Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Many people are comparing the Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S21, to see whether the latest flagship is worth the upgrade.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has been released making it the first big phone launch of 2023. This sleek and powerful smartphone has been met with impressive demand and good reviews, leading many to consider upgrading to it.
The release also had a ripple effect on prices for other phones in the Galaxy range. We’ve already seen a price drop for the Samsung Galaxy S22, and it’s likely we will see the same for the S21, a phone which, despite its release date being two years ago, is still an impressive and capable device.
This makes the choice between the two phones a harder call to make. To simplify things we’ve broken down and compared the specs, design, features and price of both phones. This gives you a full overview of them both, meaning you can make a more informed purchase.
So let’s get into it. Here are the key differences and similarities between the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S21.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 – Specs
| Specs | Samsung Galaxy S23 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
| Display | 6.1 inch AMOLED | 6.2 inch AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340p | 1080 x 2400p |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Chip | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 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 | 3,900mAh | 4,000mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired, 15W wireless | 25W wired, 15W wireless |
Looking at the specs alone you might think these phones are almost identical. However, in reality, there are some key differences that really affect performance.
The most important is the upgraded processor that features on the Galaxy S23. It comes with a second generation Snapdragon 8 chip from Qualcomm, their latest and most up to date offering. In fact, only a handful of phones currently available have this high-end CPU.
What’s the effect of this? Well, it improves performance across the board. That means smoother scrolling, increased energy efficiency and improved multitasking capabilities, as well as increased performance in mobile gaming.
The higher energy optimisation is significant enough that the Galaxy S23 battery lasts longer than the S21, despite having a smaller actual battery size.
The S21 does sport a higher pixel count, though this is only slight and accounted for by the larger size of the screen, 6.2 inches versus the 6.1 display on the S23.
As for the camera, the S21 is now two generations old meaning the S23 does boast the superior picture quality. A big part of this is thanks to the new and improved camera sensor Samsung put on the Galaxy S22 and which they have carried over to the S23. However, a lot of the major improvements have been saved for the S23 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 – Features
Feature-wise these two phones are pretty similar. This is because Samsung has opted for a series of subtle but well placed improvements for their latest phone, rather than a major upgrade.
Both have the option for an always on display where you can see the time and important notifications. This is done incredibly efficiently and at a lower brightness setting than normal use, so the effects on your battery aren’t significant.
Elsewhere both phones come without a headphone jack and with USB-C charging, so there’s nothing to separate them there.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 – Design
These two phones do have some noticeable design differences. For example, there are changes to the configuration of the rear cameras on the Galaxy S23. Here Samsung brings the separately fitted lenses from the S22 Ultra and puts them on the standard S23. This replaces the ‘Contour Cut’ camera block which appears on the Galaxy S21.
There are also thicker bezels on the S21, though only slightly. This increases the sense that the S23 is the better-looking phone when it comes to design.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 – Value for money
Samsung has impressively managed to, yet again, keep prices consistent for their Galaxy range. This means the brand-new Galaxy S23 will retail for $799. this is the exact same price the S22 cost on its release day.
Often prices are cut for flagships when their successors are released so it’s worth shopping around. If you find a good offer you can potentially increase the value for money even more.
If you are looking to buy a new phone that could potentially last you a good few years, the Galaxy S23 is a sensible investment, and will likely be supported with updates for longer than the older S21.
Check price: Samsung Galaxy S21 on Samsung
Check Price: Samsung Galaxy S23 on Samsung
Which one should you go for?
These are two quite different phones, which both offer great performance for their price. This means that which one you should go for comes down to preference.
The more budget conscious should opt for the Samsung Galaxy S21. Despite its older age, this phone is far from outdated, with an impressive camera, high definition display and gargantuan battery life. The release of the next generation of Galaxy phones will likely drive the price down even more, making the deal sweeter.
However, if the Galaxy S23 is within your budget it is, without a doubt, the superior phone. This is thanks to its improved camera, sleeker design and new CPU making it a more powerful device. Furthermore, as it was released more recently it will likely be supported with updates further into the future than the S21.
If you’re looking to invest in a brand new phone to last you a while, it does often make sense to go for the latest phone with the most up to date technology.
