Samsung Galaxy S23: Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Samsung has just unveiled its latest generation of flagship smartphones, the hotly anticipated Galaxy S23 series, which are now available for pre-order.

This year’s upgrades have resulted in considerable cosmetic changes, but apart from a standout camera on the S23 Ultra, the internals of the handsets haven’t been drastically overhauled.

Here’s everything you need to know about Samsung’s new devices:

When Will The Samsung Galaxy S23 Phones Be Available?

Samsung revealed all three S23 phones at its Galaxy Unpacked event on February 1st. However, enthusiasts will have to wait until at least February 17th to get their hands on the new devices.

We’re sticking to “at least February 17th” for now, as we’ve only been able to get firm dates for the UAE market. If you’re keen to pre-order a handset, here’s the pricing structure for the different storage options on offer (prices may change from country to country):

First up is the entry-level S23, which ships with two different internal storage sizes:

• Galaxy S23 with 128GB storage: $875
• Galaxy S23 with 256GB storage: $945

Next is the S23+, which receives a storage bump over the standard model:

• Galaxy S23+ with 256GB storage: $1,070
• Galaxy S23+ with 512GB storage: $1,205

Finally, the Ultra version gets an additional 1TB storage option:

• Galaxy S23 Ultra with 256GB storage: $1,355
• Galaxy S23 Ultra with 512GB storage: $1,495
• Galaxy S23 Ultra with 1TB storage: $1,765

As you can see, those prices are quite a bit more expensive than the outgoing models, though you could argue the bump in base storage makes the increases easier to swallow.

Depending on which model you pre-order, Samsung is including a bunch of free gifts such as the Galaxy Watch 5, Buds 2 Pro, accessories, wearables and more!

Samsung Galaxy S23 Details & Specifications

Galaxy S23 Base Model

The regular S23 looks decidedly different from the outgoing S22. A more minimalist camera array has replaced the older contour-cut module, and a tweaked color palette of four finishes is now available across all three models in the series:

• Green
• Lavender
• Cream
• Phantom Black

Ordering on Samsung’s online store unlocks two further color options:

• Graphite
• Lime

Though the design has changed a fair bit, the standard S23 is basically the same size and weight as last year’s model and utilizes an identical 120Hz AMOLED 6.1in display. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 should make for a more resilient screen, but the IP68 water and dust-resistance ratings also remain unchanged. Camera specs on the S23 stay the same as the outgoing S22, though the selfie camera gets a modest bump from 10MP to 12MP.

Although perhaps not a deal breaker for casual users, the phone’s internals are interesting for tech geeks: The S23 lineup now uses Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips in all regions, with Samsung ditching its traditional tactic of using Qualcomm silicon in the USA and Exynos processors in most other markets.

Storage options and RAM remain the same as the S22, though battery capacity jumps from 3700mAh to 3900mAh.

Overall looks aside, the new S23 smartphone doesn’t differ significantly from the outgoing model, though you’ll get improved camera software, Android 13 and One UI 5.1, with four years of OS updates and a fifth year of security patches.

Galaxy S23 Specs:

Galaxy S23+

The middle offering of the 2023 Galaxy smartphone lineup is the S23+. The specs and design are essentially the same as the base S23, including the colorways on offer. However, the S23+ boasts a slightly larger screen at 6.6 inches, plus a larger battery, faster 45W wired charging, and greater internal storage as standard.

Galaxy S23+ Specs:

Galaxy S23 Ultra

The final phone in Samsung’s lineup is the S23 Ultra. This handset mirrors the other phones in terms of design language, again employing a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. However, the screen on the S23 Ultra is a larger 6.8-inch display with a curved panel and dynamic refresh rate (1-120Hz).

The Galaxy S23 Ultra supports the S-Pen stylus, which is included and slots neatly into the phone. The Ultra also gets the bigger 1TB storage option, as well as a 12GB RAM model in certain markets. 45W wired fast charging is supported, along with 15W wireless, but the phone’s battery remains the same as the outgoing S22 Ultra, at 5000mAh.

Of course, the S23 Ultra has been hotly anticipated due to its rumored camera upgrades. Here, the new model really does deliver as promised, with a monstrous 200-megapixel 1/1.3 inch primary sensor boasting enhanced HDR and superior low-light focusing:

“When in low-lit environments, the sensor transforms either into a 1.2μm 50Mp or 2.4μm 12.5Mp image sensor by binding four to 16 neighboring pixels. For fuller 8K video, approximately at 33Mp, the HP2 switches to 1.2μm 50Mp mode to minimize cropping and capture more of the scene. Filming 8K at 30 frames-per-second (fps), a wide field of view, and a bigger pixel size can produce sharp cinematic videos,” says Samsung.

Aside from the primary shooter, the S23 Ultra uses the existing ultrawide, 3x, and 10x zoom hardware found in its predecessor but moves to the same 12MP selfie camera as the other devices in the lineup.

Galaxy S23 Ultra Specs:

Summing Up

So there you have it. Everything you need to know about Samsung’s 2023 flagship devices. While this year’s lineup offers plenty of cosmetic upgrades over the S22 series, internal changes are less radical. So unless you absolutely have to get your hands on the S23 Ultra’s 200-megapixel camera, those looking for a mid-tier device might be inclined to wait before upgrading.