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Not Everyone Should Upgrade to Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Just Yet

You should consider several factors before switching. Compare these older Samsung phones to help guide your decision.

This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung’s most popular products.

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 just launched in February, so you may be wondering: Is it worth the upgrade? Truth is, there isn’t one answer that can be applied to everyone. The age and condition of your current phone, your budget and whether your device will support new versions of Android should all factor into your decision. 

The Galaxy S23, which starts at $800, has a 6.1-inch screen and a 50-megapixel main camera, just like the Galaxy S22. But the S23 has a larger battery, a new processor and slightly updated camera algorithms that improve the way photos are processed. While these changes are appreciated, the Galaxy S23 is generally a minor improvement over the Galaxy S22. The upgrade is worth it if you’re looking to replace a phone you’ve had for several years, ideally one that’s more than two years old. Even the Galaxy S21, which launched in 2021, likely still has enough life left to make it through another year. 

Buying decisions will always vary depending on your needs and budget. But if you’re a current Samsung user considering making the jump, here’s what to know about how the Galaxy S23 compares to older devices.

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S22

Samsung Galaxy S22Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22.

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

With the Galaxy S23, Samsung addressed my biggest concern about the Galaxy S22: its short battery life. The new phone has a larger battery (3,900 mAh compared to 3,700), which has made a difference in my testing.

Otherwise, compared to the Galaxy S22, you’re getting a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that’s been optimized for the new Galaxy lineup specifically, while the Galaxy S22 runs on last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. Performance is faster, especially when exporting video. But you probably won’t notice much of a jump in everyday use, since most modern processors are well-equipped to handle gaming, multitasking and other run-of-the-mill tasks.

The Galaxy S23’s cameras are largely the same as the Galaxy S22’s, except the algorithms have been updated to improve processing in low light conditions. The selfie camera also has a slightly higher resolution (12 megapixels versus 10), although I didn’t notice much of a difference. There’s nothing about the Galaxy S23’s camera that feels hugely different from the previous generation, although I did notice that low-light portraits looked better.

The phone launches with Android 13 and Samsung’s One UI 5.1 software, both of which are available for the Galaxy S22 series. 

The bottom line: Don’t upgrade to the Galaxy S23 if you have a Galaxy S22. The changes aren’t noticeable enough to warrant an upgrade. Battery life is the only meaningful change you’ll notice between the two phones, but I’d only recommend upgrading if you can get the S23 for free through a trade-in deal

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S21

Samsung's Galaxy S21Samsung's Galaxy S21

Samsung’s Galaxy S21.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The differences between the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S21 are more noticeable, but you can probably hold onto your S21 for another year before upgrading. 

The Galaxy S23 has a noticeably improved camera since it inherits the 50-megapixel sensor that debuted on the Galaxy S22. As I wrote in my review, the Galaxy S22’s cameras offer better color, contrast and low-light performance compared to the Galaxy S21. 

The Galaxy S21 also runs on a processor that’s now two years old, compared to the brand-new chip in the Galaxy S23. That said, if you’re just using your phone for simple tasks like video calls, playing games and checking social media, the older Snapdragon 888 chip is probably holding up just fine. 

The bottom line: If your Galaxy S21 still feels fast and the battery life is satisfactory, you can wait another year before upgrading. Samsung supports three generations of Android operating system updates for the Galaxy S21, meaning it will get new platform-wide software updates until 2024. 

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S20

Samsung's Galaxy S20Samsung's Galaxy S20

Samsung’s Galaxy S20.

Angela Lang/CNET

Whether you should upgrade from the Galaxy S20 isn’t as straightforward of an answer. There’s enough to gain that would justify making the jump, but the Galaxy S20 also still has plenty to offer.

By upgrading, you’ll get a faster chip, an improved camera with significantly better low-light performance and a fresh design. Since the Galaxy S20 launched in 2020 with Android 10, it’ll no longer be eligible for new Android OS updates moving forward. 

Samsung committed to providing three generations of updates for the Galaxy S20 lineup, making Android 13 the last one. That means you’ll have to upgrade to get future versions of Android and the new features that come along with these updates. The company does, however, still provide monthly security updates for the Galaxy S20. 

At the same time, the Galaxy S20 is still a very capable phone. Even though you won’t get the option to shoot photos at a 50-megapixel resolution like on the Galaxy S23, you’ll still get a triple-camera setup on the Galaxy S20. The Galaxy S20 also has a 30x digital zoom like the Galaxy S23, so you won’t miss out on getting close-up shots.

But keep in mind that the Galaxy S20 has a larger battery and a slightly bigger screen than the Galaxy S23. And most importantly, the Galaxy S20 has a microSD card slot for adding more storage, which the Galaxy S23 does not. 

The bottom line: The updates in the Galaxy S23 will feel significant enough to justify the upgrade, but you also don’t need to if you’re happy with your Galaxy S20. Hang onto the S20 if you’re happy with its performance, battery life and if you value keeping that microSD card slot over having a better camera. Just remember you won’t get the next version of Android. 

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S10

The Samsung Galaxy S10 lineupThe Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup

The Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup.

Angela Lang/CNET

Galaxy S10 owners: it’s time to upgrade. Not only will the camera and processor feel like a huge step up, but you’ll get 5G and the latest version Android. 

If you purchased the Galaxy S10 at launch back in 2019, the processor and battery are now four years old. That means your phone may be starting to feel sluggish, and the battery probably struggles to get through a day. The Galaxy S10’s battery is also smaller than the Galaxy S23’s (3,400 mAh capacity versus 3,900) and the S23’s processor is more power efficient — so the battery gains should be meaningful. Your Galaxy S10 also doesn’t support 5G, unless you splurged on the 6.7-inch Galaxy S10 5G, which started at $1,300 when it launched.

But more importantly, the Galaxy S10 no longer receives Android version updates. Like the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S10 was eligible for three generations of new Android releases. That would make last year’s Android 12 update the last one since the Galaxy S10 launched with Android 9. (You will, however, still get quarterly security updates if you have the regular Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10E or S10 5G.)

While software support and battery life are among the biggest reasons to upgrade, you’ll also get a much better camera on the Galaxy S23. Samsung’s camera has come a long way over the last four years, now offering a higher resolution main sensor (50 megapixels versus 12 megapixels on the Galaxy S10), enhanced performance in low light and a closer digital zoom (up to 30x on the Galaxy S23 compared to 10x on the Galaxy S10). 

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you’ll lose the beloved microSD card slot by upgrading to the Galaxy S23. So be sure to pick a storage capacity that makes sense for your needs since you won’t be able to expand it. 

The bottom line: Yes, if you have a Galaxy S10 it’s worth upgrading to the Galaxy S23. You’ll get 5G support, access to new versions of Android, longer battery life, a faster new processor and a much-improved camera. But be prepared to say goodbye to the microSD card slot. 

Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9Samsung Galaxy S9

The Samsung Galaxy S9.

James Martin/CNET

There are many reasons to upgrade from the Galaxy S9 — so many, in fact, it’s hard to know where to start. All of the points mentioned above for the Galaxy S10 also apply to the Galaxy S9. Samsung’s five-year-old phone lacks 5G, and its processor and battery have likely started to show their age. You’ll also no longer receive Android version updates. 

But there are plenty of other benefits to be had from upgrading. The camera is among the biggest changes; the Galaxy S9 only has one rear 12-megapixel camera, and the Galaxy S9 Plus has an additional 12-megapixel telephoto camera. The Galaxy S23 has a higher resolution 50-megapixel main camera, along with a 10-megapixel telephoto camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens for capturing a wider field of view. The Galaxy S23’s selfie camera also has a higher resolution (12 megapixels versus the S9’s 8), along with other improvements like better low-light capture. 

If you have the standard 5.8-inch Galaxy S9, you’ll also get a larger screen since the Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch display. The Galaxy S23 also has twice the storage in the base model compared to the Galaxy S9, but there’s no microSD card slot in Samsung’s new phone for adding more storage. 

The bottom line: There are a bunch of reasons to upgrade if you have a Galaxy S9. You’ll get a significantly improved camera with multiple lenses, much faster performance, longer battery life, new versions of Android and 5G support. 

Overall, it’s worth upgrading if you have a phone that’s more than two years old. Galaxy S20 owners can probably get another year out of their device if it’s in good condition, but the Galaxy S23 also offers enough improvements to justify the upgrade. If you have a Galaxy S10 or earlier, the answer to whether you should upgrade is a resounding yes. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. older Galaxy phones

Galaxy S23 Galaxy S22 Galaxy S21 Galaxy S20 Galaxy S10 Galaxy S9
Display 6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 resolution; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate 6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 resolution; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate 6.2-inch AMOLED;2,400×1,080 resolution; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate 6.2-inchAMOLED; 3,200×1,440 resolution; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate 6.1-inch AMOLED; 3,040×1,440 resolution 5.8-inch AMOLED; 2,960×1,440 resolution
Pixel density 425 pixels per inch 425 pixels per inch 421 pixels per inch 563 pixels per inch 550 pixels per inch 570 pixels per inch
Dimensions (inches) 2.79 x 5.76 x 0.3 in 2.78 x 5.74 x 0.3 in 2.80 x 5.97 x 0.31 in 2.72 x 5.97 x 0.311 in 5.9 x 2.77 x 0.31 in 5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 in
Dimensions (millimeters) 70.9 x 146.3 x 7.6 mm 70.6 x 146 x 7.6 mm 71.2 x 151.7 x 7.9mm 69.1 x 151.7 x 7.9 mm 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8 mm 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm
Weight (grams, ounces) 168 g (5.93 oz) 167 g(5.93 oz) 171 g(6.03 oz) 5.75 oz (163 g) 5.53 oz (157 g) 5.75 oz (163 g)
Mobile software Android 13 Android 12 Android 11 Android 10 Android 9 Android 8
Camera 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto) 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto) 64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 16-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (telephoto) 12-megapixel
Front-facing camera 12-megapixel 10-megapixel 10-megapixel 10-megapixel 10-megapixel 8-megapixel
Video capture 8K at 30fps 8Kat 24 fps 8K at 24fps 8K at 24fps 4K at 60fps 4K at 60 fps
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM/storage 8GB RAM + 128GB; 8GB RAM + 256GB 8GB RAM + 128GB8GB RAM + 256GB 8GB RAM + 128GB 8GB RAM + 128GB 8GB RAM + 128GB; 8GB RAM + 512GB 4GB RAM + 64GB; 4GB RAM + 128GB; 4GB RAM + 256GB
Expandable storage None None None Yes (Up to 1TB) Yes (Up to 512GB) Yes (Up to 400GB)
Battery 3,900 mAh 3,700 mAh 4,000 mAh 4,000mAh 3,400mAh 3,000 mAh
Fingerprint sensor In-display In-display In-display In-display In-display Back
Connector USB-C USB-C USB-C USB-C USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack No No No No Yes Yes
Special features 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, wireless PowerShare to charge other devices 5G (mmw/Sub6), 120Hz display, IP68 rating, 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 30x Space Zoom, 10W wireless charging, 120Hz display 5G enabled; 120Hz refresh rate; water resistant (IP68) Wireless PowerShare; hole punch screen notch; water resistant (IP68); Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 Dual-aperture camera, water-resistant (IP68); super slo-mo video; wireless charging; iris scanning

Technologies

OpenAI, Microsoft and Anthropic Pony Up $23M to Teach Teachers About AI

Educators will learn about AI in a program created by the American Federation of Teachers.

The American Federation of Teachers is using $23 million in funds from three tech companies to launch a program to train educators on artificial intelligence.

On Tuesday, the country’s second-largest teachers’ union announced $12.5 million from Microsoft, $10 million in funding and technical resources from OpenAI and $500,000 from Anthropic will be used for a New York-based hub to teach AI. The AFT is working in partnership with the United Federation of Teachers, a union representing New York school workers.

The hub will be called the National Academy for AI Instruction, and according to OpenAI, will serve 400,000 educators to develop AI fluency by 2030 through workshops, online courses and hands-on training sessions. The plan, according to the company, is to start in New York and scale nationwide, including additional hubs elsewhere in the country. The effort will begin with a focus on K-12 educators.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)  

In a post on X, AFT President Randi Weingarten wrote, «This will be an innovative new training space where educators will learn not just about how A.I. works, but how to use it wisely, safely and ethically.It will be a place where tech developers and educators can talk with each other, not past each other.»

The announcement was not met with unanimous praise. On a post on the UFT’s Facebook page, commenters were not happy. «AI use has been proven to reduce brain activity but sure, why not,» one commenter wrote.

Another wrote, «This is absolutely a horrible decision by the Union. It is undermining our work and also doesn’t take in consideration the ramifications of AI in education.»

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The HBO Max Name Change Is Here. Here’s What to Know

The streaming service is getting a rebrand. Again.

Summer is usually a time for blockbusters, but Warner Bros. Discovery is giving us more than Superman this year. Max brought back its former name, HBO Max, on Wednesday, according to a press release.

The company first announced the change to the streaming service during its Upfront presentation in May, and judging by this meme it shared, the media giant has a sense of humor about it.

The streaming service was originally rebranded as Max in May of 2023 when it merged content from HBO Max and Discovery brands. During the past two years, we’ve seen the logo change from purple to blue and then black, along with the name flip. What’s the reasoning behind the revamp this time around? 

«The powerful growth we have seen in our global streaming service is built around the quality of our programming,» said Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, according to a May press release. «Today, we are bringing back HBO, the brand that represents the highest quality in media, to further accelerate that growth in the years ahead.»

Your home screen will change to reflect the streamer’s updated name and logo, but it’s unclear whether HBO Max’s library will change. The platform is home to content for HBO, Max Originals, Warner Bros., the DC universe, HGTV, B/R Sports, Adult Swim and more. 

During the event, J.B. Perrette, CEO of streaming, explained how the move aligns with the platform’s programming. «We will continue to focus on what makes us unique — not everything for everyone in a household, but something distinct and great for adults and families,» he said. «It’s really notsubjective, not even controversial — our programming just hits different.»

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Technologies

Prime Day Deal: The AirFly Pro Is 25% Off Right Now. Here’s Why I Never Fly Without It

Today’s Prime Day deal drops the AirFly Pro Bluetooth dongle to just $41, making it even easier to ditch those awful airline earbuds.

Amazon Prime Day deal: Right now you can grab the Twelve South AirFly Pro for $41 at Amazon, one of the lowest prices I’ve seen all year. That’s 25% off its usual $55 and an easy yes if you’ve ever been annoyed by those crackly in-flight headphones. The Prime Day sale ends on July 11, but that doesn’t mean it’ll stay in stock, so don’t wait.


If you fly often, you already know the routine. You settle into your seat, start messing with the in-flight entertainment screen, then remember that your AirPods won’t connect. That means reaching for the airline’s wired headphones that feel flimsy, let in every engine roar and make everything sound muffled. Just the worst.

This is one of the most frustrating parts of flying, especially on long trips when decent audio can make all the difference. Between the engine noise, crying babies and that one guy snoring in 14C, you need a better option. The good news is there’s a simple device that fixes the problem completely and makes flying feel a lot more like streaming at home.

The AirFly Pro has become a must-pack item in my travel bag. It’s a simple Bluetooth dongle that lets you connect your wireless earbuds (like my AirPods Pro) directly to the airplane’s entertainment system, no adapters or wired workarounds required. Since I started using it, I’ve stopped dreading in-flight audio and finally get to enjoy movies the way they were meant to be heard. If you fly often, this little gadget could completely change how you travel.

The AirFly Pro lets me enjoy in-flight entertainment

The AirFly Pro from Twelve South is a minimally designed dongle that lets me connect to the 3.5mm headphone jack in my airplane seat to listen to in-flight entertainment on my noise-canceling earbuds. All I have to do is pair the AirFly Pro with whichever Bluetooth headphones I’m using, like my AirPods Pro, plug the AirFly Pro into the display in front of me, and I’m all set. I don’t even need to use my phone to connect the two devices.

There are four versions of the AirFly: the AirFly SE, which sells for $35 on Amazon and connects to just one set of headphones, the AirFly Pro at $41, the Pro V2 at $60, which is the newest version of the AirFly Pro, and the Pro Deluxe at $70, which comes with an international headphone adapter and a suede travel case.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

I use the AirFly Pro, which has been a game-changer for me on flights. I’ve never had to worry about battery life since the AirFly Pro lasts for more than 25 hours and can fully charge in 3 hours. I can also pair two separate pairs of headphones to a single AirFly Pro, in case I’m with someone else on a flight and want to watch the same movie or show. And if that’s not enough, the AirFly Pro also doubles as an audio transmitter, so I can turn any speaker with a headphone jack, like my old car stereo, into a Bluetooth speaker.

The AirFly Pro makes a great gift for any traveler

The AirFly Pro is the perfect present to give to someone who’s planning to travel this year. Besides my Anker MagSafe battery pack, the AirFly Pro really has become my most treasured travel accessory when I fly, which is why I consider it to be one of those can’t-go-wrong gifts. For more travel gear, here are our favorite tech essentials to travel with and our favorite travel pillows.

Impulse Buys Under $25 on Amazon That Make Surprisingly Great Gifts

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