Samsung s23 Review

Samsung has once again dominated the smartphone industry with its latest models: the S23, S23 Plus, and the S23 Ultra. After spending a few hours with these new devices, they strike as very similar to last year’s models, which is not a bad thing. The S22 line was robust, and these new versions feel like a natural evolution. Here’s a detailed analysis of Samsung’s latest offerings.

The Samsung S23 Line-up

The S23 series comes in four aesthetic colors: Phantom Black, Green, Lavender, and Cream. Both the S23 and S23 Plus offer identical features apart from their size. The S23 has a 6.1-inch 1080p OLED and a 3900mAh battery, whereas the S23 Plus comes with a 6.6-inch 1080p OLED and a 4700mAh battery. Additionally, the S23 Plus charges faster at 45W compared to S23’s 25W, and comes with a base storage of 256GB, versus the 128GB found on the standard model.

Design-wise, the new phones stick to Samsung’s general shape, including a flat display, ports and speakers at the bottom, and standard button locations. Both models feature wireless charging and IP ratings, similar to last year’s versions. The S23 starts at $799, and the S23 Plus at $999.

Updates: New Chip and Camera Systems

One significant update comes in the form of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a customized version specifically for Galaxy phones, offering slightly higher max clock speed. It seems to provide fast performance, a standard for Samsung’s new launches.

Perhaps the most significant update for these devices is their camera systems. All models feature refreshed sensors, new image processing, and AI remastering of photos. They have a 50-megapixel main camera paired with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide and a 3X telephoto. Preliminary testing shows impressive image quality, especially in dynamic range, although there might be a bit of shutter lag to be aware of.

The Samsung S23 Ultra

The Samsung S23 Ultra, priced at $1199, comes with a similar design to its predecessor but with a few noticeable changes. Its camera bump is slightly larger, and it has a more boxy shape. This redesign is partly to better optimize for the S Pen. However, it seems that these changes are mostly aesthetic and don’t necessarily enhance functionality. The battery size remains the same as the previous model, a huge 5000mAh.

The S23 Ultra comes with a 6.8-inch edge-to-edge 1440p OLED display and up to a terabyte of storage. Its camera system, like the rest of the S23 series, has seen a significant upgrade. It boasts a 200-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and a pair of telephoto cameras (3x and 10x). This upgrade improves optical image stabilization and low-light performance.

Power Up with Anker Chargers

Regardless of which S23 model you choose, you’ll need a charger since Samsung, like other manufacturers, no longer includes one in the box. Anker’s Ace Charger is a great option here. The 313 model supports the 45W peak charging power that the Ultra supports with super fast charging 2.0. This compact, foldable charger can fully charge your device in about an hour while ensuring safety with features like current regulation and over-temperature protection.

The S23 and S23 Plus, with their 25W peak charging, can pair well with Anker’s 312 charger. It is smaller and more efficient than Samsung’s official one.

In summary, Samsung’s S23 series is a solid addition to its line-up, providing incremental updates and enhancements to its flagship smartphones. The upgraded cameras and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip offer improvements in performance and photography, making them devices to look forward to in 2023.