Hey there! If you‘re an Android fan like me, you‘re probably already eagerly anticipating the upcoming launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S23 series. As Samsung‘s flagship phone lineup, the Galaxy S series is always highly impressive with cutting-edge specs and innovative new features.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll fill you in on everything we know so far about the Galaxy S23 release date, design, rumored specs, new features, pricing, and more. Let‘s dive in!
Samsung Dominates the Android Market
First, some quick background. Samsung has been the dominant player in the Android space for years now. They currently capture a massive 75% market share in the US and over 20% globally. The Galaxy S lineup makes up a significant chunk of Samsung‘s 195+ million smartphone shipments each quarter.
To put Samsung‘s dominance into perspective, here are the Q3 2022 global market share numbers according to IDC:
| Vendor | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Samsung | 22.7% |
| Apple | 18.8% |
| Xiaomi | 14.5% |
| OPPO | 10.4% |
| vivo | 8.6% |
As you can see, Samsung holds a commanding lead in the competitive Android landscape. The Galaxy S series has been a huge driver behind their success.
The S Series Legacy
Ever since the first Galaxy S model launched back in 2010, the S series has been Samsung‘s most premium flagship phone lineup. The Galaxy S phones introduce Samsung‘s latest and greatest mobile technology innovations each year.
Here‘s a quick look back at some of the major milestones in Galaxy S history:
- Galaxy S (2010) – First Super AMOLED display
- Galaxy S2 (2011) – First dual-core processor
- Galaxy S4 (2013) – First 13MP camera
- Galaxy S6 (2015) – First metal & glass build
- Galaxy S7 (2016) – First IP68 water resistance
- Galaxy S8 (2017) – First nearly bezel-less Infinity Display
- Galaxy S9 (2018) – First variable aperture camera
- Galaxy S10 (2019) – First ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner
- Galaxy S20 (2020) – First 5G support
- Galaxy S21 (2021) – First 1080p screen/plastic back to lower prices
- Galaxy S22 (2022) – First Samsung/AMD co-designed mobile GPU
Based on the history of groundbreaking innovations, you can expect some serious technology upgrades with the upcoming S23 series. But when will it be released?
Pinpointing the Samsung Galaxy S23 Release Date
While Samsung has not officially confirmed the S23 launch timeline yet, we can reasonably deduce the release window based on past schedules:
| Model | Release Month |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S22 | February 2022 |
| Galaxy S21 | January 2021 |
| Galaxy S20 | March 2020 |
| Galaxy S10 | February 2019 |
| Galaxy S9 | March 2018 |
As you can see, Samsung has consistently alternated between February and March for its Galaxy S launches over the past 5 years.
This points strongly to a February 2023 release timeframe for the Galaxy S23 lineup.
Noted Samsung leakers like Ice Universe and Dohyun Kim have corroborated this February target. Historically, Samsung unveils the new phones in February and then releases them 1-2 weeks later.
So you can probably expect to get your hands on the latest S23 model sometime in late February or early March 2023.
What Will the Samsung Galaxy S23 Look Like?
Now, let‘s get into the design and hardware upgrades slated for the Galaxy S23 series.
Renowned smartphone leaker OnLeaks has provided some of the earliest renders and CAD-based renders of the Galaxy S23 lineup.
While the final design could certainly change before launch, here are some key design notes based on these leaked renders:
- The S23 and S23 Plus will stay close to the S22 and S2222 Plus designs with minimal changes.
- The S23 Ultra will get a redesigned camera module that doesn‘t blend into the frame anymore.
- The curve of the display edges will be less pronounced on all models.
- The rear camera humps will be slightly less prominent.
- The phones may be slightly thicker but with trimmed down camera bumps.
- The S23 Ultra will likely retain a 6.8" display, same as the S22 Ultra.
Leaked Galaxy S23 Plus render from OnLeaks/Smartprix
So in summary, while radical changes are unlikely, you can expect subtle refinements to the S23 series design:
- Refined camera module arrangement
- Subtly curved display edges
- Slightly thicker chassis
- Tweaked dimensions
Beyond the standard color options, some leaks point to the S23 Ultra potentially coming in a unique dark red colorway. This would definitely make the top-end model stand out.
Overall though, Samsung looks to be taking an iterative approach to the S23 design – optimizing rather than revolutionizing.
What‘s Under the Hood? Samsung Galaxy S23 Specs and Hardware
Let‘s move on to the more exciting stuff – the upgrades coming to the display, chipset, cameras, battery, and other hardware specs!
Here are the latest leaks and rumors on what internal upgrades the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra models will feature:
Display
- S23 – 6.1" FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz
- S23 Plus – 6.6" FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz
- S23 Ultra – 6.8" QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz
The panels will likely remain AMOLED with punch hole selfie cameras. We should see boosted peak brightness and improved outdoor visibility. The displays will dynamically adjust refresh rates up to 120Hz.
Chipset
All S23 models, globally, are expected to be powered by the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform.
This would be a shift away from the previous split chip strategy, where some regions got Qualcomm and others got Samsung‘s Exynos chips. By unifying on the latest Snapdragon, all variants should see significant performance and efficiency gains.
Early benchmarks of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip show over 30% faster CPU speed and 45% faster graphics versus the prior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This puts the Gen 2 on par with Apple‘s latest A16 Bionic chip.
RAM + Storage
Here are the rumored RAM and storage allotments for each Galaxy S23 model:
- S23 and S23 Plus: 8GB RAM | 128GB storage
- S23 Ultra: 8GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB options
Having 256GB based storage (up from 128GB) on every model would be an excellent upgrade. Power users will also appreciate the 12GB RAM option on the S23 Ultra.
Rear Cameras
While specifics remain uncertain this far ahead of launch, rumors indicate camera upgrades across the board:
- The S23 and S23 Plus may get new 50MP main sensors paired with 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3x telephoto lenses.
- The S23 Ultra will likely retain the same 108MP sensor, but with improved optical stabilization and 10x periscope telephoto zoom.
- The front selfie cameras may be upgraded to 12MP on all models.
Expect to see noticeably better photo and video quality, especially in low light. Samsung is investing heavily in mobile imaging and AI processing. The S23 cameras should take things up a notch.
Battery Size and Charging
Here are the rumored battery capacities for the S23 series:
- Galaxy S23 – 3900 mAh
- Galaxy S23 Plus – 4700 mAh
- Galaxy S23 Ultra – 5000 mAh
These represent slight bump ups from the S22 counterparts:
| Model | S22 Capacity | S23 Rumored Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| S23 | 3700 mAh | 3900 mAh |
| S23 Plus | 4500 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| S23 Ultra | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
Combined with a more efficient Snapdragon chip, these battery boosts should translate to noticeably better battery life. Fast charging support will also improve further.
Other Key Features
Here are some of the other staple features you can expect:
- In-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader
- Facial recognition
- IP68 dust and water resistance
- WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging
- Reverse wireless charging
- S Pen support on S23 Ultra
- DeX for desktop experience
While polish rather than flash may define the S23 series upgrades, meaningful improvements in the power, endurance, photography, and overall user experience should make this lineup compelling for Android enthusiasts.
One UI 5 Software and Special Features
On the software front, the Galaxy S23 series will launch with the newest One UI 5 skin based on Android 13.
One UI 5 will bring fresh UI design flairs, new dynamic effects, stacked widget layouts, expanded customization utilities, and deeper multitasking capabilities.
Some new features rumored for One UI 5 include:
- Enhanced privacy dashboard
- Routines syncing with Google Assistant
- Improved Samsung DeX experience
- Upgraded Bixby voice assistant capabilities
- Refined camera app interface and AI-based modes
- Expanded accessibility features
Samsung may also optimize One UI 5 to strengthen the interplay between Galaxy phones, tablets, and laptops. Seamless connectivity and new multi-device features could be present.
While not a ground-up reimagining, One UI 5 appears set to bring meaningful refinements and functionality upgrades to the slick Galaxy software experience.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Series Pricing and Availability
As with prior launches, Samsung will likely offer both connectivity and storage options. Here‘s an overview of the rumored Samsung Galaxy S23 series lineup:
-
Samsung Galaxy S23 – The mainstream flagship S23 model. Rumored to start around $849.
-
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus – A larger Plus variant with bonus battery life. Likely around $1049 base price.
-
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – The maxed-out S23 flagship with premium specs and S Pen. Expected around $1249 starting price.
Here‘s how that compares to Galaxy S22 series launch pricing:
| Model | S22 Launch Price | S23 Rumored Price |
|---|---|---|
| S22 | $799 | $849 |
| S22 Plus | $999 | $1049 |
| S22 Ultra | $1,199 | $1249 |
While not official yet, leaked pricing suggests only modest bumps for the S23 series. Storage and connectivity options will further vary pricing. Trade-in deals could sweeten the upgrade even more.
Regardless of final MSRPs, expect the Galaxy S23 lineup to hit that premium range typical of Samsung‘s uncompromising S series flagships.
Should You Upgrade to the S23?
If you‘re currently rocking a Galaxy S21 or older, upgrading to the S23 would make perfect sense. You‘d benefit from the faster new Snapdragon chip, improved screens and cameras, and enhanced One UI 5 software.
For S22 owners, the upgrades may feel less monumental. However, the expected camera, battery life, and connectivity enhancements could still make upgrading worthwhile. Plus, the resale value of last year‘s S22 models should still be pretty strong.
Either way, the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra are gearing up to be superb flagship Android phones that reflect Samsung‘s technical might at creating category-leading experiences.
While radical changes may be absent, the iterative refinements across the board will add up to strong contenders for 2023‘s best smartphones.
Hopefully this detailed guide gives you a comprehensive understanding of Samsung‘s upcoming flagship launch. Let me know if you have any other Galaxy S23 questions! I‘ll continue to update you as more official details emerge.