Galaxy S22 5G • Unlocked vs Galaxy S23+ • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, released in February 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, launched in February 2023, are both premium Android smartphones from Samsung's flagship S series. While sharing a similar design philosophy, the S23 Plus offers notable advancements in processing power, battery capacity, and display brightness, providing a more refined user experience. Both devices operate on Samsung's One UI, built on the Android platform.

The release timeline and Samsung's software support policy are key factors in the expected lifespan of these devices.

• Release Timeline and OS Support: The Galaxy S22 5G was released in February 2022, while the Galaxy S23 Plus followed in February 2023. Both devices are part of Samsung's policy to provide four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates. This means the Galaxy S22 5G is expected to receive OS updates up to Android 16 and security updates until 2027. The newer Galaxy S23 Plus, launching with Android 13, is projected to receive OS updates up to Android 17 and security updates until 2028, offering an additional year of software longevity.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S22 series received a low repairability score of 3 out of 10 from iFixit, primarily due to the extensive use of strong adhesive for the back cover and battery, making battery replacement challenging. While specific scores for the S23 Plus are not as widely detailed, Samsung's general design philosophy suggests a similar approach to internal construction, potentially presenting comparable challenges for repairs.
• Practical Lifespan: Given their respective update policies, both phones are designed for a practical lifespan of at least five years with continued security support. The Galaxy S23 Plus, being a year newer, naturally benefits from an extended period of official software and security updates.

Performance differences between the Galaxy S22 5G and the Galaxy S23 Plus are primarily driven by their internal components and battery optimizations.

• Processor Capabilities: The Galaxy S22 5G, depending on the region, features either a previous-generation processor or Samsung's own Exynos chip. The Galaxy S23 Plus, however, is equipped with a newer, more efficient processor globally, specifically optimized for Galaxy devices. This newer processor in the S23 Plus contributes to smoother handling of demanding applications, faster multitasking, and improved thermal management, leading to less throttling during extended use.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S22 5G has a 3700 mAh battery, which users have frequently noted can lead to battery anxiety and often requires charging before the end of a full day, especially with heavy use. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 Plus features a significantly larger 4700 mAh battery. This, combined with the more power-efficient processor, results in substantially improved battery life, with many users reporting comfortable full-day usage and even multi-day endurance for lighter users.
• Storage and RAM: Both devices typically come with 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy S22 5G offers storage options of 128GB and 256GB. The Galaxy S23 Plus starts with 256GB of storage and also offers a 512GB option, providing more base storage for users.

Both the Galaxy S22 5G and Galaxy S23 Plus offer high-quality displays, with some key distinctions in size and brightness.

• Display Technology and Resolution: Both phones feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, known for vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Galaxy S22 5G has a 6.1-inch display with a 1080 x 2340 pixel resolution. The Galaxy S23 Plus offers a larger 6.6-inch display with a similar 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution. While the S23 Plus has a larger screen, the pixel density is slightly lower due to the increased size, though this difference is generally not noticeable in everyday viewing.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both devices support a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smooth scrolling and responsiveness. The Galaxy S22 5G offers a peak brightness of 1300 nits. The Galaxy S23 Plus significantly improves on this with a peak outdoor brightness of 1750 nits, enhancing visibility in bright sunlight.
• Viewing Experience: The larger screen of the S23 Plus provides a more expansive viewing area for media consumption and multitasking. Both displays offer excellent color accuracy and clarity, making them well-suited for various content.

The camera systems on both the Galaxy S22 5G and Galaxy S23 Plus are capable, with the S23 Plus offering refinements in processing and front camera capabilities.

• Camera System Capabilities: Both phones feature a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The S23 Plus maintains similar rear camera hardware but benefits from improved image processing. The front camera on the S22 5G is 10MP, while the S23 Plus upgrades to a 12MP front camera with dual phase detection autofocus.
• Photography Performance: Both devices deliver solid everyday photography with good detail and color reproduction. The S23 Plus shows improvements in areas like zoom photography, offering better detail resolution and reduced contrast compared to its predecessor. Low-light performance is generally good on both, with the S23 Plus potentially offering slight enhancements due to processing.
• Video Recording and Audio: Both can record 8K video, with the S23 Plus supporting 8K at 30fps, an improvement over the S22's 8K at 24fps. The S23 Plus also features enhanced video stabilization (VDIS) and more natural color rendition in videos. User reviews for both generally praise the speaker output for media consumption.