Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: The boss of Android

In the event you took rock and roll legend Bruce Springsteen and squished him right into a pocket-sized glass rectangle, you’d in all probability get the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely. It’s highly effective, long-lasting, larger-than-life, and liked by some whereas being only a bit an excessive amount of for others — identical to you’d count on from one of many finest Android telephones round. Like a brand new document, Samsung’s flagship has its highs, and, like Springsteen, its lows aren’t that low. The one query is whether or not it is best to embrace the brand new sound or maintain listening to the classics. Discover out in our Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation.

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely (8GB/256GB): $1,199 / £1,249 / €1,399
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely (12GB/512GB): $1,299 / £1,399 / €1,579
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely (12GB/1TB): $1,399 / £1,599 / €1,819

The Galaxy S23 collection arrived because the star of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked occasion in February 2023, together with a wholesome dose of déjà vu. It’s nonetheless the highest canine within the three-phone Galaxy S23 lineup, and it stays true to a well-known footprint whereas making its modifications beneath the hood and demanding the identical premium worth level because the indomitable Galaxy S22 Extremely.

Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Extremely is a chip off the Galaxy Notice block. It carries a vibrant 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel manufactured from Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with waterfall edges which might be just a bit much less dramatic than earlier than. The 120Hz variable refresh charge stretches right down to 1Hz whereas the brightness tops out at 1,750 nits. Additional, the Galaxy S23 Extremely options an Armor Aluminum body with flat edges on the highest and backside, in addition to the facility button and quantity rocker on the precise facet. The S Pen slot and SIM tray sit on the underside, flanking the USB-C port.

Underneath that premium exterior, you’ll discover energy aplenty. The Galaxy S23 Extremely packs a hefty 5,000mAh battery, in addition to 45W wired charging and 15W wi-fi charging. Whereas the battery and charging are the identical because the Galaxy S22 Extremely, the bottom mannequin Galaxy S23 Extremely doubles the storage from 128GB to 256GB, backed by 8GB of RAM.

Though many of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely’s package deal is acquainted, there’s a brand new chipset on the coronary heart of this beast. Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 — right here awkwardly monikered the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy as a consequence of some distinctive tweaks we’ll focus on later — retains the lights on and the pixels pumping. Just like the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, it’s crafted with TSMC’s 4nm structure, which handles thermal efficiency significantly better than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

The primary function punctuating the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s glass slab design is Samsung’s premium digital camera array. It nonetheless contains 4 lenses, three of which haven’t modified, however the main sensor now has sufficient megapixels to fill a military of price range telephones. Samsung’s new 200MP Isocell HP2 is the plain star of the present, surrounded by two 10MP telephoto shooters (one at 3x and one at 10x) and a 12MP ultrawide digital camera. As for the selfie shooter, the 40MP punch gap is a factor of the previous. The Galaxy S23 Extremely, like its siblings, now has a 12MP choice entrance and heart, although as we’ll see, it’s not the apparent downgrade you would possibly assume wanting on the Galaxy S23 Extremely specs sheet.

Samsung was one of many first to begin slimming its field contents, and the Galaxy S23 Extremely reveals no indicators of slowing down. It is available in a lean, imply black field with a SIM ejector instrument, a black USB-C to USB-C cable, and your primary stack of paperwork.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely is, after all, not alone on the excessive finish of the smartphone market. Google’s Pixel 7 Professional is its closest Android rival. It affords a strong replace dedication, a robust trio of rear cameras, and next-level picture processing from the Tensor G2 chipset at a sub-$1,000 worth. Apple isn’t giving Samsung a lot respiratory room, both, with its iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max. Certain, they’ll require you to tread the iOS waters, however the notch is gone, and the 12MP main digital camera has made manner for a robust 48MP model.

Samsung opened its Galaxy S23 collection for pre-orders proper after Galaxy Unpacked ended on February 1, 2023, with a last launch date of February 17. It’s accessible from Samsung straight, all the key US carriers, and different third-party retailers in 4 colours: Phantom Black, Lavender, Cream, and Inexperienced (pictured on this evaluation). In the event you purchase from Samsung, it’s also possible to select from 4 extra unique colours: Pink, Graphite, Lime Inexperienced, and Sky Blue. For what seems to be a restricted time, those that purchase from Samsung straight additionally get a free storage improve in addition to immediate credit score in direction of equipment like chargers or earbuds.

Sticking with the marginally tortured Springsteen analogy for a second (forgive me), the design modifications from the Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely to the Galaxy S23 Extremely are just like the modifications from The Boss’ “Born to Run” (his first profitable studio album) to “Darkness on the Fringe of City” (his second). There’s slightly extra apply and refinement, however the tones are basically the identical.

As quickly as you open the field, you’re greeted by an enormous slab of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in your coloration of alternative with a shiny Armor Aluminum body in an identical hue. Relying on which coloration you go for, you won’t have the ability to inform the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s Phantom end aside from its predecessor till you begin to deal with it. The rear glass continues to be satin textured and pleasingly fingerprint averse, and the brand new Inexperienced model is without doubt one of the higher greens we’ve seen for the reason that Pixel 5 — delicate, however not drab. There aren’t many design selections to notice on the clear, easy again, which is punctuated solely by a Samsung brand and 5 cutouts for the weather of the digital camera array.

From the minute you decide up the Galaxy S23 Extremely, you’ll discover the one key distinction from the Galaxy S22 Extremely — flatter sides. The Armor Aluminum rails have slightly extra substance, whereas the waterfall edges are rather less precarious, making them simpler to carry with out unintentional touches. Regardless of its sideways squish, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely isn’t thicker than its predecessor both, so it gained’t take up additional room in your pocket. All the buttons and ports stay in acquainted locations — energy and quantity on the precise, S Pen slot, USB-C port, and SIM tray on the underside with a down-firing speaker. One observe on the beloved stylus; essentially the most vital change this yr is that every one 4 base colours include a black S Pen, accented solely by its color-matched tip. In the event you go for considered one of Samsung’s unique colours, you’ll get slightly extra coloration in your life.

Possibly it’s the smooth texture of the end or the slight digital camera bumps, however I by no means nervous in regards to the Galaxy S23 Extremely stepping into any hazard when positioned on a floor. It bucks a development of flagships that really feel like slippery eels trapped in oil factories. It’s exhausting to overstate simply how large of a distinction the flatter sides make. Sure, they make the telephone really feel thicker regardless that it isn’t, nevertheless it’s simpler to wield with one hand, particularly when utilizing the S Pen with the opposite. Mix that with the IP68 score and the improved glass and also you’ve received what seems and appears like a really sturdy flagship.

Samsung is again to take its place because the smartphone battery king. The massive cell lasts for hours and hours, even with the telephone set to its finest decision, refresh charge, and chugging information. After solely per week, the beast continues to be adjusting to my every day use patterns (a course of that may take a couple of weeks), however I’m nearly touching two days of use with between six and eight hours of screen-on time earlier than I must discover a charger.

My utilization was fairly blended throughout testing, with some gaming, video streaming, hours of Spotify listening by way of Bluetooth and the built-in audio system, and a dose of social media scrolling in my downtime. It took every little thing in stride, not warming up aside from longer gaming periods in titles like Asphalt 9. Contemplating my already good outcomes, I’m hopeful that the Galaxy S23 Extremely will proceed to enhance because the battery learns my routine. In spite of everything, I don’t normally spend my days attempting to kill a battery as shortly as potential. The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s passive drain is noticeable with the always-on show energetic, round 7% in a single day, however you’ll be able to reduce that in half for those who flip the function off.

Whereas the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely can push its hefty battery for a very long time, it’ll run out ultimately. When it does, you’ve got a well-known set of charging requirements to show to. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Extremely helps 45W wired charging utilizing a suitable USB Energy Supply PPS charger, which you’ll nonetheless have to purchase individually — take a look at our Galaxy S23 charger suggestions for those who want one.

Regardless of the similar wattage, the Galaxy S23 Extremely charging velocity is definitely quicker than the Galaxy S22 Extremely in apply. Our intensive testing has proven that the Galaxy S23 Extremely can maintain its prime 45W speeds for longer — round 10 minutes as an alternative of nearer to 2. In the long run, it takes just below 60 minutes of charging for a full cell — a distinction of only a few minutes in comparison with the S22 Extremely, however that’s time you’ll be able to spend having fun with your premium system fairly than charging it.

In the event you’re not in as a lot of a rush, it’s also possible to faucet into 15W wi-fi charging. It’s going to take longer — near 90 or 100 minutes — nevertheless it may be the simpler choice for those who favor to cost your telephone whilst you work all through the day. You’ll want considered one of Samsung’s cooled wi-fi chargers to achieve the height charging energy, an adjunct that may set you again round $60, however fortunately Samsung has additionally included primary 10W Qi wi-fi charging assist too. Additionally again is Samsung’s Wi-fi PowerShare, which lets you reverse-charge different gadgets, be it a pair of Galaxy Buds, a Galaxy Watch, and even one other telephone utilizing the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s hefty battery.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely efficiency: Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy ship?

The Galaxy S22 Extremely was already an influence consumer’s finest buddy however the Galaxy S23 Extremely seems to take that relationship to the subsequent degree. Gone are most of the thermal considerations (thanks, TSMC manufacturing) related to the toasty Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and what stays is a fragile steadiness between energy and effectivity — one that may be loved the world over, as there’s no Galaxy S23 Extremely Exynos mannequin in sight.

It must be famous that not the entire enhancements come from merely ditching the flawed Samsung manufacturing of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, although. The place the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 supplied three similar efficiency cores, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ups the quantity to 4 and splits its cores throughout the Cortex A710 and A715. This each boosts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s multi-core efficiency and ensures that it helps older 32-bit apps. We go a lot deeper into the modifications on Qualcomm’s newest chipset in our Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 deep dive, so I’d suggest giving {that a} learn if you would like the total nerdy particulars.

Samsung’s implementation of the chip differs from different Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 telephones, nonetheless. The “Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy” cranks the CPU and GPU clock speeds past these of the bottom mannequin. It now tops out at 3.36GHz as an alternative of three.2GHz on the CPU and 719MHz as an alternative of 680MHz on the GPU. This technique resembles Qualcomm’s mid-cycle “Plus” flagship chips, although it stays to be seen if we’ll get a non-Samsung-exclusive Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2 processor later in 2023.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s benchmarking scores again up the concept this telephone means enterprise. It posted a 29% improve in single-core Geekbench efficiency over the Galaxy S22 Extremely and a virtually 50% improve within the multi-core rating. The CPU distinction is outstanding for a single era of enchancment and reveals simply how large a distinction the construction of a chipset could make. The 3D Mark Wild Life take a look at yielded comparable outcomes, maxing out the bottom run and providing a peak rating of 13,824 on the stress take a look at. For reference, the Galaxy S22 Extremely posted a prime rating of 9,926 on a single run — a 39% bounce in peak GPU efficiency. The Galaxy S23 Extremely did tail off in direction of the top of its take a look at, settling at just below 9,000, nevertheless it’s considerably greater than the Galaxy S22 Extremely’s last outcomes under 5,000.

Finally, the stress checks appear as if Samsung has gone for a steadiness of energy and warmth on the Galaxy S23 Extremely. The decreased efficiency beneath load would possibly result in higher battery life, even when it doesn’t add as much as Samsung’s powerhouse billing. Given the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy advertising push, you’d be forgiven for anticipating premium, sustained energy, as an alternative of the steep drops seen within the GPU stress checks. Sure, it’s extra secure in the long term than the erratic OnePlus 11 and has a better peak than the REDMAGIC 8 Professional, nevertheless it’s a far cry from the latter’s spot-on consistency.

It doesn’t matter what the benchmarks say, it’s all right down to how the Galaxy S23 Extremely handles on a regular basis life. It does greater than deal with; it excels. I by no means seen lag, stuttering, or ready on apps to get fired up. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy took all of my gaming, emailing, and streaming in stride and got here again for extra, and I not often seen any warmth buildup except I used to be locked right into a sport for an prolonged interval. Whereas some flagship gadgets can’t sustain with their 120Hz refresh charges, the Galaxy S23 Extremely made essentially the most of it. I used to be capable of fling via the YouTube homepage and lengthy Spotify playlists with none sense of lag or delay.

Like its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely kicks off with 8GB of RAM within the base mannequin — not our favourite resolution. At this worth level, most Android rivals supply 12GB or extra, which is best capable of deal with the calls for of heavy apps. For instance, one thing as important to Android as Chrome can chew 2GB by itself, limiting your flexibility on an 8GB system. We will’t touch upon how the 8GB Galaxy S23 Extremely performs in day-to-day duties as we have been despatched a 12GB model for evaluation, nevertheless it’s one thing to bear in mind.

Fortunately, we don’t have to fret in regards to the 128GB of base storage anymore, because the “entry-level” model now packs 256GB as customary. In the event you improve your mounted storage to both 512GB or 1TB, you’ll get a complement of 12GB of RAM to go along with it, which is way more applicable for an Android flagship at this worth.

Samsung typically units the bar for the finest digital camera telephones, combining premium {hardware}, in-depth controls, and simply sufficient processing for pleasing pictures in all situations. The Galaxy S23 Extremely isn’t any exception. It doesn’t reinvent its quad-camera setup, nevertheless it brings a brand new coat of paint within the type of a 200MP main sensor. Samsung’s in-house Isocell HP2 measures 1/1.3 inches and affords an especially huge f/1.7 aperture. As you might need guessed from such a excessive megapixel depend, pixel binning is the secret right here, however you’ll be able to seize a full 200MP for those who want one. The Galaxy S23 Extremely bins by an element of 16 by default, leading to 12.5MP pictures, however you’ll be able to flip to quad-binning for 50MP outcomes as wanted.

In any other case, this beast is a story of the acquainted. It nonetheless carries a pair of 10MP telephoto lenses — one set at 3x optical zoom and the opposite at 10x optical zoom — and a 12MP ultrawide choice. All three match the digital camera specs of the Galaxy S22 Extremely, enabling as much as 100x House Zoom for long-distance pictures or a 120-degree subject of view to your ultrawide snaps.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset additionally performs a job within the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s highly effective package deal. One of many chipset’s key modifications is a brand new AI-powered Cognitive ISP, which permits for real-time semantic segmentation. This acknowledges parts of your picture in real-time and fine-tunes particulars earlier than you press the shutter button. It picks up on every little thing from eye and hair coloration to recognizing a cat or canine in considered one of your pictures to hurry up post-processing.

In fact, Samsung’s premium digital camera muscle doesn’t simply come from its {hardware}. The native digital camera app provides you all of the management and taking pictures modes you would ask for. Not like the Google Pixel line, which largely asks you to press the shutter and let the telephone do the remainder, the Galaxy S23 Extremely provides you the liberty to tweak ISO, aperture, and way more proper out of the field. Certain, many individuals will in all probability follow the automated settings, nevertheless it’s good to have ultra-level controls on such a premium system. If you need much more management and editability, there’s additionally Professional RAW. It faucets into the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s full 200MP sensor with most of the pro-level controls talked about above whereas letting you export within the RAW format (additionally accessible by way of the common “Professional” mode to be used with superior picture enhancing apps.

As the brand new child in an in any other case acquainted crowd, I spent most of my time placing the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s 200MP main digital camera via its paces. There aren’t too many sunny days in Pennsylvania this time of yr, however that didn’t cease the Galaxy S23 Extremely from delivering glorious outcomes time and again. The pixel-binned pictures preserved element exceptionally nicely, and Samsung’s coloration profile is usually correct, even when it nonetheless likes to spice up reds and greens.

For instance, the caboose to the underside proper is pink, no denying it, nevertheless it wasn’t fairly so vibrant on the cloudy day that I took the image. The brick wall subsequent to the mural can also be a bit punchier than actuality, although that picture is an efficient instance of the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s finer particulars. You’ll be able to crop in on dimples within the concrete or components of the shrub with out the main points going to mush in a rush. Samsung’s pure falloff is sweet, too, as is seen behind the lightbulb within the backside heart.

Though Samsung has largely realized to manage its colours on the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s main digital camera, the ultrawide digital camera tells a special story. The element is sweet, and the distortion is minimal at 0.6x zoom, however the reds and greens are kicked up one other notch. The identical caboose and pink brick wall are much more saturated, whereas the shrub in entrance of the mural is a a lot darker inexperienced. Regardless of the broader subject of view, small particulars like tree branches stay distinct on the backside proper, and the graffiti on the band shell is simple to make out.

As for zoom, the Galaxy S23 Extremely is nearly as good as marketed. It affords default choices of 1x, 3x, and 10x zoom and performs flawlessly in any respect three. None of this could come as a shock, on condition that the telephoto lenses are unchanged from the Galaxy S22 Extremely, although there’s a slight shift within the coloration profile as you zoom past the default lengths. Each the 30x and 100x samples under are darker and barely bluer however nonetheless decently usable. You may make out tiny flecks within the stone across the letter L, and the phrases Franklin & Marshall have seen brush strokes from being repainted.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s picture stabilization is great, too. It’s not straightforward to manage a digital camera zoomed in at 100x, however the stabilization makes up for shaky arms in chilly February climate. Critically, this degree of element on a photograph taken with a smartphone zoomed in that far? Powerful to discover a higher guess.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s AI-powered semantic segmentation additionally shines brightly in portrait mode. It simply recognized shapes just like the clock tower and the tree topper, nailing each edge and making use of simply sufficient bokeh for a lovely end result. Certain, figuring out Benjamin Franklin and his human type is slightly simpler, however the Galaxy S23 Extremely didn’t stutter towards the underside of the body the place his shoulders finish, both. The Galaxy S23 Extremely defaults to a 3x zoom portrait, however you’ll be able to come out to 1x if wanted.

We have been significantly curious to see how the Galaxy S23 Extremely would deal with low mild and evening pictures with its monstrous megapixel depend. The reply is: with ease. You’ll be able to both toggle to Night time Mode or let it kick in routinely. The colours and particulars are nearer to actuality on the brick constructing and the pub under, although you continue to run into the occasional challenge with smudgy particulars. For instance, the person strolling his canine wasn’t precisely prepared to face nonetheless via the Night time Mode timer, and neither have been the bushes above the church within the backside row.

I additionally seen that whereas the Galaxy S23 Extremely balances the highlights and publicity with the lightbulbs within the picture to the precise, it didn’t reduce down on the purple glow round them. Night time Mode additionally solely applies to the ultrawide digital camera and the first sensor, so that you might need to do some zooming together with your ft if you would like a better shot within the twilight hours.

It’s additionally secure to say that the outgoing 40MP selfie digital camera gained’t be missed an excessive amount of. Samsung’s new 12MP choice is simply nearly as good, if not higher as a result of it has bigger pixels that don’t need to be binned down. The colours and particulars on my face are spot on, and the sting detection is usually correct on the portrait pattern. It did miss a couple of hairs (one thing I’m used to) however the remainder of my clothes is neatly lined. I often seen that the selfie digital camera typically missed processing subsequent to my shoulder, nevertheless it wasn’t straightforward to repeat the outcomes.

And at last, video. To associate with its huge megapixels, the Galaxy S23 Extremely comes able to document with some high-res choices. It tops out with 8K video at 30fps from the rear digital camera or 4K at as much as 60fps. In the event you want a excessive framerate, you’ll be able to faucet into 1080p at as much as 240fps. The selfie digital camera hits a really respectable 4K at 60fps, too. Total, the video outcomes are nice, and the default stabilization is sufficient for many use instances. Simply remember that for those who plan to document at greater resolutions, it’s possible you’ll need to issue a storage improve into your buy as 8K video will shortly eat up all of your area.

If you wish to take a look at full-size variations of those pictures (and a bunch extra), you are able to do so at this Google Drive hyperlink.

• Show: Capping off the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s huge footprint is Samsung’s 6.8-inch Quad HD+ (3,088 x 1,440) AMOLED panel, which hasn’t misplaced an oz. of high quality. The panel tops out at 1,750 nits of peak brightness, and the colour recreation is great throughout the total spectrum. Its 120Hz variable refresh charge plunges as little as 1Hz when wanted, and it’s easy via on a regular basis duties. If you need display screen actual property, you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a telephone with extra of it, or with as a lot polish.
• Software program: The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely arrived with Android 13 proper out of the field, working the One UI 5.1 pores and skin on prime. At first look, One UI 5.1 doesn’t ship too many modifications, however it’s important to look deeper into sure apps to search out the updates. The digital camera app, for instance, now options an choice for Professional RAW within the Superior menu which then jumps to the devoted app. It’s also possible to set totally different wallpapers to your house and lock display screen relying in your present exercise (work, sport, and many others.). Samsung can also be attempting to make the setup course of extra accessible with a easy QR code on setup that logs into your Wi-Fi networks, Samsung account, and Google account proper off the bat. Some new widgets embody an up to date battery widget for all your gadgets and an intuitive climate widget that tweaks its illustration type and provides a abstract of the present situations. There’s additionally at all times Good Lock if you wish to additional customise your Galaxy expertise.
• Ecosystem: Apple’s reign because the ecosystem king isn’t as assured because it as soon as was. The Samsung Galaxy is, nicely, galaxy-sized, spanning smartphones, tablets, wearables, earbuds, and Home windows laptops. Oh, and Chromebooks. And so they all hyperlink to one another via a collection of apps for playback, file sharing, and an entire lot extra. The Galaxy S23 Extremely didn’t launch alongside a brand new watch or pair of Galaxy Buds, nevertheless it did arrive with the Galaxy Ebook 3 collection, together with the large and highly effective Galaxy Ebook 3 Extremely. Smartphones are more and more changing into an vital central piece to a bigger tech puzzle for many patrons, and Samsung’s flagship slots in very properly certainly.
• Biometrics: When Samsung finds a function it likes, we are inclined to see it for some time. The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader is a traditional instance. It’s nonetheless quick and correct, and the fingerprint setup course of feels faster and simpler on One UI 5.1. Outdoors of the dependable fingerprint reader, the Galaxy S23 Extremely additionally helps face recognition. It’s not as safe as Apple’s Face ID as Samsung’s answer doesn’t depend on any additional biometric {hardware}, nevertheless it works nicely sufficient for unlocking your telephone in case you have soiled arms.
• S Pen: Samsung’s Notice-like design wouldn’t be full with out its signature S Pen. The built-in stylus is true again in its acquainted house on the underside edge, full with a well-known set of options. It helps a set of air actions for media, which embody single and double presses to play or skip songs. In any other case, you continue to get choices like creating a brand new observe, writing on a screenshot, and making an AR Doodle, which is form of like a 3D observe that lives inside your digital camera.
• 5G: The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely helps each mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G within the US, and I had no issues staying linked. We have been supplied a T-Cellular SIM throughout our testing, and I spent nearly all my time linked to the quicker 5G UC community.
• Audio: The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s audio system are nothing wanting outstanding. That is simply one of many loudest telephones I’ve ever used, attaining glorious quantity from the earpiece and down-firing unit with no distortion, even on the highest setting. Increased pitches, just like the human voice and piano notes, nonetheless come via cleaner than bass, which is typical for a smartphone. There nonetheless isn’t — and doubtless gained’t ever be — a headphone jack, so it’s important to depend on Samsung’s strong Bluetooth connectivity, which incorporates Bluetooth LE assist with suitable gadgets.
• Connectivity: The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely packs a veritable who’s who of connectivity choices. It helps Wi-Fi 6E (not fairly Wi-Fi 7, however a lot future-proofed), Bluetooth 5.3, an NFC chip for wi-fi funds, and an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip which can be utilized with Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTags Plus Bluetooth trackers.
• Updates: Samsung’s Android replace coverage stays among the best and brightest within the Android scene. It’s powerful to scratch 4 years of Android model updates and 5 years of safety patches, particularly when the Galaxy S23 Extremely arrived with Android 13 and the newest One UI 5.1 pores and skin proper out of the field. Different manufacturers have begun to enhance their commitments to match Samsung, however the Galaxy S23 Extremely continues to set the usual with its robust repute for timeliness of updates.

	Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely
Show	6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED Edge show (curved) QHD+ decision (3,088 x 1,440) 19.3:9 facet ratio 120Hz adaptive refresh charge (1Hz to 120Hz)
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM	8GB or 12GB
Storage	256GB, 512GB, or 1TB No microSD card assist
Energy	5,000mAh battery 45W wired charging 15W wi-fi charging No charger in field
Cameras	Rear: – 200MP huge most important sensor (f/1.7, OIS) – 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2) – 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4, OIS) – 10MP 10x telephoto (f/4.9, OIS) Entrance: – 12MP huge (f/2.2)
Software program	Android 13 One UI 5.1 4 Android updates 5 years of safety updates
S Pen assist	Sure, embedded with storage slot
IP score	IP68 licensed
Dimensions	163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm
Weight	233g
Supplies	Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back and front Armor Aluminum body
Colours	Phantom Black, Inexperienced, Cream, Lavender Pink, Sky Blue, Graphite, Lime Inexperienced (Samsung Exclusives)

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely is a telephone that is aware of the place it sits in a crowded market. It’s going to give you a ton of energy in a premium package deal, however it’ll demand a premium worth to go along with it. Whereas the worth hasn’t elevated generation-on-generation within the US, you’ll blow previous the $1,000 mark to place it in your pocket. That worth equation will get slightly trickier in key markets like Europe the place the Galaxy S23 Extremely has been hit with a reasonably sharp worth hike in comparison with the Galaxy S22 Extremely.

Other than the questionable 8GB of RAM on the bottom mannequin, you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a obtrusive omission or perhaps a slight blemish on the spec sheet, so that you’re definitely getting what you pay for. Nonetheless, the remainder of the pack — each Android and iOS — is catching up with sufficient highly effective rivals that you simply would possibly discover some place else to spend your cash.

) is the lovable center little one that simply retains getting higher in small methods. Just like the Galaxy S23 Extremely, the design hasn’t modified a ton, although the Contour Reduce digital camera bump is a factor of the previous. It doesn’t supply the identical elite-tier digital camera suite, nevertheless it matches its high-end associate with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, 45W wired charging, and loads of storage and not using a measly 128GB base mannequin. Some folks may additionally favor the flat show and sides, which really feel nice — and a bit extra manageable — in hand.

That stated, for those who’re nervous in regards to the Galaxy S23 Extremely and even the Plus’ dimension, the vanilla Galaxy S23 ($799.99 at Samsung) may be for you. It makes some sacrifices — 25W wired charging and 128GB of storage on the bottom mannequin — however the 6.1-inch AMOLED show is completely pocketable and cozy to carry. Lots of the software program tweaks and wrinkles are the identical, too, so it’s a simple telephone to suggest if you would like the premium Samsung expertise in a a lot, way more moveable package deal.

In the event you’re not as nervous in regards to the price ticket, Samsung’s foldables would possibly do the trick, too. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 ($999.99 at Samsung) is essentially the most refined clamshell round, and it lastly improves on a few of our traditional complaints. The battery is greater than its predecessor, charging is quicker, and the cameras pack slightly extra punch. In fact, it takes a totally totally different method to on a regular basis life than the Galaxy S23 Extremely. The place the Galaxy S23 Extremely embraces a robust, do-it-all mentality, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a method piece that balances nostalgia and what the way forward for smartphones has in retailer.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 ($1799.99 at Samsung) sits because the ultra-tier foldable, full with an enormous previous price ticket that dwarfs even the Galaxy S23 Extremely. It brings a uniquely-tailored model of Android with a toolbar and different tweaks and affords S Pen assist for stylus-inclined customers. Samsung additionally boosted the digital camera setup, bringing it nearer to the trio discovered on the usual Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23 Plus, although nonetheless behind the Galaxy S23 Extremely for the all-important most important digital camera. You gained’t discover a higher multi-app expertise, with the choice to open as many as three directly on the interior show. That 7.6-inch panel rivals a small pill with its expanse, whereas the 6.2-inch exterior show is greater than spacious sufficient for on a regular basis duties.

When you attain outdoors of the Galaxy lineup, your choices open up even additional. Maybe the most effective instance is Google’s Pixel 7 Professional ($899 at Amazon), with its mild, quick Android pores and skin, unbelievable picture processing, and unbeatable price ticket. The design refined fairly than reinvented the Pixel 6 Professional, nonetheless, the Pixel 7 Professional now carries the in-house Tensor G2 beneath the hood, taking its machine studying and AI capabilities only a bit additional whereas enhancing the thermal efficiency of the primary Tensor chip. Google’s Pixel 7 Professional is shut in dimension to the Galaxy S23 Extremely, but the consumer expertise is so completely totally different. The place the Pixel 7 Professional leans on Google to do a lot of the considering for you, the Galaxy S23 Extremely prefers to place you in full management.

In the event you’re prepared to enterprise past the consolation and customization of Android, Apple’s iPhone 14 Professional ($999.99 at Greatest Purchase) and Professional Max ($1099 at Greatest Purchase) are nearly as good as they’ve ever been. They arrive closest to the Galaxy S23 Extremely by way of worth and make simply sufficient modifications to spark curiosity. The long-maligned notch is gone in favor of a Dynamic Island, and the tried-and-true 12MP main digital camera has been swapped for a 48MP choice — Samsung isn’t alone in pushing the megapixels this era. You’ll additionally solely discover the up to date A16 Bionic chipset on the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max, including slightly bit extra purpose to splash the money. The iPhone 14 Professional or Professional Max may additionally be your flagship of alternative as an aspiring filmmaker — Apple’s video options and exporting choices are among the finest round.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely is Samsung’s “Born within the USA” — a standout providing in a line of standout choices, and one that folks will acknowledge from the opening observe. It doesn’t draw back from something, preferring to compete with the most effective available on the market by outmuscling them fairly than discovering cautious steadiness. Samsung’s quartet of rear cameras continues to be a pressure to be reckoned with, whether or not you ever take a 200MP snap or not. Consider a premium — if acquainted — design, glorious efficiency, and battery life for days, and it’s straightforward to see why the Galaxy S23 Extremely deserves its place on the prime.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely doesn’t simply need a spot on the prime proper now; it expects to remain there. Samsung’s glorious replace dedication and connectivity requirements will maintain its flagship feeling contemporary for years to come back, and the high-end supplies will put up with greater than their share of damage and tear. It may be greater than most customers want by way of dimension, energy, and value, however you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a obtrusive weak point.

If an excessive amount of of a great factor might be thought-about an issue, it’s a great drawback to have. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely doesn’t reinvent itself, nevertheless it doesn’t need to. Its mixture of dimension, energy, and suppleness continues to set the Android gold customary for a do-it-all flagship, irrespective of the worth.