Galaxy S23: release date, price, spec sheet, all you need to know about the Samsung smartphone
A new generation of Samsung smartphones is approaching with the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra. Design, screen, features, camera, performance, autonomy, One UI: here is all you need to know about these three smartphones that we haven't heard the last of.
The Galaxy S23 and its Plus and Ultra models take over from the Galaxy S22 series. These additions to the most popular premium range of the Android environment were, like every year, anxiously expected. If we may aspire for big changes in this generation, Samsung is happy with somewhat moderate adjustments, but which are not uninteresting. We give you all you need to know about them.
WHEN IS THE GALAXY S23 COMING OUT?
The Galaxy S23s were revealed on February 1, 2023, during Samsung's customary Unpacked 2023 event. Samsung observes a fairly particular timetable when it comes to the introduction of smartphones from its major series. Since the company no longer participates in the MWC in Barcelona, where it used to reveal its new models towards the end of February for marketing in March, the South Korean manufacturer routinely makes its Galaxy S available in February following its own conference .
As a reminder, the Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra were introduced during an Unpacked presentation on February 9, before hitting shops on February 25.
However, and only a few days after the conference, we have already managed to purchase an S23 Ultra via the normal partner resellers. Indeed, the Galaxy S23s have been accessible in France from Thursday, February 2, 2023. The debut was also a big triumph for Samsung. At the end of February, the business revealed that it had registered double the amount of pre-orders for its current flagship compared to the Galaxy S22.
HOW MUCH DOES THE GALAXY S23 COST?
After Apple at the end of 2022, Samsung has, in turn, decided to boost prices this year. However, not all nations will be harmed by its tariff rises. In France, the Galaxy S23s start at 959 euros. Prices subsequently increase by 100 euros compared to the Galaxy S22 in the base configuration, and up to 180 euros for the Galaxy S23 Ultra with 1 TB of storage.
Here is an overview of the prices announced:
- Galaxy S23 (8 GB RAM/128 GB storage): €959
- Galaxy S23 (8 GB RAM/256 GB storage): €1,019
- Galaxy S23+ (8 GB RAM/256 GB storage): €1,219
- Galaxy S23+ (8 GB RAM/512 GB storage): €1,339
- Galaxy S23 Ultra (8 GB RAM/256 GB storage): €1,419
- Galaxy S23 Ultra (12 GB RAM/512 GB storage): €1,599
- Galaxy S23 Ultra (12 GB RAM/1 TB storage): €1,839
In terms of availability, the smartphones will appear on the market on February 17. For these two weeks of pre-orders, we remind you that Samsung will offer you a free upgrade to the higher model with larger storage. In other words, you merely need to buy the Galaxy S23 with 128 GB of storage for €959 to acquire the Galaxy S23 with 256 GB (worth €1,019).
Students (Unidays), MACIF members and Ulys subscribers (Obiz) also benefit from a 15% rebate, one year of Samsung Care+, a charger and a free case.
All versions will be available with their normal set of separate accessories. Let's start with the conventional model:
- a leather case available in three colors: black, camel and green
- a translucent shell
- a silicone case available in two colors: black and white
- a Smart View Wallet case comes in four colors: black, ivory, green and lavender
- two accessory cases: sturdy or transparent
Here's what's on offer on the Galaxy S23 Plus:
- a leather case available in three colors: black, camel and green
- a translucent shell
- a silicone case available in seven colors: cream, green, lavender, navy blue, orange, black and white
- a Smart View Wallet case comes in four colors: black, ivory, green and lavender
- two accessory cases: sturdy or transparent
- a screen protector
And lastly, for the Ultra model:
- a leather case available in three colors: black, camel and green
- a translucent shell
- a silicone case available in five colors: cream, green, lavender, navy blue, orange
- a Smart View Wallet case comes in four colors: black, ivory, green and lavender
- two accessory cases: sturdy or transparent
- a screen protector
- an S-Pen stylus comes in five colors: cream, green, lavender, navy blue, Phantom Black
Despite escalating pricing, the Galaxy S23s would have been a huge hit when they were debuted. Samsung allegedly sold 1.09 million cellphones in South Korea within days of the debut, 7% higher than previous year's models. 60% of orders were placed for the most costly model, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The basic Galaxy S23 accounted for 24% of orders, while the Galaxy S23+ garnered the smallest proportion at roughly 15%. The Galaxy S23 Ultra even became the most popular premium Android smartphone in the world in the first quarter of 2023.
WHAT IS THE NEW DESIGN OF THE GALAXY S23?
Like Apple with its iPhones, Samsung is quite conservative in the design of its Galaxy S line devices. The final major alteration was the move made with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which took the place of the Galaxy Note in including a S Pen pen slot and adopting a less curved and more square appearance. The Galaxy S23 Ultra consequently inherits the same design, but this time delivers an even more angular chassis than the S22 Ultra. The curved look of the screen is also less prominent.
This was verified many months before the debut by OnLeaks, who published renderings of all models. In terms of size, the smartphone now measures 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm, for 233 grams.
For the remainder, the design of the Galaxy S23 series is fairly similar to what we already know. There is no selfie camera under the screen as on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, thus we are seeing the return of the punch in the middle. Photo blocks are frequently the things that alter the most between two generations, and this is proven in this generation. The three cameras of the Galaxy S23 and S23+ now emerge immediately from the back shell of the smartphone, and consequently now comprise three unique islands.
The dimensions are also slightly different. The Galaxy S23 measures 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm, compared to 146.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm for the Galaxy S22. Although the thickness remains the same, Samsung is making its smartphone slightly longer and broader. Against all expectations, the boundaries of the screen have therefore risen. For its part, the Galaxy S23+ measures 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm, compared to 157.4 x 75.8 x 7.64 mm for the Galaxy S22+. Like its tiny brother, the smartphone is consequently likewise 0.4 mm longer, but its breadth also increases by 0.4 mm.
The three smartphones are unexpectedly IP68 rated and hence resistant to clean water (and not salt water or treated water) as well as dust.
All Galaxy S23s arrive in four distinct colors: Green, Black, Lavender and Cream. However, the three smartphones are also available in additional unique colors if you buy them straight from the Samsung website. The S23 and S23+ will be offered in Graphite and Lime, and the S23 Ultra in Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime and Red.
Finally, remember that all Galaxy S23s feature Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which offers greater drop resistance, including drops on particularly hard surfaces like concrete, up to 1 m (hip height) or up to 2 m (head height) if the smartphone falls on the asphalt. Be cautious though, this protection might not be very effective. In any event, this is what people say, with videos to verify it, with scratches developing on the screen after only a few hours of use.
As for the Galaxy S23 FE, which debuts in the third quarter of 2023, the design is comparable to the other smartphones in the series, but this model includes a screen of just 6.4 inches. However, it is plarger than the Galaxy S23+. This then results in big black borders all around the screen.
WHICH SCREEN FOR THE GALAXY S23?
Samsung employs the conventional display technology for its S23 series. We therefore discover Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels compatible with HDR10+ and enabling a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz on all models, as has been the case with the Galaxy S21. The screen definition does not change either: 2340 × 1080 pixels (Full HD+) for the Galaxy S23 and S23+, 3088 × 1440 pixels (Quad HD+) for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. When it comes to sizes, it’s also a classic:
- Galaxy S23: 6.1 inches
- Galaxy S23+: 6.6 inches
- Galaxy S23 Ultra: 6.8 inches
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is regrettably once again the only model to boast an LTPO screen, which will allow it to dynamically alter its refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz to adapt to the material presented, and therefore save a little power. In terms of brightness, Samsung still maintains a maximum peak of 1750 nits on all models, far from the 1900 nits of the Xiaomi 13.
In terms of biometric authentication, Samsung still depends on the same ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the screen, but this time, customers will also be able to opt for facial recognition.