Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
I’m your typical power user. Every year, I tend to get the best of what the Android world has to offer for myself. Earlier, it used to be a OnePlus phone due to its great balance of size, performance, and clean software. Recently, Samsung has been leading. My use case is productivity and battery life, solid cameras are essential. So it should come as no surprise that when the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra launched earlier this year, I swapped my SIM card for Samsung’s latest and greatest and called it the day.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the de facto choice if you want to get the Android flagship.
The experience is largely unchanged compared to the two Galaxy S22 Ultra devices. It’s a little easier to hold in the hand thanks to the flat edges, a little faster, and it lasts a little longer. Predictable but nothing particularly exciting. However, lately, I’ve been craving a more practical option. A smartphone that does not feel like a tablet in my hands, would prioritize ergonomics, and fit better in my pocket. Sure, there’s a Pixel 7, but conceding the feature over the Pro-variant wasn’t something I was interested in. So when Samsung reached out to me with an opportunity to test drive the regular Samsung Galaxy S23, I jumped at it. I was intrigued to see if the smaller flagships finally pushed their limits in battery life and performance.
For the past month I’ve been switching between the Ultra and its smaller sibling, and I’m having serious second thoughts about my phone choice. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra makes the most sense to me, but I hate to admit that the Galaxy S23 has my heart. Here’s why.
14%on
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
New main camera with a resolution of 200 megapixels
nice offer
S Pen functionality
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Bigger isn’t always better
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
The most delightful aspect of the Samsung Galaxy S23 is also the most obvious – the size. After years of adapting it to behemoth-sized smartphones, the switch to the S23’s 6.1-inch screen was equal parts jarring but refreshing.
The Galaxy S23’s smaller size may be annoying at first, but the more you use it, the better it feels.
The smaller keyboard can take some getting used to, for example. But then you find that accessing the Notification Center is a lot easier. It’s something I use a lot while switching audio tracks or replying to a message from the Notification Center. As someone who fiddles with Bluetooth accessories, Wi-Fi access points, and more on a pretty frequent basis, the Galaxy S23’s accessible size was noticeable to me every time I used it.
Likewise, while it’s possible to fit the Galaxy S23 Ultra into skinny jeans, the silhouette is something I could do without. It might get worse if you put it in a case. So the Ultra stays glued to my wrist, to the disdain of my friends at a social gathering. The smaller Galaxy S23 fades away. It might seem like a first world problem, but the sheer ability to put the phone out of sight and carry on a conversation without constant distractions has been a positive for me in my attention when out with friends. That’s before we get to the obvious, like aesthetics.
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
As a tech enthusiast in his twenties, my favorite fashion accessory was my smartphone. Being 30, my priorities have changed. My phone is more of a tool than anything else. Getting dressed for dinner or going to the club, I want my chosen communications device to slip securely into my pocket and stay there. While the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a tendency to stick its head out whenever you sit down, that’s not the case with the S23. Big win.
It doesn’t hurt that Samsung’s efforts to standardize the design language across the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra line of products has also benefited from the smaller S23. Gone is the camera hump. Instead, this year’s S23 looks in line with the broader lineup of Samsung’s flagship phones. Which means understated and somewhat startling. So even if you like to show off your phone, the comfortably sized S23 has your back.
The ergonomic benefits of a smaller size may seem obvious, but it takes a phone to appreciate them.
If all of this seems obvious, it is. However, it takes actual use in your daily routine to understand the impact that increased accessibility has. I do not deny the importance of showing a great kick. If I’m the type to sit back and watch hours of Netflix shows on my phone or play some of the best Android games, I’ll instinctively reach for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But I am not that user.
The Galaxy S23’s smaller dimensions remind me of a simpler time when the phone was picked up, an activity was performed, and the phone was held aside. Unlike today’s giant phones that are always in your peripheral vision, the Galaxy S23 stays out of the way.
All the performance you need
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
There were other compact phones before the Galaxy S23, but it’s certainly the flag bearer for a rare breed of compact Android flagship. As a power user who does everything from managing remote servers to work-related tasks with my phone, premium performance is non-negotiable. Galaxy S23 delivers this performance with confidence. This is to be expected, given that the entire Galaxy S23 series shares the same internal specifications.
Packing the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that powers my Ultra, the smaller S23 hasn’t given me any problems so far. I experienced the benefits of an improved chipset on the Ultra, but the efficiency gains, in particular, are amplified on the S23.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s efficiency gains are amplified over compact flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Although my everyday carry is still my Galaxy S23 Ultra, I often switch to the S23 when I’m out for a social setting or an activity like running or climbing. Battery life has always been a constant concern of mine with compact smartphones. However, the combination of the more economical Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and a larger 3,900mAh battery means the phone can really last me all day. Not as good as the day and a half the S23 Ultra lasts, but I’ll make the trade-off.
Thermal management has also been greatly improved, which means I no longer have to worry about the tiny smartphone burning my hands when pressed too hard. This year, Samsung added a graphite-based heatsink to the Galaxy S23, ensuring that the phone can run tougher for longer. This has been a boon for heavy multitasking and gaming, even though I’m not much of a smartphone gamer. In my use case, the most significant improvement here was that the phone is consistently nice to the touch.
Cameras are good enough
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
I’ll check out our Samsung Galaxy S23 review if you want to dive deeper into the phone’s camera chops. The short version is that while the sensors haven’t changed on the Galaxy S22, the handling is different. The Galaxy S23’s camera software and processing err very close to that of the S23 Ultra, including extras like better night photography. I haven’t shot a lot of photos from the S23, but the slightly saturated and contrast-rich shots are typical Samsung.
The 50MP sensor produces great, detail-rich results in bright light and performs well in low light. Let me put it this way, the S23 won’t be at the top of our list of best camera phones, but the results will be enough for your daily Instagram coffee post. It’s an understandable trade-off that comes with the smaller size and consequent lack of space for the larger sensors.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs S23 Ultra: Incredible Value
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
Talking about my experience with the fragmented Galaxy S23 would make it sound like a product created for a specific demographic — someone who is size-conscious. However, using the phone brings out another key aspect: value. Nowhere in my time did I feel like I was missing him.
Nowhere in my time with the Galaxy S23 did I feel like I was missing out, and it makes me question my choice to stick with the Ultra.
The value proposition of the Samsung Galaxy S23 is almost impossible to ignore once you use it. In the US, the “small” Galaxy S23 starts at $799 compared to $1,199 for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Does the Ultra offer a better experience for $400? It’s debatable.
If you are an avid smartphone photographer, sure. You can’t optically shoot 10x magnified shots with the regular Galaxy S23 or show off massive space zooms, but in my opinion that’s more of a nice feature than a necessity. Your mileage may vary, of course. Maybe you need an S Pen to edit presentations on the go. In which case, the S23 Ultra might be a better fit for you. But I bet that for a very large audience, the S23 will be more than enough phone.
Between the all-day battery life, great performance, and very good cameras, the Galaxy S23 was an almost instant replacement for my S23 Ultra. I did not expect that. The short learning curve around the smaller screen was a small price to pay for the massive increase in everyday portability. It also doesn’t hurt that the relatively small Galaxy S23 stands out among a sea of giant phones.
Given the option to return, would I choose the Galaxy S23 over the Galaxy S23 Ultra? My tech-ridden brain says I’d like a larger zoom range to work with and the flexibility of the S Pen. However, in my heart, I know I want the Galaxy S23 instead.
14%on
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
New main camera with a resolution of 200 megapixels
nice offer
S Pen functionality