Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus ticks numerous containers. It has a very good, large display; versatile digital camera and lengthy battery life. This may not be essentially the most thrilling cellphone of 2023, but it surely’s a dependable machine to have by your aspect.
Execs
- Excellent measurement
- Lengthy battery life
- Years of software program updates
Cons
- Takes an age to cost
- Digital camera is sweet, however struggles to standout at this worth
- A sharper decision would have been good
Availability
- UKRRP: £1049
- USARRP: $999
- EuropeRRP: €1219
- CanadaRRP: CA$1209
- AustraliaRRP: AU$1649
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Attractive showThe 6.6in AMOLED 120Hz show is ideal for scrolling by way of social media and watching movies -
Prime-end efficiencyThe Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy offers flagship-level efficiency -
Lengthy-term software program helpSamsung guarantees 4 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of safety updates with the S23 Plus
Introduction
Bigger than the common Galaxy S23 and missing lots of the high-end options of the Galaxy S23 Extremely, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus finds itself in a little bit little bit of a tough spot.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is the center little one in so some ways, providing a 6.6-inch AMOLED show, triple digital camera setup and Qualcomm’s particular ‘Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy’ chipset. It’s similar to the S23, simply with a barely bigger display.
Is it a worthy improve to final 12 months’s Galaxy S22 Plus, or ought to the pricier Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely show to be a wiser buy?
Design and Display
- The design carefully mirrors the Extremely mannequin
- Good show, although not as fully-featured as you would possibly anticipate for the worth
- 6.6-inch display measurement sits in the course of Samsung’s S23 line
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is the center little one within the Korean model’s 2023 flagship smartphone line, providing a much bigger display than the compact Galaxy S23 however fewer options than the pricier S23 Extremely. It’s best to consider this as a bigger S23, because the Extremely mannequin feels very distinct, with its curving display, S Pen and flagship digital camera expertise.
Samsung has clearly tried to carry the sequence nearer collectively this time round. The S22, for example, regarded radically totally different to the Extremely mannequin – whereas the S23 Plus inherits the less complicated digital camera design first launched with the S22 Extremely. There’s no digital camera housing as such, with the three lenses protruding from the cellphone’s again. The perimeters are barely flatter too, giving an total look that’s not 1,000,000 miles away from an iPhone 14.
When my colleague Lewis reviewed the smaller S23, he famous that he discovered the design “a little bit too minimalistic” for his tastes. Personally, I see this as an enormous plus and I a lot desire the delicate seems to be right here to a garish cellphone just like the OnePlus 11 with its huge digital camera module. However when you desire one thing that stands out a little bit extra the S23 Plus in all probability isn’t that cellphone.
I used to be a little bit upset with the color choices on supply, although. My inexperienced overview unit is good – darkish and moody – although the purple, cream and black all lack punch and vibrancy. They’re simply all a bit boring.
All the same old mod-cons are right here: IP68 score, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on each the back and front and dual-SIM help in sure territories. It’s additionally completed to a really excessive normal, with all of the buttons and USB-C port completely chiselled. I do anticipate this on a cellphone that prices almost a grand, but it surely’s removed from a given.
At 196g, the Galaxy S23 Plus is lighter than the smaller iPhone 14 Professional and it feels nice to make use of. This measurement simply feels so proper – supplying you with extra room than the, in my view, cramped S23 however with out the hand gymnastics required to comfortably use the 6.8-inch S23 Extremely.
The 6.6-inch display matches the specs of the smaller S23, slightly than the S23 Extremely. Which means the decision sits at 1080p (slightly than 1440p) and the shortage of LTPO tech means the refresh fee can’t drop all the way in which all the way down to 1Hz. For a cellphone of this worth, it’s a disgrace the display is missing a few of these methods you’ll discover elsewhere.
The 1080p decision is completely fantastic on the smaller 6.1-inch Galaxy S23, and for most individuals, it’ll be greater than satisfactory right here too. Pop it subsequent to the sharper OnePlus 11 or S23 Extremely and the distinction is notable, although – particulars pop a bit extra and the general viewing expertise is extra immersive elsewhere.
The 120Hz refresh fee may not have the ability to drop to 1Hz, although in my testing I’ve discovered it appears to go as little as 48Hz. This nonetheless provides a really clean expertise, zipping round when scrolling by way of web sites or feeds.
I’ve had no hassle utilizing the S23 Plus outdoor in brighter conditions and Samsung’s software program does an ideal job of pumping up the brightness even additional when the scenario requires it. Nevertheless, I wasn’t as impressed with the brightness when watching HDR footage performed again on Netflix.
Subsequent to the Xiaomi 13 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional, the S23 Plus struggles to essentially give these shiny highlights and the brightness ranges nearly really feel restricted. There isn’t any Dolby Imaginative and prescient, a function each of these different telephones have, as a substitute Samsung depends on its most well-liked HDR10+ format. It is a very area of interest criticism I do know, however when you use your cellphone for lots of media consumption – and contemplating the standard of those panels it’s typically onerous to not – then it might be a deciding issue.
Efficiency
- Qualcomm Snapdragon chip used worldwide, no Exynos model
- 8GB RAM, as much as 512GB storage
It’s lastly occurred – Samsung has determined in opposition to delivery totally different variations of the S23 line, ditching its personal Exynos chipset for a barely tweaked model of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 you’ll discover in lots of the greatest Android telephones arriving in 2023.
Samsung and Qualcomm have cleverly branded this chip Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, giving the concept it’s superior to the chip powering the Xiaomi 13 Professional or OnePlus 11. In actuality, whereas the clock speeds may be barely greater, basic efficiency could be very a lot the identical.
It is a very quick cellphone, one which’s supremely able to dealing with something I may throw at it throughout the overview course of. The one sport that felt prefer it was taxing was maxed out Genshin Affect, however then that is the case on something however an iPhone.
You’ll be able to see how the S23 Plus compares to a few of the competitors in artificial benchmark assessments under.
Not like many telephones operating the 8 Gen 2 chip, I haven’t discovered the S23 Plus to get scorching below load. In truth, the one time the cellphone acquired even the slightest bit toasty was once I was operating benchmarks (one thing most will probably by no means do) or charging whereas enjoying a sport.
Oddly, Samsung appears to have determined in opposition to enabling help for WiFi 7 – a function included on different 8 Gen 2 telephones – limiting it to 6E. This received’t be a problem for a lot of, however it’ll imply those that improve to newer WiFi 7 routers received’t be getting essentially the most out of it.
Alongside that chip is 8GB RAM and 256 or 512GB of storage – select the storage properly because the microSD slot is now not current. Many telephones at this worth will be discovered with 12 or 16GB RAM and whereas these figures look good on paper, I haven’t seen something that may trigger me to bemoan the shortage of extra reminiscence.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus comes operating Android 13 with the One UI 5.1 overlay. Samsung guarantees 4 years of correct Android model and 5 years of safety updates – that is nice to see, guaranteeing the cellphone ought to carry on operating nicely for a few years to come back.
OneUI 5.1 is filled with options and customarily works very nicely. There are a number of battery-saver choices, many customisation settings and glorious native apps – Samsung’s browser, for example, is so a lot better than Chrome. There’s additionally DeX for increasing the cell expertise onto a bigger show.
There’s little doubt Samsung has crafted a really feature-rich working system that, to me, feels distinct from Android discovered elsewhere. Personally, I really feel it nonetheless lacks the design polish of Google’s interpretation of Android and Apple’s iOS with too many busy apps and ugly icons – nonetheless, it’s lots higher than it was a couple of years in the past.
All through my two weeks utilizing the S23 Plus it managed all of the cellphone fundamentals very nicely. I persistently acquired quicker obtain and add speeds on my residence Wi-Fi community than on the iPhone 14 Professional Max and it managed to carry onto cellphone sign higher too, particularly in my flat the place my Three service can typically be very spotty.
Digital camera
- Three rear cameras, all similar to the S22 Plus
- Misses out on the 200MP sensor discovered on the Extremely mannequin
- Improved entrance digital camera
Samsung pushed cell images ahead with the completely incredible digital camera on the S23 Extremely. The 200MP sensor, paired with some glorious software program, produces gorgeous photos I typically wrestle to consider got here from a cellphone. The story isn’t wherever close to as headline-grabbing with the Galaxy S23 Plus.
It is a succesful smartphone digital camera array, with a fundamental 50MP digital camera full with twin pixel PDAF and OIS alongside a 12MP 120-degree ultrawide and a 10MP 3x telephoto with OIS. There’s additionally a greater 12MP entrance digital camera for selfies.
On paper, that is mainly the identical because the outgoing S22 Plus, and the pictures I’ve captured don’t present a lot of a year-on-year improve.
Don’t get me mistaken, the photographs are good – shiny, sharp and vibrant, but they’re not higher than cheaper telephones just like the OnePlus 11 or Pixel 7 and do little to essentially stand out. It is a £1000/$1000 cellphone, and I don’t assume the digital camera actually does sufficient to warrant that worth, particularly in such a troublesome market.
Photographs from the principle digital camera use pixel-binning tech and computational expertise, taking a 50MP picture and utilizing all that information to push smaller photos out on the finish. Element is pushed up, in typical Samsung style, with crowded scenes wanting notably sharp. HDR processing is sweet too, with loads of distinction between the lightest and darkest factors.
Samsung has a historical past of pushing up the saturation a good distance on its cellphone cameras and that’s very a lot the case right here. Greens, reds and brighter colors come out far more vivid than they’re in actual life. Whether or not you want this or not will likely be down to non-public desire and Apple does it simply as a lot on the iPhone, however it might make sure pictures a little bit lurid. You will get a barely extra pure picture through the use of the complete 50MP mode within the Knowledgeable RAW app.
In low-light conditions, the Galaxy S23 Plus does an satisfactory job. With a couple of gentle sources round – lamps or road lights, for instance – footage are detailed and keep away from wanting too noisy. Drop into even darker citations and the sensor’s shortcomings are extra apparent.
The secondary cameras supply a little bit extra versatility, letting you get nearer or farther away from a topic. Snaps from the ultrawide handle to match the colors from the principle digital camera nicely, although this digital camera is greatest utilized in lighter conditions because the picture high quality fades when it will get darkish.
I used to be additionally impressed by the telephoto digital camera when pushed to 3X, although issues can grainy shortly when pushed past that.
Video seize is one other feature-rich space, with usable 8K seize supported.
Battery Life
- No charger included within the field
- Wired and wi-fi help
Contained in the Galaxy S23 Plus there’s a 4700mAh battery which, when paired with a really environment friendly chip and 1080p display, helps this to be a really long-lasting cellphone. I’ve not often hit under 25-30% on the finish of even very busy days – one thing I couldn’t all the time say with Exynos-based Galaxy telephones.
Out of the three S23 telephones, it’s the Plus that impresses essentially the most with its endurance, despite the fact that the common S23 and Extremely acquired our skilled reviewer by way of full days too. Whereas most individuals will nonetheless wish to cost nightly, when you’re joyful to tweak the battery-saver modes and take away choices like an always-on show then two days of juice is doable.
Samsung has finished a wonderful of eking effectivity out of this cellphone. Streaming an hour of Netflix at a really snug brightness noticed a mere 5% drop, barely higher than the 6% drop we noticed on the S23.
Samsung nonetheless stays behind the curve in terms of charging, and the S23 Plus is without doubt one of the slowest Android telephones I’ve examined in recent times to get a full 0-100% juice up.
Virtually on par with the S23 and S23 Extremely, it took me 1 hour and 29 minutes to get a full cost, With 50% taking between 29 and 35 minutes. That is with a 45W Samsung charger that doesn’t come bundled with the cellphone.
Many Android telephones, just like the OnePlus 11, get a full cost in below half-hour and even some, the Realme GT 3 for instance, can do it in below 10 minutes. This makes the Samsung S23 Plus really feel a little bit archaic compared. Wi-fi charging stays very gradual too.
Newest offers
Do you have to purchase it?
You desire a full, no-nonsense Android cellphone: The S23 Plus may not excel in a single clear space, but it surely’s very well-designed and performs excellently.
You’ve acquired a little bit further to spend: With the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely providing a a lot better expertise total, when you pays the additional then we’d advise you do.
Remaining Ideas
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is a really minor replace for the sequence, and it does really feel barely overpriced for what’s on supply. You’ll get a greater display on the OnePlus 11, a greater fundamental digital camera on the Pixel 7 Professional and quicker charging on nearly all of the competitors.
But, the S23 Plus nonetheless provides a really tempting package deal when every part is taken into account. It is a cellphone with a lightweight, pocketable physique; an enormous, shiny display and glorious efficiency. Software program updates are promised for years, the digital camera is dependable and the battery life is excellent.
For many, I feel paying a bit further for the Galaxy S23 Extremely and even going for the extra enjoyable Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the smarter transfer in the long run.
How we check
We check each cell phone we overview completely. We use industry-standard assessments to check options correctly and we use the cellphone as our fundamental machine over the overview interval. We’ll all the time inform you what we discover and we by no means, ever, settle for cash to overview a product.
Discover out extra about how we check in our ethics coverage.
Used as a fundamental cellphone for the overview interval
Thorough digital camera testing in quite a lot of environments
Examined and benchmarked utilizing revered {industry} assessments and real-world information
FAQs
Whereas the cellphone does include a USB-C to USB-C cable, you’ll want to offer your individual plug. One which helps 45w charging will get you the quickest charging speeds.
Trusted Evaluations check information
Geekbench 5 single core
Geekbench 5 multi core
1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR)
30 minute gaming (intensive)
30 minute gaming (gentle)
1 hour music streaming (on-line)
1 hour music streaming (offline)
Time from 0-100% cost
Time from 0-50% cost
30-min recharge (no charger included)
15-min recharge (no charger included)
3D Mark – Wild Life
GFXBench – Aztec Ruins
GFXBench – Automobile Chase
UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Producer
Display Dimension
Storage Capability
Rear Digital camera
Entrance Digital camera
Video Recording
IP score
Battery
Wi-fi charging
Quick Charging
Dimension (Dimensions)
Weight
Working System
Launch Date
First Reviewed Date
Decision
HDR
Refresh Charge
Ports
Chipset
RAM
Colors
Jargon buster
mAh
An abbreviation for milliampere-hour and a approach to specific the capability of batteries, particularly smaller ones in telephones. Normally the upper the mAh, the longer the battery will final however this isn’t all the time the case.
OLED and AMOLED
Forms of shows that use self-lighting pixels to offer better distinction and extra vibrant colors than a typical LCD show, in addition to sharper blacks.
5G
Providing quicker obtain and add speeds when in comparison with 4G. Nice for sport streaming and HDR video playback. Not supported in all places but and speeds differ wildly.
