Samsung Galaxy S23 5G Full Review: Camera, Battery & Snapdragon Performance (2026)

The Samsung Galaxy S23 5G launched in early 2023 as the base model of Samsung's flagship S-series lineup — and even three years on, it remains one of the best-value Android smartphones you can buy in the UK.

With Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 under the hood, a capable triple-camera system, and a compact form factor that's increasingly rare in the flagship space, the S23 has aged remarkably well.

In this full review, we break down everything you need to know: real-world camera performance, battery life, day-to-day speed, and whether the Galaxy S23 is worth buying at its current street price in 2026.

Key Specifications at a Glance

Design & Build Quality

The Galaxy S23 is one of the few flagships that genuinely fits in one hand. At 146.3mm tall and just 168g, it is noticeably lighter and more pocketable than the S23+ or Ultra siblings.

Samsung used Armour Aluminium for the frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back. The finish holds up well to daily use, though the flat back does attract fingerprints on lighter colourways like Cotton Flower and Lavender.

The Phantom Black option hides smudges better.

IP68 water resistance (up to 1.5m for 30 minutes) is standard, so the phone handles rain, splashes, and daily accidents without issue.

Display Quality

The display is a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel running at up to 120Hz with adaptive refresh.

Peak brightness reaches around 1,750 nits, making it perfectly visible even under direct sunlight.

Colours are vibrant, contrast is excellent, and text looks sharp at 425ppi.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in Everyday Use

Samsung fitted the international S23 lineup with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 "for Galaxy" — a slightly higher-clocked version of the flagship chip.

This was a major improvement because earlier Galaxy devices used Samsung’s Exynos processors, which often ran hotter and consumed more battery.

Real-World Performance

The Galaxy S23 handles everything smoothly:

• Multitasking

• Streaming

• Heavy gaming

• Social media

• Photo editing

Games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile run smoothly without major frame drops.

Benchmark scores (Geekbench 6 multi-core around 4,700–4,900) place it close to iPhone flagship performance.

Thermal management is also good. Even during long gaming sessions the phone warms up but never becomes uncomfortable.

Camera Review: Triple Lens System

The camera system is one of the biggest reasons people buy the Galaxy S23.

Samsung provides a versatile triple-camera setup that works well in almost every situation.

Main Camera (50MP)

The 50MP primary sensor captures detailed and vibrant images in daylight.

Samsung’s image processing emphasizes:

• Rich colours

• High contrast

• Sharper edges

This makes photos look great on social media platforms.

Low-light performance is also impressive. Night mode captures clear images in dim environments like:

• Restaurants

• Streets at night

• Indoor scenes

While it doesn’t fully match the Galaxy S23 Ultra or Pixel flagship cameras, it performs better than most mid-range smartphones.

Ultrawide Camera (12MP)

The ultrawide lens is great for:

• Landscape photos

• Group pictures

• Architecture shots

Edge distortion is minimal and colour consistency with the main lens is well controlled.

In very low light, quality drops compared to the main sensor, which is expected.

Telephoto Camera (3× Optical Zoom)

The 3× telephoto lens is one of the most useful features of the S23.

It allows users to capture:

• Portrait photos

• Distant subjects

• Street photography

Images remain sharp up to 3× optical zoom.

Digital zoom works up to around 10×, though quality gradually decreases beyond that.

Front Camera (12MP)

The selfie camera delivers sharp and natural photos.

Features include:

• Autofocus

• Good portrait edge detection

• Natural skin tones

Video calls and selfies look clear even in moderate lighting conditions.

Video Recording

The Galaxy S23 supports:

• 4K video at 60fps

• Stabilised video recording

• Clear stereo audio capture

Video quality is stable and reliable for everyday recording.

Battery Life: Does the 3,900mAh Battery Last?

Battery capacity is 3,900mAh, which is smaller compared to larger flagship models.

However, thanks to the efficient Snapdragon processor, battery life is better than expected.

Typical users can expect:

• 5.5 to 6.5 hours screen-on time

• Full-day usage with moderate activity

Light users may even get close to two days of battery life.

Heavy gamers or frequent GPS users may need a recharge before evening.

Charging Speeds

Charging is one area where Samsung lags behind competitors.

• 25W wired charging

• Around 55–60 minutes for full charge

Many competing phones now offer 65W or faster charging.

Wireless charging is supported at 15W.

The phone also supports reverse wireless charging, useful for charging earbuds or smartwatches.

One important note: Samsung does not include a charger in the box.

Software: One UI and Long-Term Updates

The Galaxy S23 launched with Android 13 and Samsung’s One UI 5.

Samsung promises:

• 4 major Android updates

• 5 years of security updates

This means the phone should receive support until at least 2028.

One UI Experience

Samsung’s One UI offers many useful features including:

• Samsung DeX

• Samsung Pay

• Customisation tools

• Multi-window multitasking

The interface is smooth, polished, and easy to use.

Galaxy AI Features

Samsung has added several Galaxy AI tools to the S23 through updates:

• Live Translate

• Note Assist

• Generative Photo Editing

These features bring modern AI capabilities even to older flagship devices.

Who Should Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 in 2026?

The Galaxy S23 remains an excellent option for many smartphone buyers.

Buy the Galaxy S23 if you:

• Prefer a compact flagship phone

• Want excellent camera performance

• Value long software support

• Are buying SIM-free or refurbished at lower prices

Consider other options if you:

• Need extremely long battery life

• Want ultra-fast charging

• Prefer very large displays

• Need advanced zoom systems

FAQs – Samsung Galaxy S23 5G (2026)

1. Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 still worth buying in 2026?
Yes, it still performs like a flagship thanks to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, strong cameras, and long software support. It is especially good if you find it at a reduced price.

2. How long does the Galaxy S23 battery last in real use?
On average, it lasts around a full day with normal use. Heavy gaming or GPS use will drain it faster, usually requiring a recharge by evening.

3. Does the Samsung Galaxy S23 overheat during gaming?
No major overheating issues. It gets slightly warm during long gaming sessions, but performance remains stable without serious throttling.

4. How good is the Galaxy S23 camera compared to newer phones?
It still performs strongly in 2026. Photos are sharp and colourful, especially in daylight. However, newer flagships do better in zoom and low-light detail.

5. What is the charging speed of the Galaxy S23?
It supports 25W wired charging, which is slower than many modern competitors. A full charge takes around one hour.

6. Will the Galaxy S23 get future updates?
Yes. Samsung provides up to 4 major Android updates and 5 years of security updates, so support continues until around 2028.

7. Is the Galaxy S23 good for gaming?
Yes. It runs heavy games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact smoothly at high settings with stable frame rates.

8. Should I choose the Galaxy S23 or a newer mid-range phone?
If performance, camera quality, and long-term reliability matter, the S23 is still the better choice. Mid-range phones may win only on battery size or faster charging.

Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 5G remains a strong smartphone choice in 2026.

The Snapdragon processor keeps performance smooth, the camera system delivers high-quality photos, and Samsung’s software support ensures long-term usability.

While charging speed and battery capacity are not industry-leading, the overall experience remains excellent.

For users looking for a compact flagship at a reasonable price, the Galaxy S23 is still one of the best options available.