Samsung S23 Before And After - What's Changed

09 Jul, 2025

Thinking about a new phone, it's pretty natural to wonder how older models stack up, especially when newer ones come out. The Samsung Galaxy S23 series, which includes the S23, the S23+, and the top-tier S23 Ultra, really made a splash when it first arrived. Each of these phones, you know, was made for a somewhat different kind of person, with its own set of things it does well.

So, a lot has happened since these phones first came out. New models have arrived, and prices have shifted quite a bit, too it's almost a different playing field. What was once the latest and greatest might now be seen in a somewhat different light, especially when you think about what you get for your money these days. It’s a good idea to look at how these phones hold up now, compared to when they were fresh off the production line, basically.

This whole situation makes us ask some interesting questions about whether these devices are still a good pick. We're going to take a closer look at what the S23 line offered when it first appeared and how those qualities, you know, compare to what's available now. It’s all about seeing the "before" and the "after" of these popular devices.

The S23 Lineup - A Look Back
What was the S23 series like before?
How Does the S23 Ultra Hold Up Now?
The S23 Ultra's camera experience before and after updates
S23 and S23+ - Are They Still Good Options?
Comparing the S23 and S23+ - The story before and after the S24
The Value Question - S23 Versus S24
Considering the S23's purchase value before and after the S24's arrival
Is the S23 FE a Good Alternative?
The S23 FE's place in the lineup before and after its release
Battery Life - The S23's Daily Grind
What daily use feels like with the S23's power before and after extended use
The S23's Overall Appeal
Thinking about the S23's market position before and after new models
A Word on Buying Older Models
Tips for getting an S23 Ultra before and after checking sources

The S23 Lineup - A Look Back

When the S23 family first appeared, it really presented a clear picture of what Samsung wanted to offer at different levels. You had the regular S23, which was the most compact, then the S23+ for those wanting a bit more screen and battery, and then the S23 Ultra, which was pretty much everything thrown into one device. Each one, in a way, had its own special group of people it was trying to reach. It's interesting to think about how those initial intentions hold up now, after some time has passed and other phones have come out.

What was the S23 series like before?

Before other phones came along, the S23 series, you know, was a fresh face in the phone world. The S23 Ultra, for instance, was seen as the top dog, packed with just about every feature you could ask for. It had a camera setup that was really something to talk about, especially its ultra-wide lens. That lens, basically, did a very good job of keeping things looking natural, with very little of that curved effect you sometimes see. Pictures taken during the day were, well, pretty much perfect, with nothing much to complain about. Even when it got dark, the camera was still able to pick up a lot of tiny things, which was quite impressive. The only small thing some people noticed was a little bit of graininess around the edges of pictures taken in very low light. So, it was seen as a truly capable picture-taking device from the get-go, and that feeling has mostly stayed the same, really.

How Does the S23 Ultra Hold Up Now?

Even with newer phones around, the S23 Ultra still feels like a very capable device. The way it's put together, the look and feel of it, is still something many people appreciate. It has a kind of solid, well-made feel that some would say is quite appealing. And the chip inside, which is the brains of the phone, seems to be doing its job without any of the slowdowns that earlier versions of Samsung phones sometimes had. This means that using the S23 Ultra, even now, tends to be a smooth experience, whether you're just browsing or doing something more demanding. It’s pretty clear that it was a well-thought-out phone from the start, and that quality has, in a way, lasted. The overall feel of using it is still quite good, making it a strong contender for an Android phone that does just about everything you could want, honestly.

The S23 Ultra's camera experience before and after updates

The camera on the S23 Ultra, particularly the ultra-wide one, was considered among the very best right from the start. When it first came out, people noticed how well it managed to keep lines straight and avoid that stretched look you sometimes get with wide-angle shots. In bright daylight, pictures taken with this phone were, quite frankly, hard to find fault with. They looked clear and true to life. And even when the light was dim, the camera did a really good job of pulling out small details, making sure things looked sharp. The only slight point that some folks mentioned was that in very dark settings, there could be a little bit of visual fuzziness near the edges of the picture. This was a minor thing, though. Now, after some time and perhaps some software updates, the core ability of this camera to take striking pictures, especially with its wide view, remains a very strong point. It continues to be a top performer, basically, for anyone who cares about getting good photos from their phone, which is nice to know. So, the experience of taking pictures with it, before and after, has remained very consistent in its high quality.

S23 and S23+ - Are They Still Good Options?

When you look at the S23 and the S23+, you notice they're quite similar in terms of what's inside. The main differences, really, come down to size and how long they can go without needing to be plugged in. The S23+ gives you a bigger screen, which is great for watching videos or looking at pictures, and it also comes with a bigger battery, meaning it can last longer. It also charges a bit faster when you plug it in. These improvements, naturally, came with a slightly higher price tag. So, if you're someone who likes a bigger display, needs your phone to last for ages, and appreciates a quicker charge, the S23+ was, and still is, the one to look at between the two. The regular S23, on the other hand, was always seen as a treat for those who prefer a phone that's easier to hold and use with one hand. It’s kind of a small-phone lover’s dream, in a way. However, when it first launched, and even now, some people felt that for its price, it faced a lot of competition from other phones that offered similar things, or maybe even more, for the same cost. So, while it's a perfectly good phone, its appeal, you know, has always been a bit more specific.

Comparing the S23 and S23+ - The story before and after the S24

Before the S24 came out, the choice between the S23 and S23+ was pretty straightforward. It was mostly about whether you preferred a smaller device or a bigger one with a bit more staying power. The S23 was, you know, a very good pick for people who really liked a phone that didn't feel like a tablet in their pocket. It offered a solid experience in a compact form. The S23+, with its larger screen and battery, was for those who wanted more screen real estate and longer usage times, and it charged a little quicker, which is always handy. The price difference between them was there, of course, reflecting these added features. Now, with the S24 series on the market, the discussion has shifted slightly. The S23 and S23+ are no longer the newest kids on the block. This means their prices have adjusted, making them potentially more appealing for what they offer. The core differences between them remain, but their value proposition, basically, has changed. So, while the S23 was a neat, small phone and the S23+ offered more, their standing in the market, before and after the S24, has definitely seen some movement.

The Value Question - S23 Versus S24

Thinking about buying a phone, the price is always a big part of the decision. When the S24 came out, it naturally had a higher price tag than the S23. For example, an S23 with a decent amount of storage, say 256GB, might have been around 4000 yuan or so, while the S24, when new, was around 5499 yuan. That's a difference of over 1000 yuan, which is a pretty noticeable gap. The interesting thing is that the standard S24 didn't really bring a huge amount of new things to the table compared to the S23. The main improvement, basically, was in its internal workings, moving from one generation of chip to the next. So, you know, going from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 to the 8 Gen 3 in the S24 was the big change. For many people, that kind of upgrade, while good, might not feel like it's worth paying an extra 1000-plus yuan, especially if the current S23 is already doing everything they need. It really makes you think about what you're paying for and what you're getting in return, honestly.

Considering the S23's purchase value before and after the S24's arrival

When the S23 was the latest thing, its price was what it was, and people considered it against other phones available at that moment. Many felt that for a flagship phone, the S23 was, well, a good deal. Now that the S24 has arrived, the S23's price has come down quite a bit. This changes its value proposition quite dramatically. If you could get an S23 for around 4000 yuan, and the S24 is over 5000 yuan, that 1000+ yuan difference is pretty substantial. The upgrades in the S24, especially for the regular model, were somewhat limited. The main one was a slightly better brain inside. But for many, the performance of the S23 was already more than enough. So, the thinking, before and after, tends to be that paying a lot more for a very small step up in performance might not be the smartest move. This means the S23, at its current lower price, could be a very appealing choice for those who want a capable phone without spending top dollar. It’s pretty clear that the S23, at its reduced cost, offers a very compelling package, making it, in some respects, even more attractive now than it was when it first came out, especially for those who are mindful of their budget.

Is the S23 FE a Good Alternative?

Samsung also put out a phone called the Galaxy S23 FE, which is like a slightly different version of the S23. This phone was made to offer a good mix of things it can do and how well it performs. But it made some people wonder, you know, how it stacked up against the original S23. People wanted to know what was different between the S23 FE and the S23, and which one would be a better pick for them. It’s a pretty common question when a company brings out a slightly tweaked version of a popular phone. The S23 FE, basically, aimed to give a similar experience but perhaps at a different price point or with a slightly altered set of features. So, for someone looking at the S23 line, this new option added another layer to the decision-making process, which is something to think about.

The S23 FE's place in the lineup before and after its release

Before the S23 FE came out, the S23 series was pretty clear-cut: S23, S23+, S23 Ultra. The S23 FE then joined the family, offering another option that sat somewhere in the middle, you know, trying to give a good balance of features and cost. When it first appeared, people immediately started comparing its abilities and what it offered to the original S23. They wanted to know if it was a step up, a step down, or just a different flavor. The S23 FE, as a matter of fact, was seen as a way to get a taste of the S23 experience, but perhaps with some adjustments to hit a certain price point. So, the question of which one to pick, the S23 or the S23 FE, became a common one. It added a new dimension to the "before and after" of choosing a Samsung phone in this particular range, giving buyers more to consider, basically, depending on what they valued most in a device.

Battery Life - The S23's Daily Grind

For a phone that's considered a compact flagship, the regular S23 has a battery that holds 3900mAh of power. It also has ways to get power back into it, both by plugging it in at 25W and by placing it on a wireless charger at 15W. When people actually used it, for example, for watching videos online, it could last for about six to seven hours. If you were just looking at web pages, it could keep going for around fifteen hours. For most people, this means it should last through a normal day of use without too much worry. It’s pretty typical for a phone of its size, honestly, to have that kind of staying power. This means that, for many, the battery life is perfectly fine for getting through a full day of calls, messages, and a bit of entertainment, which is good to know.

What daily use feels like with the S23's power before and after extended use

When the S23 first came out, people wondered how its battery would hold up, especially since it was a smaller phone. Its 3900mAh battery, combined with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, gave a pretty good picture. People found that they could watch videos for about six to seven hours straight, or browse the web for a much longer fifteen hours. This meant that for most regular daily tasks, the phone would last without needing a mid-day top-up. So, the feeling of using the S23, before and after, has remained pretty consistent in terms of its power reserves. It generally holds up well for a typical day's activities. You know, you don't usually have to worry about it running out on you unless you're doing something really heavy, like playing graphics-intensive games for hours on end. It's a reliable companion for daily life, basically, providing enough power to get through your tasks without constant anxiety about finding an outlet.

The S23's Overall Appeal

The S23 itself, leaving aside its bigger siblings, has always had a very solid design and feels well-made. There's nothing really wrong with how it looks or how it feels in your hand. If its price could come down even more, perhaps to around the 3000 yuan mark, it would be an incredibly good purchase. At that kind of price point, even many other Android phones that are known for being good value would find it hard to compete with the S23. It just has a certain level of quality and polish that makes it stand out. So, the phone's basic makeup, its good looks, and its solid performance are not really in question. It’s more about where it sits in the market and how its price compares to what else is out there, basically, which is something that has changed quite a bit over time.

Thinking about the S23's market position before and after new models

Before new models like the S24 came out, the S23 was a current-generation phone, and its market position was clear: it was Samsung's compact flagship. Its design and overall quality were, you know, very well regarded. People liked how it felt and how it performed. The main discussion point was often its price compared to other phones that were also new at the time. Now, after newer phones have arrived, the S23's place in the market has shifted. Its price has come down, which makes it a very different proposition. If it could be found for a price closer to 3000 yuan, it would be, arguably, an incredibly strong choice. At that lower price, it would be very difficult for many other phones, even those known for being budget-friendly, to offer the same level of quality and features. So, the S23's inherent good qualities haven't changed, but its standing and attractiveness in the market, before and after the arrival of newer models, have certainly taken on a new dimension, making it a very compelling option for those looking for value.

A Word on Buying Older Models

When you're looking at older phone models, especially ones that might be imported, like the Hong Kong version of the S23 Ultra, it's worth being a little careful. The reliability of getting one of these, basically, is something to keep in mind. For the Hong Kong version of the S23 Ultra, some suggest the chances of getting a completely smooth experience might be around 60%. This isn't to say anything bad about sellers, you know, but it's more about encouraging everyone to be honest and for buyers to be aware. Places like certain online shops or markets, where these imported phones come from, do indeed get their stock from places like Hong Kong. The idea is that everyone involved, both those selling and those buying, should be able to get what they want in a fair and open way. It’s just a little note to be mindful of where you'

The fabled Samsung Galaxy S23 FE might happen after all

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My Experience with S23 (with before and after pictures) : SARMs

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