The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review: Bigger and Better

The previous S22 Plus was better than its predecessor as it came with a bigger screen, a bigger battery, and better features. The Samsung Galaxy s23 Plus promises to do just that, as it also comes with more features than the S22. But is it worth the purchase? Let’s find out from the review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

 

SPECS

DISPLAY 6.60″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080x2340px
OS Android 13, One UI 5.1.
CPU Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm), 8-core
STORAGE MEMORY 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
BATTERY 4700mAh, fast charge at 45W, wireless charge, and reverse wireless
MAIN CAMERA Triple-lens | 50 MP wide, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 10 MP telephoto, 3x optical zoom | 12 MP ultrawide, Super Steady video
VIDEO 8K at 30 fps, 4K at 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps, 1080p at 960 fps (super slow motion), HDR10+
SELFIE CAMERA 12 MP wide, Dual Pixel PDAF
SELFIE VIDEO 4K at 60 fps, 1080p at 30 fps
MISC

 

196g | Glass front and back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | IP68 dust/water resistant | Fingerprint reader (onscreen) | NFC | stereo speakers | Samsung DeX, Bixby natural language commands, and dictation, Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified), Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
COLOR Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
RELEASE DATE February 2023

 

PROS

  • Fast performance
  • Gorgeous looking AMOLED display
  • Takes excellent photos & video quality
  • Impressive battery life
  • Superb stereo speakers
  • Easy handling & well designed

CONS

  • Expensive
  • No expandable storage
  • No earphones, no charger inbox
  • Similar design to the S23

 

Overview

With a high price tag of US$1000, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is one of the latest smartphones to release this year. It offers the same features as the Galaxy S23 but with a larger screen, a bigger battery that provides more battery life, and includes more features the S23 smartphone doesn’t have. 

Compared to the top-range Galaxy S23 Ultra, it comes with similar features but with a smaller display and no S Pen stylus to use. Yet still, the S23 plus comes with a top performance processor, an impressive camera that takes excellent pictures and videos, and a long battery life, making it a better phone to pick rather than the S23. 

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 (left) and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (right)

 

Looking at the phone, you get a 6.6-inch display with a triple-lens camera. Under the hood, you get a top Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a large 4700mAh battery. There are two models to choose from, according to storage: the 256 GB and the 512 GB model. Other features include water and dust resistance, UWB Support, and many others. 

In other words, the Galaxy S23 Plus smartphone is bigger, better, and has more features than the Galaxy S23. It’s not better than the S23 Ultra but it’s in a league of its own. If you’re not one who likes complex features but still wants a powerful smartphone, and don’t mind digging deeper into your pockets, then the S23 smartphone is for you.          

 

The Good Features

Fast Performance

With performance, the S23 Plus is the best performer thanks to the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor which includes an eight-core 4nm fast performance chip. It also includes an Adreno 740 GPU for graphics and gaming support. Compared to the S23, the processors are not different so expect the same performance but better than the older S22+. 

Speaking of gaming, the S23 Plus handles it seamlessly. From light gaming to hardware-demanding games, the frame rate stays constant at 60 fps, with good-looking graphics, visuals, and smooth gameplay.  

With regards to memory, the S23 Plus comes with 8GB of RAM, which helps with the storage of apps on standby without freezing or slowing down the phone. As for storage, there are 256GB and 512GB models to choose from. Just note that there’s microSD to expand storage.

 

The colors to choose from include Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender.

 

The One UI 5.1., which is Android 13, includes new widgets, more connectivity options, various improvements to the gallery, and Samsung DeX mode. It still operates and looks similar to other Android smartphones, but the GUI looks and feels smoother as you scroll.    

Overall, the S23 Plus is fast and handles tasks well. Whether you browse online, watch or stream HD videos, play games, or edit photos and videos, the S23 Plus handles them all and with ease.  

 

Large, vibrant & gorgeous-looking AMOLED display

The S23 Plus comes with a large 6.6-inch dynamic AMOLED display, which includes Full HD+ 1080p resolution, HDR10+ support, and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The display looks absolutely gorgeous.

It’s bright, the colors are vibrant, and the details are amazing. Not much better than the older S22 smartphones but it still looks good.

 

The screen dimensions and details of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus.

 

Regarding the refresh rate, speed and smooth scrolling are important features, and with the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, the S23 Plus achieves that well. Depending on the inactivity on the screen, the display can run from 24Hz, which is slower but saves battery life, to 120Hz for smoother scrolling, and use of apps and games.

It really feels snappy and fast as you scroll between menus, browse websites, and play games. Overall, the display looks great, one you can really admire and appreciate for a long time.          

 

Excellent photos & video quality

From the back, the three lenses make the phone look larger without the island humble from the last model. It still comes with a triple-lens sensor, namely a 50MP wide, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP telephoto that includes a 3x optical zoom.

So what can you expect here? You can expect good quality, colorful and detailed pictures. The main camera takes great pictures overall, especially in portrait mode. The ultrawide produces similar-quality images, and the optical zoom quality looks good.

 

The triple-lens sensor of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

 

If you’re looking for a smartphone that records 8K footage then the S23 Plus is for you. You can record videos up to 8K at 30 fps (frames per second). You can also record 4K videos at 60 fps, or even 1080p videos at 240 fps which has better image stabilization. 

Bottom line. The camera quality is excellent. The S23 produces detailed pictures and even smoother detailed videos. 

 

Impressive battery life

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus comes with a bigger battery with a capacity of 4700mAh compared to the S22’s 4500mAh. It supports up to 45W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and wireless reverse charging. 

It certainly does provide more battery life to the S23 Plus. You get up to 35 hours making and receiving calls, up to 18 hours of internet browsing, and up to 2o hours of video playback. This is on moderate usage.

 

The Cream model of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

 

With regards to battery charging, there is no real difference in speed between a 25W or a 45W charger, they charge the phone at similar speeds. For a 45W charger, in half an hour, the phone will charge up to 60%.

And for a full charge, it takes just over an hour. So you get a smartphone with a bigger battery, that provides up to 30 hours of battery life, and up to an hour of fast charging. Just make sure you get a 45W charger.        

 

Other impressive features

The S23 Plus includes stereo speakers on the top and bottom sections of the smartphone. The overall quality is great. The loudness is well-managed and balanced thanks to the stereo speakers. The Dolby Atmos feature does do its part to overall optimize the sound quality, however, there is a cost of loudness. But it’s safe to say that the overall sound quality is great. 

The S23 Plus comes with a strong front and back Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which makes it more resistant to cracks and scratches from accidental drops. Then there’s the familiar IP68 protection rating which means the S23 Plus can withstand up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.   

 

The Bad Features

Pretty high price 

As much as this is the second top-tier smartphone in the Galaxy S23 series, expect to pay a lot of money for the Galaxy S23 Plus. If you check out the Samsung website, the price tag starts at US$1000/£818/€930 for the 256GB model. As for the 512 GB model, expect to pay about US$1200/£980/€1115. Yes, it comes with a high price tag, however, if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.

The alternative choice would be Galaxy S23 which is less expensive but has a smaller display and a smaller battery. In essence, the S23 Plus is an expensive smartphone, but it’s one smartphone you won’t be disappointed with.       

 

Just the USB-C cable and the ejection pin of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

 

No expandable storage, no earphones, no charger

It has become a norm that Samsung will not include chargers, and earphones anymore when you purchase their smartphone products. If you’re looking to expand storage using a microSD card sadly, there’s no expandable storage on the S23 Plus. In fact, it’s also a feature that is not available in other Samsung smartphones except for older models. 

 

Similar design to S23

Regarding the design, the only difference between the S23 and the S23 Plus is the size of the smartphone. Either than that, they are exactly the same. Same design. Same colors. Same protective features. It may be a minor thing but it’s something worth noting.     

 

The Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus combines the great design, performance, and photographic capabilities of the compact S22 into a bigger, but more costly device. As a result, it could be a tempting option for Galaxy novices looking for a big-screen all-arounder smartphone.

But if you have deep pockets and wish to upgrade to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, I recommend you think about doing so.

If the option doesn’t favor you, then here are other options below to consider:

Samsung Galaxy S23

The new Samsung Galaxy S23 is a smaller, more compact model with limited features but it’s a more affordable option.  

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

The previous Samsung Galaxy S22 is an older model with outdated specs, yet it’s still a powerful and much more affordable option. 

So that’s my review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus smartphone. So what are your thoughts? Is it a smartphone worth buying? Are you invested or are you thinking of getting an alternative smartphone? If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions to raise please do not hesitate to share them below.

The next thing for you to do now is to click HERE, learn more about this great product, and purchase it if you so desire. All the best to you. See you next time 😀 

 

Introducing The Samsung Galaxy S23 Review: Little but Powerful

The Samsung Galaxy S23, one of the best compact phones in the world, has just got better. It is now quicker, more durable, with better connectivity, and has a larger battery. It’s going to become a fan favorite in 2023 and in the compact sector (since it is still as compact, light, and appealing as ever). Is it really worth the money at the end of the day? Let’s explore and find out from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S23

SPECS

  • DISPLAY: 6.1 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080×2340 pixels
  • Operating System: Android 13, OneUI 5.1
  • CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • STORAGE MEMORY: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
  • BATTERY: 3900mAh, supports fast, wireless, and reverse wireless charging
  • MAIN CAMERA: Triple-lens, 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom, up to 8K video recording at 30fps
  • SELFIE CAMERA: Single-lens, 12MP wide, with up to 4K video recording at 60fps
  • COLORS: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender
  • MISC: IP68 dust and water resistant, weighs 168 g, onscreen fingerprint sensor
  • RELEASED: February 2023

         

PROS

  • Professional & premium looks
  • Easy handling
  • Bright & fast OLED display
  • Fits in pockets nicely
  • Fast & solid performance
  • Good battery life
  • Excellent photo & video quality
  • Great sound output

CONS

  • Slow charging
  • No ultra-wideband support
  • No charger/earphones inbox

 

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone is small and compact but comes in a great package that explodes greatness. To start off, it comes with a small 6.1-inch display that boasts a Full HD+ AMOLED display, and an adaptive refresh rate that changes as you use it. The phone comes with a triple-lens camera at the back, and a tear-drop lens selfie camera in front.

Under the hood, the S23 comes with a fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a 3900mAh battery pack, and 8GB of RAM. Other features include water and dust resistance, a fingerprint sensor on the screen, and an Android 13 operating system OS. Depending on the choice of model, you can choose either a 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage. No expandable storage here but there are other alternative storage services online to use. 

 

What’s in the box? The Samsung Galaxy S23, the USB-C cable, and the sim card ejection pin.

 

If compared to the Samsung Galaxy S22, most of the features are the same, except for (1) it comes with a faster processor, which means better performance, (2) it has a bigger battery, which means more battery life and (3) it has a brighter display. Overall, the S23 smartphone comes with a few new features that are however better, brighter, and faster than its predecessor.

What you get in the box is the Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone, a sim card ejection pin, and a USB-C cable. Samsung provides no charger and headphones anymore but at least we can be happy that a USB cable is included. When you buy a charger make sure it’s a 25W. Any higher and the phone won’t charge.          

 

The Good Features

Attractive & Professional Design

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone is a compact and smaller model than the S232+. You can choose from six attractive colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. The other colors Graphite and Lime are available when you purchase the S23 from the Samsung.com website online.

It comes with a matte finish at the back which makes it easy to grip and doesn’t slip from your hands and includes a triple-lens camera which also looks good without the bump that surrounded the camera module from the last model.

The two standard volume and power buttons are stationed on the right side, with the USB-C port, sim card slot, and one of the speakers positioned at the bottom. The other speaker is positioned on the top of the phone where the glass and metal meet. All this is encased in a glass aluminum frame and good glass protection thanks to Gorilla Glass Victus 2. 

Overall, the S23 phone design looks great. Not much change from the older model, except for the bump at the back, but it looks professional and the colors make it look more attractive.

 

Small but Powerful Display

The S23 smartphone comes with a small 6.1-inch smartphone which is similar to the S22. But the difference is the brightness. Yep. The S23 comes with a moderately brighter display to help enhance the HDR experience with streaming videos.

Other standard features include the 1080p resolution, the dynamic refresh rate, which goes up to 120Hz, HDR10+ support, and the strong glass protection from Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Overall, the display is small but features more brightness, and more support for HD images and videos, it looks great, and the glass display will not crack so easily. 

 

Great Triple-Lens Camera

The Galaxy S23 includes a triple-lens camera which has the same camera setup as the new Galaxy S23+. This includes a 50MP wide camera with optical image stabilization, a 10MP telephoto camera with three times zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. It also includes video quality of up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second.  The selfie camera comes with a 12MP wide camera and includes up to 4K video quality recording at 60 frames per second. 

The S23 is more than capable for the majority of individuals. It produces clear, detailed images in almost all lighting situations. It also enhances colors, as is usual for Samsung cameras, producing vivid shots that occasionally appear a touch oversaturated. 

 

The design difference between the S22 and the S23 smartphone

 

Nevertheless, the Galaxy S23’s cameras offer a fantastic video recording experience as well. You can choose between 1080p at 960 frames per second, (which is for creating silky smooth, ultra-slow-motion footage), and up to 8K at 30 frames per second which produce extremely high-quality footage. 

Moreover, you have an almost infinite number of options for taking pictures and films, including Director’s View (which employs several lenses simultaneously); Adaptive Pixel (reduces picture size whilst retaining quality); High-Resolution Photo; Multi-Exposure; Nightography; Selfie Night Portrait, and Super HDR (merges multiple shots to create a detailed composite image).

Overall, the S23 comes with a good camera. You get a triple-lens camera system that takes high-quality photos and videos, a selfie camera that also takes high-quality videos and photos, and you get camera modes options to help enhance your camera experience.   

 

Good Battery Life

The Galaxy S23 is powered by a 3900mAh battery which is bigger than the Galaxy S22 which comes with a 4100mAh battery. From web browsing to making and receiving calls, to video playback the phone lasted an amazing 31-hour battery life before needing more juice.

But that’s on moderate usage. It even takes pole position compared to the Galaxy S21 (28 hrs) and the Xiaomi 12 Lite (25 hrs). The battery also includes support for fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, which is a standard feature for this smartphone.

 

Fast Performance

The S23 smartphone comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processing chip, which includes an eight-core, 4nm fast-performance processor. It also includes an Areno 740 GPU. Compared to the previous S22, the S23 has improved in performance and in processing efficiency, making it more useful for daily processing and gaming. 

Speaking of gaming, starting and playing games is a seamless process. Simple games like Royal Match, Candy Crush, Arlo’s Odyssey, etc., operate without a hitch. And even triple-A games with demanding high graphics, like Genshin Impact, and Knighthood didn’t exhibit any delays or frame rate drops.

 

 

All S23 models come with an 8GB of RAM (LPDDR5x) which improves the memory storage of apps and improves overall performance. With regards to storage, it’s better to get either the 256GB or the 512GB storage model as the 128GB models use an older storage drive.   

Regarding the operating system, the Galaxy S23 includes the newer One UI version 5.1. Based on Android 13 OS, it comes with new widgets, more connectivity options, various improvements in the gallery, and DeX mode. Other than that, One UI operates the same and looks similar to other Samsung devices. 

Yet the GUI looks and feels great. As you swipe from left to right, it feels smooth. This is one of the best parts of the One UI, the overall improvement in performance.

To end off, the S23 smartphone is the most performing smartphone in the market right now. It comes with excellent hardware and great specs. Gaming looks and plays better. And the One UI feels fast and looks smoother than ever. 

 

Other Features

Other features include great quality sound, with a clear-sounding loudspeaker. It’s water and scratch resistant making it durable. The fingerprint scanner on the bottom of the screen is fast and responsive. The connectivity is fantastic. Whether it’s Bluetooth, WiFi, 5G, or 4G (LTE), it connects fast and downloads up to 12 Mb per second. Most of these features are standard from all Samsung Galaxy models, but it’s worth mentioning.  

 

The Bad Features

Snail Charging

Compare to other great smartphones, the charging speed of the S23 is not much to be excited about. The battery inside the Galaxy S23 supports up to 25W chargers, whereas the Galaxy S23+ and the top Galaxy S23 Ultra support up to 45W chargers. With a 25W charger, after half an hour the Galaxy S23 is charged to 57%, whereas it takes seventy minutes to reach full charge.

 

The cream back of the Samsung Galaxy S23

 

Compared to the Galaxy S22, it takes an hour for it to fully charge even with a 25W battery. Sad to say, you may have to wait a little longer for the S23 smartphone to fully charge. Overall, the S23 is not the fastest at charging but where it disappoints, it excels in battery life.      

 

No-no Features

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone comes with a few no-nos. Firstly, there’s still no charger in the box. You’ll have to buy it separately. Secondly, the Galaxy S23 lacks UWB connectivity, which helps provide accurate GPS information. It’s like using Google Maps to find a location. You punch in the address. You follow but it takes you to a completely different location. That’s what it means. In the end, the Galaxy S23 is not a perfect smartphone. It will come with compromises but with all the other great features it’s one of the best phones you can buy.      

 

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone is excellent overall. It looks good. Excellent performance. It has a good battery life. It takes beautiful photos and videos and comes with other great features. Although it’s a small phone that doesn’t charge very quickly and does lack UWB support, it’s the best handset for those who want something simple, with less complex features, and has a professional finish. If that’s what you looking for then the Galaxy S23 is the smartphone for you. 

 

The Phantom Black Samsung Galaxy S23

 

So did you enjoy my Samsung Galaxy S23 review? Are you swayed to get the Galaxy S23 smartphone? What are your opinions?  If you like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Review, then please add a comment below. If you have any questions then you may also add them as well. I will answer you as soon as I can. So what to do next? Well, if you missed it, click here to find out more or to purchase your S23 smartphone today.