The Samsung Galaxy S23 series is now official. The company took wraps off its latest flagship offerings yesterday. The phones are already available for pre-order, with general sales beginning on February 17. They start at the same base price of $799 as last year’s Galaxy S22 in the US. And if you were wondering, no, there’s no charger in the retail box. You’ll have to purchase the power brick separately unless you already have one.
As expected, Samsung cites sustainability and environmental protection for not including a charger with the Galaxy S23 retail box. The idea is to reduce e-waste as most people already have a power brick in their homes. And with the majority of Android phones (soon iPhones and other electronic devices too) featuring a USB Type-C charging port, there’s a good possibility that your existing adapter will work fine with the new Galaxy flagship.
If you’re upgrading from a Galaxy device, you certainly won’t need a new charger. The Galaxy S23 phones charge at the same speed as their respective predecessors. The base model can go up to 25W fast wired charging, while the Plus and Ultra charge at 45W speeds. You can use either a 25W or 45W charger to charge any of the three Galaxy S23 models. Since most Samsung mid-range phones support 25W charging, your existing power brick should do the job.
Of course, the Galaxy S23 won’t charge at 45W speeds with a 45W charger, and a 25W charger won’t give you the benefits of 45W charging on the Plus and Ultra models. However, if history is any indication, the difference isn’t huge. A 45W power brick will charge your Galaxy S23 Ultra just a few minutes faster than a 25W charger. That’s unless Samsung has substantially upgraded its charging algorithm this year. In that case, we will have to wait for new test results. We will keep you posted.
Galaxy S23 phones use more recycled materials than before
Of course, it’s an added cost for those who must buy a new charger. Samsung is also benefitting from this, as not bundling the power brick with the phone helps it take a more significant profit margin. However, the company’s sustainability claims aren’t entirely unfounded. It uses more recycled material in the manufacturing and packaging of the Galaxy S23 phones than before. The Korean firm has been one of the most active tech biggies when it comes to environmental protection in recent years. You’ll play a small part in these efforts by buying a Galaxy S23. If you’re interested in the phones, check out these pre-order offers.
2023-02-02 15:09:41