Is The Galaxy S23 Worth The Upgrade? Check How It Compares To Your Samsung Phone
© Provided by CNET The Galaxy S23 (left) replaces last year's Galaxy S22 in Samsung's lineup. Lisa Eadicicco/CNETSamsung's Galaxy S23 launched in February, and you might be tempted to upgrade. But before you do, consider the age and condition of your current phone, as well as your budget. You should also consider whether your device will support new versions of Android in the future. All of these factors are important in determining if it's the right time to upgrade your phone.
The Galaxy S23 , which starts at $800, has a 6.1-inch screen and a 50-megapixel main camera, just like the Galaxy S22 . But the S23 has a bigger battery, a new processor and slightly updated camera algorithms that improve photo processing. While these changes are welcome, overall the Galaxy S23 is a small improvement over the Galaxy S22. It's worth upgrading if you're looking to replace a phone you've had for a few years, ideally one that's more than two years old. Even the Galaxy S21, which launched in 2021, probably has enough life left to last another year.
Purchasing decisions always depend on your needs and budget. But if you're a current Samsung user thinking about taking the plunge, here's what you need to know about how the Galaxy S23 compares to older devices.
Samsung Galaxy S23: $800 at SamsungGalaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22
© Provided by CNET Samsung Galaxy S22 . Lisa Eadicicco/CNETWith the Galaxy S23, Samsung addressed my biggest concern about the Galaxy S22 : poor battery life. The new phone has a larger battery (3,900 mAh vs. 3,700), which made a difference in my testing.
Otherwise, compared to the Galaxy S22, you get a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor optimized for the new Galaxy series, while the Galaxy S22 runs on last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. Performance is faster, especially when running videos. But you probably won't see a huge increase in daily use, as most modern processors are well equipped for gaming, multitasking and other general tasks.
The Galaxy S23's cameras are largely the same as the Galaxy S22, except the algorithms have been updated to improve low-light handling. The selfie camera also has a slightly higher resolution (12-megapixel vs. 10), although I didn't notice much of a difference. There's nothing vastly different about the Galaxy S23's camera from the previous generation, although I did notice that low-light portraits are better.
The phone comes with Android 13 and Samsung's One UI 5.1 software, both of which are available for the Galaxy S22 series.
bottom line . Don't upgrade to the Galaxy S23 if you have a Galaxy S22. The changes are not noticeable enough to upgrade. Battery life is the only major difference you'll notice between the two phones, but I'd only recommend upgrading if you can get the S23 for free with a trade-in offer .
Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S21
© Provided by CNET Samsung Galaxy S21 . Sarah Tew/CNETThe differences between the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S21 are more obvious, but you can probably keep your S21 for another year before upgrading.
The Galaxy S23 has a significantly improved camera, as it inherits the 50MP sensor that first appeared on the Galaxy S22. As I wrote in my review, the Galaxy S22 cameras offer better colors, contrast and less light compared to the Galaxy S21.
The Galaxy S21 also runs on a processor that is already two years old compared to the brand new chip in the Galaxy S23. However, if you only use your phone for basic tasks like video calling, playing games and checking social media, the older Snapdragon 888 chip will probably do the trick.
Diploma. If your Galaxy S21 still feels fast and has decent battery life, you can wait another year to upgrade. Samsung supports three generations of Android OS updates for the Galaxy S21, meaning it will receive new software updates for the platform until 2024.
Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S20
© Provided by CNET Samsung Galaxy S20 . Angela Lang/CBSWhether you should upgrade from the Galaxy S20 is not an easy answer. That's enough to justify the jump, but the Galaxy S20 still has a lot to offer.
The upgrade gives you a faster chip, an improved camera with significantly better low-light performance, and a new design. Since the Galaxy S20 2020 launched with Android 10, it will no longer be able to benefit from new Android OS updates in the future.
Samsung has promised three generations of updates to the Galaxy S20 series, with Android 13 being the latest. This means you need to update to get future versions of Android and the new features that come with those updates. However, the company continues to provide monthly security updates for the Galaxy S20.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S20 is still a very capable phone. While you don't get the 50MP snapper you get on the Galaxy S23, you still have a triple camera setup on the Galaxy S20. The Galaxy S20 also has the same 30x digital zoom as the Galaxy S23, so you won't miss close-ups.
However, keep in mind that the Galaxy S20 has a larger battery and a slightly larger screen than the Galaxy S23. Best of all, the Galaxy S20 has a microSD card slot to add more storage, which the Galaxy S23 lacks.
conclusion . The Galaxy S23 updates seem important enough to update to, but you won't need them either if you're happy with your Galaxy S20. Stick with the S20 if you're happy with its performance, battery life, and the value of keeping the microSD card slot rather than buying a better camera. Keep in mind that you won't get the next version of Android.
Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S10
© Provided by CNET Samsung Galaxy S10 series. Angela Lang/CBSGalaxy S10 owners. Time for an upgrade! Not only will the camera and processor feel like a big step up, but you'll also get 5G and the latest version of Android.
If you bought the Galaxy S10 when it was released in 2019, the processor and battery are now four years old. This means your phone may feel sluggish and the battery may not last a day. The Galaxy S10's battery is also smaller than the Galaxy S23's (3,400 mAh vs. 3,900), and the S23's processor is more energy efficient, so the battery boost should be significant. Your Galaxy S10 also doesn't support 5G, unless you buy the 6.7-inch Galaxy S10 5G, which starts at $1,300 .
But more importantly, the Galaxy S10 will no longer receive Android version updates. Like the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S10 can also benefit from three generations of new Android versions. That would make last year's update to Android 12 the last since the Galaxy S10 launched Android 9. (But you'll still get quarterly security updates if you have a Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10E, or S10 5G.)
While software support and battery life are the main reasons to upgrade, you also get a much better camera with the Galaxy S23. Samsung's camera has come a long way in the past four years, now offering a higher-resolution main sensor (50 megapixels versus the Galaxy S10's 12 megapixels), improved low-light performance and more digital zoom. 30x on the Galaxy S23, 10x on the Galaxy S10).
However, be aware that upgrading to the Galaxy S23 will lose your beloved microSD card slot. So make sure you choose a storage capacity that suits your needs, as you cannot expand it.
Diploma. Yes, if you have a Galaxy S10, it's worth upgrading to the Galaxy S23. You get 5G support, access to newer versions of Android, longer battery life, a new faster processor and a vastly improved camera. But be prepared to say goodbye to the microSD card slot.
Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S9
© Provided by CNET Samsung Galaxy S9 . James Martin/CNETThere are many reasons to upgrade to the Galaxy S9. there are so many it's hard to know where to start. All of the above points for the Galaxy S10 also apply to the Galaxy S9. The five-year-old Samsung phone doesn't have 5G, and the processor and battery are likely to show their age. You will also no longer receive Android version updates.
But there are many other benefits that can be gained by upgrading. The camera is one of the biggest changes. The Galaxy S9 only has a 12-megapixel rear camera, while the Galaxy S9 Plus has an additional 12-megapixel telephoto lens. The Galaxy S23 features a higher-resolution 50-megapixel main camera, along with a 10-megapixel telephoto lens and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens to capture a wider field of view. The Galaxy S23's selfie camera also has a higher resolution (12 megapixels compared to the S9's 8), along with other improvements such as better low-light photography.
If you have the standard 5.8-inch Galaxy S9, you also get a bigger screen as the Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch screen. The Galaxy S23 also has twice the storage of the base model as the Galaxy S9, but Samsung's new phone lacks a microSD card slot to add more storage.
Bottom Line: There are plenty of reasons to upgrade if you have a Galaxy S9. You get a vastly improved multi-lens camera, much faster performance, longer battery life, new versions of Android and 5G support.
In general, if you have a phone that's more than two years old, it's worth upgrading. Galaxy S20 owners can probably enjoy their device for another year if it's in good condition, but the Galaxy S23 also offers enough upgrades to warrant an upgrade. If you have a Galaxy S10 or earlier, the answer to whether you should upgrade is a resounding yes.
