Nothing Phone (2) vs Galaxy S23: Which Offers the Best Premium Bang-for-the-Buck?

With the Telephone (2), Nothing stepped proper into the robust Android flagship market, following the steps of OnePlus earlier than it—each firms had been co-founded by Carl Pei, so no surprises there. So earlier than delving into the Nothing Telephone (2)’s worth proposition, we are going to check out the principle specs for each telephones:

In any case that uncooked information, let’s have a look at if the numbers above correlate with our expertise reviewing the telephones.

Desk of Contents:

Show and design

Nothing Phone (2) Review — The Nothing Telephone (2) makes use of a extra premium OLED panel than the Galaxy S23. / © nextpit

Regardless of Samsung’s fame relating to shows, notably OLED ones, it’s truly the Nothing Telephone (2) that wins the show class. Not solely that, the design introduced by the startup is contemporary and daring, to the purpose of even inspiring circumstances for different telephones primarily based on Nothing’s model.

Though each telephones use shiny and quick OLED panels, the Nothing Telephone (2) makes use of an LTPO-equipped one. The result’s that the cellphone can swap its refresh fee between 1 and 120 Hz, providing easy animations when scrolling a web page or enjoying video games, or just saving battery when displaying a static web page or picture, for instance.

The show measurement is a matter of choice, however the Galaxy S23 is way more pocketable as a result of its 6.1” show, versus the large 6.7” display on the Nothing Telephone (2). If you’re on the lookout for a big-screened flagship cellphone, Samsung will gladly promote you the S23+, which normally prices $100 over the vanilla S23 worth.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ on the table — The Galaxy S23 (S23+ pictured above) appears to be like similar to every other 2023 Samsung cellphone. / © NextPit

On the design entrance, the businesses adopted totally different instructions: Samsung went for a sober model, whereas Nothing doubled-down on transparency—to the purpose that it takes a eager eye to distinguish between the Telephone (1) and (2). Each telephones characteristic an aluminum body and have Gorilla Glass on each the entrance and the again, however solely the Galaxy S23 is IP68 rated for mud and water resistance, the Nothing Telephone (2) is barely splash resistant with its IP54 ranking.

Efficiency and connectivity

Efficiency-wise, the Galaxy S23 on paper would win simply in opposition to the Nothing Telephone (2) however that isn’t the case. Regardless of that includes an overclocked model of Qualcomm’s newest high-end processor—the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2—the Galaxy S23 would not actually carry out noticeably quicker than 2022’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, each made with TSMC’s N4 (4 nm-class) course of.

Nothing Telephone (2)(Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
Samsung Galaxy S23(Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Galaxy)

3DMark Wild Life

3DMark Wild Life Stress Take a look at

Greatest loop: 10436
Worst loop: 6316

Greatest loop: 11049
Worst loop: 6169

Geekbench

Geekbench 6
Single: 1712
Multi: 4521

Geekbench 5
Single: 1537
Multi: 4807

3DMark testing confirmed that each telephones have greater than sufficient horsepower for the most recent video games. The stress take a look at benchmark that simulates an extended gaming session, nevertheless, provides us a touch that the overclocked Snapdragon on the S23 is hitting a thermal restrict quicker, leading to decrease “worst” scores. That could be a mixture of the upper clocks on the S23 with its smaller physique, with much less floor space to dissipate warmth.

GeekBench numbers are usually not comparable between the telephones as we upgraded the app model proper after the S23 evaluation. Regardless, each telephones provide greater than sufficient efficiency for a few years of standard use, together with multimedia streaming, video calls with stay results, social media shopping, and even heavier duties like video modifying on the go.

Cameras

On paper, the digital camera module is likely one of the Nothing Telephone (2)’s weak factors, and nextpit’s editor Antoine Engels confirmed our fears in his evaluation. The newcomer packs a large and ultra-wide combo that gives first rate outcomes however lacks the flexibility supplied by the S23’s 3x zoom telephoto lens. So zoom pictures must be accomplished by means of digital results or, higher but, strolling.

Nothing Telephone (2) pattern photographs

Nothing Phone (2) camera test — Important lens © nextpit

Test photo du Nothing Phone (2) — Take a look at photograph du Nothing Telephone (2) – Objectif principal / Mode nuit © nextpit

Galaxy S23 pattern photographs

Samsung Galaxy S23 photo gallery — Important digital camera day shot © nextpit

Each predominant cameras characteristic a 50-megapixel decision on a equally sized 1/1.56” sensor. The colours on the Galaxy S23 had the standard saturated look, even on the gloomy February days the photographs above had been taken. One noticeable factor was the distinction in dynamic vary (how the digital camera offers with scenes with each darkish and brilliant spots, roughly talking), wherein the S23 carried out higher.

As for the at all times essential night time photographs, one other win for the Galaxy S23, no less than in line with my colleagues, with a slight lack of element and blurriness on the Nothing Telephone (2), whereas the Samsung flagship impressed Matt Zellmer with the colours he could not discover on the (February) day pictures.

Software program

Each telephones run the most recent Android 13 working system (OS) however that’s the place the similarities finish. Samsung makes use of its now conventional One UI pores and skin that closely transforms the inventory interface, whereas Nothing utilized small however futuristic touches throughout its Nothing OS, which was significantly appreciated by my colleague Antoine.

Followers of the inventory Android expertise will really feel at residence with the Telephone (2) interface and habits, which can pose no problem for somebody migrating from a Pixel cellphone or different Android skins. Samsung, then again, has its large head begin and market share as a bonus, so the S23 will really feel acquainted to anybody who used a current Galaxy cellphone prior to now 5 years. General, it’s nonetheless a matter of style.

Samsung additionally has the benefit of its larger system ecosystem, which integrates higher with its personal Galaxy telephones. Nothing, nevertheless, is slowly rising its market presence however is already praised for the way mature its Nothing OS feels in day by day use. Moreover that, the system gives actually unique options such because the customization choices made out there by its Glyph interface.

One particular benefit for the Galaxy S23 over the Nothing Telephone (2) on the software program aspect is the truth that Samsung guarantees 4 Android upgrades and 5 years of safety updates for its flagship cellphone, whereas Nothing is dedicated to at least one model/yr much less.

It must be famous, nevertheless, that Samsung normally slows down the frequency of safety patches within the later years of the coverage and likewise that the Nothing Telephone (2) was launched virtually 6 months after the S23, so the Galaxy will obtain safety updates for roughly 6 months greater than the Nothing smartphone.

Battery and Charging

Nothing put the Telephone (2)’s larger body to good use when it got here to battery capability, with a 4700 mAh part on its 2023 mannequin, 20% larger than the 3900 mAh battery used on the Galaxy S23. In observe, our critiques discovered you can count on a day and a half of standard utilization from the Nothing Telephone (2), whereas the S23 will in all probability require charging each night time.

Talking of charging, not one of the contenders embody an adapter within the field and each are suitable with wi-fi charging at as much as 15 W and reverse wi-fi charging (to prime up earbuds or a buddy’s cellphone, for instance). When utilizing a cable, nevertheless, the Nothing Telephone (2) simply beats the Samsung Galaxy S23 with as much as 45 W of enter versus a humble 25 W.

So, when you have a charger suitable with the total enter energy out there to the telephones, count on to see charging occasions of subsequent to at least one and two hours, respectively, for the Nothing Telephone (2) and Samsung Galaxy S23.

Value and availability

On this twin class, now we have a tie. Whereas the Nothing Telephone (2) wins relating to worth—$599 vs $799 for the S23—, the newcomer nonetheless cannot be discovered as an possibility to purchase with a provider contract, one thing that Samsung is barely bested by Apple in most international locations.

Moreover, as a result of its 5-month head begin, the Galaxy S23 is already supplied with some reductions on on-line shops, however not sufficient to make it as low cost because the Nothing Telephone (2). Within the desk beneath we listing the out there reminiscence capacities and the manufacturer-suggested retail worth (MSRP), with the S23+ costs as a reference.

Nothing Telephone (2)
Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy S23+

8+128 GB

8+256 GB

8+512 GB

12+256 GB

12+512 GB

Conclusion

With conventional flagship telephones getting costlier prior to now years, the arrival of the Nothing Telephone (2) appears like a much-needed change of tempo, with a great stability between options, specs, consumer expertise, and worth. Simply as a reminder, the base-spec S23 has the identical MSRP because the highest-spec Nothing Telephone (2).

Affiliate provide

The Galaxy S23’s benefits lie within the already robust integrations with different Galaxy units, a extra versatile digital camera with optical zoom, and the longer replace coverage. Additionally, those that favor a extra compact cellphone will in all probability go for the Samsung providing. Moreover that, as of the publishing time, no US provider listed the Nothing Telephone (2) on the market with a cellphone plan contract.

Affiliate provide

Nothing is following lots of the identical methods that made OnePlus standard in its early years, with a price proposition providing a flagship expertise. With the Chinese language firm slowly folding again to its Oppo mothership, all indicators level to a pure new residence for many who #neversettle.

Samsung, then again, performed it protected with the Galaxy S23 on the identical time growing its worth in lots of international locations, setting the stage for a forceful shopping for argument in favor of the cheaper newcomer. So in case you are on the lookout for the final word bang for the buck, the clear reply is the Nothing Telephone (2), until you like the classes above wherein the S23 fared higher…

What about you? Are you prepared to present the startup an opportunity? Or would you relatively keep in (or soar into) an already-established ecosystem? Do you assume the Nothing Telephone (2) has what it takes to problem the established order, or will it merely comply with OnePlus’ steps? Share your views within the feedback beneath.

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