Unboxing the New Samsung S23 Plus: Hands-On Review
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, launched Feb 2023
- Balances top-tier tech and affordability
- Upgrades include a Snapdragon processor, enhanced camera system, and sleek design
- 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
- Versatile triple rear camera for photography enthusiasts
- Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage for smooth performance
- 4,700 mAh battery for over 24 hours of usage
- Supports 45W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Runs Android 13 with One UI 5.1
- Promised 4 years of major Android updates and 5 years of security updates.
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Description
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is the latest model in Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup of flagship smartphones. Announced in February 2023, the S23 Plus fits in above the base S23 model and below the premium S23 Ultra version.
As a member of Samsung’s S series, the S23 Plus showcases some of the best technology and features the company has to offer. It serves as a mid-tier option for users who want excellent performance and capabilities but don’t necessarily need every high-end spec and flourish.
The Galaxy S23 Plus delivers meaningful upgrades over its predecessor, the S22 Plus while maintaining the premium style and polished experience the lineup is known for. Key improvements include a new, more powerful Snapdragon processor, an upgraded camera system, and refinements to the durable design.
Overall, the S23 Plus aims to strike an ideal balance of innovation, usability, and value within Samsung’s flagship S series. It brings flagship-level performance and capabilities to users who want excellent quality without maxing out on premium specs and pricing. The S23 Plus caters to customers seeking a polished high-end Samsung device with all the essential features but without going overboard.
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ has a premium and sleek design with an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass back. It measures 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6mm and weighs 197g, making it slightly thicker and heavier than its predecessor, the S22+. The increased weight gives it a more substantial and durable feel in the hand.
Despite the minor size increase, the S23+ retains the comfortable in-hand feel thanks to the rounded corners and edges. The rear camera module blends seamlessly into the back glass using the same contour-cut camera design as earlier Galaxy S models. The S23+ comes in four understated color options – Phantom Black, Cotton Flower, Botanic Green, and Misty Lilac. The new matte finish on the back resists fingerprints while providing a smooth feel.
Overall, the S23+ refines the modern and minimalist Galaxy aesthetic with a sleek yet strong unibody frame that looks and feels premium. The added heft provides reassurance of longevity and durability while retaining the iconic Galaxy style.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus features a 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. It has an adjustable refresh rate from 48Hz to 120Hz, allowing you to balance between smoother scrolling and battery life.
The screen uses Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology for vivid colors and deep blacks by turning off individual pixels. It supports HDR10+ content and can reach a peak brightness of 1750 nits for excellent visibility in direct sunlight. The display has an excellent contrast ratio for inky blacks and vibrant highlights.
The S23 Plus display has a hole-punch cutout at the top center for the front-facing camera. The bezels around the screen are slim for an immersive viewing experience. The screen has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection against scratches and cracks. It also has an oleophobic coating to reduce fingerprint smudges.
Overall, the display on the Galaxy S23 Plus delivers a sharp, bright, and colorful viewing experience ideal for watching videos, gaming, web browsing, and more. Key aspects like high resolution, fast refresh rate, HDR support, and high peak brightness make it one of the best displays on a smartphone.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus has an impressive triple rear camera setup and a 12MP front-facing selfie camera.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Rear Camera
- Ultra-Wide: 12MP, f/2.2 aperture
- Main: 50MP wide camera with Dual Pixel AF, OIS, f/1.8 aperture
- Telephoto: 10MP, 3x optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture
The rear camera array features advanced sensors and lenses for excellent image quality in any lighting condition. The main 50MP sensor captures crisp, highly detailed photos. The ultra-wide camera provides a 123-degree field of view for capturing expansive landscapes or large group shots. The 10MP telephoto lens enables 3x optical zoom for clear close-up shots.
Additional rear camera capabilities include:
- Night mode for low-light photography.
- Portrait mode with adjustable bokeh effect.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to minimize blur from camera shake.
- Up to 8K video recording at 24fps.
- Super slow-motion 960fps video at 720p.
- Pro-grade manual controls and RAW capture are available.
Front Camera
The front-facing selfie camera has a high-resolution 12MP sensor with Dual Pixel AF and f/2.2 aperture. It can capture detailed self-portraits and group shots. Additional front camera features include:
- Portrait mode with sophisticated bokeh effects
- Night mode for low-light selfies
- 4K video recording at 60fps
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is equipped with versatile pro-grade cameras to suit both casual users and photography enthusiasts. It performs well in any lighting conditions to deliver great shots.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which delivers blazing-fast performance. This processor utilizes TSMC’s 4nm manufacturing process, making it more power efficient while boosting CPU and GPU speeds by up to 30% compared to the previous generation Snapdragon.
For memory and storage, the S23 Plus comes with 8GB of RAM and starts with 128GB of internal storage. The RAM ensures smooth multitasking and quick app launches, while the 128GB provides plenty of space for apps, videos, photos and more. If more storage is needed, the S23 Plus has a microSD card slot to expand storage up to 1TB.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, combined with ample RAM and storage, provides exceptional performance that can handle demanding apps, graphics-intensive games, multitasking, and more without any slowdowns or lag. Everything runs incredibly smooth and responsive on the S23 Plus thanks to its powerful processing package. Even heavy usage like gaming for extended periods is handled with ease.
Overall, the performance of the Galaxy S23 Plus sets a new bar for speed and fluidity in a smartphone. The cutting-edge processor and optimized RAM deliver an exceptionally fast and seamless user experience. Power users will be satisfied by the phone’s top-tier performance that breezes through any task or app.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus comes equipped with a large 4,700 mAh battery, which is bigger than the 4,500 mAh battery in last year’s S22 Plus model. This increased capacity should translate to longer battery life between charges.
Samsung claims the S23 Plus will last for over 24 hours of regular usage on a single charge. Of course, actual battery life will vary depending on usage patterns. Heavy users may need to charge more frequently.
One area Samsung has focused on improving is charging speed. The S23 Plus supports super-fast wired charging at up to 45W with a compatible charger. Samsung claims you can get from 0 to 65% charge in just 30 minutes using 45W charging.
The S23 Plus also includes support for fast 15W wireless charging. So you can fully charge wirelessly in about 2 hours. Reverse wireless charging is also available, allowing you to wirelessly charge headphones, earbuds or other Qi-compatible devices by placing them on the back of the S23 Plus.
Overall, the upgrades to battery capacity and charging speed should make the S23 Plus capable of providing all-day battery life for most users, with quick charging options when you do need to top up during the day. The powerful 4,700 mAh battery and advanced charging capabilities are some of the most important upgrades in the Galaxy S23 Plus.
Software
Operating system
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus runs Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 custom interface on top. One UI provides a polished experience with plenty of customization options and unique Samsung features built-in.
Some of the key software features include:
One UI Home – The custom launcher replaces the stock Android launcher with more options for customizing the home screens, app drawer, and widgets.
Bixby – Samsung’s digital assistant can be accessed by voice, text, or through Bixby Routines which automates device functionality based on triggers.
Samsung Health – This all-in-one health and fitness tracking app monitors activity, sleep, nutrition, and more. It connects to Samsung wearables like the Galaxy Watch series.
Samsung Pay – Make mobile payments using NFC or Samsung’s proprietary Magnetic Secure Transmission technology. Supports gift cards, rewards programs, and more.
DeX – Connect the S23 Plus to an external display to access a desktop-style interface optimized for mouse and keyboard input.
Secure Folder – An encrypted space for storing private files, securing sensitive apps, and adding an extra layer of security.
Samsung promises 4 years of major Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the S23 Plus, ensuring it stays on the latest Android version for years to come.
Special Features
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus comes with several special features that help it stand out from previous Galaxy S models and other flagship smartphones.
- IP68 water and dust resistance – The S23 Plus has an IP68 rating, meaning it can withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes without damage. This waterproof design provides peace of mind when using your phone in wet conditions.
- Wireless charging** – Like previous Galaxy S phones, the S23 Plus supports fast wireless charging. You can place it on a Qi-certified wireless charging pad for convenient charging without cables. It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to wirelessly charge other devices using your phone’s battery.
- Reverse wireless charging** – Building on wireless charging capabilities, the S23 Plus can wirelessly charge other devices when placed back-to-back using Wireless PowerShare. This allows you to charge accessories such as wireless earbuds or even another phone.
- Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor** – The S23 Plus has an advanced ultrasonic fingerprint reader embedded in the display for fast and secure biometric authentication. It can accurately read fingerprints even with wet fingers.
- Samsung DeX** – With an HDMI cable, you can use DeX mode to connect the S23 Plus to a monitor and use a desktop-style interface for multitasking. This enhances productivity when using your phone with a bigger screen.
- S Pen support** – While the S Pen doesn’t come included, the S23 Plus supports using an S Pen (sold separately) for precise writing, drawing, and control. This adds versatility, especially for artists and note-takers.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus comes in 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, and 8GB/512GB configurations. Pricing varies by region:
- In the US, pricing starts at $999.99 for the 128GB model. The 256GB model is $1,049.99, while the 512GB model is $1,199.99.
- In Europe, pricing starts at €1,109 for the 128GB model. The 256GB model is €1,159, while the 512GB model is €1,309.
- In the UK, pricing starts at £999 for the 128GB model. The 256GB model is £1,049, while the 512GB model is £1,199.
The Galaxy S23 Plus is available unlocked directly from Samsung and major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. It comes in four color options:
– Phantom Black
– Cream
– Green
– Lavender
Pre-orders are available now, with general availability starting February 17th, 2023.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus stands out as one of the most advanced and powerful smartphones on the market today. Its sleek yet durable design showcases Samsung’s excellent craftsmanship, while the gorgeous 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate provides an immersive visual experience.
The state-of-the-art camera system, including a 50MP wide lens, 10MP telephoto lens, and 12MP ultrawide lens, enables users to capture stunning photos and videos in a wide variety of conditions. With the advanced Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor backing it up, the S23 Plus delivers blazing-fast speeds and seamless multitasking capabilities.
One area where the S23 Plus particularly shines is battery life. The robust 4,700mAh battery easily lasts through a full day of heavy use thanks to Samsung’s energy-efficient hardware and software optimizations. With super-fast 45W wired charging support, you can quickly top up when running low.
If you’re looking for a versatile, flagship-tier smartphone that excels at photography, visual media consumption, gaming, and more, the Galaxy S23 Plus is an outstanding choice. With top-of-the-line specs, scintillating design, and Samsung’s signature premium build quality, the S23 Plus represents the pinnacle of mobile technology today.
Unboxing the New Samsung S23 Plus: Hands-On Review Videos
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