Samsung has three new flagship smartphones to mark 2023—the Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra. They’re currently available for pre-order and officially go on sale starting February 17. But should you upgrade? If you need a new phone, which Galaxy S23 model is best for you? We break down the differences between each, what’s new, and which one is right for you. We’ve also rounded up some of the best Galaxy S23 promotions from Samsung and mobile carriers so you can get the most out of your purchase.
Be sure to check out ours Best Android phone and Best cheap phone guide for more recommendations. If you’re snapping last year Galaxy S22 instead of cheap, good, We also have accessory recommendations.
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New technology in all 3 phones
The Galaxy S23 series has a similar design philosophy across all three devices, although the Ultra stands out for its squared edges. All have the same bright AMOLED screen, features Screen refresh rate 120 Hzand has basic features like wireless charging, powerful 5G and Wi-Fi 6E support, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and IP68 water resistance. They’re made of aluminum and glass protects the screen and the back is Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2. You get all Gloss Black, Cream, Green and Lavender colors, plus Lime, Graphite, Sky Blue and Red color options if you buy directly at Samsung.com.
These phones are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chips with 8 GB of RAM—not just in the US but globally. The “for Galaxy” moniker indicates that these chips have slightly higher clock speeds than the base Snapdragon chips, so they’re slightly faster and have additional optimizations to make them efficient. than. The lineup also features a redesigned cooling chamber that’s twice as large, helping to keep the phone cooler while gaming during extended sessions. In terms of cameras, all three models share the same 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, the same 3X optical telephoto camera, and a new 12-megapixel selfie camera.
All three S23 phones will receive 5 years security updates and 4 Android OS upgrades (they come with Android 13), which is the best software policy you’ll find with an Android phone. That’s just where the similarities end. Here’s how they all differ.
The Galaxy S23 is the smallest in the lineup with a 6.1-inch display, so if you’re looking for a phone that can comfortably be used with one hand, this is the way to go. It’s also the cheapest, although that doesn’t mean it’s “cheap”. It’s the only S23 model that starts with 128 GB of internal storage — the other two now start at 256 GB — but Samsung has increased the battery capacity by 200 mAh over the Galaxy S22 to 3,900 mAh. This phone is the only one in the bunch that’s limited to 25 watts of charging, so it’s not as fast as when you plug it in. (Keep in mind that there’s no extra charger in the box, so you’ll have to provide your own.) The big change is the main camera, which uses a new 50-megapixel sensor for improved dynamic color range.
S23+ is the clumsy middle child isn’t it like as full-featured as the Ultra, but not as different from the standard S23 to warrant a $200 increase in price. However, the phone is larger at 6.6 inches and has a larger battery capacity of 4,700 mAh compared to its predecessor. Internal storage starts at 256 GB, which is important since Samsung stops including microSD card slots in its high-end phones in 2021. Since the S23+ has the exact same camera setup as the S23+. S23 so the only major difference is charging speed—it supports 45 Watt Charging (charger not included) so it should work a bit faster than the S23. In our previous experience, charging speeds aren’t much different, so this shouldn’t really influence your decision. Buy it if you want more battery or a slightly larger screen.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the crème de la crème in Samsung’s lineup. It retains the same excellent 10X optical zoom camera as its predecessor, allowing you to take sharp pictures of distant subjects. It also there’s 3X optical zoom and who doesn’t love options? If you’re a fan of the S Pen, it’s the only Samsung phone with a built-in stylus that’s accessible from the bottom edge of the device. It’s the largest of the trio at 6.8 inches (and heaviest) and while it has adaptive refresh rate like the other two, it can change between 1 and 120 Hz as needed, meaning it’s a bit more battery efficient. It has a 5,000 mAh battery and Samsung says it will last 20% longer than last year’s S22 Ultra despite having the same capacity.
