Should You Upgrade to the Galaxy S23? See How It Compares to Your Samsung Phone

Samsung’s Galaxy S23  is barely two months outdated, so you could be questioning whether or not it is time to improve. There is not any straightforward reply, however the age and situation of your present cellphone, alongside together with your price range, are the most important elements to think about. You may additionally wish to take into consideration whether or not your gadget will help new variations of Android sooner or later. 

The Galaxy S23, which begins at $800, has a 6.1-inch display and a 50-megapixel primary digital camera, similar 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 mostly a minor enchancment over the Galaxy S22. The improve is price it if you happen to’re trying to exchange a cellphone you’ve got had for a number of years, ideally one which’s greater than two years outdated.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 way of one other 12 months. 

Shopping for choices will all the time fluctuate relying in your wants and price range. However if you happen to’re a present Samsung consumer contemplating making the leap, this is what to learn about how the Galaxy S23 compares to older gadgets.

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S22

With the Galaxy S23, Samsung addressed my greatest concern in regards to the Galaxy S22: its brief battery life. The brand new cellphone 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 12 months’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 leap in on a regular basis use, since most fashionable 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 larger 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 era, though I did discover that low-light portraits appeared higher.

The cellphone 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 you probably have a Galaxy S22. The modifications aren’t noticeable sufficient to warrant an improve. Battery life is the one significant change you will discover between the 2 telephones, however I would solely suggest upgrading if you may get the S23 totally free by way of a trade-in deal. 

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S21

The variations between the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S21 are extra noticeable, however you may in all probability maintain onto your S21 for one more 12 months 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 evaluate, the Galaxy S22’s cameras supply higher colour, 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, if you happen to’re simply utilizing your cellphone for easy duties like video calls, enjoying video games and checking social media, the older Snapdragon 888 chip might be holding up simply superb. 

The underside line: In case your Galaxy S21 nonetheless feels quick and the battery life is passable, you may wait one other 12 months earlier than upgrading. Samsung helps three generations of Android working system updates for the Galaxy S21, which means it should get new platform-wide software program updates till 2024. 

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S20

Whether or not it is best to improve from the Galaxy S20 is not as simple of a solution. There’s sufficient to achieve that might justify making the leap, however the Galaxy S20 additionally nonetheless has a lot to supply.

By upgrading, you will get a quicker chip, an improved digital camera with considerably higher low-light efficiency and a recent design. For the reason that Galaxy S20 launched in 2020 with Android 10, it’s going to now 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. Meaning you will should 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 identical time, the Galaxy S20 remains to be a really succesful cellphone. Although you will not get the choice to shoot photographs at a 50-megapixel decision like on the Galaxy S23, you will 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 larger 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 vital sufficient to justify the improve, however you additionally need not if you happen to’re joyful together with your Galaxy S20. Hold onto the S20 if you happen to’re pleased with its efficiency, battery life and if you happen to worth retaining that microSD card slot over having a greater digital camera. Simply keep in mind you will not get the following model of Android. 

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S10

Galaxy S10 house owners: it is time to improve. Not solely will the digital camera and processor really feel like an enormous step up, however you will get 5G and the newest model Android. 

For those who bought the Galaxy S10 at launch again in 2019, the processor and battery at the moment are 4 years outdated. Meaning your cellphone could also be beginning to really feel sluggish, and the battery in all probability struggles to get by way of a day. The Galaxy S10’s battery can also 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 features ought to be significant. Your Galaxy S10 additionally does not help 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 now not receives Android model updates. Just like the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S10 was eligible for 3 generations of recent Android releases. That may make final 12 months’s Android 12 replace the final one because the Galaxy S10 launched with Android 9. (You’ll, nonetheless, nonetheless get quarterly safety updates you probably have the common Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10E or S10 5G.)

Whereas software program help and battery life are among the many greatest causes to improve, you will additionally get a significantly better digital camera on the Galaxy S23. Samsung’s digital camera has come a good distance over the past 4 years, now providing the next decision primary sensor (50 megapixels versus 12 megapixels on the Galaxy S10), enhanced efficiency in low gentle and a better digital zoom (as much as 30x on the Galaxy S23 in comparison with 10x on the Galaxy S10). 

One factor to remember, nonetheless, is that you will lose the beloved microSD card slot by upgrading to the Galaxy S23. So remember to decide a storage capability that is smart in your wants since you will not be capable to increase it. 

The underside line: Sure, you probably have a Galaxy S10 it is price upgrading to the Galaxy S23. You may get 5G help, 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

There are numerous causes to improve from the Galaxy S9 — so many, in actual fact, it is exhausting 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 cellphone lacks 5G, and its processor and battery have seemingly began to indicate their age. You may additionally now 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 a further 12-megapixel telephoto digital camera. The Galaxy S23 has the next decision 50-megapixel primary digital camera, together with a 10-megapixel telephoto digital camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens for capturing a wider area 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. 

If in case you have the usual 5.8-inch Galaxy S9, you will 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 is no microSD card slot in Samsung’s new cellphone for including extra storage. 

The underside line: There are a bunch of causes to improve you probably 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 help. 

Total, it is price upgrading you probably have a cellphone that is greater than two years outdated. Galaxy S20 house owners can in all probability get one other 12 months out of their gadget if it is in good situation, however the Galaxy S23 additionally affords sufficient enhancements to justify the improve. If in case you have a Galaxy S10 or earlier, the reply as to whether it is best to improve is a convincing sure.