The Galaxy S23 arrived in India in February 2023 as the small-screen entry to Samsung's flagship line, priced at Rs 74,999 for the 8 GB/128 GB model. Its biggest change was under the hood: every S23 sold in India used the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, ending years of Exynos versus Snapdragon complaints from Indian buyers who felt they got the weaker chip.
Design is cleaner than the S22, with three separate camera rings on a flat glass back and an aluminium frame. The 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel is bright and sharp at 1080 x 2340, and the phone weighs just 168 g, which makes it one of the few truly one-hand flagships of its year. Performance stays cool under gaming loads that made its predecessor throttle hard.
The 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide and 10 MP 3x telephoto setup is versatile and reliable, though not class-leading in low light. The 3900 mAh battery is the real compromise: it gets through a day of moderate use, but 25W charging feels slow next to the OnePlus 11 or iQOO 11 at a similar price. Against the iPhone 14, it offers zoom and a faster display for less money.
Key specifications
| Launch price (India) | Rs 74,999 (base variant) |
|---|---|
| India launch | February 2023 |
| Segment | Flagship |
| Display | 6.1-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1080 x 2340 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB |
| Expandable storage | No |
| Rear cameras | 50 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide + 10 MP 3x telephoto |
| Front camera | 12 MP |
| Battery | 3900 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired, wireless |
| Software at launch | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| 5G | Yes |
| Water/dust rating | IP68 |
| Headphone jack | No |
| Weight | 168 g |
| Colours | Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender |
What we like
- Genuinely compact and light for a flagship
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 runs cool and fast
- Optical 3x telephoto at this size
- Long software support commitment
What could be better
- 3900 mAh battery is only just enough
- 25W charging is slow for the price
- Base model has 128 GB storage
Who should buy it
Buyers who want a premium Android phone that fits comfortably in one hand and a jeans pocket.
Specifications and price are as at the India launch (February 2023). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.