Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S22: Should you upgrade?

Each year, Samsung unveils a new smartphone packed with upgrades designed to tempt you. But is the latest model always worth the switch? With the release of the Galaxy S23, Samsung gives the users what they're looking for, but do the specs justify the upgrade?

Did Samsung listen and make the improvements we asked for? After spending time with the Samsung Galaxy S23, I can confirm it has. However, on paper, Samsung beefed things up a little on the inside while streamlining stuff on the outside. In real-life use, the gains show, making this a nice step in the right direction for Samsung's smallest flagship phone.

That said, the Galaxy S22 was no slouch, either. With the recent price drop, it's still a phone worth considering if you can find a good deal. Here, we'll compare the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S23 to see which fits you better and help you determine whether an upgrade is necessary.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S22: Design

After mostly copying/pasting the S21 design into the Galaxy S22, Samsung opted for a fresher take on the Galaxy S23. It removed the camera island on the phone's top corner and protruded the three camera modules individually out of the rear panel. The effect is pretty clean, giving LG Velvet without the raindrop effect.

Samsung wanted to give the Galaxy S23 series a more cohesive design and did a great job at it. The result is a flatter back that feels less busy without the camera island, similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

This design might look familiar since Samsung has also used it for its mid-range/budget smartphones. For example, the design applies to the Galaxy A14 5G and has continued the same design for the new S24 series and the recent A-series models. However, the design does make the Galaxy S23 look less distinctive than its budget smartphones. Not to mention, it is pretty dull compared to other phones.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 still stands out with its unique camera island. It also has some nice colors, like our favorite green or the newer Bora Purple. The Galaxy S23 mixes it up and uses a different green hue, but it doesn't seem to stand out. Some online-exclusive colors include Graphite, Cream, Violet, and Sky Blue.

Besides the cameras and colors, the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S22 look similar. This includes the 6.1-inch display with a hole-punch selfie camera, a slightly curved aluminum frame, and the placement of the ports. Unfortunately, the power and volume buttons have shifted quite a bit on the Galaxy S23, so if you were considering using a Galaxy S22 case for your S23, think again. It's unfortunate that Samsung continues to tout its sustainability efforts, only to render its previous flagship cases useless for those upgrading. But I digress.

It's great that Samsung slapped Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the Galaxy S23 series. The addition of the Victus 2 means that it should be able to withstand drops onto uneven surfaces like concrete, but hopefully, your phone won't have to suffer such drops. I'm not brave enough to purposefully try this with the S23, but I'll take Samsung at its word. The S22 has withstood the tests of time and several drops, with only some scratches on the display as proof of its trials and tribulations. Still, you should consider slapping on a Galaxy S23 case or screen protector. Adding these accessories will help your phone last longer.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S22: Specs & performance

The devices don't just look distinct on the outside; Samsung has also made some changes on the inside. For starters, the Galaxy S23 now uses a Snapdragon chip globally. Samsung's use of the Snapdragon chip is excellent news for users in countries where Samsung sells Exynos variants.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy features a more powerful prime core than the previous model. It is also clocked much higher than the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, meaning it should perform better than many of the best Android phones currently powered by the new chip. Although the Galaxy S22 was powerful, it suffered from some early throttling and thermal issues. Qualcomm seemed to learn from the introduction of the 8+ Gen 1, and in my experience, the 8 Gen 2 also takes these lessons to heart.

When performing various tasks or playing graphically intensive games, the Galaxy S23 gets a little warm, but it doesn't seem nearly as hot as the Galaxy S22 when performing the same tasks. This is likely thanks to the new chip and a larger vapor chamber for better cooling.

In our chip comparison, we see that the 8 Gen 2 offers noticeable performance and battery life improvements, which also translate into real-life use. The Galaxy S22 suffered from poor battery life. In my experience, the phone can hardly last half a day without being charged. Fortunately, Samsung seemed to have heard our complaints and gave the S23 more juice. The extra 200mAh may not seem like a lot, but it makes a big difference.

If I start the day at 100%, Galaxy S23 can easily last through the day and possibly until the next morning. It gets around six hours of screen-on time, although your mileage may vary. I have to say that it's very refreshing to have a phone that I don't have to charge halfway through the day or when I have one foot out the door. I can leave my house with a 30% charge without the usual battery unease that I get with the S22, and this is probably the most essential change Samsung has made with the new phone.

The S22 is also upgradeable to One UI 6.1, which Samsung initially launched with the S24 series. This means the 2022 flagship can also take advantage of some of the Galaxy AI features from the latest models. The S23 series began receiving the One UI 6.1 update by the end of March 2024. 

I had no complaints about the brightness on the S22, but Samsung has made improvements here, too. Somewhat of the smaller phone pulling the short end of the stick, Samsung has increased the peak brightness from 1,300 nits on the Galaxy S22 to 1,750 nits on the Galaxy S23, matching that of the S23 Plus and S23 Ultra. The increase in brightness should result in better outdoor visibility, and it's relatively noticeable in my experience.

Samsung also added Wi-Fi 6E to the Galaxy S23, allowing it to achieve more consistent speeds. Despite being on the other models in the series, this feature is oddly absent from the Galaxy S22. Unfortunately, neither comes with UWB onboard.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S22: Cameras

The two camera sets are similar in terms of raw specs. Unfortunately, they may not compare to the impressive Galaxy S23 Ultra camera, which has a whopping 200MP sensor, but the S23 and S22 offer respectable specs.

Both Samsung smartphones have 50MP primary sensors, 12MP ultrawide cameras, and 10MP telephoto sensors. Thanks to iOS and AI processing, Samsung also boasts enhanced Nightography capabilities. In my time with the Galaxy S22, it performed admirably in low-light situations with images and video, even competing with the Pixel 7. This remains true with the S23, but Samsung appears to have made some processing changes that drastically changed the phone's output.

The Galaxy S22's pictures are bright and detailed, not overly dramatic with contrast or colors. However, the Galaxy S23 seems to punch up the contrast a bit when comparing the photos. The result is photos with much more detail but perhaps a bit too much sharpness compared to the softer, more natural images from the S22. What do you prefer in a camera lens?

For example, clouds were less white in the S23 images but usually more detailed. The S23 also doesn't appear to overexpose as much, but the S22 images appear brighter overall indoors and in low-light situations. By comparison, the S23 photos are also a bit cooler.

Selfies get a bit of an upgrade thanks to the Galaxy S23's new 12MP sensor. The added resolution brings more detail to images, which is nice for people who post a lot on social media. But once again, I find that I sometimes prefer the softer images from the S22.

Fortunately, both phones offer plenty of camera settings so you can adjust your images and selfies to capture the way you want. In addition to the Camera Assistant app, there are manual camera modes for photos and pictures, which gives users even more ways to improve their camera experience.

Unfortunately, the S23's shutter speed is slow, just like the Galaxy S22, leaving room for improvement. However, Portrait mode seems much better at edge detection and identifying inanimate objects, which the S22 often has trouble with.

There isn't a massive difference in video between the S23 and S22, which is perfectly fine. The S23 now offers 8K video capture at 30 fps, which offers noticeably smoother output compared to the 8K 24 fps on the S22. That said, 8K capture is still pretty niche. Otherwise, the video is still significant in both day and night settings, and you'll notice some of the same processing changes, resulting in more contrast and detail.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S22: Which should you buy?

I have no trouble deciding between the Galaxy S22 and S23. The S23 seems to address almost everything I found wrong with the S22, and there weren't many things on that list. The Galaxy S22 is powerful, but the S23 takes it up a notch with the new chipset. A longer-lasting battery is a big deal for most people, especially if you want to avoid frequently charging your phone.

Regarding design, it's a matter of choice, but I like the S23's plainness, even if I prefer the Galaxy S22's color options.

Of course, pricing is always a factor. The Galaxy S23 now starts at $674 on Amazon, but the Galaxy S22 is more challenging to find brand new unless you look at renewed options or via carriers. 

It's not easy to choose between the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the S22 when you're considering upgrading. If you can find great trade-in deals for the S23, go for it. However, aside from the older chipset and poor battery life, the Galaxy S22 is still a great device with a phenomenal camera and was one of the best Android phones of 2022.

Sticking with the S22 for a bit longer may be worth it, especially since Samsung has added many of the S24's AI features. Like the S23, the Galaxy S22 gets four major OS upgrades and five years of security updates, so you'll receive support for a few more years.

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