Samsung Galaxy F23 First Impressions: A LOT on budget

The Samsung Galaxy F23 packs Snapdragon 750G processor, 50MP triple rear camera, and 5G connectivity at Rs. 15,999. Here is what our first impression suggests about it.

The Samsung Galaxy F23 uses the Snapdragon 750G Processor - first on its F-series smartphones. (Divya / HT Tech)

We have just spent two months of this year, and Samsung has already introduced at least one smartphone for almost all price segments. From the flagship Samsung Galaxy S22 series to Samsung Galaxy A03 for those who are tight on budget, we have got it all. And now, Samsung brings a new addition to the budget smartphone market with its Galaxy F23 5G. Falling under Rs. 20,000, the Samsung Galaxy F23 seems to cater a wider audience who are looking for a performance-oriented smartphone under budget. The Galaxy F23 serves a 50MP triple camera setup, Snapdragon 750G processor, and 5G connectivity at this price range. This comes to us when we already have a number of 5G options to choose from, such as Realme 9 Pro, Vivo T1, to Moto G71 - in this price range. So, does it stand out ? Or, is it just a part of the crowded budget smartphone family? Well, to know I have spent a couple of days with it, and here are my first impressions.

Samsung Galaxy F23 Design

Samsung Galaxy F23 (Divya / HT Tech)

Samsung Galaxy F23 (Divya / HT Tech)

Take it out of the box and you see a pastel-coloured Samsung Galaxy F23. In my case, it is an Aqua Blue colour variant, which spreads all over the back on a plastic body with a matte-finish look, offering a firm grip that avoids getting scratches and smudges. Its large display makes it difficult to use with a single hand but when it comes to reading and gaming, the Galaxy F23 justifies its size. At the front, it comes with a thick bezel at the bottom of the display. On the side, it comes with volume button controls and a fingerprint sensor-enabled power button which is easy to reach to unlock the device.

Samsung Galaxy F23 Features and Specs

With its 6.6-inch HD+ Infinity-U Display protected with Gorilla Glass 5, the Samsung Galaxy F23 comes with a 120Hz refresh rate. It uses the Snapdragon 750G Processor - first on its F-series smartphones. It combines with two memory options of 4GB and 6GB RAM along with 128GB storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB via memory card. In the limited time that I could spend with the Galaxy F23, I didn't notice any stutters while moving from one app to another, or even during the 20-30 minutes of the gaming session. To know more about performance, hold on for more time till we come up with the full review.

The Samsung Galaxy F23 has a 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging. (Divya / HT Tech)

The Samsung Galaxy F23 has a 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging. (Divya / HT Tech)

It comes with Android 12 out of the box using One UI 4.1 interface which seems clean and easy to use for now. Well, it comes with some pre-loaded applications from Samsung and third parties - which you may or may not consider using. Good part? You can uninstall most of them anytime and even being there, it doesn't push any unnecessary notifications. It has a 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging, well you won't find the charging adapter inside the box but a USB-C cable is there to power up your phone. I can't comment on the battery performance of Galaxy F23 right now with my limited usage, for that you will need to wait for a few more days.

Samsung Galaxy F23 features a triple-camera setup at the back with 50MP main camera.  (Divya / HT Tech)

Samsung Galaxy F23 features a triple-camera setup at the back with 50MP main camera.  (Divya / HT Tech)

At the back, there is a rectangular rear camera module featuring a 50MP main camera along with an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro lens with a flash. For the time being, the rear camera takes detailed and bright pictures in daylight. At the front, it comes with a dew-drop designed 8MP selfie snapper.

Samsung Galaxy F23 First Impressions

The Samsung Galaxy F23 comes with a fresh tone of colours and design while taking the performance aspect along with it. Looking at the wider perspective, at its launch price of Rs. 15,999, Samsung seems to offer ‘A LOT' -- promising cameras, smooth display, 5G connectivity, and much more. When competitors like Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro jump over the Rs. 20,000 range with almost the same features and 5G connectivity, I think Samsung tries to make everyone happy with this budget phone. Well, it will be quite early to give the final judgement on whether the Galaxy F23's performance is worth your money while comparing the other smartphones available in the market at this price range. To know if it really stands out, you will have to wait for the full review. Till then, stay tuned!