Samsung Galaxy A23 Review: Great Battery, Decent Camera, but Is It Worth the Price?

Introduction

Samsung has been on a roll with its mid-range smartphones, and the Galaxy A23 continues that streak — sitting comfortably in the brand’s low-to-mid-tier lineup. Like most budget Samsung phones, the A23’s main highlight is its camera setup, particularly its 50MP main lens with optical image stabilization (OIS) — a rare find in this price segment.

The rest of the specs, though, tell a more modest story. You get a large 6.6-inch display (not OLED, unsurprisingly) and an efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset, but it’s clear Samsung had to make some trade-offs to hit the price point.

Design

At first glance, the Galaxy A23 looks more like its pricier siblings — the Galaxy A33 and A53 — rather than the cheaper A13. The back panel blends into the slightly raised camera island, giving it a neat, uniform look. The phone is entirely made of plastic, and while it doesn’t feel premium, it’s sturdy enough.

The glossy back attracts fingerprints, though it’s a bit less slippery than glass. The power button, which doubles as a fingerprint reader, and volume keys are well-placed. You’ll find the USB-C port and speaker at the bottom, while the SIM tray on the left supports dual SIMs and a microSD card at the same time — a nice bonus.

Overall, the A23’s design feels practical, even if it’s a bit bulky and lacks refinement.

Display

The Galaxy A23 packs a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2408) and a 90Hz refresh rate. The display quality is decent for daily use, though the V-shaped notch looks dated.

The bigger issue? No ambient light or proximity sensors. The phone relies on its selfie camera to adjust brightness, which means slow, sometimes inaccurate responses when moving between lighting conditions. You’ll likely find yourself adjusting brightness manually more often than you’d like.

Battery Life

Battery life is easily one of the Galaxy A23’s strongest features. The 5,000mAh cell, paired with the efficient Snapdragon 680 chip, delivers excellent endurance — up to 130 hours in testing.

It comfortably lasts through a day and a half of regular use, with 18 hours of web browsing and 16 hours of video playback. Simply put, the A23 outperforms many phones in its category when it comes to battery life.

Charging Speed

The phone supports 25W fast charging, but Samsung includes only a 15W charger in the box. With that, charging is slow — 0 to 100% in about 1 hour and 43 minutes, and just 32% in 30 minutes.

To unlock faster speeds, you’ll need to buy Samsung’s 25W charger separately — an added cost that hurts its value proposition.

Software

Out of the box, the Galaxy A23 runs Android 12 with One UI 4.1. Samsung deserves credit for providing its latest software on a budget phone, but some features are missing.

You won’t find Bixby, Samsung Pay, or Windows Link, though useful tools like Easy Mode, Secure Folder, and Good Lock are available. The interface is smooth and familiar, though minor lags do appear occasionally.

It’s not the full One UI experience you’d get on flagship models, but it’s close enough for most users.

Performance

Under the hood, the A23 uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680, a 6nm processor that prioritizes power efficiency over performance. While it handles basic tasks and multitasking fine, it’s not built for heavy gaming or demanding apps.

The chip’s Adreno 610 GPU is also dated and struggles with graphics-intensive titles. You’re limited to 1080p video capture, which feels restrictive in 2025, especially when many competitors at similar prices offer more powerful hardware.

Camera

The Galaxy A23 features a quad-camera setup on the back, headlined by a 50MP main sensor with OIS. It’s capable of capturing sharp, detailed shots in daylight.

The 5MP ultrawide and 2MP macro and depth sensors, however, add little value. The ultrawide especially delivers soft, underexposed images. On the front, you get an 8MP selfie camera that performs decently in good lighting.

Overall, the camera experience is reliable but not outstanding.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A23 gets several things right — solid battery life, a capable main camera, and clean software. But its price doesn’t justify its compromises. The display’s missing sensors, sluggish charging, and underwhelming performance make it hard to recommend when competitors like Redmi Note 12, Realme Narzo 60x, and Poco M6 Pro offer better specs for similar money.

If the price drops over time, the A23 could become a smart pick for casual users who prioritize reliability and battery life over raw power. But at its current price, Samsung’s own lineup — or even last year’s midrangers — offer better value.