Galaxy S23 • Unlocked vs OnePlus 12 • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S23 (released February 2023) and the OnePlus 12 (released globally in February 2024) are both high-end Android smartphones, offering distinct experiences within the premium segment. While the Galaxy S23 emphasizes a compact design and refined camera processing, the OnePlus 12 focuses on a larger display, advanced performance, and rapid charging capabilities. Both devices run on the Android operating system, with their respective custom user interfaces.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors.

• Release Timeline: The Samsung Galaxy S23 was released in February 2023, making it approximately a year older than the OnePlus 12, which saw its global release in February 2024.
• Software Support: Samsung typically provides 4 years of operating system updates and 5 years of security updates for the Galaxy S23, with support expected to continue into 2028. The OnePlus 12 also offers 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates, with its newer release date potentially extending its practical software longevity slightly further.
• Physical Durability: Both phones feature Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for screen protection. The Galaxy S23 has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating strong protection against immersion. The OnePlus 12 carries an IP65 rating, offering protection against dust and water jets, but not full immersion. Drop tests for the Galaxy S23 show it can withstand some impacts, though direct screen impacts can cause significant damage. The repairability of the OnePlus 12 is considered moderate, with some components being easily accessible while others require more effort due to adhesive use.

Both smartphones deliver robust performance for daily tasks and demanding applications, though they utilize different generations of internal components.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S23 is powered by a processor that handles tasks smoothly, ensuring a fluid experience for everyday use and gaming. The OnePlus 12 features a newer generation processor, which provides enhanced speed and efficiency, making it well-suited for intensive gaming and heavy multitasking.
• Multitasking and Storage: The Galaxy S23 typically comes with 8GB of RAM, offering sufficient capacity for most multitasking needs. The OnePlus 12 often includes 12GB or 16GB of RAM, providing more headroom for numerous applications running simultaneously and more demanding workflows. Both devices offer ample internal storage options, with the OnePlus 12 utilizing a faster storage standard.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S23 features a 3900 mAh battery, which generally provides a full day of use for moderate users, showing significant improvement over its predecessor due to a larger battery and efficient components. The OnePlus 12 is equipped with a larger 5400 mAh battery, often allowing for up to two days of usage under normal conditions, and supports very fast wired and wireless charging.

The visual experience on both devices is characterized by high-quality displays, each with specific attributes that cater to different preferences.

• Display Technology and Resolution: The Galaxy S23 features a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a Full HD+ resolution (2340x1080 pixels), resulting in a sharp image. The OnePlus 12 offers a larger 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a higher QHD+ resolution (3168x1440 pixels), providing even greater detail and clarity.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both phones offer a smooth viewing experience with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. The Galaxy S23 can reach a peak brightness of 1750 nits, ensuring good visibility in bright outdoor conditions. The OnePlus 12 boasts an advertised peak brightness of 4500 nits, though real-world full-screen brightness is typically around 1120 nits, still providing excellent outdoor legibility.
• Viewing Experience: The Galaxy S23's smaller screen size makes it comfortable for one-handed use and portability. The OnePlus 12's larger display is more immersive for media consumption and gaming. Both displays offer vibrant colors and support HDR content.

Both smartphones provide versatile camera systems capable of capturing high-quality images and videos, with distinct strengths in their photographic approaches.

• Rear Camera Systems: The Galaxy S23 features a triple camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom. The OnePlus 12 also has a triple camera system, including a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 64MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 6x in-sensor zoom.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy S23 excels in producing sharp and detailed images, particularly with its main sensor in good lighting, and offers improved low-light performance and 8K video recording. Some users have noted that the 50MP camera can sometimes over-process images, leading to color shifts. The OnePlus 12, with its Hasselblad tuning, delivers natural and accurate color representation, performing well across various lighting conditions, with its telephoto lens being a notable strength.
• Front Camera and Audio: The Galaxy S23 includes a 12MP front camera. The OnePlus 12 features a higher resolution 32MP front camera, which is noted for crisp selfies and 4K video recording. Both phones offer good speaker output for media consumption.