SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 VS GALAXY S22 – THE ONLY REASON TO UPGRADE
We’ve extensively tested both the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Samsung Galaxy S22, and while these two phones may appear similar on the surface, there are significant differences between them in crucial areas like camera quality, battery life, performance, and longevity.
When deciding between these two phones, it’s essential to consider these factors carefully. In this review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22, we’ll cover everything you need to know. To start, let’s compare the prices of the two phones. You check out our latest comparison iPHONE 14 PRO MAX VS GALAXY S23 ULTRA.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $799, and you can purchase it directly from Samsung. This price is for the 128GB variant. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S22 is also available directly from Samsung for $699, and it also has a 128GB storage capacity.
However, on third-party websites like eBay or Amazon, you can find the S22 for as low as $599, making the price difference between the two phones anywhere from one to two hundred dollars. Check out the latest price of the Galaxy S23 here, and the Galaxy S22 here.
DESIGN AND DURABILITY
As always, we’ll start this Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22 comparison with the design, both the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 are quite similar. They both feature a matte glass finish on the back, which looks especially stunning in the Phantom black color variant.
One of the benefits of the matte black finish is that it resists fingerprints well, and it also feels great to the touch. However, the glass used for each phone is not the same. The S23 utilizes Gorilla Glass Invictus 2, which is superior to the Gorilla Glass Invictus 1 used in the S22. The Invictus 2 is known for its improved crack resistance.
However, from day-to-day use, both phones tend to scratch easily, so I highly recommend using a screen protector HERE. Both phones also feature a glossy aluminum frame with a slight curve that makes them comfortable to hold. I believe that the slightly curved frame of both the S23 and the S22 makes them more comfortable to use than the flatter, boxier edges of the iPhone 14.
One minor difference between the frames of the two phones is that the Samsung Galaxy S23’s side buttons are slightly higher than the S22’s, making them more comfortable to reach when using the phone with one hand. However, the most significant difference in design between the two phones is the camera modules.
The S22 has a single module that incorporates all three lenses, while the S23 individually houses each lens. This is similar to the design of the S23 Ultra, which, in my opinion, is currently the best-looking phone available.
That’s why I prefer the cleaner look of the S23’s camera module, and I also appreciate that it has slightly less table wobble, which is great if you’re typing out a message while the phone is on a desk.
AMOLED DISPLAY QUALITY:
Regarding the displays, both the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 feature 6.1-inch displays, which strike the perfect balance between one-handed usability and a large enough screen to enjoy your content fully.
This size is, in my opinion, the sweet spot for most people. Both phones also share a Full HD Plus resolution of 425 PPI, ensuring that anything you look at on display, be it text, images, or anything else, is incredibly crisp.
What’s even more impressive is that both displays feature a 120Hz refresh rate, which means that all on-screen movement, whether scrolling between text or switching between apps, is incredibly smooth.
It’s great to see that Samsung has retained this feature on these phones. Additionally, the refresh rate is adaptable, which means that it can be lowered to 48 Hz to preserve battery power. While the battery life between the two phones is very different, and we”ll cover that later on.
The displays on both phones are Dynamic AMOLED, which means that colors will be vibrant and bring your content to life. Whites are bright and blacks are truly black, which is something Samsung does better than any other smartphone maker.
Both displays are fantastic, but there are some minor differences. If you compare them side by side, you’ll notice that the S22 has a slight green tinge in its color reproduction, whereas the S23 has a more neutral and balanced color profile, which I prefer. Of course, this may vary slightly from phone to phone, but this is how my S22 and S23 compare.
In addition, I have noticed that the S23 offers more contrast which enhances the sharpness of the display compared to the S22. However, what really sets the S23 apart is its brightness. It boasts an additional 450 nits of brightness, making it much easier to view in sunlight and adding to the overall user experience.
I particularly appreciate the sleek design of both phones, with a minimalistic pinhole camera taking up very little screen space, and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that works equally well on both devices – fast and reliable.
LONGEVITY AND SOFTWARE SUPPORT
When it comes to longevity, it’s a crucial factor to consider as both the S22 and S23 are expensive devices and are expected to last. The S22 is set to receive around three years of software updates, new features, and security updates, whereas the S23 will receive four years of software updates and five years of security updates.
This means that the S23 will last longer, making it a better long-term investment. If you divide the cost over the years that both phones can last, the S23 proves to be a better value. Other factors such as the haptic motor are the same on both phones and are among the best when it comes to the Android side.
When comparing the speakers, I observed that the S23 has a higher volume level and better detail in the high frequencies, resulting in a richer and more immersive audio experience when watching videos or listening to music.
CAMERAS COMPARISON
Moving to the back of these flagship phones, let’s examine the cameras. While their specs are quite similar, the results they produce in terms of photos and videos are actually quite different. Both phones have a triple-lens camera system with a main 50-megapixel lens, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens.
However, it is undeniable that the S23 Ultra received much more camera upgrades this year, especially with its new 200-megapixel main sensor. Nonetheless, the S23 does add some refinements that, in my opinion, create even better photos and videos compared to the S22.
In real-world comparisons, we found that the S23 has a slightly warmer color temperature, which creates a more pleasing image.
Regarding contrast, we found that the S22 had slightly more contrast than the S23, which had a more flat look, creating a more realistic photo. In terms of sharpness, both phones were very close, with good detail visible in buildings, skylines, and water.
However, in a close-up shot of a couch, the S23 showed more details in the texture.
Both phones performed well in terms of dynamic range, but the S23 had an edge in retaining more details in darker areas. Additionally, the S23 provided a better shallow depth of field or bokeh effect, making it particularly suitable for portrait shots.”
Focusing on the camera performance of these flagships, both have a triple-lens camera system with a main 50-megapixel lens, a 12-megapixel Ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens. While the S23 Ultra has more camera upgrades, the S23 still produces better photos and videos compared to the S22.
Regarding color temperature, the S23 produces a warmer temperature that creates a more pleasing image. In terms of contrast, the S22 has slightly more contrast while the S23 has a more true-to-life photo with a flatter look. For sharpness, both are close, but the S23 has more details in close-up shots. Additionally, the S23 excels in dynamic range and produces better bokeh for portrait shots.
Comparing the ultra-wide lens, the S23 is slightly more accurate in colors and sharper while the S22 has better skin tones. In low-light photography, both perform well, but the S23 has less grain and noise.
Finally, when it comes to video performance, both phones deliver solid results, with the S23 being even more stable shooting at 8K 30fps compared to the S22’s 8K 24fps. While video performance is not as good as on the iPhone, it is still satisfactory on both devices.
In summary, both the S22 and S23 boast impressive camera performance and are among the best in the market. However, the S23 outperforms the S22 in most scenarios that were compared. Thus, if you plan to take photos frequently with your phone, the S23’s results may be more preferable.
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BATTERY ENDURANCE
Continuing this Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22 by covering the battery endurance: If you had a chance to use the previous year’s S22, you might have noticed that the battery life was not up to par. The question is, did Samsung improve on this with the S23? The answer is yes, thanks to a slightly larger battery and, more importantly, a better-optimized processor, resulting in significantly better battery life.
To provide some figures, the S22 had a screen-on time of around five to six hours, whereas the S23 had around seven to eight hours of screen-on time, putting it on par with the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro. This difference is critical because it means that the S23 is a true all-day phone, while the S22 falls short of that. With lighter use, the S23’s battery life can even last a day and a half.
In my opinion, battery life is crucial and it’s great to see that Samsung has improved it on the S23. Both phones use USB-C to charge, which works well at 25 watts, although I do wish Samsung had included the even faster 45-watt charging available on the S23 Plus.
Nonetheless, 25 watts is relatively fast, and both phones also support Qi wireless charging. It’s clear that these two phones differ significantly when it comes to battery life, largely due to the fact that the S23 is equipped with a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which is better optimized for Galaxy phones. This not only impacts battery life but also performance.
Both the S22 and S23 run on Android 13, but the S23 comes with One UI 5.1 while the S22 has One UI 5.0 (although the S22 will likely receive an update in the future). In everyday use, both phones perform well with their 8GB of RAM, making apps switching fast and allowing them to stay open in the background for a long time.
Whether you’re using productivity apps or watching videos, both phones provide a flagship experience. However, in more demanding apps like photo or video editing, the S23 loads faster and this is reflected in its higher Geekbench scores for single-core and multi-core performance. While these benchmark scores are good to consider when comparing phones, what matters most is the real-world experience that you get from both devices.
Having extensively used both phones, I can confidently say that the overall experience on the S23 is significantly smoother. The S22 suffers from random lags, stutters, and glitches, while the Android experience on the S23 feels more refined and polished.
This improved experience is largely thanks to the better optimization between hardware and software that is present on the S23, and it’s a difference that I notice every day. It’s also worth noting that unlike the previous S22, where some regions had the Snapdragon chip and others had the inferior Exynos chip, the S23 comes with the Snapdragon chip in all regions. This takes some of the guesswork out of the buying process.”
GALAXY S23 VS GALAXY S22 VERDICT!
In my view, both the s22 and s23 are impressive phones, but for a slightly higher price, the s23 offers significant improvements. It has a sleeker design with a brighter display that performs well even in direct sunlight, better camera performance, and a longer-lasting battery.
Additionally, the s23 provides a smoother user experience and longer longevity, which I think is crucial. I’m not suggesting that those currently using the s22 should upgrade, but for those in the market for a new phone, especially those new to the Galaxy phone lineup, I would highly recommend spending the extra 100 to $200 to get the s23 for its superior overall package.
At the end of this Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22 We say: Samsung has been continuously improving their phones year after year, and I am excited to see where they will take this line of phones in the future. Check out the latest price of the Galaxy S23 here, and the Galaxy S22 here.