Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus review: What you need to know

The ideal middle-model option in the S23 series

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus was released on February 17, 2023 along with the rest of Samsung’s S23 smartphone series. While the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus announcement might have been dominated by the new and improved Ultra S23 model, there’s a lot to love about this smartphone.

The Galaxy S23 Plus definitely outperforms the standard S22 when it comes to display size and battery performance. However, you’ll need to delve deeper to find any other major differences between the two models. Thinking about ditching your current device and making the jump to the S23 series? Our Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus review breaks down everything you need to know.

Galaxy S23 Plus Design

When it launched in 2021, the Galaxy S21 scored top marks for its sleek, minimalist aesthetic. Samsung has maintained a minimalist approach with the S23 Plus, delivering an even more refined smartphone.

Aside from being easy on the eyes, this pared-back build makes the Galaxy S23 Plus far more user-friendly in-hand. The aluminum housing is gently curved at the edges, enhancing ergonomics. Meanwhile, the flat glass front ensures every pixel gets to shine in all its glory.

Tired of having to deal with cracked screens and costly repairs? You’ll be glad to know that the S23 Plus is equipped with Gorilla Glass Victus 2. This is one of the strongest screen materials on the market. What’s more, the S23 Plus boasts an IP68 water-resistance rating for peace of mind.

Another nifty design detail here is that the camera module has been considerably stripped back. You’ll still find a triple rear array, but these cameras are neatly integrated into the body of the Galaxy S23 Plus itself.

The S23 Plus weighs in at 196 grams. Although somewhat lighter than the S23 Ultra’s 234 grams, it’s still 28 grams heavier than the standard Galaxy S23. However, this phone never feels bulky. The subtle curves and side rails make it comfortable to handle, even though this model is on the larger side. 

Although Samsung has done away with voice assistant features, manual control is made easy. You’ll find the power button and volume rocker on the right-hand side of the S23 Plus. Meanwhile, a SIM tray, mic, speaker grille, and USB-C port are positioned at the bottom of the device. 

You’ve also a variety of choices when it comes to the S23+ color options. All your favorite Samsung color options are available here, including Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. Graphite and Lime were also made available as an online exclusive on the Samsung site.

Galaxy S23 Plus Display & Screen

With a 6.6-inch FHD+ display, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus screen size doesn’t disappoint. As with other Galaxy models, Dynamic AMOLED 2X is the standard here. This brings you enhanced color vibrancy, excellent contrast, and brightness amplitude. 

If you’re someone who devours all kinds of content on their phone, the S23 Plus will deliver. With a screen resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, you can look forward to glorious levels of definition, no matter whether you’re watching YouTube videos or streaming the latest episode of your favorite TV show. 

The S23 Plus also has a refresh rate of 120Hz, allowing for smooth scrolling that won’t compromise video and animation quality. However, this refresh rate is variable. You can dial things down to 48Hz if you want to preserve limited battery levels. 

As far as peak brightness is concerned, the S23 Plus performs similarly to other models from the S22 and S23 lineups. Peak brightness levels of 1,750 nits are possible here. This makes the S23 Plus an easy choice if you’re looking for a phone that displays well under the glare of the sun. What’s more, minimum brightness levels of 0.8 nits make it a good choice for those planning late-night viewing sessions.

Performance

Unsure of whether to make the switch from the S22 Plus? The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus boasts more than a few performance-boosting features that are worth the upgrade. 

All phones from the Galaxy S23 series are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. At first glance, it might not seem like there’s much of an improvement on the Gen 1 chipset found in the S22 series. However, the extra GPU and CPU boost definitely comes in handy. The Galaxy S23 Plus is, without a doubt, one of the fastest smartphones around. In fact, its only real competition comes from the iPhone 14 Pro series. 

If you regularly use CPU-intensive applications, this souped-up smartphone won’t let you down. It consistently delivers when it comes to gaming and 8K video editing. However, you’ll notice the biggest improvements when it comes to image capture. While the camera array remains largely unchanged from the S22 Plus series, the upgraded chipset means you can make better use of this phone’s AI features. 

The 4,700mAh battery capacity is a slight uplift from the 4,500mAh found with the Galaxy S22 Plus. However, it falls slightly short of the 5,000mAh capacity offered by the S23 Ultra. That being said, the new and improved chipset makes the S23 Plus an efficient choice. Expert battery life of around 16.5 hours if you’re simply browsing the web. If you’re streaming videos, you should be able to milk more than 8 hours of runtime from the S23 Plus. This is significantly better than what you’d get from the Google Pixel 7 Pro.

Charging speed remains largely unchanged from previous models. Fast wired charging at 45W means you can expect a full battery in little over an hour. Fast wireless charging is also supported. 

Don’t expect any major revelations when it comes to audio improvements. While the stereo speakers of the S23 Plus deliver good levels of clarity, things get a little distorted at high volumes. Furthermore, the S23 Plus doesn’t cope as well with wide sound stages as other models on the market, like the iPhone 14 Pro.

Camera Specs

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus camera setup is one of the best on the market. The rear camera array is pretty much identical to the S22+ specs. However, some minor improvements to image processing make them far more efficient.

The main rear wide camera boasts a 50MP sensor. You won’t struggle to capture crisp images here. No matter whether you’re shooting in portrait mode or capturing stunning landscapes, you can look forward to beautifully balanced images that are sharp and vibrant. 

However, the main camera doesn’t perform particularly well in low-light conditions. While night mode does provide you with longer exposures, it won’t kick out the same results you’d get from the S23 Ultra. The same applies to the 12MP ultrawide camera. What’s more, the telephoto lens suffers from some fairly basic zoom capabilities. The 3x optical zoom is reliable enough, but the 30x hybrid zoom doesn’t provide the best image clarity, especially if you’re shooting at night. The good news is that the 12MP front sensor is an improvement on Samsung's S22 series and more than holds its own as a selfie camera. 

Thankfully, the S23 Plus performs much better when it comes to video capture. You can record at up to 8K at 30 fps. If you’re struggling with moving objects, a Super Steady mode is on hand to make your life easier.

Price and Availability

Thinking of investing in a new smartphone? If you’re buying directly from the manufacturer, expect a Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus price of $999.999 for the 256 GB model. If you want to upgrade to the 512 GB version, you’ll be paying $1119.99 for a brand new device. 

Looking to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus for less? At Back Market, you can make a significant saving on your next smartphone. We offer an extensive range of refurbished devices and while the S23 series has yet to hit our site at the time of writing this, you can expect a few to start popping up within the next month or two.  

We’re committed to offering consumers a more affordable and eco-friendly alternative. However, buying a refurbished smartphone doesn’t mean you have to settle for less when it comes to quality and performance. Every item is meticulously checked and restored before being listed for sale, meaning you can buy with complete confidence. What’s more, every product comes with a 12-month guarantee for peace of mind. You can even return your item and claim a full refund within 30 days if you’re having second thoughts.

Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Worth It?

Many smartphones that fall into the Plus category rarely offer anything that sets them apart from their siblings. However, the Galaxy S23 Plus more than justifies its existence. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus size offers a generous upgrade on the standard S23 model, while still being amenable enough for everyday use. Samsung has also maintained its commitment to streamlined design, combining ergonomic housing with a robust build that makes the S23 Plus a solid long-term investment. 

Although it’s slightly more expensive than comparable models like the Google Pixel 7 Pro, Samsung is generally better than Google when it comes to software support. This is yet another reason to go the S23 Plus route if you're searching for a phone you can continue to use for years to come. 

A next-gen chipset and superior battery performance also set the S23 Plus apart from the competition, especially if you’re largely focused on web browsing or video playback. Meanwhile, a solid set of cameras and 8K video recording should satisfy the capture needs of everyday users. However, if you’re looking to eke out as much as you can from this series, it may be worth shelling out on the larger and sharper S23 Ultra.