The Galaxy A series is known for its best-in-class finishes, cameras, waterproof capabilities, audio jack support, micro SD card support and even software updates. Previously we reviewed the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A73 which offer a complete package at an affordable price. Then in March, Samsung also offered the Samsung Galaxy A23 at a fairly competitive price of RM999.
This raises the question of whether Samsung's sub-RM1000 device is still able to provide a good experience or with cost reduction issues will arise. Well let's continue this review by talking about the specifications and design of the Galaxy A23.
Specifications And Design
Samsung Galaxy A23
6.6″ TFT LCD screen,
1080 x 2408 pixels, 90Hz
Snapdragon 680 4G processor (6nm)
4 X 2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold Chip
4 X 2.5 GHz Kryo 265 Silver
Adreno 610 Graphics Chip
RAM 6GB LDPDR4x
128 GB Internal Storage (1TB micro SD)
Primary Camera 50MP f/1.8, OIS (Wide Angle)
5MP f/2.2 (Ultra wide angle)
2MP f/2.4 (Macro)
2MP f/2.4 (Depth)
8MP f/22 Selfie Camera
5000 mAh battery
25W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 4G
NFC None
Audio Jack Yes
Waterproof None
Scan System Side finger scanner
Sale Price RM999 (6/128GB)
In our opinion, the design of the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A73 is quite plastic with the back panel having a rather rough finish so that it looks like a slate rock surface. But on the Galaxy A23, the use of glossy plastic panels is back to reduce costs. We're not fans of the glossy plastic back panel because it's slippery but at least on the Galaxy A23 it doesn't trap oil stains like a magnet.
Despite being made of plastic, the body still feels solid and not clumsy as we found in the previous Galaxy A73 and Galaxy S21 FE. It feels good in the hand because the body is not too thin. In fact, the body size of the Galaxy A23 is only a few millimeters thicker when compared to the Galaxy A73.
The difference can be seen on the front as the Galaxy A23 screen uses a 6.6″ FHD TFT panel with thicker bezels on all four sides. The bezel on the chin is larger than the other side making it look less balanced. But this design is normal on devices in the affordable entry-level class. The same panel only supports a 90Hz refresh rate.
There is a notch on the top for the selfie camera. In terms of screen quality, it can be seen that it is lacking compared to the Galaxy A73 and A53 reviewed previously. The color display is not as beautiful as the OLED panel and under bright sunlight it is a bit difficult to see what is displayed on the screen.
Another thing is that the more rounded corners at the corners of the screen make the experience of watching videos in full-screen mode a little disturbed. The same goes for its noticeable notch. This is the challenge of using devices with panels that are more affordable to produce.
On the right side there is a power button and a volume adjustment button with an elongated design. On the same power button there is a physical fingerprint scanner. Its ergonomic location facilitates the process of unlocking the device. The fingerprint scanner is also quick to read fingerprints immediately after being placed on it. For those who don't want to use fingerprint scanning, a facial scanning system is included but doesn't work well in dark areas because there is no infrared emitter system.
The tray for dual SIM nano and microSD cards up to 1TB is located on the left side. At the bottom there is a grid for the mono speaker system, 3.5mm audio jack and USB-C charging port. On the Galaxy A23, an audio jack can also be provided by Samsung, while it has been removed from the Galaxy A73, A53 and A33 this year. The only downside is the Galaxy A23 is only equipped with a mono speaker.
Another thing the Galaxy A23 lacks compared to the rest of the Galaxy A 2022 series is that it doesn't have any waterproof standards. The combination of modest specifications, the loss of some standard Galaxy features, and a more plastic-like build material is the main reason why it can be sold at a much more affordable price.
Use And Software
The device uses Android 12 with One UI 4.1 out-of-the-box which is comparable to that used on the Galaxy A73 and S22 series. What do you get with One UI 4.1? A minimalistic interface with not many drastic changes compared to stock Android. The interface is also easier to use with one hand due to the positioning of the icons as well as easier access with several built-in accessibility features.
One interesting thing about Samsung is that most of the features found in their flagship devices are also carried over to their entry-level devices. So the existing feature gap is not that big.
There is still Edge Panel to access applications faster, matching two applications to launch them in Multi Window simultaneously, Live Transcribe, Live Caption, Music Share, Smart View and Device Control hub are given on Galaxy A23.
But from our experience using One UI 4.1, it is an interface that requires a lot of RAM to operate. By default, the Galaxy A23 is equipped with 4GB of RAM with 2GB of virtual memory RAM activated through the RAM Plus feature. This is a RAM size that is not capable of providing a truly smooth usage experience. Only after we opted to go with 4GB RAM Plus did the device feel smoother.
The Galaxy A23 that we reviewed is only equipped with 64GB which is small for the year 2022. When 4GB needs to be given to virtual memory, users have to make a choice to prioritize performance or storage.
We should mention that the 4/64 GB version we reviewed is not sold in Malaysia because Samsung only offers the 6/128 GB model. However, based on our experience using various devices with One UI 4.1, just 6GB of memory is not enough. It can be felt that the device takes more time to switch applications, launch applications and frequently refresh after more than 6 applications are launched simultaneously.
The smoothness of using the Galaxy A23 will depend on the amount of RAM Plus used, and the applications launched. If you regularly launch a lot of apps, the Galaxy A23's multitasking capabilities are a little disappointing.
Among the interesting features of One UI 4.1 are as follows.
Edge Panels – Side panels for apps, compass, Smart Select and more.
Color Palette – Automatically changes the interface color based on the background image.
RAM Plus – Virtual RAM increase up to 4GB.
Dual Messenger – Launch the same app with two different accounts.
Game Launcher – A special hub for the launcher installed on the phone.
Edge Lighting – Lights on the screen when receiving notifications.
Easy Mode – Elderly friendly interface.
Secure Folder – Store files in a locked container.
Live Captions – Real time subtitles
Bench mark
The performance of the Snapdragon 680 4G is only average as it falls into the category of lower mid-range processors. It is behind the capabilities of the Snapdragon 778G chip and the Dimensity 1300. The scores recorded in the three benchmark tests we conducted are as below.
Geekbench 5 – 380/1554 Score
Antutu 3D – 244,606 Scores
Wild Life – 434 Marks
In comparison, the Snapdragon 680G's Antutu 3D score is around 25% of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 score. In the Geekbench 5 test, the score recorded is only around 50%. So it's no surprise that the first Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG Mobile can only be played well on medium settings.
The application itself does not recommend increased graphics settings. With a 6.6″ screen, it can be seen that the texture quality is not high. No issues running simple 2D and 3D games like Subway Surfer. In short, the Galaxy A23 is not a gaming device.
Telephony, GPS And Radio
The Snapdragon 680 chip only allows the Galaxy A23 to use 4G LTE networks only. With 5G networks set to expand further by the end of the year, its lack of support may not be felt much. After a week of use, we feel the device's 4G experience is on par with other devices we own. Fast when in an area with a good network and direct when in a closed area. This is a network issue since 3G is off in Malaysia and not due to the device.
With 5GHz WiFi support, there is no issue to enjoy fast internet speed at home. GPS performance is also satisfactory even in an area filled with tall buildings in the middle of the capital.
Finally, the Galaxy A23 is equipped with a built-in radio. Just connect wired earphones to the 3.5mm audio jack and you can listen to the radio. The majority of modern devices no longer include radios as they no longer have audio jacks.
Camera
The device is equipped with a quad-camera that looks great from afar. But it's just a combination of 50MP main sensor, 5MP ultra wide angle, 2MP macro and 2MP depth. Only the 50MP primary sensor comes with OIS support. The Samsung Galaxy A23 is the cheapest device with OIS in the Malaysian market right now.
The standard Samsung camera app is provided so it's easy to use. There are various access buttons to the main features that you want to use. The camera performance is less than satisfactory because it is not fast enough. There is a noticeable lag when switching lenses and taking pictures.
Sample photos are as below and only photos from the 50MP wide angle camera are satisfactory. In ultra-wide-angle mode, the 5MP sensor used is not large enough, resulting in less sharp images and dull colors. Image quality from the sensor
Sample photos are as below and only photos from the 50MP wide angle camera are satisfactory. In ultra-wide-angle mode, the 5MP sensor used is not large enough, resulting in less sharp images and dull colors. The image quality from the 50MP main sensor is better than all devices in the sub-RM1000 category because it is equipped with an optical image stabilization (OIS) system.
The picture looks sharper even in a rather dark situation. The colors are also brighter and look more alive when compared to pictures from other lenses. We have not included a picture of the 2MP macro lens because it is simply not satisfactory. The depth sensor is just a gimmick. Just bury it. So we welcome the rumors that Samsung will remove the depth sensor on the Galaxy A series in 2023.
Battery
The included 5000 mAh battery provides a SOT life of up to 10 hours on moderate use or around 8 hours on heavier use. This is satisfactory for a modern smartphone. The longest battery life is around 20 hours with moderate usage.
The Galaxy A23 supports 25W charging but Samsung only provides a 15W charger in the box. With a 25W charger, the battery can be fully charged from 0% in 90 minutes. Same performance as the Galaxy S22 Ultra when using a 25W charger. Only wired charging using a USB-C cable is supported.
Audio
Only mono audio is supported so the audio performance of this device is not impressive. For a more satisfying audio experience, the use of external audio accessories is required as there is Dolby Atmos support. The mono physical speaker is loud enough to use when driving or group discussions. Because just mono audio is not dynamic and unbalanced.
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Samsung Galaxy A23
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x 15W Charger
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A23 is a low-mid range device with the best camera capabilities as it comes with OIS. At RM999, it is also the most affordable device with OIS in the Malaysian market. But a good camera alone is not enough. The use of the device is less satisfactory if the device's RAM is not set to 8GB using the RAM Plus virtual memory system. At lower RAM settings it can be felt that the device struggles to function smoothly. Launched apps will also refresh frequently in the background.
We can only recommend this device to those who really don't want to play high graphics games and want an affordable device with a decent camera. It is compatible to be used as a first device for children because it can run basic applications (TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp) well.
Pro
Sharp FHD large screen for watching video content.
The Snapdragon 680 processor is satisfactory for running the majority of basic applications.
The main camera is equipped with OIS.
Still have the radio.
Equipped with 3.5mm audio jack.
Large battery with good durability.
Cons
Mono speaker.
Screens with thick bezels are unbalanced.
No waterproof capabilities like other Galaxy A series.
Does not work smoothly enough if the RAM setting is below 8GB.