Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A23 5G (S236DL) Review, Specs and Features
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| Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A23 5G Review |
A 6.6" full HD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor and quad-rear camera setup are just some of the exciting features on the Galaxy A23. This budget friendly smartphone newly available from Tracfone also comes with 5G network capability.
Samsung's lineup of budget phones is a somewhat crowded space. Their Galaxy A13 is just a little cheaper than the A23 while still offering 5G network access, and their A53 5G has more powerful features, for just a little higher cost.
Where does the Galaxy A23 5G fit in and is it a worthy smartphone option? We're going to find out. Let's start with our pro's and con's of the A23.
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G Quick Facts
What we Like:
Full HD touchscreen with 120hz refresh rate
Gorilla Glass 5 screen protection
Quad-rear camera
Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
What we Don't Like:
Mediocre video recording
No wall charger included
No water/dust protection rating
The full HD screen and Gorilla Glass protection are a huge plus that help the A23 stand out among budget phones. That, combined with the rear camera setup and solid performance make it a very attractive device. Samsung currently offers a number of different phones through Tracfone, each at different price points and with different features. So does the A23 have the right features at the right price?
Let's take a look at the full list of features and specs.
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G (S236DL) Features and Specs
Below are the features followed by the technical specs
- Android 12
- Samsung One UI 4.1
- 5G (Verizon)
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Alarm Clock
- GPS
- MP3 Player
- Standard 3.5mm Headphone Jack
- Hearing Aid Compatible
- Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
- Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
- SMS/MMS
- USB Charger (USB Type-C 2.0)
- Compatible with Samsung Gear Smartwatches
- Face unlock
- Side mounted Fingerprint sensor
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G Technical SpecsSize: 6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in (6.95 oz)
Camera: Quad rear camera 50+5+2+2MP and 8MP front camera
Screen: 6.6" HD PLS LCD 120hz display (1080x2408 resolution)
Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G
Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB internal storage, supports up to 1 TB MicroSD Card
Battery: 5,000 mAh battery (non-removable) with 25W fast charging
Many consumers are familiar with the Samsung brand as they are a global manufacture and the largest consumer electronics maker (by revenue) in the world. They are based in South Korea and have a broad lineup of smartphones with their high end device, like the
Samsung Galaxy S22, a contender for some of the best phones in the world.
The Galaxy A23 5G does get some of the classic design elements of Samsung phones with a familiar layout for the charging and headphone ports and it also features Samsung's UI changes. But a budget phone will have to cut some corners, and we will dive into that below.
Now let's get into the details with our review of the A23.
Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A23 5G Review
Touchscreen
The 6.6" full HD screen on the A23 5G is one of the standout features. It has a resolution of 1080x2408 for about 400 ppi pixel density, which is on par with more expensive devices. Plus it has 120hz refresh rate, something also generally only available in high-end phones.
Screen ratio is 20:9, for a taller, thinner look and feel that has become common these days. Besides the great resolution, the A23 also features Gorilla Glass 5 which improves durability for both drops and scratches.
In direct sunlight, the A23 still has some issues with adequate brightness, but that's a common issue for many low-cost smartphones.
The PLS-LCD screen is a big step up from the budget brother, the A13 5G, and for some will be enough reason to warrant the slightly higher price tag.
Internal Performance - Processor, RAM and StorageWith 4 GB RAM, 64 GB internal storage and the Snapdragon 695 octa-core processor, the A23 5G performs very well for the majority of tasks thrown at it.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 has generally only been available in mid-level smartphones, like the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022), so we're very impressed to see it included with the A23. It outperforms the processor in the A13 5G (MediaTek Dimensity 700) by a significant margin and provides smooth operation even with a variety of games or other resource intensive apps. The processor also provides the 5G network capability.
64 GB internal storage can get used up quickly, but there is an additional 1 TB expandable external storage via a MicroSD card slot. We recommend at least 128 GB card (
find it on Amazon) and then you can set certain things to be stored on the card rather than the phone.
Camera
A 50MP main shooter along with a 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro and 2MP depth come on the back of the A23 5G. There is also an LED flash. While most people will only find the main camera and ultrawide mode useable, it is nice to have the depth and macro options.
The 50MP rear camera on the Galaxy A23 5G actually only produces 12.5MP images due to pixel binning. This is pretty common on most smartphones, even the iPhone 14, and is used to help improve lowlight performance. But even with the extra help, lowlight performance on the A23 is mediocre. For most other uses, the main camera sensor does just fine and captures good images.
On the front is an 8MP selfie camera in the tear-drop cutout in the screen. The images are adequate for social sharing and things like that.
Video performance is nothing special, with just 1080p at 30fps on the rear and front sensors. The quality is just fine, but goes downhill quickly when in low-light situations. For 4K and other features, consider the Galaxy A53 5G.
Battery
Both battery life and charging speeds are quite good on the Galaxy A23 5G thanks to the 5,000 mAh battery, and 25W fast charging.
The large battery size has become the norm on most budget smartphones, allowing for 2 or even 3 days between charging. But a rather annoying trend on many low cost phones is a slower charging speed of just 10 or 15W. We're happy to see not only the big battery, but also fast charging on the A23.
Android OS
The Galaxy A23 5G comes with Android 12 OS and will likely get an upgrade to Android 13 when that becomes available to Samsung devices. Samsung boasts software support for the A23 for several years, and hopefully the Tracfone version will also take advantage of these updates.
Android 12 comes with a host of design, performance and security updates over previous versions that make it safer and more useable. Some of the updates include more privacy control, the ability to limit apps from using your exact location, and improved accessibility options.
As a Samsung device, the A23 also comes with One UI 4.1 which has features like Smart Calendar, Samsung Pay, Smart Widgets, extra brightness toggle, and pro camera features. For those who are fans of Samsung's additional UI features, the A23 will feel very familiar. But for those who prefer a more stock Android experience, consider devices from Motorola.
Design
The design of the A23 5G is consistent with Samsung's budget phones and retains many of the features that consumers like, such as a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and side mounted fingerprint reader which is quick and efficient for unlocking the device.
The screen on the front of the device has a 82.5% screen-to-body ratio which is pretty good. There is a notch at the top of the screen for the front facing camera.
On the back of the phone is a noticeable bump where the rear cameras are located. We would recommend a cover or case to protect the device and it would also help eliminate the camera bump which is a little awkward.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G falls right in-between the
Galaxy A13 5G and A53 5G.
Compared to the A13, the A23 offers a significantly improved touchscreen with both a higher resolution, and 120hz refresh rate. That alone might be worth the $50 difference between these two phones. But the A23 5G also has a better processor, and improved camera setup. For many users, it may be worth it to spend a little more on the A23.
So does that hold true for Samsung's A53 5G which is just $50 more than the A23? The A53 has a Super AMOLED full HD screen, IP67 waterproof rating, slightly improved processor and increased RAM and storage. Plus it has a more robust camera setup. The A53's features are very impressive for the price, but it starts to stretch the bounds of a 'budget' device and for many, Samsung's Galaxy A23 will be more than capable for handling everything required.
Finally, the
Galaxy A03s is the ultra-budget option that really can't compare to the A23 and is only a device for those with a budget under $100.
The Bottom Line - Samsung has produced a phone that 'fixes' the top complaints about the A13 5G and only costs a little more. The discounted price through Tracfone is rather reasonable, and we may see an even lower price during the holidays.
UPDATE: The Galaxy A23 5G, A13 5G and A53 5G have all dropped about $50 in price, leading them to all be a little more worthwhile considering.
Best Prices on the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
The A23 is not as widely available as some Samsung devices, but here are the top options we've found:
