The spotlight might be on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This isn’t just one of the best new Android flagships out there but also the shiny big brother in the Samsung S23 flagship line-up for 2023. As for the entry-level S23, it’s easy to recommend for users seeking a compact smartphone experience with top of the line specs. That leaves out the S23+, the middle sibling. Who is it for? In many ways, it’s the same existential challenge that confronted its predecessor – the S22+. And just like last year, we think that the S23+ might actually be a great option.

That familiar Samsung design template

Brands like Samsung have settled into a comfort zone when it comes to smartphone design. We think that’s not a bad thing. The S23+ is a good looking device – clean lines and the perfect heft. It feels every inch premium and is light enough for those texting marathons. Just like the smaller S23, the only discernible design change is the new minimal rear camera design. Samsung breaks away from last year’s ‘Contour cut’ camera design. It comes in the same four colours as the S23 that include Green (our favourite), Lavender, Phantom Black and Cream that we checked out.

Subtle changes

We’ll start by saying that you can skip the upgrade to the S23+ if you already own an S22+. Samsung hasn’t radically altered things in the 2023 refresh. So what’s changed? For starters, the processor. This is probably the most significant upgrade in the S23+ over last year’s plus phone. All three S23 models are powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that has been custom developed for all the S23 devices. The device crossed the 4900 mark in our Geekbench (multi-core) test that put in the same league as the Ultra and the S23; impressive. We tested the 8GB/ 256GB variant. Samsung has also bumped up the battery to 4700 mAh (from 4500 mAh on the S22+) despite keeping the heft under 200 gm. Battery performance is quite dependable on this device; you’re unlikely to reach for your charger before the end of the day even with multi-media usage.

Ticks those flagship boxes

We’ve said this before, the ‘Plus’ devices in the Samsung Galaxy flagship series offer the perfect meeting place between the bulkier Ultra and the smaller sibling. The S23+ comes with a gorgeous 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (1080 x 2340 pixels / 393 PPI). This HDR10+ display peaks at 1750 nits. It’s identical to last year’s S22+ and is one of the best displays on any flagship. The rear camera set up is unchanged too. You get a 50MP primary lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens (with a 120-degree field of view) and a 10MP telephoto lens that allows you to shoot up to 3X on optical zoom. Results are a shade better than the S22+ thanks in part to the new processor and better software optimisation. But it’s not a significant leap that might tempt you to move up from the S22+ just for the rear cam or the improved 12MP selfie camera (Last year’s S22+ came with a 10MP selfie cam)

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ is an incremental upgrade over its predecessor. The key changes are the battery and the new processor. It definitely deserves your attention if you’re upgrading from a 2021 device like the S21+. If you don’t need the larger screen and battery, then the S23 (that’s Rs 15,000 cheaper) is a great option for its compact footprint and one-handed navigation. The S23+ might be the middle child but it might well be a practical option if you don’t need the 200MP lens and the Zoom capabilities of the Ultra. It’s one of the best Android flagships you can buy now.

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ starts at Rs 94,999 and comes in Cream, Lavender, Green and Phantom Black. Samsung is offering a Rs 5,000 cashback on HDFC cards.