The New Samsung Galaxy S23 Smartphone Captures Milestone Moments in Crisp Detail (& The Battery Life is Impressive)

Author image: A photo of Destinee Scott.

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Published Feb 22, 2023

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Samsung

We didn't think anything could top Beyoncé's "Renaissance 2023 World Tour" announcement, but that was before we caught wind of the new Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones during the Samsung Unpacked 2023 event on Jan. 31—they're finally available for purchase in phantom black, cream, green and lavender matte hues at Samsung and most major retailers.

Let us just say the latest camera is a serious upgrade from our current phones with more megapixels (up to 200MP, specifically) and an advanced up to 8K video resolution to start. In a nutshell, these devices are designed to help you capture milestone memories (like your anniversary), best selfies and every moment you want to memorialize in crisp detail.

The S23 Ultra, S23, S23+ are made from recycled aluminum, glass and plastics and feature a more rigid screen made from a special Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 material.

We've got our eye on the sleek and slim S23 Ultra model in particular, which has the highest battery life of the three (5,000mAh that could last up to 1.5 days), an embedded S pen (to doodle and edit on screen) and the biggest 6.8-inch display, among other things.

However, you should know that while the S23 Ultra starts at $1,200, not factoring in Samsung's trade-in offers through Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T and various storage capacity options (including 256GB, 512GB and 1TB), the S23+ is selling for less, starting at $1,000 with 256 GB and 512 GB storage options. The S23 is even more affordable, starting at $800 (in 128GB and 256GB variants). To reiterate, the pricing for each model is as follows:

Samsung Galaxy S23: $800, 6.1 inch screen with 50 megapixel sensor
Samsung Galaxy S23+: $1,000, 6.6 inch screen with 50 megapixel sensor
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: $1,200, 6.8 inch screen with 200 megapixel sensor

As for trade-in offers, which will essentially reduce the price of the phone when you trade in your old eligible smartphone (from Apple, LG and Google, to name a few), Samsung is offering up to $1,000 for unlocked devices, and with carriers including Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T and U.S. Cellular. Here's the break-down:

Unlocked trade-in offer: $700 off with an eligible trade-in on the S23 and S23+ and $750 off the S23 Ultra. (Plus, receive $100 worth of instant Samsung credits when you buy the S23 Ultra or $50 for the S23+.)
Verizon trade-in offer: $800 off for new and current customers with select trade-in and select 5G unlimited plans. (Plus, receive $100 worth of credits when you buy the S23 Ultra.)
T-Mobile trade-in offer: $1,000 off when you purchase a monthly plan with an existing or new Magenta MAX rate plan, as well as your current smartphone trade-in value. (Plus, receive $100 worth of credits when you buy the S23 Ultra or the S23+.)
AT&T trade-in offer: $800 off with a qualifying installment payment plan, eligible smartphone trade-in and eligible AT&T unlimited plan on the S23 and $1,000 off the S23+ and S23 Ultra. (Plus, receive $100 worth of credits when you buy the S23 Ultra or $50 for the S23+.)
U.S. Cellular trade-in offer: $700 off with an eligible smartphone trade-in on the S23 and S23+ and $750 off the S23 Ultra. (Plus, receive $100 worth of credits when you buy the S23 Ultra or the the S23+.)

What's the Difference Between the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Samsung Galaxy S23+?

In simple terms, the S23+ has a better battery life (4,700 mAh), a bigger screen (6.6 inches) and higher storage options (256 GB and 512 GB). Whereas the S23 has a lower battery life (3,900 mAh), the screen is smaller (6.1 inches) and lower storage options (128 GB and 256 GB).

However, both devices feature a 50-megapixel camera with more dynamic color than previous versions. Plus, a new 12-megapixel camera with better autofocus, better zoom function and Samsung AI (which helps maintain selfie-worthy lighting day and night). They also have a fingerprint scanner and use the latest 5G cellular technology. And on top of that, thanks to ongoing OS upgrades and security updates, the phone is built to last for years.

We'll leave it up to you to decide what's best for you, but all of them sound like a win-win-win to us. Especially since Samsung is offering the phone in exclusive colors, along with free storage upgrades and instant Samsung credits on its site.

As for us, we're already thinking of all the top-notch photos and videos we'll capture on Beyoncé's tour.

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Destinee Scott

Associate Sales and Deals Editor

Destinee Scott is PureWow’s Associate Sales and Deals Editor. She’s been chasing sales and deals for a decade and knows a good one when she sees one for fashion, home, beauty...

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