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You might be curious about the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Plus so we’re going to break it down for you.
The ‘Plus’ phones are the middle children of the Samsung Galaxy range, boasting a larger size and some other tweaks to the standard edition. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus was released on February 17th so now it makes sense to see how it compares with previous generations.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is two years old, having been released on the 29th of January 2021. It was very popular on release and many still have the phone today, a testament to its durability. So it is worth upgrading to the S23 Plus?
We’re going to describe the key differences between these two devices in 4 key areas: specs, features, design and value for money. Doing this should help you know which one makes the most sense for you. Let’s get into it.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Plus – Specs
| Specs | Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus |
| Display | 6.6 inch AMOLED | 6.7 inch AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340p | 1080 x 2400p |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB |
| Rear cameras | 50 MP telephoto, 10MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide | 64 MP telephoto, 10MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide |
| Front camera | 12MP | 10MP |
| Battery size | 4,700mAh | 4,500mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired, 15W wireless | 25W wired, 15W wireless |
Specs give us a good overview of just where the differences between these two phones lie. So how do these translate to actual performance?
Well, the most important difference here is the Galaxy S23’s upgraded Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU. This is a faster and more powerful chip than the Snapdragon 888 we find on the S21 Plus. As a result of this, the S23 Plus is better at the more demanding aspects of phone usage like mobile gaming, as well as being quicker in general daily use too.
Samsung has also seemingly abandoned its own Exynos lines of CPUs meaning that, unlike with the S21 Plus, phones sold in all regions will come with a Snapdragon chip.
Another great feature present on the S23 Plus but lacking on the S21 Plus is an adaptive refresh rate. While both have an impressively fast 120Hz maximum, it is the S23 that can reduce this refresh rate when necessary. This can significantly increase battery life.
As for similarities, there are plenty. Both have the same beautiful dynamic AMOLED display. This offers vibrant colours and a high peak brightness.
Improvements on the camera front in the generations between the S21 and S23, mean that pictures taken on the S23 will be noticeably better than on the S21. A lot of this is down to the new camera sensor Samsung has introduced.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Plus – Features
When you are using normal mobile service, the S23 Plus pip the S21 Plus in terms of speed. While both are 5G compatible it is faster on the S23 Plus thanks to its superior chip. This is capable of supporting every commercial 5G band, all the way from 6MHz up to 41GHz
Both have 5g and wireless charging. The wireless is limited to 15W speed for both, though the new S23 Plus has a far faster wired charging speed, clocking in at a lighting-fast 45W.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Plus – Design
The differences in design are amongst the more overt changes Samsung has made to the S23 Plus.
Gone is the blended camera island which featured on both the S21 Plus and S22 Plus. What we get in its place are 4 individual camera cut-outs. These sit flush against the rear of the device making for a sleek and confident look.
Both are durable with an IP68 rating. While not much separates the phones in terms of durability, the Galaxy S23 Plus does have the latter edition of Gorilla Glass protecting the screen, one which is stronger.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Plus – Value for money
Samsung has made a conscious effort to keep prices stable over multiple generations of phones. Perhaps surprisingly they have managed to do the same again here, meaning that the S23 Plus will cost $999, the exact same as the S21 costs on its release day.
For this, the specs are far superior but it’s not all bad news for the S21 Plus. This new release is also likely to drive down the prices of the S21 Plus, though it is now only available as a renewed phone. You can check the exact kind of prices the S21 Plus goes for now from the link below.
Price check: Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus on Amazon
Buy Now: Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus on Samsung
Which one should you go for?
As is common in the world of tech, which one you should go for comes down to the balancing of two factors: price versus performance.
For some, the high specs and high performance of the Galaxy S23 will justify its higher price. You can be certain that Samsung will be offering support on the phone for 2 years after the S21 will be left without updates.
However, for others, just how the price of the S21 is now will be enough to tempt them in. After all, you are hardly getting an outdated phone, instead, it is one with an impressive camera, fast processor and good quality camera.
