It has been nearly a year since Samsung announced the Galaxy S22 series, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is now just around the corner — with Unpacked set for February 1. We’d recommend waiting for the Galaxy S23 since it’s just a month away, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should buy it. Shortly after launch, you’re going to see significant discounts hit the Galaxy S22, so if money is a factor you might just want to wait until February.
The bigger question now isn’t if you should wait until Samsung launch’s its new flagship. More importantly, is the Galaxy S23 is a big enough upgrade that you’ll willing to pay more for it? That’s what we aim to find out in this quick Samsung Galaxy S23 vs 22 comparison.
Will there be the Samsung Galaxy S23?
Samsung has not revealed the name for its next Galaxy S device. However, we have every reason to believe it will be the Samsung Galaxy S23, based on the company’s history and some fairly reliable early leaks. You can find everything we know about the Galaxy S23 in our Galaxy S23 hub.
Updated January 2023 This article was first published October 30, 2022. We have since expanded it to include more information on the Galaxy S23 series, including an “at a glance” section that makes it easier to see what’s new with the Galaxy S23 series.
Galaxy S23 vs S22: What’s the difference at a glance?
Although the Galaxy S23’s specs and features aren’t officially known, we already have a pretty good idea of the core upgrades between the Galaxy S23 vs S22. These are the rumored upgrades for the S23 series we know of so far:
- Design of Galaxy S23 gets a revamp: The Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Plus may have slightly different designs. They are said to include separate camera housings that can be used with all three lenses, and a slightly more angular design. The Ultra will be the same as last year’s model.
- Qualcomm’s latest, and Exynos gets downplayed: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will be adopted globally by the Galaxy S23 Series. This should mean the end of Exynos as the only option in some markets, though it’s still possible an Exynos variant could exist.
- Galaxy S23 camera upgrade: The Galaxy S23 Ultra is believed to be upgrading to a 200MP shoter from the S22 Ultra’s 108MP camera. However, all lenses are expected to remain the same. The specs of the S23 Ultra and S23 Plus cameras are expected to remain the same.
- Battery life for Galaxy S23 will improve: The Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Plus will reportedly get 200mAh upgrades to bring them up to 3,900mAh & 4,700mAh, respectively. Galaxy S23 Ultra will still have 5,000mAh, just like the S22 Ultra.
- Galaxy S23 might get ‘light mode’: Rumors claim that the Galaxy S23 will be equipped with a battery saving mode called Light Mode. This optimizes thermals and battery life to conserve energy. This feature is already available on devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
- Satellite connectivity Satellite connectivity is big right now. Therefore, it’s not too surprising there’s a rumor that Samsung is working on satellite communication functionality for the Galaxy S23 series that is said to support low-quality images and text.
- Android 13 with One UI 5.1 The Galaxy S23 will be shipped with Android 13 and One 5. This is a minor improvement over the Galaxy S22’s One 5.0 update. Samsung tends to update its phones very quickly so the S22 series will catch-up in this area quickly.
Why the Galaxy S22 is better than the S23
Eric Zeman/Android Authority
The Galaxy S22 series was released almost a year ago but they are still great phones. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has the best camera system and overall camera in any Samsung phone. The Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Plus are not slouches when it comes to camera quality. Both offer the same high-end wide/ultrawide/telephoto system, headlined by a sweet 50MP primary sensor.
Likewise, in Samsung’s biggest markets, all three phones feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which is starting to age slightly compared to the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Nevertheless, this is a powerful chipset, even if it is a bit more power-hungry than we’d like it to be. Samsung’s own Exynos 2200 powers the phones in other markets, which is also quite capable. To aid multitasking, at least 8GB RAM is included. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a maximum of 8GB RAM, but it can go up to 12GB depending on the model.
When will the Galaxy S23 be released?
The official unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series is scheduled for February 1, 2023.
Being that the Galaxy S22 series is still Samsung’s active flagship, they were the first phones to receive the update to One UI 5, based on Android 13. This is just one of four Android upgrades that will be coming to these phones. They will continue to receive new versions until 2026. Even then, they’ll continue to get patches and security updates through 2027, making them good investments for the long haul.
The Galaxy S22 series is still very much capable of keeping up with newer and upcoming flagships even if you won’t see the Galaxy S23 family’s upgrades to the processor, battery life, camera, or new extras like satellite connectivity. Still, if you can live without these upgrades, you’ll end up saving quite a bit when the Samsung Galaxy S23 finally arrives in February. The Galaxy S22 series is priced at $799, but the base model S22 is available for as low $650. There are also deals with carriers that will bring that price down even further. Once the Galaxy S23 hits you’ll see even steeper sales prices, as well as great prices in the pre-owned space with services like Swappa or eBay.
Why you shouldn’t delay and get the Samsung Galaxy S23
The Galaxy S22 series phones are still excellent, but the Galaxy S23 series is set to take the phone to the next level. The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus will see significant design changes. This will be the first time Samsung’s switched up the formula since 2021, the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 series looked very similar (with the exception of the Ultra).
Notably, leaked renders suggest the phones could adopt the look of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, with the rear camera module broken up into three “islands” for each lens. Waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S23 family may be worth it if you want the latest look.
As stated above, all Galaxy S23 smartphones should have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 under their hood. There’s even a rumor that there might be a faster, high-clocked variant coming for the Galaxy S23 series. This processor will almost certainly be faster and more efficient than its predecessor. If speed is important to your business, you might wait to purchase the Galaxy S23. Also, do note that we expect almost all phones in this series — if not every single one — to have the Snapdragon processor. Rumors suggest Samsung will skip its own Exynos processor for next year’s flagship phones. If Exynos is the only option at the moment, this could also play a role in your decision-making.
Will the 2023 Samsung flagships differ from the 2022 models of 2022?
Leaks suggest that the Galaxy S23 Ultra could borrow some design elements from Galaxy S22 Ultra. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will most likely look a lot like Galaxy S22 Ultra.
A significant upgrade that we expect to see in 2023 will be a rise in battery capacities for both the Plus and vanilla models. Rumours suggest that we may see a 200mAh increase for the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Plus. This would translate into 3,900mAh and 4,700mAh batteries, respectively. This could lead to a significantly longer battery life for both phones when combined with the new processor. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will have the same 5,000mAh battery that its predecessor.
According to reports, the Galaxy S23 series camera will replace the 108MP main camera in the S22 Ultra with a 200MP one. It’s worth mentioning the current main camera is technically 108MP but it shoots in 12MP using pixel binning technology for a better image, so we’d imagine something similar with this new camera as well. The Galaxy S23 Ultra may get a 12MP selfie camera. This is a significant upgrade from the 40MP one found in the S22 Ultra. This same selfie camera is expected to be in the Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Plus. Ironically, that’s an upgrade for these two phones as they currently have 10MP selfie cameras.
The Galaxy S23 series will be getting a 200MP main shooter. However, Pixel Binning will likely still be available.
Although we don’t have many other concrete rumors on the rest of the specs, we expect that much of the rest will remain the same. FHD+ 120Hz displays for the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus. A 1440p display with a 120Hz refresh speed on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’s also safe to say that all models will start with at least 8GB of RAM, at least 128GB of internal storage, and wired charging speeds of at least 45W.
If you are worried the Samsung Galaxy S23 series will retail for more than its predecessor did, we have no reason to believe that’s true. Apple is still selling its latest iPhones at the same price as years prior, and Google’s latest Pixel phones are at the same prices as they were in 2021. We believe you can expect the same $799/$999/$1,199 pricing on the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra.
What is the price of the Samsung Galaxy S23?
Samsung hasn’t raised pricing for its phones in a few years now. It’s very likely the company will leave pricing the same next year, but there’s no guarantee.
Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Galaxy S23 – Which one should you buy?
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
If you absolutely need a phone right now and can’t wait until February, buying a Galaxy S22 phone is a no-brainer. Sure it’ll get even cheaper once February arrives, but it’s still going to cost you less than the retail price of the Galaxy S23 series. If you are on a tight budget and don’t mind waiting, I’d hold out until the Galaxy S23 arrives and then pick up the Galaxy S22 series at a potentially even deeper discount than you can get today.
Is it better not to wait for a Galaxy S23, or to buy a Galaxy S22?
1866 votes
Buy a Galaxy S22 phone now.
46%
Wait for the Galaxy S23 Series.
54%
What model should you choose for someone who wants a great phone? It really depends on how much you value these upgrades. These new Galaxy phones will likely be at the same price as the Galaxy S22, with a more powerful design and longer battery life. Those are all very good reasons to stick it out and buy the newest model, but if the upgrades don’t appeal to you the Galaxy S22 will give you a lot of the same functionality, and yet you’ll save some extra cash.
Six months later review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra revisited
What do you think? Answer the poll above to let me know where you stand in this debate!
Samsung Galaxy S22
Compact design
Amazing camera setup
Software support that is unrivaled
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
Excellent display
Powerful camera package
Performance at the highest level
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
High quality build quality
Beautiful screen
Solid performance
Comment
Source link