This one is just right

It may be straightforward to overlook that the Galaxy S23 Plus even exists, overshadowed as it’s by the extra premium and feature-rich Galaxy S23 Extremely. And people searching for a less expensive flagship smartphone would possibly gravitate towards the lovable little Galaxy S23. There’s no motive to disregard this telephone, although — the S23 Plus shares most of its options with the remainder of the S23 household, together with an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a unbelievable OLED display, and Samsung’s class-leading replace assure. Most smartphone OEMs don’t have the dimensions to launch three totally different variations of the identical telephone, however Samsung does. Which means you’ll be able to play Goldilocks and skip the telephone that’s too massive, ignore the one which’s too small, and settle in with one which is perhaps simply best for you.

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (8GB/256GB): $999 / £1,049 / €1,219
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (8GB/512GB): $1,119 / £1,149 / €1,339

Launched in early 2023, the Galaxy S23 Plus is the center baby in Samsung’s new household of flagship telephones. It’s fabricated from Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the display and rear panel, with a body of Samsung’s customized Armor Aluminum alloy. The telephone has a 6.6-inch flat OLED display; barely smaller than the 6.8-inch curved OLED on the Galaxy S23 Extremely and considerably bigger than the 6.1-inch OLED on the bottom mannequin Galaxy S23. The display steps right down to 1,080 x 2,340 from the 1440p decision provided by the S23 Extremely, however you continue to get the identical 120Hz adaptive refresh price (that may drop to 48Hz) and peak brightness at a formidable 1,750 nits. Beneath the show is the most recent Qualcomm ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which might acknowledge your biometrics with out the annoying flash required by optical sensors.

Samsung unified the physique fashion with the Galaxy S23 collection, giving all three fashions the floating digicam lenses on the again. The S23 Plus appears like a scaled-up model of the S23, and just like the smaller telephone, there’s no S Pen assist. Samsung was capable of enhance the battery capability versus the Galaxy S22 Plus from 4,500mAh to 4,700mAh, whereas additionally upping the bottom storage from 128GB to 256GB. There’s no headphone jack, however what else is new? The one I/O is the bottom-mounted USB-C 3.2 port, with assist for as much as 45W charging speeds.

One of the vital notable adjustments from the Galaxy S23 Extremely is that the Galaxy S23 Plus doesn’t get that fancy new 200MP digicam. It sticks with the identical setup because the Galaxy S22 Plus: a 50MP main, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide. The S23 Plus does, nevertheless, get the identical overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip because the S23 Extremely. That is, by most measures, the quickest processor out there in an Android telephone. As we’ll see, it even beats Apple’s customized A-series chips in some benchmarks.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is accessible unlocked or from carriers in Phantom Black, Lavender (pictured), Cream, and Inexperienced colours. If bought straight from Samsung, it’s also possible to get considered one of two unique colours: Lime and Graphite. The S23 Plus works on all main 5G networks throughout each sub-6GHz and mmWave frequencies within the US.

When you’ve touched a Galaxy S22 Plus in some unspecified time in the future previously yr, you could have a good suggestion of what the S23 Plus appears and appears like. The 2 telephones are extraordinarily shut in measurement and form, with the S23 Plus only a fraction of a millimeter wider. The aluminum body encircling the telephone doesn’t bleed into the again panel to encompass the cameras like on the S22 Plus. As an alternative, you get particular person digicam cutouts for every of the three rear-facing sensors. This fashion is extra in line with Samsung’s Extremely telephones.

The 6.6-inch OLED display dominates the entrance of the telephone, and we love the extraordinarily slim and symmetrical bezels surrounding it. The sting-to-edge show with completely even bezels appears elegant — much more so than the S23 Extremely in some methods, which has a noticeably bigger chin on the backside. The S23 Plus’ OLED panel can be fully flat, whereas the S23 Extremely curves down on the left and proper edges. That’s essential to make a telephone as enormous because the S23 Extremely snug within the hand, however the S23 Plus is slightly below that restrict. It’s straightforward sufficient to carry in a single hand, the flat show received’t present as a lot glare in vibrant mild, and also you received’t get as many unintentional touches.

The Galaxy S23 Plus is just not a small telephone, nevertheless it’s not a significant imposition just like the Galaxy S23 Extremely is. The latter, which is sort of 40g heavier than the Plus, all the time appears on the verge of tumbling out of my hand or leaping from my pocket. The S23 Plus is way much less ungainly, nevertheless it nonetheless gives loads of display actual property. It’s an awesome measurement if you would like an enormous telephone that isn’t going to stay out of your pocket.

Talking of the display, it’s not as a lot of a downgrade from the Extremely as you would possibly count on. The 1,080 x 2,340 OLED appears crisp — it might not be QHD+, however nearly 400 pixels per inch is nothing to sneeze at — and the height brightness of 1,750 nits ensures you’ll be capable to learn it even beneath vibrant out of doors mild. It will get glossed over generally, however Samsung’s OLEDs are additionally notable for the way readable they’re in low mild. At minimal brightness, many telephone screens are dingy, however the Galaxy S23 Plus continues to be contrasty and sharp with the brightness all the best way down.

The aluminum body has a shiny end that exhibits smudges and fingerprints, however the again is a pristine expanse of silky matte glass. We like Samsung’s glass texture as a result of it nearly doesn’t really feel like glass. The graceful end repels oils, and it’s not as slippery as shiny finishes on telephones just like the Google Pixel 7 and OnePlus 11. It’s the identical Gorilla Glass Victus 2 because the entrance panel, which ought to maintain up effectively even if you happen to choose to not cowl it with an S23 Plus case.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus efficiency: How briskly is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy?

All of the members of Samsung’s S23 household get the identical Qualcomm system on a chip (SoC), they usually’re the one telephones which have it. The S23 Plus runs Samsung’s custom-made model of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which has an overclocked prime CPU core and GPU. This isn’t simply advertising and marketing fluff — the Samsung-exclusive chip is quicker than different Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 telephones in some benchmarks (notably these with combined or CPU workloads), however the margin is sufficiently small that it doesn’t make a noticeable distinction in day-to-day use. For extra detailed testing on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, try our deep dive on the hyperlink.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’re upgrading from final yr’s Samsung flagships, you’ll undoubtedly discover an enchancment. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 within the S23 Plus gives higher efficiency than the Gen 1, notably in video games. All cell SoCs throttle to a point beneath sustained load; the S23 Plus isn’t any totally different regardless of its distinctive chip design. But even when it heats up, the bespoke Snapdragon chip continues to be sooner than most flagships at its peaks and it performs effectively sufficient in GPU stress exams.

We ran the S23 Plus via a number of benchmarks, together with the brand new Geekbench 6 and the venerable 3DMark. Naturally, the flagship-class {hardware} put up spectacular numbers. It scored inside the margin of error for all the Galaxy S23 collection in Geekbench, topped the PCMark Work 3.0 take a look at, and registered a 3,818 in 3DMark Wild Life Excessive — the latter an enormous bounce the Galaxy S22 Plus’ 2,538 in the identical GPU take a look at. Apparently although, we discovered thermal efficiency lagging barely behind the S23 Extremely, which begins at a better rating within the 3DMark Wild Life Stress Take a look at and plateaus at a slightly larger mark for repeated runs.

As for reminiscence, Samsung solely gives 8GB of RAM within the S23 Plus, irrespective of if you happen to get the 256GB or 512GB storage possibility. The S23 Extremely has a SKU with 12GB of RAM, which is extra future-proofed and according to different flagships just like the Pixel 7 Professional and OnePlus 11. Nonetheless, we didn’t discover a lot distinction between the 2 with regard to background apps. The Galaxy S23 Plus can immediately recall an app from the background which may not have been open for hours. Telephones will much less RAM will often need to reload apps in that situation.

We by no means had any points with battery life on the Galaxy S22 Plus, however some felt the 4,500mAh capability was too small. Samsung upped the battery on this yr’s non-Extremely telephones, giving the S23 Plus 4,700mAh to work with. Primarily based on our testing, you can spend the higher a part of a day streaming video on the S23 Plus and nonetheless have sufficient left within the tank to go out for the night with out worry of a lifeless battery. With extra typical utilization, the Galaxy S23 Plus will simply final a full day, and two days is inside attain if you happen to take only a few precautions, like ensuring you’re absolutely charged earlier than you unplug.

The Galaxy S23 Plus prices at a most energy of 45W, which is larger than the 25W max of the newborn Galaxy S23 and the identical because the Galaxy S23 Extremely. The 45W ranking isn’t the most effective you will get — that crown goes to OnePlus’ SuperVOOC-powered OnePlus 11 with 80-125W peaks relying in your area. However Samsung does nonetheless clobber Google’s piddly 23W charging on the Pixel 7 Professional.

Even when Samsung’s telephones do ostensibly assist larger speeds, the telephones will be choosy about how the ability is delivered. Fortunately, the required Energy Supply PPS-equipped plugs are straightforward sufficient to search out now — try our information for the most effective Galaxy S23 chargers for some nice choices. The S23 Plus has proven that, just like the S23 Extremely, it maintains larger energy for longer and with sharper peaks (as much as 42W based mostly on our testing), leading to sooner general recharges — nearly precisely one hour to go from zero to 100%.

Samsung is shifting in the precise course, however at these costs, it could be good to have even larger speeds. The 15W wi-fi charging possibility is appreciated, although solely Samsung’s “Quick Wi-fi Charging 2.0” chargers are assured to hit 15W. Most different wi-fi pads max at 10W by way of the S23 Plus’ Qi charging assist.

Samsung upgraded the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s main digicam this cycle, however the Galaxy S23 Plus and base mannequin S23 are nonetheless utilizing the identical setup as their Galaxy S22 counterparts. Which means you’re a 50MP main digicam, which shoots pixel-binned 12.5MP pictures by default. You possibly can shoot in full 50MP decision with the S23 Plus, however the binned pictures often look higher except you begin cropping and zooming. When you like Samsung’s trademark photograph processing, you’ll nonetheless just like the S23 Plus simply positive, however can it compete with the easiest digicam telephones?

Pictures taken on the S23 Plus are vibrant, with pumped-up colours and distinction. This could make some positive particulars a bit blurry, however the general picture should still look sharper if you happen to don’t crop in. When mild is low, Samsung leans towards longer exposures that make it tougher to get clear pictures of shifting topics. Each the Pixel 7 and Galaxy S23 Extremely shoot sharper, brighter pictures. Evening mode (which Samsung insists on calling “Nightography”) has gotten higher over the previous few generations, however the S23 Plus is at a drawback in comparison with the Extremely. That telephone’s binned 200MP sensor can accumulate extra mild than the S23 Plus with its 50MP sensor though the ultimate picture decision is similar. Whereas the S23 Extremely can commerce blows with Google in night time mode, the S23 Plus nonetheless runs behind.

The primary sensor is optically stabilized, which helps a bit however can’t work miracles when the telephone selects a 1/15 publicity time indoors. There’s no periscope zoom digicam right here, however you do get the lesser of the 2 telephoto lenses seen on the S23 Extremely. This 3x optical shooter will get you nearer to your topic with out dropping pixels, however the sensor is barely 10MP. When you push the zoom past 3x, the picture high quality quickly deteriorates. The Extremely can push digital zoom to 100x, often known as House Zoom. The S23 Plus tops out at 30x, and even that’s uselessly blurry.

Whereas telephones just like the OnePlus 11 have moved to a lot larger decision ultrawide cameras, we a lot desire what the Galaxy S23 Plus can do right here with its 12MP digicam. Samsung’s aggressive photograph processing evens out publicity throughout the body whereas preserving most particulars. Because you’re not taking ultrawide pictures to zoom in, the decrease decision isn’t an issue.

Likewise, the front-facing digicam is barely 12MP, however Samsung’s photograph processing jives effectively with selfies. They’re crisp, evenly lit, and the pumped-up colours make everybody glow. You are able to do portrait mode with both front-facing or rear-facing cameras, however the outcomes are higher with the rear-facing array. As for the digicam app, Samsung’s inventory software program is full-featured with slow-motion, professional modes for photograph and video, and an Knowledgeable RAW mode if you wish to course of pictures manually.

Samsung has been pushing video decision for a number of years, first providing 8K on its 2020 flagship telephones. You possibly can shoot 8K at 30fps with this telephone, not that you must. These information are enormous, and also you in all probability don’t even have an 8K show. Extra attention-grabbing is the sharp and extra usable 4K possibility at as much as 60fps, and you’ll even activate HDR10+ recording for higher lighting. Nonetheless, these movies are recorded in HEVC format, which some techniques received’t perceive.

• Software program: The Galaxy S23 Plus runs the identical construct of Android 13 with One UI 5.1 because the S23 Extremely. The one distinction is that the S23 Plus doesn’t have all of the S Pen add-on options. When you’ve used One UI in the previous couple of years, you’ll really feel proper at residence with the S23 Plus. There are few adjustments, and most of them are restricted to Samsung’s built-in apps and providers. There’s the aforementioned Knowledgeable RAW photograph mode, improved system search, picture modifying choices within the gallery app, higher split-screen app recommendations, and Quick Pair for accelerated system setup. One UI would possibly look totally different from the inventory Android interface, however the working system doesn’t do something off-the-wall or overly complicated, as you would possibly see in a heavier pores and skin like Oppo’s Colour OS.
• Updates: Samsung guarantees 4 years of full OS replace assist, that means the S23 Plus will see Android 17 in late 2026 or early 2027. It ought to get a yr of safety patches assist past that, making for the longest replace coverage of any Android telephone.
• Connectivity: Within the US, the S23 Plus helps each mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G networks, and the frequencies will get you the absolute best protection on all the main networks. We examined the S23 Plus totally on T-Cell, utilizing the service’s low-band and Extremely Capability bands. Efficiency was nearly as good as we’ve seen from a smartphone. As well as, the S23 Plus has Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, ultra-wideband (for Samsung’s good tracker tags), and Wi-Fi 6E. There’s no Wi-Fi 7 assist regardless of Qualcomm’s assist on the chipset stage, nevertheless it’s lots future-proofed for contemporary Wi-Fi connectivity.
• Audio: Telephones don’t typically have nice audio system, however we had been pleasantly stunned by the Galaxy S23 Plus. The sound, whether or not music or a voice name, comes via clear, with little or no distortion even at larger volumes. A lot of the tinny high quality current in different telephone audio system is absent right here, and there’s even a little bit little bit of bass. The Galaxy S23 Plus additionally has complete Bluetooth codec assist to be used with wi-fi headphones, in addition to Bluetooth LE assist for suitable gadgets.

It will have appeared unfathomable just a few years in the past {that a} $1,000 telephone wouldn’t be top-of-the-line, however right here we’re. The Galaxy S23 Plus is the center of Samsung’s S23 lineup, with the bottom mannequin Galaxy S23 ($799.99 at Samsung) for $200 much less and the S23 Extremely ($1199.99 at Samsung) for $200 extra.

Many patrons will gravitate towards a type of extremes in the event that they’re lifeless set on a brand new Samsung telephone. The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s value is excessive, nevertheless it does supply loads of upgrades for that further $200 such because the 200MP main and dual-telephoto cameras, S Pen performance, a higher-spec show, and 12GB base RAM. In the meantime, the bounce from Galaxy S23 to S23 Plus isn’t fairly as dramatic — you get a much bigger display and battery, sooner charging, and the Galaxy S23’s 6.1-inch display is sharper due to the smaller measurement. In years previous, a 6.1-inch telephone display would have been monumental, however the transfer to taller display ratios (the Galaxy S23 is nineteen.5:9) could make that diagonal measurement really feel extra cramped than you’d count on.

When you’re going to spend $1,000 on an Android telephone, the S23 Plus is a good worth, although it in all probability received’t be your first cease if you happen to’re searching for both a discount or a telephone that stands out from the pack.

The Google Pixel 7 Professional ($899 at Amazon) is $100 much less, and it has distinctive software program options and general superior digicam efficiency, though they’re each working with Android 13 and a 50MP main shooter. Google’s picture processing algorithms work higher than Samsung’s 9 occasions out of ten. Alternatively, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 ($999.99 at Samsung) is similar value. It has a worse dual-camera setup, an older Snapdragon chip, and worse battery life, however hey, it folds in half! There are additionally cheaper choices in Samsung’s Galaxy A household if you wish to avoid wasting money, just like the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G ($399 at Amazon) with its 6.5-inch OLED and the identical improve promise because the S23 Plus.

When you’re not married to Android, there’s additionally the Apple iPhone 14 Professional ($999.99 at Greatest Purchase) for a similar value. This telephone is a bit smaller than the Galaxy S23 Plus at 6.1 inches, nevertheless it has even higher construct high quality, a comparable show, and entry to Apple’s in depth software program ecosystem. Plus a novel “Dynamic Island” notch, if you happen to’re into that form of factor. For somebody who doesn’t have to be on Android, it’s a compelling possibility.

If the spiffy new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is alluring, the OnePlus 11 ($699 at OnePlus) is the most affordable technique to get it. It doesn’t have the customized overclocked chip and it confirmed some erratic outcomes beneath GPU load in our testing, however its cooling answer is extra environment friendly and might attain larger highs with simply the inventory Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Though, OnePlus’ tackle Android 13 is a bit rougher across the edges ever since Oxygen OS merged with Oppo’s Colour OS. One UI 5.1 is no less than nearly as good, even if you happen to’ve prevented Samsung’s software program previously. You additionally miss out of any wi-fi charging and must take care of OnePlus’ hit-and-miss digicam processing.

It’s a foregone conclusion that the S23 Plus would be the least standard member of the S23 household, however that’s not as a result of it’s a nasty telephone — that may be not possible when it shares a lot with the opposite Galaxy S23 variants. Nonetheless, it serves a distinct segment: individuals who need a massive Samsung flagship with out the costly gimmicks of the S23 Extremely. You received’t get an S Pen or a flowery quad-camera array, however the Galaxy S23 Plus will get all the opposite vital issues, like the most recent Snapdragon chip, an exceptional OLED display, and Samsung’s killer replace promise. The Galaxy S23 Plus is ideal if you would like an enormous, no-nonsense telephone.

Carrying the S23 Plus is a pleasure in comparison with the Extremely, which is greater, heavier, and extra sq.. You possibly can inform the Extremely is in your pocket each minute of the day. That received’t be an issue for some, however the S23 Plus is slim and unobtrusive sufficient that anybody will be capable to ignore its presence till they want it. The supplies, building, and design are all the most effective you’ll see this facet of the iPhone, too. We’re notably keen on Samsung’s matte glass, which supplies you the scratch resistance of glass with out making the telephone a slippery fingerprint magnet.

Maybe the most effective factor in regards to the S23 Plus is that it’s nearly all display, and the display is a stunner. There’s a hole-punch on the prime for the selfie digicam, however the show is in any other case uninterrupted, surrounded by a slim symmetrical bezel. It’s crisp and readable open air with its most 1,750 nits of luminance, and it will get dimmer than most telephones with out changing into a fuzzy, low-contrast mess.

Sure, $1,000 is lots for a telephone, however Samsung has enticing trade-in gives. Even after the pre-order bonanza, you will get $400-500 for buying and selling in considered one of final yr’s Galaxy S fashions. When you can half along with your outdated telephone, the S23 Plus begins to look extra enticing. Samsung’s improve assure additionally ensures you should use the Galaxy S23 Plus for years with out worrying about being left within the mud.