The official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones is just around the corner, and although the specifications of the devices have been almost confirmed by leaks, the price structure of the line remains subject to much speculation.
We recently reported on leaked Verizon documents suggesting that the Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will cost the same as their Samsung Galaxy S22 counterparts in the US (i.e. $799.99, $999.99 and $1199.99 ). The bad news, however, is that it looks like Samsung won’t be following the same philosophy globally.
Documents showing the high prices of the Galaxy S23 in both South Korea and Australia circulated online a few weeks ago, but new report (opens in a new tab) from reliable insider Roland Quandt indicates that customers in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium will also be faced with exorbitant Galaxy S23 prices.
According to Quandt, Galaxy S23 prices will increase by up to €300 (equivalent to around $325 / £260) compared to the initial costs of their predecessors in these European regions, which would mark the biggest generational price jump in Samsung Galaxy history.
S23 prices from Spanish retailer: S23 8/128,959 euros S23 8/256,1019 euros S23+ 8/256,1209 euros S23+ 8/512,1329 euros S23 Ultra 8/256,1409 euros S23 Ultra 12/512,1589 eurosJanuary 24, 2023
It goes without saying that these proposed European Galaxy S23 prices are monumentally high compared to their US counterparts, but mobile phone prices have been steadily increasing in regions outside the US for several years, thanks to the strength of the US dollar against more volatile international currencies.
For example, in Turkey and India, Galaxy S23 prices appear to be even higher than in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. According to Quandt, the starting price for the cheapest Galaxy S23 model will be 50,000 Turkish Lira – the equivalent of around $2,660 / £2,145 / AU$3,740, which is a small fortune.
If you’re not happy with how much the S23 series will cost in your country, try buying one in Turkey for a change. Advertisements on the price comparison site with links to the official store in Turkey. TL 50,000 for S23 128GB. You Calculate. Ouch. pic.twitter.com/7CxKdB9YPmJanuary 27, 2023
So it’s almost certain that the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will actually be much cheaper in the US than in other parts of the world. We haven’t heard many UK pricing details yet, but we’re betting that Samsung will launch its new UK handsets at prices somewhere between the US and European ones.
In any case, we’ll be able to verify the accuracy of these numbers when the Galaxy S23 lineup is officially unveiled at Samsung Unpacked 2023 (which starts at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT on February 1 or 5am AEDT in February 2 in Australia).
Analysis: There’s still plenty to get excited about
The good news for potential Galaxy S23 customers in every region is that Quandt’s report confirms almost all of the exciting feature leaks we’ve reported in recent weeks.
For example, all three Galaxy S23 models appear to feature 120Hz screens, with the Galaxy S23 boasting a 6.1-inch display, the Galaxy S23 Plus stepping it up to a 6.6-inch display, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra having an even larger 6. 8 inch display (and stylus).
Under the hood, each variant of the Galaxy S23 will reportedly start with 8GB of RAM, with the Vanilla model having 128GB of storage and the S23 Plus and S23 Ultra models having 256GB. The standard S23 will also come in a 256GB model, while its more expensive sibling can be upgraded to 512GB (the larger Ultra variant will also have 12GB of RAM).
As for the cameras, the Ultra is lined up for a 200MP + 12MP + 10MP rear triple-lens setup, while the S23 and S23 Plus will swap that 200MP main sensor for a 50MP equivalent. All three models will also have a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
We’re quietly confident that the Samsung Galaxy S23 series will launch on February 17, though we’ll know for sure after the company’s upcoming Unpacked event. Samsung’s S23 booking site, by the way (opens in a new tab) it’s still open for pre-orders, and it’s worth pointing out that you’ll get a nice little $50 in-store credit if you decide to pick up one of its shiny new devices.