The Galaxy S23 is the smallest model in Samsung’s 2023 line-up: a 6.1-inch 120 Hz display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy in every market and three rear cameras including a 3x telephoto. The body stayed almost the same size as the S22 and the battery grew by 200 mAh. Independent testing liked the compact size and battery life and criticised the camera hardware being largely unchanged from the S22.
Galaxy S23 (2023); 8 GB RAM, 128 or 256 GB (options vary by market). The Galaxy S23+, S23 Ultra and S23 FE are separate models.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X; 48–120 Hz Super Smooth refresh; 1750 nits; 240 Hz touch sampling in Game Mode |
| Cover glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy |
| Memory and storage | 8 GB RAM; 128 GB or 256 GB |
| Rear cameras | 50 MP Wide (F1.8, 85°), 12 MP Ultra Wide (F2.2, 120°), 10 MP Telephoto (3x optical, F2.4, 36°) |
| Front camera | 12 MP (F2.2, 80°) |
| Battery | 3900 mAh (typical); rated minimum 3785 mAh |
| Charging | Wired: about 50% in around 30 minutes with a 25 W adapter and 3 A USB‑C cable; Fast Wireless Charging 2.0; Wireless PowerShare |
| Operating system | Android 13 with One UI 5.1 at launch |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, Wi‑Fi 6E, Wi‑Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Water resistance | IP68 (up to 1.5 m of fresh water for up to 30 minutes) |
| Security | Samsung Knox and Knox Vault |
| Size and weight | 70.9 × 146.3 × 7.6 mm; 168 g |
Samsung presents the S23 series with a Snapdragon optimised for Galaxy, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and recycled materials. Samsung Newsroom UK
In TechRadar’s lab battery test the S23 lasted 10 hours 27 minutes with adaptive refresh and 11 hours 20 minutes at 60 Hz. The 6.1-inch size was found ideal for one-handed use, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy came close to the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 in video rendering tests. Photos were vivid but more saturated than reality; the 3x telephoto and up to 30x digital zoom beat the iPhone. Criticism: rear camera hardware almost unchanged from the S22, the 25 W wired charging limit, and satellite messaging not enabled even though the modem supports it.
TechRadar: Samsung Galaxy S23 reviewBuyers of refurbished S23 units on Best Buy Canada mostly described how sellers graded them: many buyers reported frame scratches, worn edge paint or a missing SIM tray on units sold as “excellent”, while some found theirs like new. Two buyers said Samsung’s built-in diagnostic water-seal (internal pressure) test failed, and one reported 93% battery health. Single reports include a microphone that did not work, heat while charging, a battery that became unusable within three months and a unit sold as unlocked that arrived with carrier software.
Best Buy Canada: refurbished Samsung Galaxy S23 128 GB customer reviews