Quick Verdict
Reviewers call the Galaxy S23+ the Goldilocks pick of the S23 lineup: it inherits the Ultra's bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, 45W charging, IP68 and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, but in a more comfortable 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X body with a 4,700mAh battery and an 8GB/256GB UFS 4.0 base. The trade-offs versus the Ultra are real — no 200MP main, no 10x periscope, no S Pen, and only FHD+ resolution — but at $999 (and well under in 2026) it delivers the same software experience, charging speed and 1750-nit screen at a lower price. The recurring critique is that it's an 'awkward middle child' offering little beyond a bigger screen vs the standard S23 for $200 more. Buy this if you want the S23's processor and software in a comfortable hand-friendly body; skip it if you need the Ultra's zoom and S Pen, or if Pixel 7 Pro / OnePlus 11 deals fit your budget.
Pros reviewers agree on
Strengths consistently called out across sources
- Same bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (3.36GHz) chip as the S23 Ultra — flagship performance, more efficient than the Exynos S22+
- Same 45W wired + 15W wireless charging as the Ultra (only the standard S23 is stuck at 25W)
- 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120Hz and 1750-nit peak — beautifully bright in sunlight
- Excellent endurance from a 4,700mAh battery and the efficient chip — GSMArena measured ~14h Active Use score and 111h endurance, owners report 12h+ days with 40% left
- IP68 + Gorilla Glass Victus 2 + Armor Aluminum frame, redesigned floating-camera look borrowed from the Ultra
- 4 OS updates / 5 years of security — among the best support in Android
Cons reviewers agree on
Weaknesses flagged across multiple sources
- 'Awkward middle child' — doesn't stand out vs the Ultra (which adds S Pen, 10x periscope, 200MP camera, QHD+) or vs the cheaper standard S23
- No S Pen and no periscope telephoto — the two features most reviewers cite as the Ultra's real edge
- Only FHD+ display resolution (not QHD+ like the Ultra) — sharp enough but not class-leading
- Box cable doesn't trigger 45W charging — must buy a separate 5A PPS cable to hit rated speeds
- $999 launch price feels steep next to the OnePlus 11 (80W charging at lower price) and Pixel 7 Pro
What reviewers disagree on
Points where expert verdicts diverge — weigh based on your priorities
- Worth the $200 over the standard S23 — Matthew Moniz called it 'the best Galaxy S23'; others say bigger screen + 45W charging isn't enough of a step up
- vs Pixel 7 Pro at $300 less — TechOdyssey recommends 'zero people' buy the S23+ over the Pixel 7 Pro; others value Samsung's better update policy and battery
- Hardware-issue concerns — some early units showed a known display blur problem (r/Android thread); most owners never encountered it
How This Review Was Created
15Publications
13YouTube Reviews
5Reddit Threads
33Total Sources
High ConfidenceReviews & long-term tests published February 2023 – May 2026
This is a synthesis of expert reviews and user discussions; we may not have physically tested the product. See methodology.
Detailed Breakdown
Refined floating-camera design borrowed from the Ultra, 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 1750-nit peak. The display is sharp enough and beautifully bright; only the Ultra's QHD+ panel ranks higher inside Samsung's lineup.
- 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1200 nits HBM, 1750 nits peak — same panel quality as the Ultra at lower resolution.— GSMArena
- S23 and S23+ adopt the floating-camera look first seen on the Ultra — cohesive trio design without the camera-island contour bump.— The Verge
- Display brightness boosted from 1300 to 1750 nits — easy to use in direct sunlight even with auto brightness off.— Engadget
- Three years on, the body 'still feels premium and modern' and the display 'still feels every bit like a 2026 smartphone'.— YouTube — Hh8PGvUlXxs 3 years later
- After tempered glass install, the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor becomes unreliable — a recurring owner complaint (the cheaper A54's optical sensor works better with a screen protector).— Samsung Community LT review
Same 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto trio as the standard S23 — no 200MP main, no 10x periscope. Versatile and consistent in daylight; the Ultra's zoom range is the clearest gap.
- Cameras: 50MP main (f/1.8, OIS, Dual Pixel AF), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120°), 10MP 3x telephoto (no 10x periscope like the Ultra), 12MP selfie.— Notebookcheck
- Stuff verdict: 'some of the best mainstream smartphone cameras' — the 3x zoom is a step up from rivals stuck at 2x.— Stuff
- Consistent main camera; can occasionally overexpose with Scene Optimizer on indoors, but largely reliable.— YouTube — Matthew Moniz
- 8K video now 30fps (up from 24fps on the S22+), 4K60 on main and selfie cameras with the new 12MP front sensor.— YouTube — ZONEofTECH
- The 10x periscope is the Ultra's biggest camera edge — without it, the S23+ caps at 3x optical and 30x digital, where the Ultra does 10x optical and 100x digital moon shots.— YouTube — Ln5QWf4yoUE comparison
The bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy and 8GB RAM make it indistinguishable from the Ultra for everyday use — much cooler than the Exynos S22+ and still smooth in 2026.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy at 3.36GHz with 8GB RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 base — same chip as the Ultra, runs the global market without Exynos split.— 9to5Google
- No overheating even with sustained gaming and 4K video editing — a clear improvement on the Exynos S22+'s thermal issues.— YouTube — 6 Months Later daily driver
- Three years in (2026), the chip 'still handles everything' — app opening, multitasking and games like Apex still smooth.— YouTube — 3 Years Later review
- Light Mode performance profile clocks down the X3 core slightly to preserve power without noticeably impacting performance — free extra battery life.— YouTube — UKOvTaoGmpI
4,700mAh paired with the efficient chip delivers excellent real-world endurance — owners regularly hit 5-8 hours SOT and full days with 40% to spare. Charging is 45W rated (the standard S23 is only 25W) but caps out at ~1h6m to full and needs the correct PPS cable.
- 4,700mAh battery (up 200mAh from S22+) and 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy give a measured 14h Active Use score and a 111h GSMArena endurance rating — beating the S22+'s 97h.— GSMArena battery test
- Real-world: 5-8 hours of SOT typical, with one owner reporting 12 hours of mixed use (YouTube, gaming, Bluetooth, texting) and still 40% left.— Reddit r/Samsung
- After 2.5 years, moderate use still gets 2 days of battery — long-term efficiency holds up well.— YouTube — 3ozwxY13K3I 2.5 yr review
- 45W wired charging: 21% in 10 min, 39% in 20 min, 55% in 30 min, 79% in 45 min, full in ~1h9m.— YouTube — Techniqued 45W test
- ChargerLAB confirmed: peak charging is ~40W (drops to 33W after 6 min); a PPS-capable charger is needed — without it the rate caps at 27W.— YouTube — ChargerLAB
- 15W wireless charging supported (Qi); 4.5W reverse wireless to top up Galaxy Buds or a Watch.— GSMArena
- Critical gotcha: the in-box cable doesn't trigger Super Fast Charging 2.0 — must buy a 5A PPS cable separately, same issue as the Ultra.— YouTube — GadgetMatch charge test
One UI 5.1 on Android 13 with 4 OS updates + 5 years of security — the same industry-leading commitment as the Ultra. Smooth, feature-packed and well-supported through Android 17.
- One UI 5.1 on Android 13 with 4 major Android updates + 5 years of security patches — one of the best software policies in Android.— Wired
- Modes and Routines is a standout — automate settings or features based on time of day or location.— Stuff
- Three years on, regular updates have arrived, currently on One UI 6.1/Android 14 with One UI 7/Android 15 incoming.— YouTube — cCpq9FmnFGo 2 years later
- One UI 8 update brought RAM-management aggressiveness and stuck-screen glitches for some FE owners — watch for instability on older S23 models after major updates.— YouTube — eN7VawUXD-0 update issues
Launched at $999, now $400-500 used / refurbished — strong value for the chip + charging combo, but the standard S23 ($799) and the Ultra ($1,199) overshadow it inside Samsung's own lineup.
- Launched at $999 — middle of the S23 lineup; now ~$400-500 used and increasingly seen at refurbished discounts.— YouTube — 2.5 Year Review
- Phone Arena: 'awkward middle child position, failing to stand out in any meaningful way when compared to its siblings while delivering excellent value of its own at these latest discounts'.— Phone Arena
- Matthew Moniz: 'Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review - The Best Galaxy S23!' — gets the Ultra's chip and 45W charging at $200 less, without the Ultra's bulk.— YouTube — Matthew Moniz
- Counter: TechOdyssey would recommend 'zero people' buy the S23+ over a Pixel 7 Pro that's hundreds cheaper with similar cameras.— YouTube — TechOdyssey value review
- vs OnePlus 11 ($699 launch with 80W charging): the S23+ wins on software support and the 3x telephoto; OnePlus wins on charging and price.— Reddit r/OnePlus
- If you find it at a good price ($400-500 used in 2026), it's still a solid daily driver — battery, screen and chip all hold up.— YouTube — 2.5 Year Review
Long-term Verdict
What creators say after 30, 100, or 365 days of real-world use — the post-honeymoon reality that launch-day reviews can't cover.
Six-month, one-year, 2.5-year and 3-year long-term reviews land on a consistent verdict: the S23+ has aged remarkably well. Battery and performance are still strong in 2026, the 1750-nit display still feels modern, and at $400-500 used it's recommended as a solid daily driver — just be aware of post-update One UI quirks and the lack of S Pen/periscope vs the Ultra.
- Three years later in 2026: 'still looks premium and modern', performance still strong on the 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, 4,700mAh still delivers a full day.— YouTube — Hh8PGvUlXxs 3 Years Later
- Six months in as a daily driver: ~5 hours of SOT typical, never overheats — a clear contrast to the older Note/Exynos thermal issues.— YouTube — Outta Time Prash 6 months
- S23+ Revisited: 2-3 hours of moderate use a day consistently gives 2 days of battery, sometimes 1.5 days under heavier load.— YouTube — Outta Time Prash Revisited
- 2.5-year verdict (2025): display still feels smooth and vibrant, brightness holds up, 4,700mAh still serves well — solid at $400-500.— YouTube — 10RVXth6wFQ 2.5 Year Review
- 2026 long-term verdict from Simple Alpaca: 'still feels like a $1,000-plus phone' — exterior holds up, but battery has degraded a little after 3 years.— YouTube — Simple Alpaca 2026
- Two months in: flat 6.6" display, 1750 nits, Dynamic AMOLED — 'one of the best display manufacturers' shows in real life, generally avoid the second-year battery degradation.— YouTube — Cclkc565oBI 2 months
- Three months in: display held up well with no cracks, the 3x telephoto and 8K30 video remain meaningful upgrades over the S22.— YouTube — QsmLNsy1_2E 3 months
- Owner switched from S21 Ultra and went 12 hours of mixed use (YouTube, gaming, Bluetooth, texting) still on 40% — 'insane battery life'.— Reddit r/Samsung
- One UI 8.0 update on S23 family brought aggressive RAM management and occasional stuck-screen glitches — watch for after-update instability.— YouTube — eN7VawUXD-0 update issues
- Long-term fingerprint complaint: ultrasonic sensor becomes unreliable after applying tempered glass — a known weak point across the S23 series.— Samsung Community LT review
Real-World Tests
Battery drain runs, durability tests, camera shootouts, and gaming benchmarks — the numbers that only video testers capture.
Hands-on tests put hard numbers on the S23+: GSMArena measured ~14h Active Use + 111h endurance, drain-shootout videos hit 6h28m total runtime (beating the S22+ and even the S24+), and 45W charging delivers 55% in 30 min / full in ~1h9m on a PPS cable. The takeaway is that the 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy gives the Plus genuinely excellent efficiency for its battery size.
- GSMArena lab: Active Use Score ~14 hours, overall endurance 111 hours — beating the S22+'s 97 hours and closing in on the S21+'s legendary 114 hours.— YouTube — GSMArena battery test
- Extreme drain shootout: S23+ ran 6h28m38s — beat the S22+ (5h1m28s) and even the S24+ (5h41m10s) thanks to the 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy's efficiency vs Exynos 2400 in the S24+.— YouTube — WVQ2kr7dZR4 drain shootout
- Real-world test: 7h21m of SOT with 15% left including YouTube, gaming, Maps, Apex Legends, 4K video editing — extrapolates to ~8h of SOT total.— YouTube — 6HaZvNppGNY day test
- Multi-phone drain (S22/S22 Ultra/S23/S23+/S23 Ultra): S23+ outlasted all siblings except the Ultra, with the regular S23 in 3rd at 8h54m.— YouTube — giMiO5kQQlo lineup test
- 45W charging measured: 21% in 10 min, 39% in 20 min, 55% in 30 min, 79% in 45 min, 95% in 60 min, full at 1h9m — close to Samsung's spec.— YouTube — Techniqued charge test
- ChargerLAB precision test: peak power ~40W with a PPS-capable charger, dropping to 33W after 6 min; full in 1h26m. Without PPS the rate caps at 27W, full in 1h30m.— YouTube — ChargerLAB
- Charging temperature: ~34.5°C at 5 min, ~39.9°C at 30 min, peak below 40°C — runs cooler than most fast-charging rivals.— YouTube — ChargerLAB thermal
- Critical real-world finding: in-box cable doesn't trigger Super Fast Charging 2.0 — a separate 5A PPS cable is required to hit the rated 45W.— YouTube — GadgetMatch 45W test
- Auto-brightness real-world: matches the Ultra's 1750-nit peak; no problem seeing the screen in direct sunlight.— YouTube — jwwlAsSpDJo daily use
- Real-world video test: 4K30/60 on the main camera is excellent with the same OIS module gains as the Ultra, but no 8K periscope footage option.— YouTube — QsmLNsy1_2E video test
- Real-world charging convenience: 0→100% in just over an hour means shower-time top-ups reliably finish the phone — a quality-of-life win even at 'only' 45W.— YouTube — jwwlAsSpDJo charging
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Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung Galaxy S23+
Update History
- May 20, 2026— Review published
- May 20, 2026— Added Real-World Tests section (11 points)
- May 20, 2026— Added Long-term Verdict section (10 points)
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This synthesis review was compiled from 33 independent sources. TechTalkTown did not receive products or compensation from Samsung.