Hands-on

Samsung’s Galaxy S23s Feel Comfortably Familiar

With modest upgrades and design changes, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 line is more similar to last year’s phones than different.

by Ian Carlos Campbell
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

Like last year’s iPhone 14, Samsung isn’t making any major changes to what worked about the Galaxy S22.

The Galaxy S23 and S23+

All Galaxy S23 models come in lavender, cream, phantom black, and green.

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

In hand, the biggest change to the Galaxy S23 and S23+ is the camera layout on the back.

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

Both phones benefit from Samsung’s custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip.

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

But their camera improvements don’t include an increase in megapixels, instead, Samsung is promising “Super HDR” (overall higher dynamic range on all photos).

The Galaxy S23 Ultra

Samsung’s most powerful phone remains a specs powerhouse.

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a little bit blockier than last year, and just as solidly constructed.

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

Stylus aside, the draw of the Ultra is a 200-megapixel rear camera and improved OIS.

Ian Carlos Campbell / Inverse

But whether those less visible changes make a difference in day-to-day use will have to wait for Inverse’s review.

All Galaxy S23 devices ship on February 17
Samsung

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