Should you buy the Ultra and enjoy the new 200-megapixel camera or stick with a smaller handset? We have recommendations.
SAMSUNG HAS THREE new flagship smartphones in honor of 2023: the Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra. They are available for pre-order now and will officially go on sale from February 17. But should you upgrade? If you need a new phone, which Galaxy S23 model is best for you? We explain what’s different between each model, what’s new and which one is best for you. We’ve also featured 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 our Best Android Phones and Best Cheap Phones guides for more recommendations. If you’re looking to buy last year’s Galaxy S22 cheap instead, then we’ve got accessory recommendations too.
The 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. They all have the same bright AMOLED screens, have a 120Hz refresh rate, and have the basics like wireless charging, robust 5G and Wi-Fi 6E support, built-in fingerprint sensors, and IP68 water resistance. They’re made of aluminum and the glass protecting the screen and back is Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2. You can get them all in Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender, and you’ll find Lime, Graphite, Sky Blue and red color options if purchased directly from Samsung.com.
These phones are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip with 8GB of RAM – not just in the US, but worldwide. The nickname “for Galaxy” indicates that the chips have a slightly higher clock speed than the standard Snapdragon chips, so they are slightly faster, and there are additional optimizations to make them more efficient. The lineup also features a redesigned cooling chamber that’s twice the size, which should keep the phone cooler when gaming for longer sessions. As for the camera, all three models share the same 12-megapixel ultrawide, a similar 3X optical telephoto camera and a new 12-megapixel selfie camera.
All three S23 phones get five years of security updates and four Android OS upgrades (they start with Android 13), which is the best software policy you’ll find on Android phones. That’s pretty much where the similarities end. Here’s how they are all different.
Samsung Galaxy S23 ($800)
The Galaxy S23 is the smallest of the lineup with its 6.1-inch display, so if you’re looking for a phone that you can comfortably use with one hand then this is the one to go for. It’s also the cheapest, but it’s certainly not ‘cheap’. It’s the only S23 model to start with 128GB of internal storage – the other two now start at 256GB – but Samsung has increased the battery capacity by 200mAh over the Galaxy S22 to 3,900mAh. This phone is the only one in the bunch that’s limited to a 25-watt charging speed, so it won’t charge as fast when you plug it in. (Remember there’s no longer a charging adapter in the box, so you’ll have to get your own.) The big change is the primary camera, which uses a new 50-megapixel sensor for improved dynamic color range.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ ($1,000)
The S23+ is the clunky middle child that isn’t quite as feature-packed as the Ultra, but isn’t quite so distinctive from the standard S23 as to warrant a $200 price increase. Still, at 6.6 inches, this phone is larger and has a larger battery capacity of 4,700 mAh than its predecessor. The internal storage starts at 256GB, which is important since Samsung stopped including microSD card slots in its high-end phones in 2021. Since the S23+ has exactly the same camera setup as the S23, the only major difference is the charging speed: it supports 45-watt charging (charger not included), so it will drain slightly faster than the S23. In our previous experience, the loading speed isn’t drastically different, so this really shouldn’t factor into your decision. Buy it if you want more battery or a slightly bigger screen.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra With S Pen ($1,200)
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the crème de la crème of Samsung’s lineup. It retains the same great 10x optical zoom camera as its predecessor that lets you take sharp pictures of distant subjects. It also has a 3x optical zoom, and who doesn’t like options? If you’re an S Pen fan, this is the only Samsung phone with a built-in stylus accessible from the bottom of the device. It’s the largest phone of the trio at 6.8 inches (and the heaviest), and while it has an adaptive refresh rate like the other two, it can switch between 1 and 120 Hz when needed, meaning it’s a little more battery-efficient. It has a 5,000mAh battery and Samsung says it will last 20 percent longer than last year’s S22 Ultra despite the same capacity.
Like the S23+, it has a 45-watt charging power and the base model comes with 256GB of internal storage, but the big change here is the 200-megapixel primary camera. It’s the highest megapixel count we’ve ever seen on a Samsung phone, and should deliver higher resolution photos, more detail and potentially brighter low-light images.
There are other great phones out there: if you’re alarmed by these prices, you should be. Phones are unnecessarily expensive these days. You definitely don’t need to spend close to $800 to get a great smartphone. Check out our Best Android Phones and Best Cheap Phones guides for additional recommendations at acceptable prices.
Should you upgrade? If you have the Galaxy S22 or S21 series, there’s no reason to upgrade. The phones are very similar so unless you’re having issues with your phone and can’t get it fixed, save your money and wait another year or two. Anyone with an older Samsung phone should feel welcome to upgrade, but know that these aren’t the only options. You can wait a few weeks to get your hands on a Galaxy S22 at a great price (ideally around $600) or go for a cheaper phone. Samsung phones also routinely go on sale, so it might be worth waiting for the next big holiday event to see how low prices drop.
Where to buy Galaxy S23 series unlocked
We recommend unlocked smartphones over buying a phone directly from a mobile carrier. Why? Carriers sell locked phones, which means that if you suddenly want to switch from AT&T to Verizon, you’ll have to jump through hoops to unlock the device and access the new network (there are also certain restrictions on how long it takes you to get a subscription before you can unlock a device). You can easily use unlocked phones in other countries without having to pay exorbitant prices for international data, and unlocked phones are less likely to have bloatware apps. They also receive software updates faster.
Make sure you take advantage of the pre-order bonus. For a few years now, Samsung has been offering a special bonus that gives you a higher storage version of the phone if you pre-order the device. That means you can get the 256GB version of the Galaxy S23 for the same price as the 128GB model, or the 512GB S23 Ultra for the same price as the 256GB. If storage space is important to you, it’s worth trying to hold onto it. It’s available from most carriers and retailers, and we’ve highlighted that below. Here you can buy the Galaxy S23 range unlocked.
Download the Galaxy S23 range from Samsung.com (unlocked): Samsung is offering a free storage upgrade for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra when you buy directly from the company’s website, and you can also choose from more online-exclusive colors in case the Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender speak not to you. Anyone who pre-orders will also get an extra $100 in Samsung store credit, meaning you can spend that on accessories to outfit your phone.
Download the Galaxy S23 range from Amazon (unlocked): Amazon offers the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra for the same prices as Samsung, and you can choose the 256 GB model for the S23 and the 512 GB model for the S23+ and S23 Ultra without paying anything extra.
Shop the Galaxy S23 range from Best Buy (unlocked): Best Buy has the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra for the same prices and also offers a free storage upgrade. The retailer is also throwing in a $100 Best Buy gift card as icing on the cake.
@wired.com
