We’re still a little dizzy from all the camera jargon explained during the Galaxy S23 launch. We wouldn’t blame you if you thought you missed something during the hour-long event. But now that the dust has settled, Samsung has a few things going for it he didn’t Announcement to celebrate during the last event.

Samsung reduces the curve

There was a time when a curved screen on a smartphone was seen as a benefit of having one phone over another. But over the years, Samsung (and others) have pushed the curve too far, resulting in a less-than-pleasant user experience, especially on phones as large as 6.7 inches.

Samsung finally heard the complaints and shortened the curve (big time) with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, reducing it by 30% compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. We’ll have to wait and see how much of an impact this change has, but with the reduced curve, it should be easier to actually use the S Pen across the screen. And I hope this makes it a little easier to hold and interact with the Galaxy S23 Ultra even when you’re not using the S Pen.

You don’t want a 128GB Galaxy S23

It looks like a big win for those interested in pre-ordering the Galaxy S23, as Samsung is offering a free storage upgrade and offering 256GB storage for the same price as the 128GB model. In fact, if you want the 128GB model, you can’t add one to your cart when pre-ordering directly from Samsung’s website. However, there is a bigger story here as there is actually a big difference between the 128GB and 256GB versions.

Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy S23 model still relies on outdated UFS 3.1 storage technology, the 256GB version, and all other S23 models use UFS 4.0 storage. This may not seem like that big of a deal, but like SamMobile (opens in new tab) Note that the read and write speeds between UFS 3.1 and UFS 4.0 are completely different.

With read and write speeds doubled, UFS 4.0 will open apps faster, while providing an overall more stable experience than UFS 3.1. For those who snagged the S23 after the pre-order deals ended, it might seem like a bit of a “bait and switch” scenario.

However, this is not actually the case, as reports indicate that there is no company producing UFS 4.0 chips with 128GB of storage suitable for mass production. Instead, Samsung opted to use UFS 3.1 on its flagship model. It may be time for smartphones to leave the 128GB base storage configuration entirely for flagship devices, but we doubt that will happen anytime soon.

Lightroom = RAW

For most of the Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung understandably focused on the new camera system integrated into the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Driven by a 200MP primary camera, Samsung is trying to reclaim the top spot for “best smartphone camera” from the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. It also enhances the experience in several other ways, such as integrating the Expert RAW app into the main camera app, as opposed to offering it as a separate download from the Samsung Galaxy Store.

During the event, Samsung also confirmed Adobe Lightroom (opens in new tab) is now the default photo editor for photos taken with Expert RAW on the Galaxy S23. The traditional Gallery app will still be available, complete with its own set of photo editing tools, but instead of trying to redesign the wheel for editing RAW images, Samsung is opting to rely on Adobe’s prowess.

Accessories abound

Whenever Samsung announces a new flagship phone, we see the usual options when it comes to cases and other accessories. This trend continues with the Galaxy S23 series as the S-View Wallet Case, Silicone Case and Leather Case return this year. But there are a few additions to the lineup that really got us, namely the Clear and Rugged Gadget Bags.

It appears to be Samsung’s way of opening the door to an ecosystem of accessories similar to what Apple did with MagSafe. With its two current Gadget Case options, you can find a ring that offers more grip or doubles as a stand. It also looks like there is a wallet accessory that fits in place depending on which Gadget Case you have. Unlike MagSafe, the Gadget Case doesn’t rely on magnets, but instead uses a custom connector that could be a hurdle if Samsung hopes for mass adoption.

Going even further down the accessory rabbit hole, Samsung surprised many by making it possible to get a replacement S Pen with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Losing or breaking the S Pen on the Galaxy Note wasn’t much of a problem because you could just pick one up from Amazon or your local big box store.

But when the Galaxy S22 Ultra brought back the built-in S Pen, it wasn’t so easy to replace. Once the S23 Ultra is released, you can grab an optional S Pen and even mix and match the colors if you want the Lavender S Pen to go with your Green phone.

Samsung says “not yet” to Satellite Link

After Qualcomm announced a partnership with Iridium to bring satellite connectivity to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, many of us expected Samsung to follow in Apple’s footsteps by introducing this feature in the Galaxy S23 series. However, the hour-long event came and went without a single mention of how you can use your phone to contact emergency services even if you’re stuck in an area with no cell reception. In an interview with CNET, Samsung president TM Roh confirmed that this was done on purpose, giving some insight into why it’s not available:

“When the time, infrastructure and technology are right [is] is ready, then of course for Samsung Galaxy, for our mobile division, we would also consider actively adopting this feature.”

“I don’t believe it’s the be-all or end-all to ensuring peace of mind among users,” Roh went further. So even though Snapdragon Satellite is coming to smartphones later this year, Samsung may be looking for another solution.

If you want to know more about why satellite connectivity is a good thing for the future of smartphones, check out Jerry Hildenbrand’s excellent explanation.