Samsung's budget phone lineup is always a hot topic, and the Galaxy M23 and A23 are two contenders vying for your attention. Both offer compelling features at affordable prices, but which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy M23 edges out the A23 thanks to its superior Snapdragon 750G chipset, offering noticeably better performance for gaming and multitasking. While the A23 boasts impressive battery life, the M23's faster processor makes it the more well-rounded choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 04 | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 08 | Available. Released 2022, March 25 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165.5 x 77 x 8.4 mm (6.52 x 3.03 x 0.33 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 | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 120Hz | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS
5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@480fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | Virtual Proximity Sensing | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Deep Green, Light Blue, Orange Copper | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | SM-M236B, SM-M236B/DS, SM-M236L | SM-A235F, SM-A235F/DS, SM-A235F/DSN, SM-A235M, SM-A235M/DS, SM-A235N |
| Price | £ 195.34 | £ 99.00 / ₹ 14,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.48 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.78 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) | 0.36 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 130h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1241:1 |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 273554 (v9)
GeekBench: 1632 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 6.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy M23
- Faster Processor (Snapdragon 750G)
- 5G Connectivity
- Better Gaming Performance
- Slightly more modern design
- Slightly lower display brightness
- Potentially less color accurate display
Samsung Galaxy A23
- Exceptional Battery Life
- Vibrant and Accurate Display
- Reliable Performance for Everyday Tasks
- Good Value
- Slower Processor (Snapdragon 680)
- No 5G Connectivity
- Less Powerful for Gaming
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.6-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smooth scrolling and visuals. The A23's contrast ratio of 1241:1 is excellent, providing deep blacks and vibrant colors. While the M23's brightness is slightly lower (around 464 nits vs A23's 464 nits), both are perfectly usable outdoors. The A23's display is slightly more color accurate.
Camera Comparison
The A23 typically features a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. The M23 also has a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro, but its depth sensor is different. Image quality is generally comparable, with the A23 potentially having slightly better color accuracy. Video recording capabilities are similar on both devices.
Performance
This is where the M23 shines. The Snapdragon 750G is a significantly more powerful chipset than the A23's Snapdragon 680. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the M23. The A23 handles everyday tasks well, but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The A23 is renowned for its exceptional battery life, consistently achieving an endurance rating of 130 hours. The M23's battery life is still good, but not quite as impressive as the A23's. Both phones support 25W wired charging.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy M23 is ideal for users who prioritize performance and 5G connectivity, even on a budget. The Galaxy A23 is a great pick for those who value exceptional battery life and a vibrant display, and don't need the extra processing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy M23 worth the extra money compared to the A23?
If you prioritize performance and 5G, the M23 is worth the upgrade. If battery life is your top concern and you don't need 5G, the A23 is a great value.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Both phones will receive regular software updates and security patches from Samsung for several years, but Samsung typically provides longer support for its flagship devices.
