Samsung has just unveiled its latest flagship offering, the Galaxy S23 series. Today, we’re going to take a look at the Galaxy S23 and S23+, which launched alongside the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
We were given the chance to spend some time with the Galaxy S23 and S23+. Needless to say, I was excited to get my hands on these devices, even if it was just for a day. Let’s dive in.
First Impressions
Design-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ sport a sleek and stylish look, akin to recent iPhones. Regardless of similarities, though, I found the phones to be to my liking with a solid body, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back panels, and an aluminum frame.
The Galaxy S23 series comes in four colors — Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. Personally, I like Cream the best, followed by Green. For those who prefer dark hues, the black variant is available, as per usual.
The Galaxy S23+ has a larger form factor than the two, but the more compact S23 has more charm. Its size makes it much easier to handle, even with one-handed use. Meanwhile, the punch-hole camera on the front of the devices adds to their modern aesthetic.
Under the hood, both phones are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. We already know what this chip is capable of, so better performance across the board and better power efficiency are to be expected, compared to the previous generation Galaxy S22 series. The processor is coupled with 8GB of RAM, along with 128GB and 256GB storage options on the Galaxy S23, and 256GB and 512GB on the S23+.
As always, one of the standout features of the Galaxy S23 and S23+ is their displays. The devices come with 6.1-inch and 6.6-inch Dynamic 2X AMOLED displays, respectively. The screens have a high refresh rate of 120Hz, which makes for smooth scrolling and gaming. The colors are vibrant and the display is crystal clear, making it a joy to watch videos and play games.
On the photography side of things, the Galaxy S23 and S23+ come with a triple camera setup on the back. The primary camera is a 50MP lens, with a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP telephoto lens with up to 3 times optical zoom. And for selfies and video calls, there’s a 12MP lens in front. The cameras on these devices are capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos, even in low-light conditions.
Battery life on the Galaxy S23 and S23+ is also impressive, with 3900mAh and 4900mAh batteries, respectively. The former is limited to 25W fast charging, while the latter has 45W. Both devices support wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare.
You might also like Samsung launches the Galaxy S23 series; Price in the Philippines announced
In terms of software, both devices come with Samsung’s One UI 5.1, which is built on top of Android 13. The interface is one of the best in the Android space, with a clean and easy-to-use layout.
Overall, my first impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ are positive. So far, the display looks stunning and the performance is impressive. Hopefully, I get to spend more than a day with them for a full review.
Price and Availability
In the Philippines, the Samsung Galaxy S23 retails for ₱53,990 for the 128GB variant and ₱57,990 for the 256GB variant.
The Samsung Galaxy S23+, on the other hand, starts at ₱68,990 for the 256GB variant and ₱76,990 for the 512GB variant.
Samsung Galaxy S23 specs
| Display | 6.1-inch FHD Dynamic 2X AMOLED Display, 120Hz Refresh Rate, HDR10+, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB+128GB 8GB+256GB |
| Rear Camera | 50MP Main 12MP Ultra-wide 10MP Telephoto, 3x Optical Zoom |
| Front Camera | 12MP |
| Network | 5G, 4G LTE |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6e Tri-Band, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS |
| Others | In-display Fingerprint Scanner, USB-C, Dual Speakers, IP68 Certification, Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault, Vapor Chamber Cooling |
| OS | One UI 5.1, Android 13 |
| Battery | 3900mAh Battery, 25W Fast Charging, Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare |
Samsung Galaxy S23+ specs
| Display | 6.6-inch FHD Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display, 120Hz Refresh Rate, HDR10+, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB+256GB 8GB+512GB |
| Rear Camera | 50MP Main 12MP Ultra-wide 10MP Telephoto, 3x Optical Zoom |
| Front Camera | 12MP |
| Network | 5G, 4G LTE |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6e Tri-Band, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS |
| Others | In-display Fingerprint Scanner, USB-C, Dual Speakers, IP68 Certification, Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault, Vapor Chamber Cooling |
| OS | One UI 5.1, Android 13 |
| Battery | 4700mAh Battery, 45W Fast Charging, Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare |
