Samsung Galaxy S23+ review: the best and the worst

If unboxing is the first approach to a smartphone, theunboxing of the latest top of the Samsung range is certainly not a great calling card. In fact, in the package we find only the USB-C / USB-C cable. As we know, the ecological choice of Samsung (and other companies) has long since eliminated the battery charger from the packaging. If it purchased on Amazon but you will still find it in a bundle.

The design of S23+ is that of its younger brother, i.e. with the same profile as the previous year, but without the raised island to contain the photographic sensors. The three main cameras in fact stand out individually from the glass back Gorilla Glass 2 opaque. However, it is a distinctive and recognizable design choice. Excellent build quality overall thanks to the polished aluminum profile and the general feeling of quality when using it. In addition, once again the smartphone is resistant to water and dust according to the IP68 standard.

The weight is 196 grams, balanced for the type of product.

The technical data sheet does not differ from that of the younger brother. We have the latest processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 octa core 3.36 GHz with 4-nanometer production process with Adreno 740 graphics processor. It is a processor that has demonstrated its potential very well in recent months, guaranteeing an excellent balance between performance and energy consumption. Also in this Galaxy S23+ the situation is not at all different.

Then we have 5G connectivity and the Wi-Fi 6E, even if the Wi-Fi 7 that would be present on the Qualcomm CPU has not been implemented. Not bad, given that it is not yet implemented even in routers on the market. We then still have dual SIM support and that e.g for using a virtual SIM. However, the removable trolley does not leave room for the possibility of expanding the memory via a microSD. The internal memory is therefore limited to the 256 or 512 GB available in the two memory cuts.

However, they are many and are also in the very fast UFS 4.0 technology. There is also ultrawideband connectivity.

Then there is an ultrasonic fingerprint reader inside the display, very fast and very accurate. Very good too porta USB-C 3.2 which allows you not only to charge the phone and to use wired headphones (since a 3.5 mm jack is not present), but also to use it as a video output, both for “projecting” the smartphone screen, and for use its DeX desktop view.

The stereo sound is also very good, guaranteed by the speaker positioned at the bottom and by the ear capsule.

The photographic sector of this Samsung Galaxy S23+ is identical to that of S23. We have one 50 megapixel ƒ/1.8 with optical image stabilization, a 12 megapixel ƒ/2.2 wide angle and a 10 megapixel ƒ/2.4 with a zoom ratio of 3x.

Here too it is an exceptional photographic kit, among the best around, with even a more extreme zoom than many competitors.

What is missing compared to other devices is a wide angle with autofocus to be able to take macro photos and perhaps a higher resolution of the wide angle and zoom camera.

Overall, however, the photos taken by this smartphone are exceptional. Like a true premium smartphone. Excellent during the day, as well as at night, but it is at its best in the semi-darkness. That is, on the test field where the competitors show their side a little. Overall, the color balance, the management of the vividness and thegreat HDR. The 12 megapixel ƒ/2.2 front camera is also excellent, one of the best in the mobile panorama.

Video recording in 4K at 60 is also goodfpsor even in 8k a 30fps. They do not enjoy the stabilization of the superior model, but we are still at levels of a true top-of-the-range smartphone. For more details on the camera, we recommend that you also read the S23 review.

The display of this Samsung Galaxy S23+ is a 6.6-inch diagonal with resolution FullHD+i.e. 1080 x 2340 pixels.

Maximum brightness is 1,750 nits with HDR10+ support. The refresh rate is adaptive between 10 and 120 Hz, albeit not thanks to LTPO technology. However, the screen is still a great panel AMOLED. It is protected, like the back, by a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 but unfortunately not by a pre-applied film. Samsung’s always-on display is fully supported, highly customizable in style and complete in functionality. In addition, it is a completely flat panel, which will make many of our readers happy.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ is launched on the market with Android 13 updated with the March 2023 patches. The interface is obviously customized with the One UI 5.1 that we have learned to appreciate a lot in recent months. Not only is it extremely complete, but it is now also the most customizable thanks to the possibilities offered by the GoodLock software that can be downloaded from the Galaxy Store.

Among the most interesting features we mention the popup notifications, the side edge panel, the apps in the window (or icon).

We cannot then of course fail to mention also Samsung DeX which allows you to have a desktop-like interface both wired and wireless, on supported TVs and monitors. In addition, probably also thanks to the new processor, the lag and slowdowns of the past are precisely … of the past. Samsung is also one of the companies that guarantees the largest number of updates. More precisely 4 years of major updates and 5 years of security patches.

If necessarily the battery of the smallest S23 could be a limit for someone, this will not be true with this S23 Plus variant which with its 4.700 mAh goes to guarantee a battery of 800 mAh larger than the smallest model and 200 mAh larger than the same model last year. But here too it is certainly also thanks to the new processor that we have obtained an optimal mix that will carry you through the evening even with intense use.

Plus, just like the S23 Ultra variant, we also have the fast charging at 45Wwhich are less than those offered by other competitors, but more than the 25W of the S23 model.

Then there is always the 15W wireless charging and the reverse wireless charging to (slowly) charge other smartphones or small accessories, such as true wireless headphones.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ viene launched at €1,229. A price not for all budgets. It then becomes €1,349 for the variant with 512 GB of internal memory. At the moment the price is slightly discounted on Amazon where you can find it (with power supply included) for €1,189. Keep checking the box below for any other price reductions.

The S23+ finds itself in that difficult position whereby it is certainly the most balanced product of the Galaxy S family of 2023, but which is not cheaper enough than the Ultra variant to still make us not look at it with deep interest at the time of evaluation.