Of the three telephones Samsung unveiled at its annual Galaxy Unpacked occasion, it’s fairly apparent that the S23 Extremely was the star of the present. The agency devoted most of its launch occasion to speaking about its newest flagship handset – a lot of it, in reality, that I used to be starting to suppose the S23 and the S23 Plus didn’t exist.
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Now I’ve had an opportunity to correctly take a look at the S23 Extremely during the last couple of weeks, I can kind of see why. Reviving legacy Galaxy Word-like options alongside a recent checklist of unique goodies, the S23 Extremely is a completely totally different proposition to its siblings. When you’ve got sufficient cash to splurge on a elaborate new cellphone in 2023, then the S23 Extremely might be the one to aspire to.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: What you want to know
Samsung merged its Word and S-series lineup final yr and, as 2023 begins, it’s clear the transfer has paid off. In spite of everything, Samsung would have seemingly made the stylus extinct if final yr’s S22 Extremely hadn’t met gross sales expectations.
So, sure, the S Pen has returned for a second yr, including its regular mix of note-taking and doodling particular sauce to what’s the agency’s most succesful handset but.
Maybe extra importantly, nonetheless, Samsung has additionally listened to suggestions from latest years and switched to Qualcomm chipsets throughout all areas. A tailored Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset powers this yr’s cellphone, promising barely boosted clock speeds in contrast with the bottom model (3.6GHz vs 3.3GHz), plus substantial efficiency and stamina upgrades on final yr’s in-house Exynos 2200 chip.
Elsewhere, the massive 6.8in Dynamic AMOLED 2X show returns, with a QHD+ (1,440 x 3,088) decision and a 120Hz refresh charge. Your storage selections embody 256GB, 512GB or 1TB choices – though you solely get 8GB of RAM with the 256GB model. In any other case, the pricier 512GB and 1TB fashions get 12GB of RAM.
Digicam-wise, the S23 Extremely incorporates an enormous 200MP important digital camera, which is a primary for Samsung, along with a pair of 10MP optical zoom lenses (10x and 3x) in addition to a 12MP 120-degree ultrawide and a 12MP (f/2.2) selfie shooter.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: Worth and competitors
We positively want to speak about costs earlier than we proceed. The S23 Extremely begins at £1,249 for the bottom 256GB model, rising to £1,399 and £1,599 for the 512GB and 1TB fashions. For those who recall, final yr’s S22 Extremely began at £1,149, which suggests we have now a considerable improve of £100 this yr.
That’s one of many greatest generational value jumps we’ve seen from Samsung in latest instances however the disappointing information doesn’t cease there. This value improve is unfold throughout all the S23 vary, with the base-level Galaxy S23 beginning at £849 (up from £769) and the S23 Plus now costing £1,049 – one other £100 value rise.
That’s not excellent however Samsung isn’t the one cellphone maker asking for extra. No surprises right here, however Apple’s iPhone 14 (£849), iPhone 14 Professional (£1,099) and iPhone 14 Professional Max (£1,199) have additionally elevated in value. Not less than the S23 Extremely is cheaper than Apple’s equal, although not by a lot.
The earlier Galaxy S22 Extremely nonetheless exists, in fact and it presently prices round £880. Likewise, Samsung’s least expensive folding handset, the Z Flip 4, is priced at £899 – that’s a distinction of £350.
There’s loads of alternative for Android exterior of Samsung’s handsets, too. The Sony Xperia 1 IV intently matches the S23 Extremely when it comes to value, at £1,200, however the least expensive of all of its rivals is the Google Pixel 7 Professional, which begins at simply £849.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: Design, key options and S Pen
Regardless of a set of 4 new color choices – Phantom Black, Cream, Inexperienced and Lavender – there’s no hiding the truth that the S23 Extremely appears to be like just like final yr’s mannequin. Samsung says the curvature on the left and proper edges of the display is a little more dramatic, however this isn’t one thing that was instantly apparent to me after I first picked it up.
It’s nonetheless a mighty brute of a cellphone – it weighs barely greater than the S22 at 234g – and its dimensions are fairly chunky, too, at 78 x 8.9 x 163mm (WDH). That’s bigger than the iPhone 14 Professional Max, so the S23 Extremely is clearly higher suited to the most important of arms, in addition to the deepest of pockets.
The S23 Extremely’s reflective aluminium sides are a pleasant contact, and I notably just like the frosted glass rear. The gathering of rear-facing cameras are all positioned evenly aside within the prime left-hand nook of the handset, with the selfie digital camera located inside a small round hole-punch notch on the prime center of the show.
The ability button, which frustratingly nonetheless prompts Samsung’s Bixby assistant when pressed, sits subsequent to the amount rocker on the best edge. In the meantime, the USB-C port, which helps 45W charging, is sensibly positioned on the underside of the cellphone, between the speaker grille, twin nano-SIM slot and S Pen housing.
On that entrance, for those who have been anticipating to see any dramatic modifications for the S Pen in 2023, then put together to be disenchanted. The core capabilities stay precisely the identical and the {hardware} hasn’t seen any type of improve, both.
Push the bottom of the S Pen inwards and it pops out from the underside of the cellphone, permitting you to slip it out whereas concurrently opening a menu of stylus-supported purposes on the display. From right here, you should use the S Pen to jot down notes, doodle and even use it as a distant digital camera shutter; simply press the button on the facet whereas the digital camera app is open.
As you would possibly count on, the S Pen feels simply nearly as good to make use of because it did on the S22 Extremely. Scribbling is good and responsive and, whereas there’s not even the faintest whiff of pen-on-paper-like resistance, it’s intuitive to make use of and registered my illegibly written assembly notes with none issues.
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The place the S23 Extremely does differ from its predecessor, nonetheless, is in its use of recycled supplies. The S23 Extremely incorporates 12 inner and exterior parts (up from six within the S22), that are made up of discarded fishing nets, plastic from water barrels, aluminium and glass.
The S23 Extremely’s field and packaging can also be made from 100% recycled paper, and the brand new Gorilla Glass Victus 2 display safety incorporates a median of twenty-two% “pre-consumer” recycled materials as nicely.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: Show
On that be aware, the S23 Extremely’s AMOLED show measures 6.8in throughout the diagonal, which is identical as final yr, and boasts a 1440p decision with a 120Hz refresh charge. Outdoors its new “Superior Imaginative and prescient Booster” function – which adjusts onscreen color tone and distinction at excessive ambient brightness ranges – there’s not a lot new to report right here, both.
In truth, I’d go as far to say that that is precisely the identical show because the S22 Extremely. There are two display modes on provide, with the Vivid setting producing some severely punchy colors. I most well-liked the Pure color mode, nonetheless, which is less complicated on the eyes and in testing lined 92.5% of the sRGB gamut, with a complete quantity of 94.8% and a median Delta E color accuracy rating of 1.23.
The distinction ratio and black stage are basically excellent, and I recorded a peak display brightness of 1,730cd/m² whereas displaying HDR content material. It’s value noting that it’s solely potential to realize this determine with the auto brightness toggle engaged within the cellphone’s settings menu. In any other case, the utmost brightness reached 1,010cd/m².
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: Efficiency and battery life
The S23 Extremely comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside, which is Qualcomm’s most up-to-date flagship processor. Surprisingly, this specific CPU comes with a “for Galaxy” designation which, in response to Qualcomm, implies that the utmost clock pace has been boosted to three.6GHz, in contrast with 3.3GHz on the usual chipset.
The Galaxy S23 Extremely is a completely totally different beast to its predecessor. Efficiency figures are night time and day totally different within the Geekbench 5 take a look at, with an enormous 35% leap in multicore processing, closing the hole on Apple’s A16 Bionic chip.
Gaming efficiency is equally spectacular. In truth, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 truly beat the iPhone 14 Professional Max in our testing, scoring an ideal 120fps within the onscreen portion of the Manhattan 3 take a look at and reaching a whopping 281fps within the offscreen benchmark.
As ever, you get three storage choices to select from: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB, with the latter being unique to Samsung’s web site. You get 8GB of RAM within the 256GB mannequin, with 12GB contained in the 256GB and 1TB variations.
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The 5,000mAh battery contained in the S23 Extremely may be the identical dimension as earlier than however battery life has significantly improved, thanks once more to the swap to Snapdragon. Certainly, the S23 Extremely lasted an astonishing 28hrs 41mins in our video playback take a look at on the default FHD+ show decision – that’s 9 hours longer than the S22 Extremely and an entire lot higher than its important rivals as nicely.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: Software program
The S23 Extremely launches with Android 13 pre-installed, albeit with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 tweaks. A complete of 5 years’ value of safety updates is promised, with 4 years of One UI and Android OS upgrades.
There are a handful of latest software program options with the One UI 5.1 replace, together with co-edit performance within the Samsung Notes app once you’re on a name, in addition to a recent change to Samsung Knox. This safety function now offers you full visibility over which apps have entry to your knowledge, the way it’s getting used and a breakdown of the place you may be in danger.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: Cameras
Predictably, Samsung is making an enormous track and dance in regards to the S23 Extremely’s cameras in its advertising and marketing this yr. The headline function is the inclusion of a 200MP important sensor, which is the biggest Samsung has ever integrated in a cellphone so far, changing the S22 Extremely’s 108MP unit.
It’s not the primary 200MP digital camera we’ve seen in a smartphone, nonetheless. The S23 Extremely incorporates the identical Samsung-made ISOCELL HP1 sensor because the Xiaomi 12T Professional and Motorola Edge 30 Extremely, which each launched final yr. The remainder of the digital camera lineup is way the identical as earlier than, and features a pair of 10MP optical telephoto lenses (10x and three.5x), a 12MP 120-degree ultrawide unit and a 12MP selfie digital camera.
Extra megapixels doesn’t at all times lead to a greater image, in fact, however Samsung has made a boatload of enhancements all through. This contains improved stabilisation courtesy of one thing referred to as “Adaptive VDIS”, which is a software-level algorithm that analyses motion and detects lighting circumstances in video and stabilises accordingly.
The brand new 200MP digital camera is an absolute star. Each picture taken on the S23 Extremely is totally elegant: wealthy and detail-packed mixed with impartial colors. The brand new sensor has clearly made all of the distinction, particularly for those who’re leaping from the common S22 to the S23 Extremely this yr. Simply take a look at that comparability:
Zoomed images can also be considerably improved. Zooming all the best way as much as 100x, the S23 Extremely’s telephoto photos are higher in virtually each approach, particularly on the subject of element seize. One factor to notice right here is also that the S23 Extremely’s zoomed pictures are captured in a fraction of the time of the S22 Plus.
Portrait mode has obtained a wholesome replace, too, and might now seize extra true-to-life pores and skin textures, pores and skin tones and hair color, even in difficult lighting conditions. This can be a comparable function to Google’s Actual Tone, utilized in its Pixel 7 smartphones.
Night time capturing can also be miles higher, courtesy of a brand new pixel-binning tech that mixes neighbouring pixels to assist enhance the lighting in a photograph. In side-by-side photos towards the S22 Plus, you possibly can actually see the distinction.
And it is best to be capable of take higher footage and video of the night time sky, too, with new Astro Hyperlapse and Astrophoto capturing modes, though the polluted view from my London flat meant I wasn’t capable of take a look at this totally. Now you can shoot at 50MP within the Skilled RAW app, up from 12MP beforehand, and 8K video is filmed at a wider angle than final yr – a rise from 57 to 80 levels.
On that entrance, I’ve only a few complaints in regards to the high quality of the S23 Extremely’s video seize. It will be good if Samsung’s “Tremendous Regular” stabilisation tech may very well be enabled within the 8K and 4K capturing modes – it’s presently restricted to QHD at 60fps – however in any other case, all the pieces appears to be like nice, with snappy autofocusing and wealthy, vibrant HDR seize.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely evaluation: Verdict
There’s clearly loads to speak about on the subject of the S23 Extremely’s cameras, however I’ve been most impressed this yr with its substantial processing and effectivity enhancements. I’m not usually shocked by generational benchmark upgrades, however this replace is one to recollect.
The swap to Snapdragon is a great transfer, particularly for Samsung’s European clients, who’ve been caught with Exynos-based Galaxy telephones for what looks as if an eternity. US Samsung followers, who’ve had the advantage of Qualcomm for plenty of years already, won’t really feel the identical approach, however for these on this facet of the Atlantic the S23 Extremely is an enormous improve.
The query stays whether or not potential cellphone consumers choose up on these enhancements, or whether or not the dearth of modifications elsewhere, paired with that value hike, places them off altogether. That will be a disgrace, since throughout virtually each metric, the S23 Extremely is the final word Android smartphone; when you’ve got the cash, it’s the handset try to be shopping for.
