Is The Galaxy S23 Worth The Upgrade? Check How It Compares To Your Samsung Phone

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Is The Galaxy S23 Worth The Upgrade? Check How It Compares To Your Samsung Phone

The Galaxy S23 (left) replaces last year's Galaxy S22 in Samsung's lineup. Lisa Edichiko/CNET

The Samsung Galaxy S23 was released in February and you might be tempted to upgrade. But before you do, consider your budget and the age and condition of your current phone. You should also consider whether your device will support new versions of Android in the future. All these factors are important in deciding whether to upgrade your phone or not.

The Galaxy S23 starts at $800 and has the same 6.1-inch screen and 50-megapixel main camera as 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 slight improvement over the Galaxy S22. If you're looking to replace a phone you've had for a few years, ideally one that's more than two years old, it's worth upgrading. Even the 2021 Galaxy S21 probably has enough life left to last another year.

Buying decisions always vary based on needs and budget. But if you're a current Samsung user thinking about taking the leap, here's what you need to know about how the Galaxy S23 compares to older devices.

Samsung Galaxy S23. $800 from Samsung

Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S22

With the release of the Galaxy S23, Samsung solved my biggest problem with the Galaxy S22 : short battery life. The new phone has a larger battery (3900 mAh vs 3700 mAh), which affected my tests.

Otherwise, compared to the Galaxy S22, you get the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor optimized for the new Galaxy line, while the Galaxy S22 is powered by last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. Performance is better, especially when running videos. But you probably won't see much of a jump in day-to-day use, as most modern processors are well-suited for gaming, multitasking, and other day-to-day tasks.

The Galaxy S23's cameras are basically the same as the Galaxy S22's, but the algorithms have been updated to improve low-light performance. The selfie camera also has a slightly higher resolution (10 megapixels vs 12 megapixels), although I didn't notice much of a difference. The Galaxy S23's camera is no different from the previous generation's, although I noticed portraits look better in low light.

The phone comes with Android 13 and Samsung One UI 5.1 which is available for the Galaxy S22 series.

Conclusion If you have a Galaxy S22, don't upgrade to Galaxy S23. The changes are not visible enough to require an update. 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 .

Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S21

The differences between the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S21 are more obvious, but you can probably leave the S21 for another year before upgrading.

The Galaxy S23 has significantly improved the camera as it inherits the 50 megapixel sensor first introduced in the Galaxy S22. As I wrote in the review, the Galaxy S22's cameras offer better color reproduction, contrast and low light than the Galaxy S21.

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The Galaxy S21 also runs on a processor that is two years old compared to the new chip in the Galaxy S23. However, if you only use the phone for simple tasks like video calling, gaming and browsing social media, the older Snapdragon 888 chip is probably fine.

Closure. If the Galaxy S21 is still fast and the battery life is good, you might want to wait another year before upgrading. Samsung supports three generations of Android OS updates for the Galaxy S21, which means it will receive new platform-level software updates until 2024.

Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S20

Upgrading the Galaxy S20 is not an easy answer. That's enough to justify the jump, but even the Galaxy S20 still has a lot to offer.

With the upgrade you get a faster chip, an improved camera with significantly better low-light performance, and a new design. Since the Galaxy S20 launched in 2020 with Android 10, it will not be able to receive new Android OS updates in the future.

Samsung has committed to rolling out three generations of updates for the Galaxy S20 series, with the latest being Android 13. This means you need to update to receive future Android releases and the new features that come with these updates. However, the company continues to release monthly security updates for the Galaxy S20.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S20 is still a very capable phone. While you won't be able to take 50-megapixel photos like you can on the Galaxy S23, you do get 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-up shots.

But keep in mind that the Galaxy S20 has a bigger battery and a slightly larger screen than the Galaxy S23. Most importantly, the Galaxy S20 has a microSD card slot to add more storage, something the Galaxy S23 lacks.

Essence . The Galaxy S23's updates seem significant enough to warrant an upgrade, but if you're happy with the Galaxy S20, there's no need. If you're happy with its performance, battery life and prefer a microSD card slot for a better camera, then settle for the S20. Just remember that you won't get the next version of Android.

Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S10

Samsung Galaxy S10 series. Angela Lange/CNET

Galaxy S10 owners. Time to update! Not only will the camera and processor get a big upgrade, you'll also get 5G and the latest version of Android.

If you bought a 2019 Galaxy S10, the processor and battery are already four years old. This means that your phone can start freezing and your battery will last all day. The Galaxy S10's battery is also smaller than the Galaxy S23's (3900 vs 3400mAh) and the S23's processor is more power efficient, so battery life should be substantial. Unless you buy the 6.7-inch Galaxy S10 5G starting at $1,300 , your Galaxy S10 doesn't support 5G.

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But more importantly, the Galaxy S10 no longer receives Android version updates. Like the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S10 can benefit from three generations of new Android releases. This would make last year's Android 12 update the latest update since the Galaxy S10 launched with Android 9. (However, if you have a regular Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10E, or S10 5G, you'll still receive quarterly security updates.)

While software support and battery life are the main reasons to upgrade, you'll get a better camera on the Galaxy S23. Samsung's camera has come a long way in the past four years, now offering a higher-resolution main sensor (12MP vs. 50MP on the Galaxy S10), improved low-light performance, and closer digital zoom (up to 30x, Galaxy S23). compared to 10x Galaxy S10).

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you'll lose your favorite microSD card slot by upgrading the Galaxy S23. So make sure you choose the storage capacity that suits your needs because you won't be able to expand it.

Bottom line: 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, better battery life, a new faster processor and a vastly improved camera. But get ready to say goodbye to the microSD card slot.

Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S9

There are many reasons to upgrade from 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. Samsung's five-year-old phone doesn't have 5G, and its processor and battery are likely starting to age. You will also no longer receive Android version updates.

But the upgrade has many other benefits. The camera is one of the biggest changes. The Galaxy S9 only has a 12MP rear camera, while the Galaxy S9 Plus has an additional 12MP telephoto lens. The Galaxy S23 features a 50MP high-resolution main camera, along with a 10MP telephoto lens and a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens to capture a wider field of view. The Galaxy S23's selfie camera has a higher resolution (12 megapixels compared to the S9's 8), as well as other improvements such as better low-light shooting.

If you have a standard 5.8-inch Galaxy S9, you'll also get a bigger screen as the Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch screen. The Galaxy S23 has twice the storage of the base model Galaxy S9, but Samsung's new phone lacks a microSD card slot to add more storage.

Closure. If you have a Galaxy S9, there are many reasons to upgrade. You'll get a vastly improved multi-lens camera, faster performance, longer battery life, newer versions of Android and 5G support.

All in all, if you have a phone that's more than two years old, it's worth upgrading. Galaxy S20 owners will likely be able to use 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 older, the answer to the update is yes.