Samsung Galaxy S23 Series Buyers’ Guide
February 6, 2023Samsung’s new crop of flagship phones feature more conservative contours despite having more internally, to shout about. The addition of a better cooling solution means that they can perform at peak levels for longer without encountering thermal throttling.
This could prove useful during intense gaming sessions or during lengthy 4k recordings. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen2, the new hardware makes the S23 series trio the most powerful Android phones at the moment. This coupled with the fact that they employ AI wizardry to boost camera performance, could mean there are fewer reasons to carry a conventional camera on trips.
The S23+ and S23 differ in terms of battery capacity, dimensions and screen size. Besides this, they both have the same chipset, camera hardware and display resolution. However, the S23 Ultra is an entirely different phone altogether. Despite the similar naming scheme, it’s basically a revamped Note series masquerading as a S flagship device.
The front, 12MP selfie camera now supports fast autofocus and Super HDR with a jump from 30 to 60fps. It also makes use of the AI object-ware engine that improves overall usability at night. The best part is that you don’t need to do anything more than point the phone in the right direction and snap the picture.
Each phone has its own appealing qualities and choosing between them depends entirely on one’s preference. The larger-than-life S23 Ultra has a large, vivid display that supports the S Pen. The S23+ and S23 are more conventional phones in regards to how they look and feel in one’s hand. Let’s take a look at each one to see which fits you best.
Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra
Predecessor: Galaxy S22 Ultra, click here for review article
Samsung made subtle tweaks to this phone to allow it to stand out from its predecessor. You’ll notice that it has a more minimalist look, which should appeal to business-minded people. It has a large, QHD+ display that is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is supposed to be better than the protection offered to its predecessor.
The display is less curved than the S22 Ultra, which is good news for people constantly using the S-Pen. A larger, flatter surface allows you to use more of the screen to draw, doodle or highlight before reaching the actual screen curvature.
Unlike the S23+ and S23, the Ultra’s display features a variable refresh rate that can dip all the way down to 1Hz and rise to 120Hz as and when needed. This allows the phone to optimize what’s being displayed without excessive use of battery power.
It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen2, which is the most powerful chip available to Android phones. This should make it a powerhouse when it comes to tackling computational tasks. In addition to this, Samsung says that it’s ready to support ray tracing, which is a boon for gaming. This technology creates a more realistic way of portraying rays of light in games.
Though the current crop of mobile games hasn’t taken advantage of this technology, sometime down the line, that will eventually happen. For now, just know that the S23 Ultra is ready for future, more graphically intensive games.
The S23 Ultra comes with 12GB RAM. There’s no 8GB of option this time. But you can still choose to have either 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of internal storage capacity. Keep in mind that there’s no support for external SD cards, so choose wisely.
In terms of camera hardware, the phone gets a 200MP wide lens, 10MP ultra-wide and dual 10MP telephoto sensors. Their capabilities are bolstered by AI image processing that should help take the tedium out of photo taking sessions, especially in low light conditions. The algorithm helps to ensure that details and color tones are kept as accurate as possible.
The S22 Ultra was a great substitute for an actual camera. It was able to take remarkably sharp and color-accurate pictures in appalling lighting conditions. And the best part about it is that you didn’t need to fuss about with the camera settings. All you have to do is just point and shoot.
Users can expect extensive photo editing options through the use of the Expert Raw app. Available exclusively to Samsung Galaxy devices, it allows for editing of RAW and JPEG shots with much greater precision.
Since the S23 Ultra uses a much larger wide-angle sensor, we are eager to see how much better it is at photo and videography work. It may even prove to be the only camera you will ever need. We will let you know for sure once we’ve put it through the wringer.
Battery capacity remains unchanged at 5,000mAh. It supports 45W wired and 15W wireless fast charging technology. You’ll need to get a supported wall adapter to make full use of said charging speeds.
If you’re interested in purchasing this phone, it’s available in Phantom Black, Green, Cream and Lavender starting at USD1,199.99/RM6,199.00
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Predecessor: Galaxy S22+, click here for the review article
The S23+ has a more “controlled” overall look, which makes it feel a lot more grown up. It seems as though with each new iteration of the S series phones, Samsung tends to turn down the “flambouncy” control a notch or two. While the S21+ was all about the jazzy color combination and glossy paint scheme, the S23+’s features a more understated look.
It has a single piece case with three protruding holes that allow the trio of rear cameras to poke through. This minimalist look and matte color schemes make them look less playful and more business-like. This should appeal to many users who appreciate subtilty when it comes to showing off what they have.
Compared to its predecessor, tweaks have been made where necessary to allow it to pick up where its predecessor left off. It has a vibrant, 6.6-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2x display that offers a FHD+ resolution, which is more than enough for most people. The screen also supports variable refresh rates, which allow it to dip to 48Hz and rise to 120Hz as and when needed.
Like its bigger brother, it gets the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen2 chipset, which should allow it to chomp through most tasks without breaking a sweat. It’s paired to 8GB of RAM, which happens to be the only option available. You can however choose to have either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage space. Choose the one that best suits your needs.
For camera hardware, the phone gets a 50MP wide sensor that has a new adaptive pixel Super HDR and detail enhancer features. They are supposed to help create stunning pictures without putting in much effort. The phone also has a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto sensor. The AI and powerful hardware help capture great shots during the day and night.
Improved image stabilization with adaptive VDIS and Wide OIS should help ensure that videos that you capture remain crisp and in focus. We will let you know more in our in-depth review of this phone.
It uses a slightly larger 4,700mAh battery, which is good news for most workaholics. It supports 45W wired and 15W wireless fast charging technology. This should allow the phone to offer more than a day’s worth of juice but still have the ability to be topped up fairly quickly.
The S23+ is available in Phantom Black, Green, Cream or Lavender at a starting price of USD999.99/RM5,199.00 for the base storage option.
Samsung Galaxy S23
Predecessor: Galaxy S22, click here for the review article
The smallest of the trio, this compact pocket computer, aims to bring flagship prowess to people who appreciate the smaller form factor. Contrary to what some rumors suggested, the 6.1-inch screen phone lives on.
Visually, it looks identical to its bigger brother, differing only in battery capacity and overall screen size. The 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display offers a variable refresh rate of between 48Hz to 120Hz. Expect similarly vivid and bright images and videos as those seen on last year’s S22.
Despite its diminutive size, it gets the same powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen2 chipset that is coupled to 8GB of RAM. You can however, choose between 128GB or 256GB of internal storage capacity. Depending on your market, there might even be the 512GB option available to you.
In terms of camera abilities, it gets the same hardware as its bigger brother the S23+, which is the main 50MP sensor, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto one. The use of AI to back up the powerful camera machinery allows the phone to capture great shots in both night and day. The availability of Super HDR and Detail Enhancer allow it to make tweaks where necessary to produce great images and videos.
It also gets improved image stabilization with Adaptive VDIS and wide OIS to ensure that videos that are recorded are less shaky and retain a good level of detail and overall depth. Since the S22 was no slouch in the camera department, we expect eh S23 to meet if not exceed the performance of its predecessor.
The S23 gets a 3,900mAh battery which is 200mAh larger than was given to the S22. Though not as large as we’d like it should allow the phone to last for an entire day without needing to be recharged. There’s support for 25W wired and 15W wireless fast charging technology.
If you are interested in purchasing this phone, it’s available in Phantom Black, Green, Cream or Lavender at the starting price of USD799.99/RM4,199 for the 128GB storage option. Stay tuned and we will let you know more about this phone once we get our hands on it.
