Why buy the Samsung S23 Plus?
Identical processor to the S23 Ultra
Larger screen, perfect for bingeing video
Gorgeous camera
Introduction
If you need a larger screen and battery but don’t need the all singing all dancing S23 Ultra, the S23 Plus is for you. With its bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (now thankfully also available on this side of the planet), mega 4700 mAh battery and 50 MP triple camera, you are getting the stunning screen and power without the S23 Ultra’s price tag.
Design
The S23 Plus is basically a portable cinema screen, PC, SLR and console and more. Despite its stunning 6.6 inch screen, it still fits beautifully into the hand without feeling bulky, with a minimalist look and completely flat glass front and back. Like the S23 Ultra, It boasts Gorilla Glass 2.0 which is the toughest glass on the market, and IP68 water resistance.
Camera
In terms of camera, the S23 Plus boasts a 50 MP (megapixel) main camera and the same 3x telephoto, ultrawide and selfie camera as the Ultra. There are also legions of software improvements including Nightography mode with an enhanced AI (artificial intelligence) and Detail Enhancer technology to ensure that your photos are always the best in the group.
Video
The Galaxy S23 Plus supports shooting up to a whopping 8K at 30fps (frames per second) which means it is super smooth. There is also a Super Steady video mode which is basically a digital steadicam meaning you can run around while recording without ending up with a blurry mess of content.
Display
The S23 Plus boasts a 6.6 inch AMOLED 1080p display that is practically faultless. It may not be as high res as the Ultra but, unless you are a cyborg, it is extremely hard to tell.
It has the same peak brightness as the Ultra at 1750 nits which is extremely beneficial in sunlight. It also benefits from an adaptive refresh rate from 120Hz to 48Hz which means that it is more efficient with power and battery life.
Processor
All the smartphones in the S23 series have a bespoke processor that comfortably blows most other chipsets out of the water. It is called the ‘Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy’ and has been purpose built for these smartphones. There are loads of technical reasons for how they have achieved this around efficiency and heat dissipation but if it is maximum power and speed for multi-tasking, gaming and streaming you are after - the S23 Plus is for you. Thanks to its newer chip, the Galaxy S23 Plus also brings advanced connectivity features like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. It also features a more efficient 5G modem that offers faster download and upload speeds.
Battery
The 4,700 mAh battery on the S23 Plus coupled with the next level processor means you can go at least a day without needing a charger, may be even two if you’re a ‘casual’ user. When you do need to charge, there is a 45W speed to indulge in and a wireless charging option (which is slower than wired) and wireless power sharing so you can share power with other devices e.g. earbuds.
Like the S23 Ultra, the S23 Plus includes Super Fast Charging 2.0, while the S23 includes standard Super Fast Charging. What does that mean in reality? It’s all about the first 30 minutes of charging. Both phones can charge to full in about an hour, but 2.0 (assuming you have a compatible cable and charger) will give you more charge in the first 30 minutes.
Colours and options
The entire S23 series comes in the same colours: Green, Lavender, Cream and Phantom Black. Storage wise, you can get up to 512 GB on the S23 Plus.