Samsung Galaxy S23: three improvements we expect
Samsung usually releases new Galaxy S devices in the first two months of the year, and early rumors suggest that the company will stick to this schedule in 2023 as well. According to a Korean newspaper JoongAng DailyThe Galaxy S23 could arrive in early February.
According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung dominates the smartphone industry with 21% of the global market in the second quarter of 2022. Updating key features like the camera and battery could help it retain the top spot, especially as it faces growing competition from Apple and Google.
More autonomy for Samsung Galaxy S23
Galaxy S22. Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Battery life can never be long enough, but the standard Galaxy S especially needs a boost. The 6.1-inch Galaxy S22 generally lives up to Samsung’s all-day battery life claims, but sometimes just barely.
The Galaxy S22 has the smallest battery (3,700 mAh) among the three members of the Galaxy S22 line, and it shows. For example, we were pleasantly surprised when the 6.6-inch Galaxy S22 Plus, which has a larger-capacity 4,500mAh battery, lasted about a day and a half. We also set the refresh rate to high, which generally drains the battery faster. The Galaxy S22 Ultra had a similar battery, with a 6.8-inch display and a 5,000 mAh battery.
It makes sense that the smallest phone in the Galaxy S22 line would also have the smallest battery. But we’re hoping Samsung finds a way to improve the battery life of the 6.1-inch Galaxy model next year, either through better power efficiency or a bigger physical battery. Finally, Apple made improvements to the iPhone 13 mini that gave it an extra two to three hours of battery life compared to the iPhone 12 mini. Battery life is a major pain point we mentioned in our Galaxy S22 review, and fixing it would make the Galaxy S23 a more attractive option for Android fans who prefer compact smartphones.
Korean media Electricity As Samsung has stated that it intends to increase the battery capacity of the Galaxy S23 by around 5%, it suggests that it may indeed happen.
More smart camera features
Three Samsung Galaxy S22. Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22’s 50-megapixel camera and the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 108-megapixel camera capture photos with impressive color and detail. We only wish we could do more with these devices when it comes to editing and software features.
The Galaxy S22 range offers shooting options such as panorama, night mode, portrait mode, slow motion, super slow motion and Director’s View, which allows you to shoot video using two different lenses at the same time. There is also a Single Shot function that allows you to create multiple beautiful shots with a single press of the shutter button. You can also download Expert Raw for better control over photo settings.
However, not much has changed between the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 when it comes to camera functions and shooting modes. We wish Samsung would follow Google’s example, which regularly adds camera features that feel more practical than gimmicky. For example, Google introduced a new feature called Photo Unblur on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, which helps to sharpen even low-quality photos taken with an old camera. Photo Unblur builds on Face Unblur, a previous Pixel 6 and 6 Pro feature we also liked. As the name suggests, Face Unblur freezes moving objects that might otherwise appear blurry.
Features like these show that Google isn’t just thinking about camera quality, it’s also thinking about ways to take the daily hassle out of mobile photography. Many of Samsung’s updates, on the other hand, are focused on giving content creators more tools to capture different types of photos and video clips.
Although the Galaxy S23 probably won’t be available for another two or three months, Samsung is improving the cameras on its current Galaxy phones. It just added a new feature to its Expert Raw app that helps stargazers take better pictures of the constellations, similar to the Astrophotography feature for Google’s Pixel phones.
Faster charging that doesn’t cost much
The Galaxy S22 Plus (left) and Ultra (right) both support 45-watt fast charging. But you need to buy an adapter separately. Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22 range supports fast charging up to 25 watts for the Galaxy S22 and 45 watts for the Galaxy S22 Plus and Ultra. But for this you need to buy a separate charger.
With the Galaxy S23, we’d like to see a more noticeable improvement in charging speeds, as well as more affordable charger options. For example, the OnePlus 10 Pro offers 65- or 80-watt fast charging depending on your region, which is faster than what Samsung offers on paper. OnePlus also includes a compatible adapter in the box.
Samsung and Apple have stopped including adapters in the package. But we’d at least like Samsung to let you choose to include a compatible adapter with extra fast charging at a discounted price when you order a new phone, just as it lets you choose a storage option or add Samsung Care Plus.
If the rumors are true, the Galaxy S23 could have the same 25-watt charging speed as the base model Galaxy S22. That’s what it’s called Ice Universea Twitter account that has a habit of posting details about unreleased Samsung products.
Samsung is already doing a great job with the Galaxy S22, especially when it comes to software and display quality. But as smartphone improvements become more incremental rather than revolutionary year after year, it’s more important than ever to focus on basics like camera and battery.
CNET.com article adapted from CNET France
