meaning users should avoid submerging them in water for any length of time.
Is S23 better than S22? ›Both the Galaxy S23 and S22 use 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with Full HD+ resolutions and 120Hz refresh rates. The biggest difference between them is their peak brightness, where the S23 can go all the way up to 1,750 nits while the S22 is capped at 1,300 nits.
Is Samsung S23 Ultra worth buying? ›The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is currently the most desirable smartphone in the market and there are several good reasons behind it. Other than Samsung's clever marketing, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers almost everything you seek from a smartphone that doesn't have a folding display.
Is S23 Ultra worth upgrading? ›If you use your smartphone for all of your photo and video needs, then you'll definitely want to consider going for the Galaxy S23 Ultra for certain upgrades. The S23 Ultra has the S22 Ultra beat with an impressive 200MP main camera sensor compared to the 108MP camera on the S22 Ultra.
Is it worth upgrading to S23 Ultra? ›Understandably, one has to shell out quite a bit more than the lower models of the S series, but the S-pen functionality, bigger battery, and display make the Ultra series worth it. My battery life on the S23 Ultra is matching my 14 Pro Max with real-world usage (over a period of 6 days of testing).
Is Samsung S21 Plus worth buying in 2022? ›Is the Galaxy S21 worth it in 2022? Yes, Samsung's Galaxy S21 series remains a good buy in 2022. The design is similar to that of the Galaxy S22 series, and the Snapdragon 888 processor still offers excellent performance. You also get larger battery capacities on the Galaxy S21 series.
Which cameras are better S21 Plus or S22 Plus? ›
Samsung has made some solid improvements in the camera department for the Galaxy S22 Plus. Comparing it with the Galaxy S21 Plus' optics, you now get a 50MP main sensor as opposed to a 12MP unit. The telephoto lens has also seen an improvement as it can now do 3X optical zoom instead of 3x hybrid.
Is the S22+ camera better than S21? ›The cameras on the Galaxy S22 are undoubtedly better than the Galaxy S21, but that alone cannot be the reason to switch.
Is S22+ worth the upgrade? ›“The S22+ is a great phone that offers moderate upgrades to screen size, battery capacity, and connectivity over the less expensive S22.” Editor's note: The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Ultra are now official, so you may want to hold off …
When did Samsung S23 come out? ›The Galaxy S23 phones will be released on February 17, 2023, a week earlier than the S22 launch last year, with nearly three weeks of preorder deals to be stacked to the reservation bonus if you subscribed for one beforehand.
Does Samsung S23 have SD card slot? ›The Galaxy S23 does not have an SD card slot
In fact, none of the models in the S23 line do — meaning you don't get the option with the S23 Plus or S23 Ultra either. Unfortunately, this isn't surprising for Samsung. The last mainline Galaxy S phone with SD card slot support was the Galaxy S20.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G price in India starts from ₹1,24,999. It is available at lowest price on Amazon in India as on Feb 07, 2023. Take a look at Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G detailed specifications and features. Out of budget?
What are the negative effects of S23? ›Side effects include liver damage, heart attack, stroke, and others. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: S-23 is possibly unsafe when pregnant or breast-feeding.
What are the benefits of S 23? ›According to some research, S23 can make muscles harder and encourage a rise in lean strength and growth in bone. will prevent muscle loss and may aid in fat loss.
What are the benefits of S23? ›Some s23 SARMs have been shown to improve skin health and hair growth, among other benefits. s23 SARMs can help treat conditions like acne, male pattern baldness, and prostate cancer. They work by binding to the androgen receptor and blocking the effects of testosterone in the body.
Is it worth to upgrade from S22 Ultra to S23 Ultra? ›You should buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra if…
Arguably, the highlight feature of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its new 200-megapixel main camera sensor. That's an improvement over the 108-megapixel main camera sensor on the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Is it worth it to upgrade from the Samsung S21 Ultra to S22 Ultra? ›
The S22 Ultra is a better phone than its predecessor, but it's an incremental upgrade. Day to day, you won't notice the slight boost in performance, and the camera upgrades, while welcome, are minor. The only significant difference this year is the S Pen slotted inside the phone.
Which is better Samsung S22 or S22+ Ultra? ›The regular and Plus models only feature a 50MP primary camera and a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens remains the common point between the three phones. If you want the best camera experience, the S22 Ultra is what you should go for.
What is the difference between S23 and S23 Ultra? ›Here's where you start seeing some differences. The Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch Full HD+ while the S23 Galaxy Plus's display size is 6.6-inch Full HD+ and the Galaxy S23 Ultra proudly dons a BIG 6.8-inch Quad HD+ display. The resolution on the S23 Ultra at 3088 x 1440 is higher than both S23 and S23 Plus's 2340 x 1080.
Will the S23 have a pen? ›Samsung is offering a few exclusive colorways on its website too. Last but definitely not least, the S23 Ultra still comes with an S Pen.
Should I upgrade from S10+ to S22 Ultra? ›The bottom line: If your budget allows, it's worth upgrading from the Galaxy S10 to the Galaxy S22. The camera, performance and battery life improvements are likely to feel significant since the S10 is now three years old.
How much better will S23 Ultra be? ›We measured a 40% faster single-core CPU performance and a whopping 50% in multi-core performance! We rarely get such massive improvements, so this really is a special chip. But the big gains actually come for gamers! GPU performance is now on par or even faster than the current champ, the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Which is better S21 or S22? ›In terms of overall durability, the Galaxy S22 is better; it packs Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on the front and back. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S21 has Gorilla Glass Victus on the front but not on the back. Both phones are IP68 rated for water and dust resistance.
Is the S22 Ultra overkill? ›Yes, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is a bit of overkill but it's the Samsung kind of overkill, meaning it works very well despite being a little overwhelming options-wise. I just don't like it enough to recommend spending over $1,000 for the privilege of having an S Pen and rear cameras on steroids.
Is S21 worth buying in 2023? ›The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE was launched in January 2022, just before the Galaxy S22 series. This smartphone is barely a year old and might be a good option in 2023, depending on your needs. The Galaxy S21 FE offers the core features of the S21 with some modifications to make it more affordable.
What Samsung phones are worth buying in 2022? ›As of 2022, the newest models of the Samsung A series are the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G. Both phones are 5G-ready, making them the most affordable Samsung phone with 5G connectivity.
What are the problems with the S21 Plus? ›
Galaxy S21 users are reporting abnormal battery drain, installation issues, notification issues, problems with first and third-party apps, UI lag, charging issues, data issues, screen refresh problems, issues with the camera app (the app has crashed numerous times on the Galaxy S21 in our possession), call quality ...
Is the S21 plus worth the extra money? ›You want a new powerful Android
Samsung phones are among the best on the market for a reason, and the S21 Plus is one of the most powerful phones you can buy. If you are going to buy a top phone with Android, this is an excellent choice with its top-end chipset and plenty of RAM.
...
The Galaxy S21+ battery life and fast charging test.
In January 2021, Samsung released the Galaxy S21 series. The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the smallest one from the series and the S21 Plus the middle one. The S21 Samsung Galaxy Plus has a larger screen and a better battery. In terms of cameras and processing power, the devices are comparable.
What is the difference between Samsung S21 Plus and Samsung S22 Plus? ›Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus 5G has screen size of 6.6 inches which falls short to Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus's 6.7 inch screen. There is Screen Type in both the phones. Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus has display density of 394 PPI & Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus 5G has only 390 PPI display density.
Will the S23 have an SD card slot? ›The Galaxy S23 Will include up to 256GB of storage and at least 8GB of RAM. In contrast to the standard model, the Galaxy S23 Plus is anticipated to come with at least 256GB of inbuilt storage. There won't be a microSD card slot for storage expansion, which is unfortunate because the Galaxy S22 has one.
What is the price of Samsung Galaxy S23? ›Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G price in India starts from ₹1,24,999. It is available at lowest price on Amazon in India as on Feb 06, 2023. Take a look at Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G detailed specifications and features. Out of budget?
When was S23 released? ›The Samsung Galaxy S23 release date is February 17.
That's when the device goes on sale from retailers and carriers. However, you can pre-order the Galaxy S23 series right now. Samsung has few incentives on offer to sweeten the deal, such a free storage upgrade.
Sure, the bar was set pretty low, but the following Galaxy S21 Ultra wasn't just a much better phone than the S20 Ultra. It was one of the most highly praised phones of last year and still is one of the best devices money can buy even in 2022.
Is the Galaxy S21 or S22 better? ›The Galaxy S22 has a number of advantages: it has a faster chip, an improved camera system and its back is not plastic like the Galaxy S21. But at the same time, it is a slightly smaller phone, and while many people will appreciate this, it also means that it comes with a smaller battery size.
Which is better S22+ or ultra? ›
Just one look at that table makes something incredibly obvious: the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the best of the lot in terms of specs. It has the biggest display, the most versatile camera setup, the largest battery capacity, and takes a top spot on our picks for the best 5G phones.