Samsung Galaxy S23 Malaysia: 10 things you need to know (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, February 2 – Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra are finally here. Although it doesn’t seem to be much different from last year’s Galaxy S22 series, here’s a quick look at what’s new in this year’s Galaxy S23 series.
New Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Similar to the Galaxy S22 series, the new Galaxy S23 line also comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip instead of Samsung’s own Exynos processor. While Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chip is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Samsung has teamed up with the chipmaker to introduce the “Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy”, which is claimed to be the fastest Snapdragon ever. time.
According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy gets a higher clocked Qualcomm Kryo processor core with peak speeds of up to 3.36 GHz. It also gets an “upgraded” Qualcomm Adreno GPU that would be significantly improved in performance and power efficiency to enable hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
New 200MP camera for Galaxy S23 Ultra
Besides the processor, the next upgrade is the new 200MP f/1.7 main camera on the top-end Galaxy S23 Ultra. Utilizing Samsung’s ISOCELL HP2 sensor, it has the highest megapixel count for a Samsung smartphone and it features Tetra pixel binning technology to produce brighter 50MP and 12.5MP images.
The new 200MP camera promises to deliver improved low-light “Nighttopgraphy” with the inclusion of Super Quad Phase Detection (Super QPD) which uses all 200 million pixels for focusing. For those who take a lot of video with their phone, the S23 Ultra also has dual optical image stabilization (OIS) for more stable recording of action shots.
The rest of the camera setup remains pretty much unchanged from last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra. It still gets a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera and two additional 10MP telephoto cameras (3X and 10X optical zoom). When pushed digitally, the Galaxy S23 Ultra also features 100x Space Zoom.
Meanwhile, the smaller S23 and S23+ feature a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle shooter and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. All three models get a 12MP selfie camera that supports autofocus and Super HDR.
Brighter AMOLED screens and Vision Booster
Galaxy S23 series screen sizes remain unchanged, with the base S23 having a 6.1″ Full HD+ display while the S23+ is slightly larger at 6.6″. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 Ultra gets a 6.8-inch QuadHD+ display that’s slightly curved around the edges. For better visibility in direct sunlight, the S23 and S23+ now support a higher maximum screen brightness of 1750 nits, which is similar to the Galaxy S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra.
The Galaxy S23 trio also support a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, with the S23 and S23+ having the ability to dynamically switch between 48-120Hz, while the S23 Ultra has a wider variance of 1-120Hz. also introduced a new Vision Booster feature that optimizes screen contrast for better outdoor visibility for the entire Galaxy S23 series.
Improved durability with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 series is also the first line of smartphones to receive Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2. According to Corning, the new glass composition provides improved drop performance on rough surfaces such as concrete while preserving the scratch resistance of Gorilla Glass Victus. While this provides a greater degree of confidence in the event of an accident, we still recommend getting a case for better protection.
Enhanced S Pen Features for S23 Ultra
The Ultra model of the Galaxy S series is now considered the replacement for the Galaxy Note. The Galaxy S23 Ultra still retains an integrated S Pen, but it looks like Samsung hasn’t made any significant hardware changes. However, Samsung has revealed a new collaboration feature where you can use the stylus to simultaneously co-edit a document when paired with Samsung Notes and Google Meet. This is a feature added to the Samsung Multi Control feature that allows you to sync your Galaxy smartphone with your Galaxy tablet and computer.
Larger batteries for Galaxy S23 and S23+
Galaxy S23 and S23+ users can expect better battery life as Samsung has increased the capacity of the S23 and S23+. The Galaxy S23 now gets a 3,900 mAh battery (S22: 3,700 mAh) that offers up to 22 hours of video playback, while the S23+ gets a 4,700 mAh battery (S22+: 4,500 mAh) with up to to 27 hours of video playback.
However, it’s worth pointing out that the Galaxy S21 series still has a larger battery capacity, with the base S21 having a 4,000mAh unit while the S21+ gets a 4,800mAh capacity. The current Galaxy S23 Ultra still retains the same 5,000mAh battery capacity as its predecessors.
Fast charging up to 45W via USB-C, no power adapter included
While most Chinese Android makers go beyond 100W fast charging speeds, Samsung is still sticking with its 45W USB-C USB-PD charging for the Galaxy S23+ and S23 Ultra. Meanwhile, the base Galaxy S23 still maintains a lower USB-PD charging speed of 25W.
As part of its going green, Samsung is not providing a charging brick in the Galaxy S23 series box. Other than the phone, all you’ll get is a SIM card injection tool and a USB-C cable.
More recycled materials are used to produce every Galaxy S23
Samsung is doubling down on its sustainability ambition by increasing the use of recycled materials. In addition to using 100% recycled paper for its packaging, they have increased the presence of recycled materials in the Galaxy S23 series by doubling the number of internal components made from sustainable materials.
For example, the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 uses an average of 22% recycled content while recycled aluminum is used for the power button and volume rockers, as well as the SIM tray. The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s rear glass and front casing use plastics from discarded PET bottles.
To ensure extended use, Samsung promises four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates for the Galaxy S23 series. Out of the box, these devices run on Android 13 with One UI 5.1.
Higher price, starting at RM3,899
As pointed out earlier, the Galaxy S23 series costs more than before and Samsung Malaysia now offers a wider range of storage options from 128GB to 1TB to cater to different users. Here is the official price of the Galaxy S23 series in Malaysia:
• Samsung Galaxy S23 128GB – RM3,899
• Samsung Galaxy S23 256GB – RM4,199
• Samsung Galaxy S23+ 256GB – RM4,699
• Samsung Galaxy S23+ 512GB – RM5,199
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 256GB – RM5,699
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 512GB – RM6,199
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 1TB – RM7,199
For comparison, last year’s Galaxy S22 started from RM3,499 for the base 128GB model, while the 256GB Galaxy S22 Ultra was priced at RM5,499.
Get a free double storage upgrade and an additional RM200 discount
If you want to get the Galaxy S23 here in Malaysia, you can pre-order one now until February 23, 2023. As part of the pre-order promotion, Samsung Malaysia is offering a dual storage upgrade of a value up to RM500 and you too get an RM400 e-voucher, up to 30% off Purchase with Purchase (PWP) offers and trade-in specials where you can get an additional 600 off RM.
Exclusively for SoyaCincau.com readers, you can enjoy an additional RM200 discount on top of the current online pre-order offers on Samsung’s online store. Simply enter promo code SYGS23R before checkout to receive the discount. This gets you the Samsung Galaxy S23 256GB for RM3,699, which is RM500 off the listed recommended retail price.
If you’re planning on getting the Galaxy S23 Ultra with an S Pen, the 512GB model can be yours for RM5,499 with the same promo code SYGS23R, which is a saving of RM700 over the RRP. This promotion is only available on the Samsung Malaysia online store and while supplies last. Galaxy S23 devices are expected to ship from February 24, 2023. – SoyaCincau