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Now that Samsung’s flagship has released, we consider the best Samsung S23 alternatives.
Samsung’s latest flagship released on February 17th and it looks incredible. With an improved camera, a powerful SnapDragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and host of new features, it’s an excellent phone for a reasonable price.
We’ve selected five alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy S23, shining a light on some smartphones which could sway you on price, performance, or even design.
Keep reading as we discuss our selection of phones that make the most worthy alternatives to the Samsung S23.
Best Samsung S23 alternatives
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung S22 Ultra 5G
Size
6.8″
Display
AMOLED
Resolution
1080 x 3088
Processor
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Battery
5000 mAh
Cellular Technology
5G
The Samsung S22 Ultra makes an excellent alternative if you don’t want to commit to the Samsung’s latest flagship.
Though the S22 Ultra now belongs to Samsung’s previous generation, it still has some standout features.
With an incredible 1,750 nits of brightness, combined with Samsung’s world class AMOLED display, expect your content to pop. If the rumors are true, the S23 display will share the same 120Hz refresh rate and 1080 x 3088 resolution as the S22 Ultra, making the S22 Ultra a pretty close match to this year’s flagship. If you’re unsure about which one to go for though make sure to check out our handy guide on Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22 to help you decide
It also performs very well as a camera thanks to ts 108MP main lens and 10 times zoom (f/4.9). It features Portrait Mode, where the phone can recognise minute details and separate them from the background in a portrait shot. Though the S23 takes the camera features to the next level, the S22 Ultra’s camera continues to impress a year on since its release.
It ticks plenty of other important boxes too, including a large 5,000mAh battery that can fully charge in around in an hour. Excitingly, the S22 Ultra can also be used as a power bank to charge a Galaxy Watch or Buds if needed.
A final reason to go for the S22 Ultra as an alternative to the S23 is that it will be supported with OS Upgrades for at least four more years, meaning Samsung users can have more peace of mind buying an older model.
Google 7 Pixel Pro
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Display Size
6.7 inches
Display Type
AMOLED
Resolution
1440x3120p
CPU
Google tensor G2
RAM
8/12GB
Battery
5000mAh
The Google Pixel 7 Pro makes for a great alternative to the Samsung S23 so long as you don’t mind a lower quality camera.
First things first, the Google Pixel 7 Pro has a truly stunning display with a full quad HD resolution of 1440 x 3120p. Its maximum refresh rate is at 120Hz that can be adjusted down to 10Hz, a handy feature for saving battery.
As for battery life, its 5000mAh pretty powerful is already higher than the Galaxy S22’s 3,700mAh battery. This makes the Google Pixel 7 Pro a brilliant choice for those who like to be out and about without worrying about their smartphone draining. Although if you’re still on the fence you might want to check out our handy guide on the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro to help you get a clearer idea of what works better for you.
Although the S23 trumps the Google Pixel 7 Pro in quality, that doesn’t mean its camera is bad – far from it! Its main camera is a great performer in most lighting conditions at 50MP. It features automatic long exposure that turns on in low light conditions.
On a final positive note, the Pixel 7 Pro runs the latest version of Android (Android 13), meaning you can expect five years of security updates promised by Google which is great news for longevity!
OnePlus 10 Pro
OnePlus 10 Pro
Display Size
6.7 inches
Display Type
AMOLED
Resolution
1440x3216p
CPU
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
RAM
8GB/12GB
Battery
5000mAh
The OnePlus 10 Pro makes for an affordable alternative to Samsung’s flagship that seriously undercuts its rivals.
The OnePlus 10 Pro delivers great value without skipping over important features like battery life and AMOLED display. It has a brightness of 1,300 nits, meaning content looks great whether you’re viewing it outdoors or in the dark. Interestingly, OnePlus introduced an algorithm that predicts how bright you like your phone based on your environment which is a worthy mention. Its 85W superfast charging also makes it great for those in a hurry.
It ticks the usual boxes with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ to make the colors pop. Like a lot of premium phones, OnePlus 10 Pro takes great photos. Though it can’t compete with Samsung S23’s 200mp main camera, you can still expect bright and colorful photographs using the main camera’s 48MP f/1.8. An added bonus is ‘fish-eye’ style mode which is pretty fun too.
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G
Samsung S22
Display Size
6.1 inches
Display Type
AMOLED
Resolution
1080x2340p
CPU
Exynos 2200
RAM
8GB
Battery
3700mAh
Samsung’s S22 is a sound choice if you’re a fan of Samsung’s Galaxy lineup, but don’t feel compelled to go all out on the specs.
It stands out as the most affordable Galaxy S22 model, with a bright and colorful AMOLED display. Though the S23 trumps the S22 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, higher resolution and better battery life, the S22 still delivers a great performance.
When set to Natural mode, the S22’s display boasts 110% of the sRGB color spectrum. This impressively matches that of the iPhone 13’s output for a fraction of the price. With a decent brightness of 1,300 nits, you’ll have little issue seeing your screen in bright sunlight.
Its camera doesn’t hit the same levels as we’re expecting with the S23, featuring the same basic setup that Samsung used for the S21. The main camera has a 50MP rating. So, if you truly want your photos to pop, we recommend opting for a slightly more expensive phone.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Size
6.7″
Display
AMOLED
Resolution
1290 x 2796
Processor
Apple A16 Bionic Chip
Battery
4323mAh battery
Cellular Technology
5G
Though some Android users may find this choice controversial, we’ve included Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max because it offers a pretty close match of performance to what we’re expecting with the S23.
Unlike our other choices on this list, the iPhone 14 Pro Max uses the A16 Bionic chip. Without a doubt, the A16 Bionic chip trumps Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip that is fitted in every other phone on this list.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip that’s up to 15% faster and 10% more efficient that 8+Gen1. The difference is even smaller between 8 Gen 2 and the A16 Bionic chip, making them a seriously close match. If you’re still unsure, check out our handy guide to the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max to help you get a clearer understanding of the landscape we’re looking at here.
In terms of battery and charging, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a capacity of 4323mAh with 20W wired charging. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a 3,900 mAh battery which is incredible. Ultimately, these two phones are very evenly matched.
Overall, if you want a phone that seriously challenges Samsung’s recent flagship, and won’t miss the S-Pen, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a strong choice.
Frequently asked questions
When is Samsung S23 coming out?
Samsung Galaxy S23 was released on 17th Feb 2023.
What MP camera does the Samsung S23 have?
The Samsung S23 has a main camera with 200MP.
Is the Samsung S23 battery good?
The Samsung S23 has a battery of 3,900 mAh. This is the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Samsung claim it will last you up to 22 hours.
