Samsung S23 Plus Review: The Perfect Balance of Performance and Price

Pros

• Snappy performance
• Long battery life
• Great camera

Cons

• Some photos are oversaturated
• The selfie cam's smoothing is too aggressive at times
• Samsung's software can be overbearing

SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 PLUS SPECS

Specification	Value
Operating System	Android 13, One UI 5.1
Display	6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O FHD+, 1,080 x 2,340, 120Hz, 1,750 nits (peak)
Storage	256GB, 512GB
Memory	8GB
Rear cameras	50MP wide, 12MP ultra wide, 10MP 3x telephoto
Front camera	12MP
Battery	4,700mAh with 45W wired, 15W wireless
Connectivity	5G (sub6, mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
IP rating	IP68
Colors	Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
Dimensions	6.21 x 3 x 0.3 inches
Weight	6.91 ounces
Price	$999

(image credit: Jason Cipriani/ZDNET)

The S23 lineup from Samsung provides a wide array of choices to suit various budgets and tastes. With a price tag of $999, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is positioned as a compelling option, providing a feature set that many users find just right.

Classic Design with Modern Elegance:

(image credit: Jason Cipriani/ZDNET)

The Galaxy S23 Plus shares many design cues with its predecessor, the S22, including a sleek and elegant appearance. The aluminum body feels luxurious in the hand, and the 6.6-inch display with a central hole-punch selfie camera maintains a sleek appearance. Notably, the phone's overall aesthetics are improved by the rear camera array's cleaner, vertically stacked arrangement.

(image credit: Jason Cipriani/ZDNET)

Powerful Performance for Seamless Experience:

The S23 Plus has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that is tailored for Galaxy devices, and it performs incredibly well. The phone can accommodate up to 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which allows it to handle demanding tasks and multitasking with ease. This ensures a seamless user experience. Benchmark tests show off its strength; in terms of performance metrics, it can even compete with the best.

Impressive Camera Capabilities:

(image credit: Jason Cipriani/ZDNET)

The camera setup on the S23 Plus is quite flexible; it includes a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with a 3x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel primary camera. The S23 Plus performs admirably at taking clear, bright photographs in a range of lighting scenarios, despite perhaps lacking the S23 Ultra's wide range of cameras. The camera produces amazing images that are on par with flagship rivals, whether it is used for selfies or landscape photography.

(image credit: Jason Cipriani/ZDNET)

(image credit: Jason Cipriani/ZDNET)

Long-lasting Battery Life:

Samsung increased the S23 Plus's battery capacity to 4,700mAh to provide worry-free all-day use. The phone adapts to your hectic lifestyle, handling everything from light browsing to heavy multimedia usage. Furthermore, features like compatibility for eSIM and dual SIM support provide flexibility in connectivity options, meeting a range of user needs.

The Verdict:

To sum up, the Samsung S23 Plus stands out as an excellent option for consumers looking for a high-end smartphone without going over budget. The S23 Plus impresses on all fronts with its elegant design, strong performance, remarkable camera capabilities, and long-lasting battery life. Given its price of $999, it offers a strong value proposition in the flagship smartphone segment, making it an investment that discriminating customers would find worthwhile.

Conclusion:

The Samsung S23 Plus and its features have been examined in this review, with an emphasis on the device's advantages over rival smartphones. Performance, camera quality, or battery life are all important considerations, and the S23 Plus delivers an exceptional all-around package. The Samsung S23 Plus offers the ideal balance of affordability and performance.