should you fall for this affordable smartphone?
Representative of the A series, the Galaxy A23 5G wants to find its place between Samsung’s entry and mid-range. Was the bet successful? Answer our quiz.
Arriving on tiptoe before the start of the school year, the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G wants to find its place in the A family. Very important for Samsung, it currently includes very accessible models such as the A13 (5G) and A33 5G or the A53 5G. The latter is quite a leader in this series that stands out for its value for money.
The Galaxy A23 5G hopes to follow in these footsteps by establishing itself as a Samsung bestseller. But is it enough to honor the scope and convince us? We tested this affordable smartphone for a few weeks. SPOILER: we appreciate it more.
For this test, we decided to highlight the most striking elements of the Galaxy A23 5G. So you can see the strengths and weaknesses that appear, without forgetting the other elements to be as complete as possible. Feel free to send us your comments and suggestions in the comments.
| Samsung Galaxy A23 5G | |
|---|---|
| Screen | – 6.6″ LCD screen in 20:9 format – Full HD+ definition (1080 x 2408 pixels) – 400 dpi density – Gorilla Glass 5 – 120Hz |
| SoCs and GPUs | – Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G – Adreno 619 |
| memory | – 4 GB of RAM – 128 GB – Memory expansion |
| Colors | – Black – White – Blue |
| Camera | – Four rear cameras: – Primary camera: 50 MP (f/1.8) – Ultra-wide-angle camera: 5 megapixels (f/2.2) – Macro capture: 2 MP (f/2.4) – Depth sensor: 2 MP (f/2.4) – Recording videos in Full HD 1080p at 30 fps – Front camera with 8 MP sensor (f/2.2) |
| Audio | – Speakers |
| Battery | – 4000mAh – 25W |
| Connections | – Fingerprint reader on the side -Bluetooth 5.1 – Wi-Fi 5 – 5G -NFC – USB Type-C |
| Software | – Android 12 – A UI 4.1 – Android 13 (One UI 5) update available |
| Height and weight | – 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4mm – 197g |
| Introductory price | – 319 euros |
| Date of availability | – Summer 2022 |
Yes! For autonomy
We start with the Galaxy A23 5G’s big strong point: its durability. In its segment, we are used to having devices with breath and Samsung’s model still stands out. It has a 5,000 mAh battery and its relatively light configuration is not too heavy on resources. Therefore, we have in front of us a model that will have no problem following you until the end of the night.
In fact, the Galaxy A23 5G makes it possible to last the day without making compromises. It will still have enough juice to finish the night and we are almost tempted to chain the second day from last. If, like us, you are addicted to your smartphone, it would be more prudent to recharge it at night to approach the day stress-free. If you’re a bit more frugal, a second day is possible.
Unfortunately, not everything is perfect and you have to be satisfied with a charge of up to 25 W. The durability of the smartphone tends to make you forget about this element, but you have to think that a full charge lasts about 2 hours . That’s huge if you compare the Galaxy A23 5G to its Chinese competitors. Another point to be aware of, the smartphone is delivered without a charger and will need to provide one.
Yes! For design and handling
It’s true, the Galaxy A23 5G doesn’t have the best design in the universe. It also uses a lot (a lot) of plastic and doesn’t feel premium. However, it should be noted that we are in the presence of an accessible model (not completely entry-level). Quite logically, Samsung ignores noble materials such as metal or glass and does not take any risks.
The Galaxy A23 5G looks a lot like its siblings, but overall its quality is still good. We found this Samsung style to please (or not) and this is what we expect for such a model. All plastic, the back of the smartphone does not collect fingerprints and opts for a “smooth” approach. The picture module, although a little obvious, is very well integrated and can be easily noticed with a shell (not included).
Round shapes are pleasing to the eye and the device is less slippery than it looks. At the front, the notch in the shape of a water drop still reminds of the entry/early mid-range orientation.
The Galaxy A23 5G offers a good impression of stability and is very pleasant in the hand. Even though it’s not exactly compact (165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm), its weight doesn’t fly off the scale at 197 grams.
Yes! For software and performance
It should be recognized that the Samsung ecosystem is among the most complete on Android. The user experience meets expectations thanks to a good balance between the choice of components and the software. First of all, we are in the presence of a 6.6-inch LCD screen that displays Full HD + up to 120 Hz. There is no AMOLED therefore in this terminal that wants to access and prefers to bet on the fluidity of 120 Hz This large format is noticeable in daily life and the refresh rate gives additional comfort. If we rely on the positioning of the smartphone, the panel meets the expectations and the settings made by the manufacturer are effective.
Fortunately, because Samsung doesn’t allow you to go through the settings box to make changes. damage
Under this screen, there is a balanced configuration based on the Snapdragon 695. Samsung has neglected its in-house Exynos chips to offer this Qualcomm SoC, we can’t blame it. In fact, the Snapdragon 695 brings 5G compatibility and good performance. Nothing transcendent or enough to blow benchmark counters, but enough power for most uses. Moreover, it is possible to play most titles from the Play Store in decent conditions.
On the other hand, Samsung is content to add 4 GB of RAM and it shows. His smartphone is not the king of multitasking and somewhat spoils the experience. We would be more comfortable with 2 GB of RAM more to support a processor up to the mark in this range. We will console ourselves with the possibility of accessing 5G and the presence of a microSD slot (up to 1 TB).
Finally, this Galaxy A23 5G runs Android 12 with One UI 4.1. Beyond individual tastes, there’s no denying that Samsung’s interface has reached a remarkable level of maturity. It is pleasant to navigate this smartphone and to access many customization options. Even though Samsung has changed its update policy, this Galaxy A23 5G is not the best. It will have to satisfy two years of system updates and therefore stop with Android 14. On the other hand, we benefit from security updates for 4 years and this is remarkable.
In our testing, we also received the update to Android 13 and One UI 5.0.
The only downside on the software side is Samsung’s tendency to push you to install applications. From the first configuration, the brand encourages you to install various applications or enter its ecosystem. Some are even labeled as “essential applications” when they are not. Fortunately, you just have to be vigilant because you can deny the installation… or uninstall them later.
And for the picture? Could be
And one, and two, and three… and 4 sensors on the back! Samsung is out of the loop and offers the following configuration:
- A main sensor of 50 megapixels with optical stabilization, with a lens opening at f / 1.8
- A 5 megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor (f / 2.2)
- A 2-megapixel (f/2.4) portrait sensor
- A 2 megapixel (f/2.4) macro sensor
As we know, multiplying sensors is not always the best idea. Behind the “wouw” effect caused by the back of the Galaxy A23 5G, we quickly understand that Samsung is trying to make an impression. In fact, we are in the presence of two really usable sensors: the main one and the ultra wide-angle.
The main sensor is in charge when the light conditions are good. It uses pixel-binning technology to combine pixels and deliver 12.5 megapixel shots. We are not in the presence of the photophone of the year, but we get the right photos that always have a “paw” Samsung. Colors tend to be flattering to the eyes, even if it means slightly deviating from reality. A fairly common practice among manufacturers, but does not concern all models. Ultra wide-angle doesn’t offer exactly the same color temperature, but the results are still pleasing.
You’ve probably already guessed, it’s when you start pushing the Galaxy A23 5G to its limits that the shoe pinches. The smartphone remains relatively comfortable indoors (on the main sensor), but difficulties appear as soon as the light runs out. The main sensor tries to stay the course, but the ultra wide-angle one struggles to offer usable shots.
Therefore it is necessary above all to bet on the main sensor of 50 megapixels, which does not really fail. As always, the price positioning of the smartphone should be considered. On the front, the 8 megapixel sensor (f / 2.2) is satisfactory although we can find better ones in this range.
For its price? Could be
Launched at 319 euros, Samsung benefits a little from its position in the market. You can find competing models that are better equipped for the same or lower price. However, fans of the Korean brand will not hesitate to turn to this model.
For others, the great point is that the price has tended to fall and it is now more accessible. It can be found below the 300 euro mark, which makes it more competitive. On the contrary, there is still the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G that also sails below this bar. A competitive competitor that doesn’t lack assets.
