Reviews
Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.
This year, I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy S23 as my smartphone, and I can confidently say that of all of Samsung’s phones, this regular-sized version is the most balanced one I’ve used. So why would I recommend it over its bigger and more expensive counterparts? Let me explain.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is Easy to Use
The physical design of the S23 is not distinct from the S21 and S22, aside from the camera bump corner. This is not bad, as it’s still one of the few single-handed devices available. With a 6.1 inch AMOLED screen, it is relatively small by today’s standards, and its 1080 x 2340 p resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and 19.5:9 aspect ratio make it comfortable to use with one hand.
Viewing videos on the S23 in either portrait or landscape mode is straightforward and comfortable when used for extended periods. Though it is not Samsung’s most advanced display, the 425 pixels-per-inch still makes for an enjoyable visual experience. Dark colors are particularly vivid on the AMOLED panel, and it is an excellent match for space-inspired wallpapers like the one I have installed from Wallpaper Engine. As with other contemporary Samsung devices, the S23 maintains the company’s high standards for excellent viewing experiences.
The fingerprint scanner beneath the display is extremely accurate when it comes to recognizing my thumbs. I’m satisfied with its performance 95% of the time, as I’m aware it’s as good as it’s going to get with this technology. The face scanner is also a viable option to unlock the screen, and I use them both together. I’ve seen other scanners that are far slower and not as reliable.
Not the most outstanding, but…
I was quite content with the display of the S23, but the triple camera setup truly shines. I was really impressed with the pictures especially the ones I took from a skyscraper. The 50 MP f/1.8 wide sensor easily captures a great deal of scenery without distortion. The 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide also provides a great angle without producing an exaggerated, fisheye effect. Which is something I have encountered with other phones. The S23 is able to accurately capture the scene as my eyes see it.
The Samsung S23 generally handles light well no matter the environment. At sunset, it captures the light source accurately and maintains good contrast in the shadows. Even in bright conditions, it rarely oversaturates the photo. Furthermore, it doesn’t wash out the background when taking pictures in the sun. The 10MP f/2.4 telephoto lens also provides good quality when used for zooming. Surprisingly, the sharpness of the image remained high even when the wide aperture was used at 3x.
The S23 has great low light capabilities and produces solid photos for sharing on Instagram. It has been observed that the phone increases its exposure to ensure details are picked up from a distance. At its price point, grainier photos can be seen in better lighting scenarios, so Samsung did well here. I’m still undecided as to whether I think the Pixel 7 or iPhone provide better low light shots than the S23, but all three of these phones are competitively equal for 2023.
For a flagship phone, I’m content with the speed at which I was able to take a picture and keep going. I think this is why Samsung’s S series phones have been so successful. Even though these models don’t have the best specs or results, they are ideal for people who don’t want to spend time tweaking their camera to get the ideal shot for social media. If that describes you, then the S23 is more than capable of meeting your photo taking needs.
Doing Excellently Well
The battery in the S23, with a capacity of 3,900 mAh, is not as large as the Ultra, but it’s been very impressive to me in terms of performance; at the end of a full work day, I’m usually left with over 50% battery life. Running Android 13 with One UI 5.1, the phone runs efficiently and handles background processes well. I have no doubt that the S23 can last through any given day and it’s also equipped with wireless charging, making it even easier to keep it powered.
The S23 stands apart from the other phones in its class due to its use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, along with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It is incredibly fast, and I have only experienced occasional hiccups. It also has a very good battery life, which makes it great for mobile gaming. Since launch, I have been playing call of duty with no issues and have not felt any discomfort in my hands, even during longer gaming sessions. The S23 also does not heat up excessively during gameplay.
The audio emanating from the bottom-firing speaker and the earpiece is quite loud, yet still maintains a respectable quality even when the levels are cranked up. Although the projection is not as rich and full as some of the new phones, it still does a good job if there is no Bluetooth earbud connected.
The S23 is an easy phone to review. It is built with an aluminum frame and glass body that makes it feel expensive. The flagship chipset keeps it competitive with the best in the industry and the camera setup is up to par with industry leaders. What makes it stand out is that it offers a great value for its price and is easier to hold in one hand than many of its pricier counterparts. It is an excellent option for all types of buyers.
Design
Dimensions (Unfolded): 161.2 x 144.7 x 6.9 mm
Dimensions (Folded): 161.2 x 72.6 x 13.5 mm
Weight: 299 grams
Build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) when folded and unfolded, aluminum frame
Colors: Black, White
Display
Type: AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (peak brightness)
Main Display (Unfolded): 7.85 inches, 2296 x 2000 pixels, ~388 ppi density
Cover Display (Folded): 6.42 inches, 1080 x 2520 pixels, ~431 ppi density
Screen-to-Body Ratio: ~88% (main display), ~90% (cover display)
Touch Sampling Rate: 240Hz
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Performance
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ (4nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU: Mali-G710 MC10
Operating System: Android 13, HiOS Fold
Memory
RAM: 12GB LPDDR5
Internal Storage: 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1
Expandable Storage: No (no microSD card slot)
Cameras
Rear Camera Setup:
- 50 MP (wide), f/1.8, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS
- 50 MP (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom
- 13 MP (ultrawide), f/2.2
Camera Features: Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Video Recording:
- 4K@30/60fps (main camera)
- 1080p@30/60fps
- Gyro-EIS (electronic image stabilization)
Front Cameras:
- Cover Display: 32 MP, f/2.5
- Main Display (Unfolded): 16 MP, f/2.0
Front Video: 1080p@30fps
Battery
Type: Li-Po, non-removable
Capacity: 5000mAh
Fast Charging: 45W wired fast charging
Reverse Charging: 10W
Network & Connectivity
SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Network:
- 5G: Supported
- 4G LTE: Yes
- 3G: Yes
- 2G: Yes
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band)
Bluetooth: 5.3, A2DP, LE
GPS: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
NFC: Yes
USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG support
Audio: Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm headphone jack
Sensors
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
- Accelerometer
- Gyroscope
- Proximity sensor
- Compass
Audio
Speakers: Stereo speakers
Audio Features: 24-bit/192kHz audio
No 3.5mm Jack: USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter may be required
Software & Features
Operating System: Android 13 with Tecno HiOS Fold UI
Special Features:
- Multi-tasking with split-screen mode
- Flex Mode support (optimizes apps for the foldable screen)
- AI-enhanced photography and videography features
- HiOS customizations for foldable displays
Battery Life
- Talk Time: Up to 30 hours on 4G
- Standby: Up to 400 hours
- Music Playback: Up to 90 hours
Charging Time
- Wired Charging: 0 to 100% in about 55 minutes
Price Range (Expected)
- 256GB Storage Model: $1,200
- 512GB Storage Model: $1,400
Availability: Expected release in selected markets by Q4 2024
Design and Build
Dimensions:
Luxe Marble: 163.72 x 75.00 x 7.49 mm
Flamboyant Orange: 163.72 x 75.00 x 7.99 mm
Weight:
Luxe Marble: 185 g
Flamboyant Orange: 190 g
Back Material: Vegan Leather (Flamboyant Orange)
Colors Available: Luxe Marble, Flamboyant Orange
Build: Glass front, plastic frame, glass back (Luxe Marble), or vegan leather back (Flamboyant Orange)
SIM Type: Dual Nano-SIM (Dual Standby)
Display
Type: AMOLED, 1B colors, HDR10+
Size: 6.77 inches (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution: 2392 x 1080 pixels (~388 ppi density)
Refresh Rate: 120Hz
Brightness: 4500 nits (peak)
Protection: Schott Xensation glass
Touch Screen: Capacitive multi-touch
Performance
Chipset: Qualcomm SM7550-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×2.63 GHz Cortex-A715, 3×2.4 GHz Cortex-A715, 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU: Adreno 720
Operating System: Android 14 with Funtouch OS 14 (Up to 2 major Android upgrades)
Memory and Storage
RAM Options: 8GB, 12GB LPDDR5
Internal Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB UFS 3.1 (non-expandable)
Battery
Capacity: 5500 mAh (typical) / 5390 mAh (minimum)
Type: Li-Ion, non-removable
Charging: 80W wired fast charging (50% in 21 minutes), 7.5W reverse wired charging
Camera System
Rear Cameras:
Main: 50 MP Sony IMX883, f/1.79, OIS
Ultra Wide: 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ field of view
Features: LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video Recording: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS
Front Camera:
Single: 16 MP, f/2.45
Video Recording: 1080p@30fps
Photography Modes:
Rear: Photo, Portrait, Night, Video, 50 MP, Panorama, Ultra HD Document, Slo-mo, Time-lapse, Supermoon, Pro, Dual-view, Live Photo
Front: Photo, Portrait, Video, Dual-view, Live Photo
Connectivity
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth: 5.4, A2DP, LE
USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG supported
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Network Support
2G GSM: 850/900/1800 MHz
3G WCDMA: B1/B5/B8
4G LTE (FDD): B1/B3/B5/B8/B28B
4G LTE (TDD): B38/B40/B41
5G: n1/n3/n5/n8/n28B/n40/n77/n78
Sensors
In-Display Fingerprint Sensor: Optical
Accelerometer: Yes
Gyroscope: Yes
Proximity Sensor: Yes
Ambient Light Sensor: Yes
E-Compass: Yes
Audio
Speakers: Stereo speakers
Audio Jack: No 3.5mm jack (USB Type-C audio)
Additional Information
Build Quality: IP54 rating for dust and water resistance
Country of Origin: India
Design and Build
Dimensions: 164.31 x 74.47 x 7.9 mm
Colors: Rock Black, Moving Titanium, Violet Garden
Build: Curved-edge design with Gorilla Glass 5 protection (front and back)
Water and Dust Resistance: IP54 (Splash and Dust resistant)
Display
Type: Curved AMOLED, 1B colors
Size: 6.78 inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2436 pixels, (~388 ppi density)
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Brightness: 1300 nits (peak)
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Performance
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultra (6 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3×3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU: Mali-G610 MC6
RAM: 12GB LPDDR5 + 12GB virtual RAM
Internal Storage: 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1
Expandable Storage: No
Operating System: Android 14, XOS 14.5
Camera
Rear Camera:
Primary Sensor: 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), OIS
Secondary Sensor: 50 MP, f/2.0, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Tertiary Sensor: 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
Features: Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama, GoPro mode
Video Recording: 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/120fps
Front Camera:
Sensor: 50 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Features: Dual-LED flash, HDR
Video Recording: 4K@60fps
Battery
Capacity: 5000mAh
Type: Li-Po, non-removable
Charging:
Wired: 45W fast charging
Wireless: 20W wireless charging
Reverse Wireless Charging: 10W
Connectivity
Network: 5G, 4G LTE, 3G, 2G
SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6E, dual-band
Bluetooth: 5.2, A2DP, LE
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
NFC: Yes
Infrared Port: Yes
USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Audio Jack: No
Other Features: JBL-tuned stereo speakers
Sensors
Fingerprint Sensor: In-display, optical
Other Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass
Additional Features
Software Features:
- GoPro Mode with Quik App integration
- XOS features like Smart Panel, Peek Proof, and more
IR Blaster: Yes
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