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Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S22: How Both Samsung Phones Stack Up

The Samsung Galaxy S23 looks like a powerful phone, but last year's Galaxy S22 is still quite good.

Samsung Galaxy S23
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET's collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung's most popular products.

The $800 (£849, AU$1,349) Samsung Galaxy S23 made its debut Feb. 1 during the company's Unpacked event, but you might find that the company's 2022 phone might have everything you need for a lower price. Last year's Galaxy S22 is now available with a $100 price drop. That 2022 phone now costs $700, and it still has excellent specs, like a 50-megapixel main camera. It's been updated to Android 13 and last year's speedy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Moreover, the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S22 have nearly identical designs, including a 6.1-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

However, there are a number of improvements with the Galaxy S23 that are definitely worth considering when weighing if you should spend an extra $100 for the newer phone. We haven't yet had the chance to fully review the Galaxy S23 yet -- though you can see our full Galaxy S23 Ultra review here -- the phone is shipping with a slightly bigger battery than the Galaxy S22.

This could be quite meaningful: In her Galaxy S22 review, CNET's Lisa Eadicicco found battery life to be a weak point. The phone also includes a "Galaxy-optimized" version of the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. We don't know how big of a difference that optimization will make, but it seems to be at least faster than last year's chip.

If you want a quick look at the differences between the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S22, we put the specs for each into the below chart. Other notable differences include the front-facing camera -- 12-megapixel on the S23 versus 10-megapixel on the S22 -- and video capture settings.

Now playing: Watch this: Samsung's Galaxy S23 Lineup Is Here With Big Camera Upgrades
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Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Samsung Galaxy S22


Galaxy S23 Galaxy S22
Display size, resolution 6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340x1,080 pixels; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate; 1,750 nits 6.1-inch AMOLED; FHD+ (1080x2340); 120 Hz
Pixel density 425 ppi 425 ppi
Dimensions (inches) 5.76 x 2.79 x 0.3 in 5.7 x 2.77 x 0.29 in.
Dimensions (millimeters) 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm
Weight (ounces, grams) 168 g (5.93 oz) 167g (168g for mmWave model)
Mobile software Android 13 Android 13
Rear Cameras 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto) 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 10-megapixel (telephoto)
Front-facing camera 12-megapixel 10-megapixel
Video capture 8K at 30fps 8K at 24 fps
Processor Galaxy-optimized Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Storage 128GB, 256GB 128GB, 256GB
RAM 8GB 8GB
Expandable storage No No
Battery 3,900 mAh (25W wired charging) 3,700 mAh (25W wired charging)
Fingerprint sensor In-display In-display
Connector USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack None None
Special features 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, faster wired charging, wireless PowerShare to charge other devices 5G (mmw/Sub6), 120Hz display, IP68 rating, 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging
Price off-contract (USD) $800 (8GB/128GB) $700 (8GB/128GB)
Price (GBP) £849 (8GB/128GB) £769 (8GB/128GB)
Price (AUD) AU$1,349 (8GB/128GB) AU$1,149 (8GB/128GB)