Samsung Galaxy S23 Review: 8.6/10 - Compact Flagship Powerhouse
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At a Glance
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the best compact Android flagship you can buy, offering a premium build, a bright and smooth display.
Prices last checked June 2026
Overview
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is a compact flagship that packs top-tier hardware into a 6.1-inch body, making it one of the few truly small Android phones with premium specifications in a market dominated by oversized devices. Released in February 2023 at $799, it is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, a custom overclocked variant reaching 3.36GHz for superior CPU and GPU performance over the standard chip. The triple camera system, headlined by a 50MP main sensor with a 10MP telephoto offering 3x optical zoom, delivers versatile photography in a pocket-friendly form that few competitors can match.
Design & Build
Samsung refined the S23’s design with individual floating camera lenses instead of the contour-cut housing from the S22, creating a cleaner, more minimalist look that aligns with the rest of the S23 family. The phone features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both front and back, an Armor Aluminum frame, and an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, making it one of the most durable compact phones you can buy. At just 168 grams with a 7.6mm profile, it remains highly comfortable for one-handed use, a rare quality among modern flagships.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers class-leading performance, scoring over 4,800 in Geekbench 6 multi-core tests and handling demanding games and multitasking effortlessly thanks to improved vapor chamber cooling that keeps thermals in check. The 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display reaches a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, making it far more usable outdoors than its predecessor, while the adaptive 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling and animations fluid. The base 128GB model uses slower UFS 3.1 storage instead of the faster UFS 4.0 found on the 256GB variant, and there is no microSD card slot for expansion, which feels restrictive at this price.
Features
The camera system combines a 50MP main sensor with a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, producing sharp, vibrant photos with excellent portrait mode quality that rivals the Google Pixel 7. Battery life is a mixed bag: the 3,900mAh battery delivers reasonable endurance thanks to the efficient chipset, but the 25W wired charging is noticeably slower than competitors, taking about 71 minutes for a full charge, and no charger is included in the box. The phone ships with One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 and benefits from Samsung’s extended software commitment including up to 7 years of security updates, making it a strong choice for long-term ownership.
Pros
- One of the few compact Android flagships with truly premium specs
- Excellent camera system with 3x optical zoom and versatile shooting modes
- Bright 1,750 nit peak display performs well in direct sunlight
- Premium build quality with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 rating
- Long-term software support with extended security update commitment
Cons
- Small 3,900mAh battery yields only moderate battery life under heavy use
- 25W wired charging is slow compared to rivals, and no charger is included
- 128GB base storage with no microSD expansion and slower UFS 3.1 speeds
- $799 starting price feels steep given the battery and charging compromises
- Exynos variants in some international markets deliver inferior performance to the Snapdragon version
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the best compact Android flagship you can buy, offering a premium build, a bright and smooth display, and a versatile camera system in a pocket-friendly size. Its small battery and slow charging speed are genuine drawbacks that competing phones at this price handle better, and the lack of expandable storage limits future-proofing on the base model. If you value a compact form factor and top-tier cameras above all else, the Galaxy S23 is an excellent choice that finally stands on its own as more than just a smaller alternative to the Ultra.
Sources
Where to Buy
Check current pricing on eBay or Amazon.
Prices last checked June 2026. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
📊 Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Competitors
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S23 | Galaxy S24 Ultra | Google Pixel 9 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $799 | $1299 | $999 | $1199 |
| Release | 2023 | -- | -- | -- |
| Rating | 8.6/10 | -- | -- | -- |
| Price | $799 | -- | -- | -- |
| Category | smartphones | -- | -- | -- |
| Status | Available | -- | -- | -- |
| Chipset | -- | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (3.39 GHz prime core) | Google Tensor G4 | -- |
| RAM | -- | 12GB LPDDR5X | 16GB | 8GB |
| Display | -- | 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz LTPO | 6.3" LTPO OLED, 1280x2856, 120Hz | 6.7" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Main Camera | -- | 200MP + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x tele + 50MP 5x tele | 50MP f/1.68 + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP 5x telephoto | 48MP f/1.8 + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP 5x tetraprism telephoto |
| Battery | -- | 5000mAh | 4700mAh | 4422mAh |
| Build | -- | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor | -- | Grade 5 titanium, Ceramic Shield, IP68 |
| Software | -- | 7 years OS + security updates | -- | -- |
| Front Camera | -- | -- | 42MP | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Protection | -- | -- | IP68 | -- |
| Chip | -- | -- | -- | Apple A17 Pro (3nm) |
How We Rate Products
Every product on ComfyTechCheck is scored on a 1 to 10 scale based on a structured evaluation framework. We assess products across five core criteria:
- Performance (30% weight): Speed, responsiveness, and real-world capability in its category.
- Build & Design (20% weight): Material quality, ergonomics, and aesthetic appeal.
- Features (20% weight): Breadth and usefulness of included functionality.
- Value (20% weight): Price-to-performance ratio relative to direct competitors.
- Battery Life or Reliability (10% weight): Endurance testing for portable devices, or long-term dependability for stationary gear.
Scores are assigned by our editorial team after hands-on testing or extensive research using verified user reports, expert analysis, and technical specifications. The weighted average produces the final rating you see on each review. This methodology is inspired by established consumer review standards from organizations such as Consumer Reports and Which?, adapted for the tech product categories we cover.
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