The Galaxy S23 and S23+ are siblings to the bigger and more expensive S23 Ultra. While they are cheaper than the Ultra and with toned-down specs, the pair has several standout features that make them a catch.

Let's take a look at the seven best features of the Galaxy S23 and S23+.

1. Floating Camera Design

Samsung's Galaxy S23 and S23+ have a slight design revamp. The key change design-wise is the removal of the camera bump at the back. In what it calls a floating camera design, Samsung chose to let the rear cameras stand on their own. In case you have forgotten, this design is similar to what we saw on the company's 2022 flagship phone, the S22 Ultra, but is slightly refined.

So if the S22 Ultra's floating camera design wowed you but got turned away by the pricing, the S23 and S23+ have the same, but for less. With the revamp, you can't mistake an S23 or S23+ for an S22 series device. The duo is available in four colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender.

Besides, you can get them in four other exclusive colors (Lime, Graphite, Sky Blue, and Red) if you buy directly from Samsung's website.

2. Bright Display With Variable Refresh Rate

If you are experiencing issues while scrolling through your current phone outdoors, the S23 and S23+ might have a solution. The duo sports a peak brightness of 1750 nits.

Scrolling through either is smooth, thanks to the available 120Hz refresh rate support. However, with a high refresh rate comes increased battery drain, so to help protect against that, the phones have adaptive refresh rate support ranging between 48 and 120Hz, ensuring your display only cranks up the rate when needed.

This helps avoid faster battery drain while doing undemanding tasks like reading an eBook or messaging your friends. And when you're gaming or doing other visual tasks, the screen automatically increases its refresh rate for a smooth experience.

3. Versatile Triple Camera System

Samsung's Galaxy S series phones offer some of the best camera systems on a smartphone. With the S23, the company doesn't compromise on its tried-and-true system. At the back is a triple camera system and, for selfies, a single camera housed in a punch-hole cutout atop the display.

The rear camera systems include a 50MP f/1.8 primary wide camera (with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS), followed by a secondary 10 MP f/2.4 telephoto lens (with PDAF and OIS) for portrait shots and, lastly, a 12 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view for capturing wider images.

Samsung is betting on AI to help enhance image processing and ensure the system performs better in low-light photography. In night photography, Samsung says the camera system uses an AI ISP algorithm to make object details stand out.

If you're interested in video, the rear camera system can shoot up to 8K at 30fps. In contrast, the single 12MP f/2.2 selfie camera tops out at 4K (30/60 fps).

4. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chip for Galaxy

With Samsung's Galaxy S23 launch, the company officially ditched using its in-house Exynos chips on the flagship S series phones in most regions outside the US. All models now run a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip but with a twist. Instead of using the standard flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the S23 and S23+ are powered by a special Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip for Galaxy.

Unlike the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it has higher CPU and GPU clock speeds, ensuring better overall performance. The overclocked chip also gives Samsung's S23 series an edge over the best Android phones running the standard 8 Gen 2 chip from OnePlus and the like. The chip is also more energy-efficient despite the improved performance.

5. Fast Charging Support

Fast charging is not a new feature, but it is one of the key features to look out for when buying a new Android phone. The vanilla S23 model supports 25W wired charging while the S23+ almost doubles that at 45W.

According to Samsung, a 25W charging brick takes an S23's 3900mAh battery from zero to half full in just 30 minutes, while a 45W brick takes the 4700mAh battery on the Plus model from zero to 65% in equal time. Both support wireless and reverse wireless charging, although at a measly 10W and 4.5W, respectively.

6. Robust Build Quality

The S23 and S23+ have robust build quality with an aluminum frame and the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the front and back. The additional protection is crucial and should ensure your device stays intact after a drop.

According to Corning, the new glass can withstand drops up to two meters on asphalt-like surfaces and up to one meter on tougher surfaces like concrete.

Additionally, the duo is IP68-certified against water (the phones can stay safe in the water at 4.9 feet deep for up to 30 minutes) and dust.

7. Faster Memory and Storage Technology

The two phones have 8GB of RAM paired with variable amounts of storage: 128, 256, or 512GB for the vanilla S23 and 256 or 512GB for the Plus model. Although you're not getting 1TB of storage on either, the duo uses the latest memory and storage technology to make up for that.

Both use faster LPDDR5X RAM and the latest UFS 4.0 storage technology (offering better read and write speeds), the best that you can get as far as smartphones are concerned as of February 2023. Combining the latest storage and memory technologies with the latest flagship processor ensure that these devices perform at their full potential without bottlenecks.

Should You Get the S23 or S23+?

The S23 and S23+ are impressive phones spec-wise, but the Plus model has various improvements over the base model. It has faster 45W charging, a bigger 4700mAh battery, and a 6.6-inch FHD+ display starting at $999. At $799, the S23 is more compact and weighs less due to its smaller 6.1-inch FHD+ display.

If the larger display, battery, and 45W fast charging matter, go for the Plus model. The S23 tops out at 25W but has a smaller display and overall footprint. So, if you're looking for a more pocket-friendly phone, get the S23, which also saves you $200.