Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S24

Galaxy S23
Galaxy S23
Starting at

Refurbished price:A$489.00

Versus A$1,349.00 new

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Galaxy S24
Galaxy S24
Starting at

Refurbished price:A$622.00

Versus A$1,841.10 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy S23, released in February 2023, and the Samsung Galaxy S24, launched in January 2024, are both flagship smartphones from Samsung's Galaxy S series. While they share a similar design philosophy and core functionalities, the Galaxy S24 introduces advancements in software support, display brightness, and integrated artificial intelligence features, building upon the solid foundation of its predecessor. Both devices operate on the Android platform with Samsung's One UI interface.

Scores

Durability

The practical lifespan of a smartphone is significantly influenced by its software support and physical resilience. Both the Galaxy S23 and S24 offer robust build quality and extended software commitments, though the newer model provides a longer support window.

  • Software Longevity: The Galaxy S23 was released with Android 13 and is guaranteed to receive four major Android operating system upgrades and five years of security updates, extending its support until Android 17 and security patches until 2028. In contrast, the Galaxy S24 launched with Android 14 and comes with an extended promise of seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, meaning it will be supported through Android 21.
  • Physical Durability: Both models feature a durable construction with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protecting the display and an aluminum frame, offering similar levels of resistance to drops and scratches. They also share an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating protection against immersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
  • Repairability: While specific repairability scores can vary by region and independent assessments, both devices are designed with modern smartphone construction, which typically involves specialized tools and expertise for internal repairs.

Release year

2023

2024

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

Operating system

Android

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

Performance in both the Galaxy S23 and S24 is designed to handle demanding applications and multitasking efficiently, though the newer model incorporates a more advanced processing unit.

  • Processing Power: The Galaxy S23 is equipped with a processor optimized for its generation, providing smooth operation for everyday tasks, gaming, and productivity applications. The Galaxy S24 features a next-generation processor, which offers enhanced speed and efficiency, particularly noticeable in more intensive tasks and when utilizing advanced AI functionalities.
  • Storage and Multitasking: Both devices offer various internal storage options, typically starting from 128GB, with higher tiers often utilizing faster storage technology (UFS 4.0) for quicker app loading and data transfer. Both models generally come with 8GB of RAM, which supports fluid multitasking and app switching.
  • Battery Performance: The Galaxy S23 houses a 3900 mAh battery, providing reliable power for a full day of moderate use. The Galaxy S24 features a slightly larger 4000 mAh battery, which, combined with its more efficient processor, contributes to improved battery endurance for many users.

Memory (GB)

8 GB

12 GB

Screen quality

The display experience on both the Galaxy S23 and S24 is vibrant and clear, with the newer model offering notable enhancements in brightness and adaptive refresh rate technology.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: Both smartphones feature a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, delivering deep blacks, high contrast, and vivid colors. They share a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels), ensuring sharp text and detailed images for everyday viewing.
  • Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The Galaxy S23 offers a peak brightness of 1750 nits, providing good visibility in various lighting conditions, including direct sunlight. The Galaxy S24 elevates this with a significantly higher peak brightness of 2600 nits, further improving outdoor readability and HDR content viewing.
  • Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both models boast an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and responsive interactions. The Galaxy S23's display can adapt its refresh rate between 48Hz and 120Hz. The Galaxy S24 features a more advanced LTPO display, allowing its refresh rate to scale more dynamically, from 1Hz to 120Hz, which can contribute to power efficiency.

Resolution

1080 x 2340

1080x2340

Screen type

Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X

Audiovisual

Both the Galaxy S23 and S24 offer versatile camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos, with the S24 benefiting from software-driven enhancements.

  • Rear Camera System: Both devices feature a triple-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 50-megapixel main wide-angle sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This configuration allows for a range of photographic styles, from expansive landscapes to detailed zoomed-in shots.
  • Photography Features and Performance: The Galaxy S23 provides strong low-light performance through its Nightography mode and supports 8K video recording. The Galaxy S24 maintains similar hardware but introduces an enhanced ProVisual AI Engine, which improves image processing, low-light performance, and offers new AI-powered editing capabilities like Generative Edit and Instant Slow-mo for videos.
  • Front Camera: Both smartphones are equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera that supports Dual Pixel PDAF for fast and accurate autofocus, contributing to clear selfies and video calls.

Main camera

50 megapixels

50 megapixels

Front camera

12 megapixels

12 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core specifications, several practical elements differentiate the user experience between these two Galaxy smartphones.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both the Galaxy S23 and S24 support 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections. They both utilize a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, and neither includes a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.
  • Biometric Security: For secure unlocking, both models integrate an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, known for its speed and accuracy. They also offer face recognition as an alternative biometric option.
  • Design and Handling: The Galaxy S23 measures 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm and weighs 168 grams. The Galaxy S24 is marginally taller and narrower at 147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm, maintaining the same weight of 168 grams, resulting in a very similar in-hand feel. Both feature a flat display and a refined design with individual camera lenses protruding from the back.

Weight

227 oz

167 oz

Screen size (in)

6.1

6.2

Network

5G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 are both capable smartphones, each offering a compelling experience. The Galaxy S23, released in early 2023, is praised by users for its balanced performance, compact design, and reliable camera system. Many appreciate its consistent battery life for its size and the overall smooth operation provided by its optimized processor. Criticisms sometimes point to its battery capacity being smaller compared to larger flagships, and some users desired more significant camera hardware upgrades over its predecessor.

The Galaxy S24, launched in early 2024, builds on this foundation with several key enhancements. Users frequently highlight its brighter display, the slightly larger battery, and the significant commitment to seven years of software updates as major advantages. The integrated Galaxy AI features, such as Live Translate and Circle to Search, are also noted as innovative additions that enhance usability. Some discussions around the Galaxy S24 have revolved around the regional variation in processors (Snapdragon vs. Exynos), with some users expressing preferences for one over the other, though real-world performance differences are often minimal for average use.

Users prioritizing long-term software support and the latest AI-driven features may find the Galaxy S24 to be a more future-proof choice. Those who value a slightly more compact form factor with solid, proven performance and a still-generous software update policy might lean towards the Galaxy S23. Both devices represent quality-assured options, and considering a refurbished model of either can be an eco-friendly alternative for consumers.

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