Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S23: Biggest upgrades

If you bought the Samsung Galaxy S23 when it first became available with a two-year contract, you’ll no doubt be inundated with text messages encouraging you to consider your upgrade options. And if you’ve enjoyed your S23, you may well be wondering what the Samsung Galaxy S25 offers.

Well now the Samsung Galaxy S25 is officially here, and it's got a lot to offer users that are looking to upgrade. While the differences between the Galaxy S25 vs the Galaxy S24 might not be as hardware-focused as many hoped, the difference from the Galaxy S23 is pretty massive.

On the hardware front, you're looking at a much-improved chip for the Galaxy S25, as well as more RAM, leading to much improved performance. The phone also features a sleeker overall design, with a much brighter display that is all powered by a longer-lasting battery.

However, that's only a brief look at some of the differences, so let's go into more detail about the differences between the two phones.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S23: specs

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S23: Price and availability

When it was released in January 2023, the Samsung Galaxy S23 would set you back $799 if you opted for the 128GB model. Nowadays, approaching its second birthday, you can pick up the handset for as little as $420, but these will likely be pre-owned or refurbished.

For a while, many rumors indicated that the entire Galaxy S25 series would see a substantial price increase. However, to Samsung’s credit, that $799 price has remained in place for the Galaxy S25. You can also find more than a few Galaxy S25 deals that offer several pretty great discounts throughout the year.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S23: Design and Display

Overall, the Galaxy S25 most resembles the Galaxy S24 with a similar design and overall look, although the phone has done away with any of the harsh edges. The Galaxy S25 is more rounded and, arguably, looks more like an iPhone than any other device. However, there are more than a few differences between it and the Galaxy S23. For one thing, the Galaxy S25 has the same flat frame instead of the curved design seen on the Galaxy S23.

On one hand, this makes it a bit less comfortable to hold, but it does make your grip feel a bit more stable. It also means that you won't be able to make use of the best Galaxy S23 cases with the new phone, meaning you'll need to grab one of the best Galaxy S25 cases.

The above table should give you a good idea of what the two different displays are like. For one thing, the Galaxy S25 is brighter than the Galaxy S23. However, the Vivid display on the Galaxy S23 seems to have a better color gamut coverage, meaning slightly more color accuracy on the display, although the two seem mostly the same in the natural setting.

Overall, the Galaxy S25 will offer you a better display, although you might find that the colors aren't quite as accurate.. One thing to note is that the Galaxy S25 didn't suffer from the same Mura effect fault seen in the Galaxy S24. As such, if you're interested in watching any shows or playing any games, then the newer phone offers an improved experience.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S23: Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S25 has a lot to offer users looking to improve their overall gaming experience, as well as improve their phone's power.

As you can see in the above table, the Galaxy S25 manages to outclass the Galaxy S23 in overall performance. This is, in part, due to the power of the Galaxy S25's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and the 12GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 struggles in comparison with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 8GB of RAM.

Now, there's an argument that these tests aren't the only way to measure performance. For the most part, the Galaxy S25 will offer a smoother experience regardless of what you're doing, and it certainly offers the best gaming experience of the two.

Another reason to consider upgrading is that the Galaxy S25 has the new One UI 7 update at release, something that the Galaxy S23 is still waiting for. Not only does that mean you have instant access to features like the improved Galaxy AI, Now Bar and redesigned Camera app, you'll also have the best experience on the more powerful device.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S23: Cameras

In terms of actual camera hardware, the Samsung Galaxy S25 features the same overall setup as the older Galaxy S23. Meaning that you're getting the same 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom and a 12MP selfie camera. However, there is one major area where the Galaxy S25 manages to separate itself from the Galaxy S23.

One of the major improvements that we've seen on the Galaxy S25 is that it has a wealth of AI, all of which is improved by that same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. That means that, even though the cameras are much the same, they manage so much more.

One of the main things that the new phone does is that manages to boost low-light images, as well as make use of an updated visual engine to get better images. Is it enough to keep getting away with using the same hardware? Let's have a look and see what the comparisons look like.

As you can see with this image of our local pub, the Galaxy S25's main camera has a slightly darker, more natural color palette than the Galaxy S23. Also, while both phones have the same 50MP main camera, the Galaxy S25's is somewhat more defined.

The same difference in color, which is darker and more natural on the S25, is apparent with the Ultrawide camera, however, the edges are slightly softer on the newer phone.

Again, the differences between the two telephoto lenses are pretty minimal, although the Galaxy S23 continues to have slightly harsher lines. The Galaxy S25 still produces a darker image overall, but in turn, it has much better blending.

When taking an image at full zoom, you can see the difference more clearly, with the Galaxy S23 making the words appear jagged. While the Galaxy S25 is more blurred, although neither of them is fantastic at this distance.

Finally, with the selfie camera, we can see the same difference in color palettes. Honestly, I prefer the Galaxy S25 as it makes me look less old, while also making the image seem warmer.

Overall, the differences in cameras are pretty minimal, which might be disappointing for some, considering the phones are more than a generation apart. However, Google Gemini and the wealth of AI editing software powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite might make more of a difference. With that said, it's really more down to personal preference which one you prefer.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S23: Battery and Charging

When it comes to battery, there's no doubt that the Galaxy S25 will last longer, in part thanks to its slightly larger battery, but that's only half the story.

As you can see in the above table, the Galaxy S25 managed to stay on for our tests for an extra five hours. The reason for this? it's simple, it's all in the chip. You see, one of the major strengths of Qualcomm's Snapdragon chip is their excellent power management, and that has only been improved with time.

As such, when you upgrade, you can expect your new phone to last longer than ever before.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S23: Outlook

There's no doubt that the Galaxy S23 is a great phone, and it certainly can still be useful. However, the Galaxy S25 just does everything a little better, and it will last longer than the Galaxy S23, meaning there's less push to upgrade in the future.

With all that said, you likely don't need to worry about upgrading just yet if you don't want to. While we would recommend upgrading to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it's a different story moving from the S23 to the S25. Don't get me wrong, you'll see an improvement, but it won't be as drastic a difference as you might have hoped.

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