Samsung Galaxy A23 5G vs. A22 5G: Which Budget 5G Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is the better choice. Its significantly improved battery life (138h vs 118h) and faster 25W charging outweigh the slightly lower contrast ratio. The Snapdragon 695 also offers a more efficient architecture, translating to better sustained performance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A22 5G | Samsung Galaxy A23 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 03 | 2022, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 24 | Available. Released 2022, September 02 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 167.2 x 76.4 x 9 mm (6.58 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~399 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 90Hz | PLS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI core 5 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1152p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA 8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, White, Mint, Violet | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | SM-A226B, SM-A226B/DS, SM-A226B/DSN, SM-A226BR, SM-A226BR/N, SM-A226L, SC-56B | SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL |
| Price | £ 92.00 / € 125.99 | $ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000 |
| SAR | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.73 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body) | 1.49 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 118h | Endurance rating 138h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1631:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -28.5 LUFS (Average) | -25.9 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 242155 (v8), 223188 (v9) GeekBench: 6913 (v4.4), 1719 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 318821 (v9) GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
- Potentially lower price point
- Slightly higher contrast ratio for deeper blacks
- Established Dimensity 700 performance
- Shorter battery life (118h endurance)
- Slower 15W charging
- Less efficient processor
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
- Longer battery life (138h endurance)
- Faster 25W charging
- More efficient Snapdragon 695 processor
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Slightly lower contrast ratio
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
The A23 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching 508 nits compared to the A22 5G’s 385 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors. However, the A23 5G’s contrast ratio of 1328:1 is slightly lower than the A22 5G’s 1631:1, meaning blacks won’t be quite as deep. Both displays utilize similar LCD technology, so color accuracy and viewing angles will be comparable, but the A23’s increased brightness is a clear advantage for everyday use.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a similar 'Photo / Video' camera setup, lacking specific details in the provided data. However, given Samsung’s typical approach, we can expect the A23 5G to benefit from improved image processing algorithms leveraging the newer chipset. The absence of sensor size or aperture information makes a direct comparison difficult, but the A23’s processor will likely deliver better low-light performance and faster image capture. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing feature with limited practical utility.
Performance
The shift from the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7nm) in the A22 5G to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) in the A23 5G is significant. The 6nm process node inherently offers better power efficiency. While both CPUs feature a similar octa-core configuration with 2x2.2 GHz performance cores, the Snapdragon 695’s Kryo 660 Gold cores are architecturally more advanced than the A22’s Cortex-A76 cores, resulting in improved single-core and multi-core performance. This translates to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. The A23 5G is likely to handle graphically demanding games with fewer frame drops.
Battery Life
The A23 5G’s endurance rating of 138 hours represents a substantial improvement over the A22 5G’s 118 hours. This is partially attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset. Crucially, the A23 5G supports 25W wired charging, a significant upgrade from the A22 5G’s 15W charging. This means a much faster 0-100% charge time, reducing downtime and increasing usability throughout the day. The A23 5G’s battery life advantage is a key differentiator.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G if you prioritize finding the absolute lowest price for 5G connectivity and are comfortable with slower charging speeds and potentially shorter battery life. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G if you value longer battery endurance, faster charging, and a more modern, efficient processor for smoother multitasking and gaming.