spec sheet, price, release date… we tell you everything

Samsung will soon introduce its new flagships. While rumors and leaks about the design and specifications (chip, sensors…) follow each other, we are reviewing the Galaxy S23, S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The last straight line for Samsung before the presentation of its new flagships. As always, the South Korean giant will not wait until the end of February and lift the lid on the MWC new series. For several weeks now, leaks and rumors have been painting the portrait of upcoming Samsung smartphones. The manufacturer should introduce a new premium model: Galaxy S23 Ultra. The flagship of the Galaxy S and successor to the Galaxy Note, the “Ultra” model will always be accompanied by the Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23.

Design: some evolutions

No need to wait for the official announcement to get an accurate idea. Leaker OnLeaks very quickly offered 3D renders, which gave us a sneak peek at Samsung’s next flagships. We start with the Galaxy S23 and S23+, which follow the basic lines of their predecessors. Remember that the two models are used to being very close, the main difference is the format with the “classic” model being more compact than the “Plus” version.

We still have to wait for a noticeable change on the back end. Leave the island that allows you to isolate the photo sensors from the back of the device, Samsung intends to integrate them directly into the shell… as in the Galaxy S22 Ultra model. It should be noted that the first official images of the Galaxy S23 were leaked.

The compact model will be available in 4 colors: Mystic Lilac (pink/purple), Cotton Flower (white), Botanic Green (green) and Phantom Black (black).

Galaxy S23 Ultra: the flagship will be eligible for changes

In turn, the Galaxy S23 Ultra should not experience a revolution. It will keep the lines close to those of its predecessor, making some adjustments to the photo part. The manufacturer would offer better integration into the chassis, the two modules (right) are less prominent according to the first renderings and promotional images. Indeed, the images leaked an hour ago and introduced the Galaxy S23.

In addition, the dimensions should not change too much. The S23 Ultra measures 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm, compared to 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm for its predecessor. Finally, even if Samsung does introduce a “new” ultra-bright OLED display at CES 2023, we shouldn’t expect any shake-ups. Although Samsung has made a habit of integrating the latest innovations from its Display branch, future devices will not be better than the current generation. You also shouldn’t expect the Galaxy S23 Ultra to have a brighter panel than the iPhone 14 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — © OnLeaks/SmartPrix

The premium model will always stand out thanks to the S Pen. There would even be a special place to store it.

Performance: Snapdragon for everyone

A real revolution awaits us in Galaxy S23. After disappointing Exynos chips, Samsung is completely turning to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The SoC, which is starting to arrive in smartphones, will be available in all models and all regions. Even France (and Europe) will be eligible for the Galaxy S23 under Snapdragon. The information was also confirmed by a Qualcomm official.

This change is certainly not insignificant and offers very good performances. We compared the S22 Ultra under Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 woke up An increase of 36% for the CPU (processor), 48% for the graphics part (GPU) and 60% for the NPU. There are even rumors that the Galaxy S23 will ship with a modified version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The SoC will be overclocked to 3.36GHz against a base of 3.2GHz. However, this option raises some concerns about how Samsung will integrate this modified chip.

Galaxy S23: Why worry about Samsung’s upcoming high-end smartphone?

To accompany this powerful processor, battery capacity will be increased slightly on certain models. On the other hand, fast charging will not improve.

Finally, everything will be governed by One UI 5.1 skin based on Android 13. Samsung’s policy includes 4 years of Android updates and five years of security patches for its devices.

Image: Note the 200 Mpx module

Galaxy S23 will definitely be expected in the photo component, which is the flagship element of premium smartphones. The South Korean manufacturer will upgrade its copy in the Galaxy S23 and S23+ by taking photo sensors from the current range. The arrival of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and new software still offer improvements in this area.

The Ultra model will be closely watched as it should carry a 200-megapixel primary sensor. Produced by Samsung, this will be the new ISOCELL HPx module, and even if the Galaxy S22 Ultra is not the first, its presence promises a lot. We have already seen a 200 Mpx sensor on the Motorola edge 30 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 — During the launch of the Galaxy S23, the focus will be on photography. © Screenshot / Samsung

At Samsung, we definitely expect a lot from this sensor, and especially in night mode. The teaser also praises the new cup’s night performance with the following improvements: “designed for moonlight”, “shooting at night even in low light” or “great photos are coming”. The number one in the world will try to overtake the big names of the moment like Google Pixel 7 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo setup should look like this:

Main photo sensor (wide angle): 200 megapixel (1/1.3 inch) Samsung ISOCELL HPx
Ultra wide angle: 12 megapixels
Telephoto: 10 megapixels, x3 zoom
Second telephoto lens (periscope sensor): 10 megapixels, x10 zoom

Release Date: See you in February

It’s now official, Samsung will hold a new Unpacked event on the 1st^er February 2023. If the manufacturer does not officially mention its program, there is really no doubt about the nature of this meeting. This will allow the world’s number one to introduce its premium Galaxy S23 range, and this Unpacked will be held face-to-face. A first in three years after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The next Unpacked will be held on Wednesday 1st at Mason Auditorium in San Francisco^er For the French public on February 19:00. It will be available in person and online, on Samsung’s YouTube channel and on our website. Indeed, all announcements of the event will follow the Journal du Geek.

Although the launch will take place in early February, marketing will take place a little later. The Galaxy S23, S23 and S23 Ultra will arrive two weeks later, around February 15.

Price: Same as the S22… or more expensive?

At the time of these lines, the price list of the upcoming S23 range is unknown. However, we can recall the release prices of the current generation:

Galaxy S22 with 8GB of storage and 128GB of storage: €859. Model with 256 GB storage space: 909 euros.

Galaxy S22 8/128 GB at the best price Base price: €859