Full Review of Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus:
The recently released Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus sits right between the regular Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Ultra. With top-notch performance, an excellent camera system, a gorgeous display and great battery life, it strikes a balance between price and features
Pros of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
- Excellent performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip
- Vibrant 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display
- Great triple camera system
- Impressive battery life – can last over 2 days on a charge
- Fast 45W wired charging support
- Premium design and build quality
- Latest Android 13 OS
Cons of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
- No charger included
- Expensive at $999
- Large protruding camera bump
- No microSD card slot
Display and Design
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus features a gorgeous 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display. Its slim bezels and hole-punch front camera cutout provide an immersive viewing experience while watching videos or playing games.
The brightness levels are excellent and the colours are vibrant and accurate. The 120Hz refresh rate results in smooth, fluid scrolling and animations. While the resolution is limited to FHD+ unlike the QHD+ display on the S23 Ultra, it still looks sharp with a density of 393 ppi pixels.
In terms of design, the Galaxy S23 Plus sports an premium aluminum and glass build. The new flat display blends seamlessly into the metal frame for a unified look. The iconic camera module on the back now sits nearly flush with the rear glass.
The phone is also IP68 rated for dust and water resistance. At 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm size and weighing 196 grams, the S23 Plus perfectly balances comfortable ergonomics and a spacious display.
Display and Design – Main Takeaways
Stunning 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED FHD+ display
Premium build quality with glass and metal design
Sleek and seamless design with slim bezels
Good ergonomics despite the large screen size
Dust and water resistant IP68 rated build
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is a speed demon thanks to the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which has been customized for Galaxy devices. Along with up to 12GB of RAM, it blazes through anything you throw at it. The expert optimizations also ensure sustained peak performance.
Gaming on the S23 Plus is spectacular thanks to the powerful Adreno 740 GPU. Even demanding games run smoothly with consistent frame rates. The vapor cooling chamber helps prevent overheating during long gaming sessions.
With up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, you never have to worry about running out of space. The cutting-edge storage technology also enables faster app loading and quick transfers of large files.
For biometrics, the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is accurate and faster than optical in-display scanners. Face unlock via the selfie camera is equally quick and handy.
Speciality of Samsung Galaxy s23 plus:
Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC delivers elite performance
Up to 12GB RAM for effortless multitasking
Vapor cooling system prevents overheating during gaming
Fast UFS 4.0 storage available up to 512GB
Accurate ultrasonic fingerprint scanner
Camera Capability:
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus retains the versatile triple camera setup from last year’s models. However, the sensors and image processing have been improved across the board.
The primary sensor is a large 50MP f/1.8 wide camera with a bright lens and 1.12μm pixels using pixel binning. It captures vibrant and highly detailed photos in daylight. The 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera delivers expansive landscapes shots without distortion around the edges. For portraits, the 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto camera does a great job separating the subject from the background.
Thanks to the new Snapdragon chip, the cameras now provide dramatically improved computational photography and AI enhancements. This leads to better contrast and colours in tricky lighting. The upgraded ISP also brings faster Night Mode and improved HDR.
Video recording is another strong suit of the S23 Plus cameras. You can film crisp clips at up to 4K 60fps across all three cameras. Video stabilization is excellent even at high resolutions.
For selfies, there is a 12MP f/2.2 front camera with autofocus and HDR support. It takes social media ready self portraits easily.
Camera Highlights
Greatly improved image processing and photography
Versatile triple camera setup covering wide to telephoto
Class-leading stabilization for steady 4K 60fps videos
Autofocus selfie camera takes detailed portrait shots
Battery Life and Charging
The Galaxy S23 Plus packs in a large 4,700 mAh battery, which is better than the regular S23. Thanks to efficiencies from the new Snapdragon chip, it delivers fantastic battery life of over 2 days on a single charge. With heavy use, you can still get nearly 6 hours of screen-on time.
For charging, Samsung has included support for 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0. Using the included 45W travel adapter, you can charge from 0 to 65% in just 30 minutes. This allows you to quickly top up during short breaks and keep going.
The Galaxy S23 Plus also supports Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 at up to 15W. You can conveniently charge without dealing with cables by placing it on a compatible wireless charging pad.
Battery and Charging Summary
Huge 4,700 mAh capacity enables 2+ days of runtime
40+ min of charging provides 50% battery
Both fast wired and wireless charging supported
Software and Special Features
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus ships with the latest Android 13 OS and the feature packed One UI 5.1 interface. You can enjoy Android 13 features like improved privacy controls, notification permissions and Material You dynamic theming.
One UI adds a plethora of customization options, including fresh new lock screen widgets and dynamic wallpapers. Other handy features include Edge Panels and Bixby Routines for intelligent automation.
Being a flagship Samsung device, software support is excellent. You can expect 4 major Android OS upgrades and 5 years of monthly security updates
For protecting sensitive data, there is a layer of Knox security. It keeps your private files and data isolated from the rest of the system.
Software Features Summary
Latest Android 13 OS with One UI 5.1
Lots of personalization with widgets and themes
Great long term software support from Samsung
Knox security protects sensitive user data
FAQs about the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Does the Galaxy S23 Plus support 8K video recording?
No, video recording on the S23 Plus is limited to up to 4K 60fps. Only the S23 Ultra model supports 8K video.
Does the S23 Plus get the new 200MP camera from the S23 Ultra?
No, the Galaxy S23 Plus has the same 50MP main camera as the S22 Plus from last year. Only the Ultra model gets the brand new 200MP sensor and periscope zoom camera.
How is the Galaxy S23 Plus different from the regular S23?
The S23 Plus has a bigger 6.6-inch display compared to the 6.1-inch one on the S23. It packs a larger battery enabling 2 day battery life versus 1 day on the S23. The Plus also offers slightly faster 45W charging over 25W. But they share the same core processor, RAM, cameras and software.
Conclusion
If you want a no-compromise premium Samsung phone but find the S23 Ultra too expensive or unwieldy, the Galaxy S23 Plus hits the sweet spot. Compared to the regular S23, you get a way bigger and better display, two day battery life and faster charging – all for $200 more. The S23 Plus delivers stunning visuals, elite performance and excellent cameras in a form factor that’s easier to pocket and operate one-handed compared to the Ultra.
For the discerning power user needing top-notch hardware, versatility and endurance without crossing into overkill territory, the well-balanced S23 Plus is a great choice. It brings flagship-level refinements like a bespoke Snapdragon chip, vapor chamber cooling and software longevity to the table. Unless you explicitly need the S-Pen, periscope camera lens or superior display resolution of the Ultra, the Plus gets you 95% of the way there for $200 less.
