Galaxy S20 Vs Galaxy S23+

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ (2023) and the Samsung Galaxy S20 (2020) represent different generations of Samsung's flagship smartphone line. While both devices offer a premium Android experience, the Galaxy S23+ benefits from three years of technological advancements, introducing a more powerful processor, an upgraded camera system, and enhanced software longevity compared to its predecessor. Both run on the Android operating system, though the S23+ supports newer versions and will receive updates for a longer period.

The practical lifespan of a smartphone is heavily influenced by its release date and subsequent software support.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S20 was released in March 2020, making it over three years older than the Galaxy S23+, which launched in February 2023.
• OS Support & Longevity: The Galaxy S20, initially running Android 10, typically received three major OS updates and four years of security updates, with support generally ending around April 2024. In contrast, the Galaxy S23+, launched with Android 13, is expected to receive four major OS upgrades and five years of security updates, extending its software support well into 2028. This means the S23+ offers a significantly longer period of up-to-date features and security protections.
• Durability: Both devices feature glass fronts and backs with an aluminum frame and are rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. The Galaxy S23+ benefits from newer Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which offers improved resistance against drops and scratches compared to the Gorilla Glass 6 on the Galaxy S20. Early drop tests indicated that the base Galaxy S20 might be more susceptible to damage than its larger S20+ and S20 Ultra counterparts.

Performance for everyday tasks, demanding applications, and multitasking sees a notable upgrade with the newer device.

• Processor Capabilities: The Galaxy S23+ is powered by the customized Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which provides substantial improvements in speed and efficiency, allowing it to handle demanding apps and multitasking smoothly without lag. The Galaxy S20 features either the Samsung Exynos 990 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, which, while capable for its time, will show its age with newer, more intensive applications and prolonged use.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S23+ houses a larger 4700 mAh battery, which, combined with the more efficient processor, delivers excellent battery life, often lasting more than a full day even with moderate to heavy use, with some tests showing up to 25 hours of video playback. The Galaxy S20 has a 4000 mAh battery, providing solid full-day use in 60Hz display mode, but its endurance significantly decreases when the 120Hz refresh rate is enabled.
• Storage and RAM: Both devices typically offer 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy S23+ comes with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage and does not support expandable storage. The Galaxy S20 typically came with 128GB of internal storage but includes a microSD card slot for expandable storage, which can be a key differentiator for users with large media libraries.

Both smartphones offer vibrant displays, but differences exist in resolution and adaptive refresh rate capabilities.

• Display Technology and Clarity: Both the Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S20 feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, known for deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, the Galaxy S20 boasts a higher resolution display at 1440x3200 pixels (QHD+) on its 6.2-inch screen, resulting in a higher pixel density. The Galaxy S23+ has a 6.6-inch display with a resolution of 1080x2340 pixels (FHD+). While the S20's higher resolution offers slightly finer detail, many users find the FHD+ resolution of the S23+ sufficient for everyday viewing, especially given its battery efficiency.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The Galaxy S23+ offers a significantly brighter display, with a peak brightness of up to 1205 nits, providing excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The Galaxy S20 also has a bright display, but does not reach the same peak levels. Both devices support a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations. However, the Galaxy S20's 120Hz mode is limited to 1080p resolution and can considerably impact battery life, whereas the S23+ handles its 120Hz refresh rate more efficiently due to its newer display technology and processor.
• Screen Size and Viewing Experience: The Galaxy S23+ provides a larger 6.6-inch viewing area compared to the S20's 6.2-inch display, which can enhance the experience for media consumption and productivity tasks.

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the newer Galaxy S23+ brings advancements in sensor technology and image processing.

• Main Camera Capabilities: The Galaxy S23+ features a 50MP main wide camera (f/1.8, OIS) which excels in capturing detailed and vibrant images, with improvements in dynamic range and low-light performance due to enhanced AI processing. The Galaxy S20 has a 12MP main wide camera (f/1.8, OIS), which for its time, produced impressive results with good low-light performance due to its larger sensor pixels compared to previous generations.
• Zoom and Ultrawide Photography: For zoom, the Galaxy S23+ includes a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS, providing clear zoomed-in shots. The Galaxy S20 utilized a 64MP telephoto lens to achieve 3x hybrid optical zoom, which was praised for its quality at the time. Both phones include a 12MP ultrawide camera, with the S23+ generally offering more refined processing and dynamic range.
• Video Recording and Selfie Camera: Both devices are capable of 8K video recording. The Galaxy S23+ has a 12MP front-facing camera that provides improved selfie quality, especially in low light. The Galaxy S20 has a 10MP front camera, which delivered good performance.