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Tech · Samsung · 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23

The efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in a small body, with security updates that stop in early 2028.

Used Android phones: the update date sets the order — #4

Overall

8.1

out of 10

Axis scores

Strongest on Performance (8.4), weakest on Durability (7.4), a 1.0-point spread. The 8.1 overall is the plain average of all 5 Tech axes, with no weighting.

Samsung Galaxy S23 — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 5 axes. Bars run from a shared zero baseline; longer is better. Samsung Galaxy S23: Performance 8.4, Value 8.2, Durability 7.4, Ease of use 8.2, Design 8.2.PerformanceSamsung Galaxy S23 — Performance 8.4 out of 108.4ValueSamsung Galaxy S23 — Value 8.2 out of 108.2DurabilitySamsung Galaxy S23 — Durability 7.4 out of 107.4Ease of useSamsung Galaxy S23 — Ease of use 8.2 out of 108.2DesignSamsung Galaxy S23 — Design 8.2 out of 108.2Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better
  • Performance — How well it does the core job
  • Value — What the same money buys elsewhere
  • Durability — Failure and fade reports past the one-year mark
  • Ease of use — Setup, daily operation, cleaning, maintenance
  • Design — Build quality and how it sits in a room

Specs

Display
6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 48–120Hz
Chip
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Memory
8GB RAM
Battery
3,900mAh
Cameras
50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto
Charging
25W wired, 15W wireless
Water resistance
IP68
Updates
Four OS upgrades and five years of security (Samsung)

As published by the manufacturer. We didn't measure these ourselves.

Is it for you

Buy it if

  • You want flagship speed in a pocketable phone for well under S24 money
  • You replace phones every two years anyway

Skip it if

  • You want the phone to stay patched past early 2028
  • You are a heavy user, since 3,900mAh at three years old leaves little slack

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was the chip that fixed Samsung’s heat reputation, and every S23 got it worldwide. It remains quick enough that day-to-day use feels close to the S24.

What it does not have is time. Samsung’s five-year security window from a February 2023 launch ends in early 2028, about sixteen months from now. For a phone you plan to hand down or keep four years, that puts it behind both Pixels and the S24 despite the strong hardware.

The small battery is the other limit. Owner reports on three-year-old units commonly describe recharging by late afternoon. Samsung’s authorized repair partners replace S23 batteries, and that cost is worth adding mentally to any listing that shows heavy wear.

Last updated . The scoring method is on how we rank.