The tradition of introducing three devices in the flagship Samsung Galaxy smartphone lineup continues. Seated between the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the Samsung Galaxy S23+. All three devices were introduced on 1 February 2023 during a Galaxy Unpacked event. It shares several similarities with its smaller sibling, the vanilla Galaxy S23, but it has several notable differences and unique selling points. This article provides a concise review of the pros and cons of the Samsung Galaxy S23+.
Pros of the Samsung Galaxy S23+
Remember that the Galaxy S23+ is a lot similar to the vanilla Galaxy S23. One of the biggest advantages of the entire Galaxy S23 lineup is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Samsung at long last dropped using its Exynos chip on its flagship smartphones. All models and variants of S23 devices would feature a Snapdragon chipset regardless of the regional market.
Another similarity between the S23+ and the S23 is the rear camera and front-facing camera systems. The rear has three cameras that include a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera, and a 10-megapixel with a 3x optical zoom telephoto camera. The selfie camera is a 12-megapixel shooter.
The overall look and feel of these two devices are the same. The design marks an improvement to the previous Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 flagship devices. Samsung has ditched the camera clunky bump of the rear camera system. The three rear camera lenses now blend well with the straightforward design philosophy of the entire device.
Of course, there are notable differences. The Samsung Galaxy S23+ is bigger at 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm in dimension and lighter at 196 grams. Its younger sibling is smaller with a dimension of 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm and lighter at 168 grams. The S23+ has a 6.6-inch OLED screen while its smaller sibling has a smaller 6.1-inch OLED screen.
Below are the more specific selling points of this flagship smartphone:
• Optimized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chipset: The biggest selling point of this device is its tailored Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip which makes it more efficient than devices that use a stock version of the same chip. Benchmark scores also showed that it is about 20 percent faster than the previous Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and it outcompetes the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro in multi-core processing and graphics rendering.
• Better Battery and More Energy Efficient: A 4700 mAh lithium-ion battery powers this device. This might not seem too big compared to some mid-range Android devices that use at least 5000 mAh batteries but it is important to note that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more energy efficient and has better heat management.
• Multi-Tasking and Samsung DeX Features: The large screen of this device can maximize the usefulness of the multitasking features of the Samsung One UI and the Android operating system such as the split-screen option and the resizable multi-window function. Samsung DeX is also another notable feature that provides a desktop-like experience when this device is connected to an external monitor.
• Long-Term Software Updates and Upgrades: Another strong reason for purchasing the Samsung Galaxy S23+ is the promised after-sales support. Samsung claims that this device will receive four years of operating system and software updates and upgrades, and up to five years of security updates.
• Bright, Vivid, and Durable OLED Display: The large 6.6-inch OLED display is specifically a Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Always-On Feature that occupies around 89 percent screen-to-body ratio and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It also has 1080×2340 pixels resolution, supports HDR10+, has an adaptive refresh rate that maximizes at 120Hz, and brightness that peaks at 1750 nits.
• Decent Performance of the Rear Cameras: The three rear cameras take excellent images and record good images under bright conditions. The outputs are befitting of a flagship smartphone device. Video recording also takes advantage of dual optical image stabilization and electronic image stabilization.
Cons of the Samsung Galaxy S23+
The vanilla Samsung Galaxy S23 is somewhat better than its larger sibling for users who prefer a smaller and lighter smartphone. The S23+ can feel bulkier for those with small hands, those who prefer using their phones with a single hand, or people who want a device that fits in their pockets or does not take up too much space in their handbags.
It is also important to highlight the fact that there are better flagship-level smartphones than the Samsung Galaxy S23+. The top-of-the-line features and capabilities of the bigger Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are incomparable and the iPhone 14 Pro is also a better device overall. There are also mid-range options that can offer better value for money.
Below are the specific issues and drawbacks of this flagship smartphone:
• Low-Light Issues and Average Selfie Camera: This device takes good photos and records decent videos under bright situations but its rear and front-facing cameras struggle under low-light environments. Night mode is not as impressive as other flagship smartphones. The selfie camera is also average at best. Images look quite good but the colors seem off and the overall look seems dull and lacks punch.
• Specific Negative Issues With Recording Videos: Video recording also struggles under moderate-to-low light. Outputs are below average. The device also seems to have a problem with proper exposure and capturing as many details and colors as possible. Videos tend to appear lusterless and without adequate sharpness.
• Price Tag and Availability of Other Options: Another drawback of the Samsung Galaxy S23+ is that it retails for USD 1049.00 for the base model. This is still an expensive device. There are other options available to potential consumers. The OnePlus 11 is a close competitor that retails for less. The S23 Ultra and the Vivo X90 series are also ideal options for those who are into mobile photography.
• Other Notable Problems and Drawbacks: The 45W fast charging feature of this device also lags behind and the 15W wireless charging is too slow. There are also no headphone input and expandable storage. The device also ships with several unwanted apps pre-installed. The system also takes around 60GB of storage space.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Review Verdict: The Good and The Bad
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ is a solid all-rounder and flagship-level Android smartphone. The tailored Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is its biggest selling point. This makes it a powerful device that can handle resource-intensive apps and tasks. The long-term support from Samsung is also another good reason to purchase this device.
Nevertheless, considering its disadvantages, this device is not perfect. The high price tag might be off-putting and potential consumers are better off looking for cheaper flagship-level smartphones and even mid-range devices from Samsung. This device is not also ideal for those who are serious about mobile photography for content creation.