Samsung’s Galaxy S23 launched again in February, and it’s possible you’ll be tempted to improve. However earlier than you do, take into account the age and situation of your present telephone, alongside together with your funds. You may additionally need to take into consideration whether or not your machine will assist new variations of Android sooner or later. All of those elements are essential in figuring out whether or not it is the proper time to improve your telephone.
The Galaxy S23, which begins at $800, has a 6.1-inch display and a 50-megapixel principal digital camera, identical to the Galaxy S22. However the S23 has a bigger battery, a brand new processor and barely up to date digital camera algorithms that enhance the way in which photographs are processed. Whereas these modifications are appreciated, the Galaxy S23 is usually a minor enchancment over the Galaxy S22. The improve is price it in case you’re trying to exchange a telephone you have had for a number of years, ideally one which’s greater than two years outdated. Even the Galaxy S21, which launched in 2021, seemingly nonetheless has sufficient life left to make it by one other yr.
Shopping for choices will all the time differ relying in your wants and funds. However in case you’re a present Samsung consumer contemplating making the bounce, this is what to learn about how the Galaxy S23 compares to older units.
Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S22
The Samsung Galaxy S22.
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With the Galaxy S23, Samsung addressed my greatest concern in regards to the Galaxy S22: its brief battery life. The brand new telephone has a bigger battery (3,900 mAh in comparison with 3,700), which has made a distinction in my testing.
In any other case, in comparison with the Galaxy S22, you are getting a brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that is been optimized for the brand new Galaxy lineup particularly, whereas the Galaxy S22 runs on final yr’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. Efficiency is quicker, particularly when exporting video. However you in all probability will not discover a lot of a bounce in on a regular basis use, since most trendy processors are well-equipped to deal with gaming, multitasking and different run-of-the-mill duties.
The Galaxy S23’s cameras are largely the identical because the Galaxy S22’s, besides the algorithms have been up to date to enhance processing in low gentle situations. The selfie digital camera additionally has a barely greater decision (12 megapixels versus 10), though I did not discover a lot of a distinction. There’s nothing in regards to the Galaxy S23’s digital camera that feels massively totally different from the earlier technology, though I did discover that low-light portraits regarded higher.
The telephone launches with Android 13 and Samsung’s One UI 5.1 software program, each of which can be found for the Galaxy S22 sequence.
The underside line: Do not improve to the Galaxy S23 when you have a Galaxy S22. The modifications aren’t noticeable sufficient to warrant an improve. Battery life is the one significant change you may discover between the 2 telephones, however I might solely advocate upgrading if you will get the S23 without cost by a trade-in deal.
Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S21
Samsung’s Galaxy S21.
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The variations between the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S21 are extra noticeable, however you may in all probability maintain onto your S21 for an additional yr earlier than upgrading.
The Galaxy S23 has a noticeably improved digital camera because it inherits the 50-megapixel sensor that debuted on the Galaxy S22. As I wrote in my overview, the Galaxy S22’s cameras supply higher coloration, distinction and low-light efficiency in comparison with the Galaxy S21.
The Galaxy S21 additionally runs on a processor that is now two years outdated, in comparison with the brand-new chip within the Galaxy S23. That stated, in case you’re simply utilizing your telephone for easy duties like video calls, taking part in video games and checking social media, the older Snapdragon 888 chip might be holding up simply nice.
The underside line: In case your Galaxy S21 nonetheless feels quick and the battery life is passable, you may wait one other yr earlier than upgrading. Samsung helps three generations of Android working system updates for the Galaxy S21, that means it should get new platform-wide software program updates till 2024.
Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S20
Samsung’s Galaxy S20.
Angela Lang/CNET
Whether or not you must improve from the Galaxy S20 is not as simple of a solution. There’s sufficient to realize that will justify making the bounce, however the Galaxy S20 additionally nonetheless has loads to supply.
By upgrading, you may get a quicker chip, an improved digital camera with considerably higher low-light efficiency and a recent design. Because the Galaxy S20 launched in 2020 with Android 10, it’s going to not be eligible for brand new Android OS updates shifting ahead.
Samsung dedicated to offering three generations of updates for the Galaxy S20 lineup, making Android 13 the final one. Which means you may need to improve to get future variations of Android and the brand new options that come together with these updates. The corporate does, nonetheless, nonetheless present month-to-month safety updates for the Galaxy S20.
On the similar time, the Galaxy S20 remains to be a really succesful telephone. Regardless that you will not get the choice to shoot photographs at a 50-megapixel decision like on the Galaxy S23, you may nonetheless get a triple-camera setup on the Galaxy S20. The Galaxy S20 additionally has a 30x digital zoom just like the Galaxy S23, so you will not miss out on getting close-up pictures.
However remember the fact that the Galaxy S20 has a bigger battery and a barely greater display than the Galaxy S23. And most significantly, the Galaxy S20 has a microSD card slot for including extra storage, which the Galaxy S23 doesn’t.
The underside line: The updates within the Galaxy S23 will really feel important sufficient to justify the improve, however you additionally need not in case you’re glad together with your Galaxy S20. Hold onto the S20 in case you’re proud of its efficiency, battery life and in case you worth protecting that microSD card slot over having a greater digital camera. Simply bear in mind you will not get the following model of Android.
Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S10
The Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup.
Angela Lang/CNET
Galaxy S10 homeowners: it is time to improve. Not solely will the digital camera and processor really feel like an enormous step up, however you may get 5G and the most recent model Android.
In case you bought the Galaxy S10 at launch again in 2019, the processor and battery at the moment are 4 years outdated. Which means your telephone could also be beginning to really feel sluggish, and the battery in all probability struggles to get by a day. The Galaxy S10’s battery can be smaller than the Galaxy S23’s (3,400 mAh capability versus 3,900) and the S23’s processor is extra energy environment friendly — so the battery beneficial properties must be significant. Your Galaxy S10 additionally would not assist 5G, until you splurged on the 6.7-inch Galaxy S10 5G, which began at $1,300 when it launched.
However extra importantly, the Galaxy S10 not receives Android model updates. Just like the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S10 was eligible for 3 generations of latest Android releases. That may make final yr’s Android 12 replace the final one because the Galaxy S10 launched with Android 9. (You’ll, nonetheless, nonetheless get quarterly safety updates when you have the common Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10E or S10 5G.)
Whereas software program assist and battery life are among the many greatest causes to improve, you may additionally get a significantly better digital camera on the Galaxy S23. Samsung’s digital camera has come a good distance during the last 4 years, now providing the next decision principal sensor (50 megapixels versus 12 megapixels on the Galaxy S10), enhanced efficiency in low gentle and a more in-depth digital zoom (as much as 30x on the Galaxy S23 in comparison with 10x on the Galaxy S10).
One factor to bear in mind, nonetheless, is that you will lose the beloved microSD card slot by upgrading to the Galaxy S23. So you should definitely decide a storage capability that is smart to your wants since you will not be capable to broaden it.
The underside line: Sure, when you have a Galaxy S10 it is price upgrading to the Galaxy S23. You may get 5G assist, entry to new variations of Android, longer battery life, a quicker new processor and a much-improved digital camera. However be ready to say goodbye to the microSD card slot.
Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S9
The Samsung Galaxy S9.
James Martin/CNET
There are various causes to improve from the Galaxy S9 — so many, actually, it is arduous to know the place to start out. All the factors talked about above for the Galaxy S10 additionally apply to the Galaxy S9. Samsung’s five-year-old telephone lacks 5G, and its processor and battery have seemingly began to indicate their age. You may additionally not obtain Android model updates.
However there are many different advantages available from upgrading. The digital camera is among the many greatest modifications; the Galaxy S9 solely has one rear 12-megapixel digital camera, and the Galaxy S9 Plus has an extra 12-megapixel telephoto digital camera. The Galaxy S23 has the next decision 50-megapixel principal digital camera, together with a 10-megapixel telephoto digital camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens for capturing a wider discipline of view. The Galaxy S23’s selfie digital camera additionally has the next decision (12 megapixels versus the S9’s 8), together with different enhancements like higher low-light seize.
When you’ve got the usual 5.8-inch Galaxy S9, you may additionally get a bigger display because the Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch show. The Galaxy S23 additionally has twice the storage within the base mannequin in comparison with the Galaxy S9, however there isn’t any microSD card slot in Samsung’s new telephone for including extra storage.
The underside line: There are a bunch of causes to improve when you have a Galaxy S9. You may get a considerably improved digital camera with a number of lenses, a lot quicker efficiency, longer battery life, new variations of Android and 5G assist.
Total, it is price upgrading when you have a telephone that is greater than two years outdated. Galaxy S20 homeowners can in all probability get one other yr out of their machine if it is in good situation, however the Galaxy S23 additionally gives sufficient enhancements to justify the improve. When you’ve got a Galaxy S10 or earlier, the reply as to whether you must improve is a convincing sure.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. older Galaxy telephones
Galaxy S23Galaxy S22Galaxy S21Galaxy S20Galaxy S10Galaxy S9 Show 6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 decision; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 decision; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate6.2-inch AMOLED; 2,400×1,080 decision; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate6.2-inch AMOLED; 3,200×1,440 decision; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate6.1-inch AMOLED; 3,040×1,440 resolution5.8-inch AMOLED; 2,960×1,440 resolutionPixel density 425 pixels per inch425 pixels per inch421 pixels per inch563 pixels per inch550 pixels per inch570 pixels per inchDimensions (inches) 2.79 x 5.76 x 0.3 in2.78 x 5.74 x 0.3 in2.80 x 5.97 x 0.31 in2.72 x 5.97 x 0.311 in5.9 x 2.77 x 0.31 in5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 inDimensions (millimeters) 70.9 x 146.3 x 7.6 mm70.6 x 146 x 7.6 mm71.2 x 151.7 x 7.9mm69.1 x 151.7 x 7.9 mm149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8 mm147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 168 g (5.93 oz)167 g (5.93 oz)171 g (6.03 oz)5.75 oz (163 g)5.53 oz (157 g)5.75 oz (163 g)Cellular software program Android 13Android 12Android 11Android 10Android 9Android 8Camera 50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto)50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto)64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)12-megapixel (wide-angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)12-megapixel (wide-angle), 16-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (telephoto)12-megapixelFront-facing digital camera 12-megapixel 10-megapixel 10-megapixel10-megapixel10-megapixel8-megapixelVideo seize 8K at 30fps8K at 24 fps8K at 24fps8K at 24fps4K at 60fps4K at 60 fpsProcessor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for GalaxyQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1Qualcomm Snapdragon 888Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5GQualcomm Snapdragon 855Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 RAM/storage 8GB RAM + 128GB; 8GB RAM + 256GB8GB RAM + 128GB 8GB RAM + 256GB 8GB RAM + 128GB 8GB RAM + 128GB8GB RAM + 128GB; 8GB RAM + 512GB4GB RAM + 64GB; 4GB RAM + 128GB; 4GB RAM + 256GBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneYes (As much as 1TB)Sure (As much as 512GB)Sure (As much as 400GB)Battery 3,900 mAh 3,700 mAh 4,000 mAh 4,000mAh3,400mAh3,000 mAhFingerprint sensor In-displayIn-displayIn-displayIn-displayIn-display BackConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoNoNoNoYesYesSpecial options 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 score, wi-fi PowerShare to cost different devices5G (mmw/Sub6), 120Hz show, IP68 score, 25W wired charging, 15W wi-fi chargingIP68 score, 5G-enabled, 30x House Zoom, 10W wi-fi charging, 120Hz display5G enabled; 120Hz refresh price; water-proof (IP68)Wi-fi PowerShare; gap punch display notch; water-proof (IP68); Quick Wi-fi Charging 2.0Dual-aperture digital camera, water resistant (IP68); tremendous slo-mo video; wi-fi charging; iris scanning