Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Poco M8 5G
Samsung Galaxy S23 wins 3 of 5. Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want better photos, more speed for games and to spend less. Buy Poco M8 5G if you want longer battery life and the longest software support.
The short answer
- CameraSamsung Galaxy S23. Takes the better photos: camera score 6 out of 10, against 3.
- BatteryPoco M8 5G. Lasts longer on a charge: battery score 7 out of 10, against 5. It has a 5520 mAh battery.
- SpeedSamsung Galaxy S23. Faster for games and heavy apps: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, speed score 7 out of 10, against 4.
- UpdatesPoco M8 5G. Android upgrades: until about Jan 2030 (4 upgrades). Security patches: until about Jan 2032 (6 years from launch).
- PriceSamsung Galaxy S23. Costs 1% less.
Overall, Samsung Galaxy S23 wins 3 of 5. The full details are below.
Side by side
Compared like for like: every phone in its 8GB + 128GB version. Change a version at the top of its column.
| Spec | Your main pickSamsung Galaxy S23 | Poco M8 5G | Suggested by TuvvoMotorola Edge 70 FusionWins 7 of 10 key areas against Samsung Galaxy S23Longer battery life, smoother screen, brighter screen outdoors, faster charging, better water protection, upgrades for longer, security fixes for longer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Best price of these phones₹23,768 8GB + 128GB | ₹23,999 8GB + 128GB | ₹33,999 8GB + 128GB | |
| Price since launch | Down ₹51,231 (68%) ₹74,999 at launch, ₹23,768 now 8GB + 128GB model | Up ₹3,000 (16%) ₹18,999 at launch, ₹21,999 now 6GB + 128GB model | Up ₹7,000 (26%) ₹26,999 at launch, ₹33,999 now 8GB + 128GB model | |
| Versions | 8GB + 128GB: ₹23,768 8GB + 256GB: price not known | 6GB + 128GB: ₹21,999 8GB + 128GB: ₹23,999 8GB + 256GB: ₹25,999 | 8GB + 128GB: ₹33,999 8GB + 256GB: ₹35,999 12GB + 256GB: ₹37,999 12GB + 512GB: ₹40,999 | |
| Stands out for | Best camera in its price range: scored 6/10 Fastest in its price range: speed 7/10 Toughest against water in its price range | Slimmest in its price range: 7.35 mm Brightest screen in its price range: 3,200 nits | Nothing that leads its price range | |
| Launched | 1 February 2023 | 8 January 2026 | 6 March 2026 | |
| Big upgrades | Android upgrades: until about Feb 2027 (4 upgrades) | Best big upgrades of these phonesAndroid upgrades: until about Jan 2030 (4 upgrades) | Android upgrades: until about Mar 2029 (3 upgrades) | |
| Security patches | Security patches: until about Feb 2028 (5 years from launch) | Best security patches of these phonesSecurity patches: until about Jan 2032 (6 years from launch) | Security patches: until about Mar 2031 (5 years from launch) | |
| Software now | One UI 9 (Android 17), launched with One UI 5.1 (Android 13) | HyperOS 2 (Android 15) (same as launch) | Hello UI (Android 17), launched with Hello UI (Android 16) | |
| Rating | 6.6/10 | 7.1/10 | Best rating of these phones8/10 | |
| Battery | Small battery: most people need a top-up by evening, and 25W charging is slow. 3900 mAh | 5520mAh battery lasted about 14 hours in GSMArena's test, a solid full day; 45W charging fills it in about an hour. 5520 mAh | Best battery of these phones7000mAh battery in a slim 8mm body, with fast 68W charging. 7000 mAh | |
| Camera | Best camera of these phonesGood 50MP main camera with a real 3x zoom lens; low light is behind newer phones. | 50MP main camera that is fine in daylight; the second camera is only a helper, so there is no wide-angle. | Best camera of these phonesStabilised 50MP Sony main camera, a 13MP wide-angle and a 32MP selfie camera; 4K video front and back. | |
| Speed | Best speed of these phonesSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still quick for apps and most games. | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is smooth for daily use and fine for casual games. | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 is smooth for daily use and handles most games well. | |
| Screen size | 6.1 inch | 6.77 inch | 6.8 inch | |
| Smooth scrolling | 120Hz, very smooth | 120Hz, very smooth | Best smooth scrolling of these phones144Hz, very smooth | |
| Outdoor brightness | 1,750 nits, easy to read in sun | 3,200 nits, very easy to read in sun | Best outdoor brightness of these phones5,200 nits, very easy to read in sun | |
| Charging | 25W wired, 15W wireless | 45W wired, no wireless | Best charging of these phones68W wired, no wireless | |
| Wireless charging | Best wireless charging of these phonesYes | No | No | |
| Water and dust | IP68: survives a dunk in water | IP65/IP66: fine in rain and splashes | Best water and dust of these phonesIP68/IP69: survives a dunk and hot water jets | |
| Weight | Best weight of these phones168 g | 178 g | 193 g | |
| Thickness | 7.6 mm | Best thickness of these phones7.35 mm | 7.99 mm | |
| 5G | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Tap to pay (NFC) | Best tap to pay (nfc) of these phonesYes | Only on some versions | Only on some versions | |
| Speakers | Two (stereo) | Two (stereo) | Two (stereo) | |
| Headphone jack | Not listed | Not listed | No | |
| Memory card slot | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Colours | Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender | Carbon Black, Glacial Blue, Frost Silver | Pantone Silhouette, Pantone Blue Surf, Pantone Country Air | |
| Catch | Only one more big Android update is expected (One UI 9), then security fixes for about a year. New stock is thin and the ₹23,768 deal price may not last. | Smaller battery than most rivals, no wide-angle camera, and the price has risen from ₹18,999 to ₹21,999. | No zoom camera, no microSD slot, and the price has risen from ₹26,999 to ₹33,999. | |
| What owners say | No owner reports yet | No owner reports yet | No owner reports yet | |
| Expert reviews | GSMArena TechRadar | GSMArena Business Today | TechRadar Smartprix 8.0/10 |
marks the strongest phone on each row, Tuvvo's suggestion included. For price, weight and thickness, that's the lowest.
Full specifications (tap to open)
Every spec side by side
Compared like for like: every phone in its 8GB + 128GB version. Change a version at the top of its column.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S23 | Poco M8 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2340) Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1750 nits peak, HDR10+, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | 6.77-inch curved FHD+ (1080 x 2392) AMOLED, 120Hz, 3200 nits peak |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) |
| CPU | 1x Cortex-X3 @ 3.36GHz + 2x Cortex-A715 @ 2.8GHz + 2x Cortex-A710 @ 2.8GHz + 3x Cortex-A510 @ 2.0GHz | 4x Cortex-A78 @ 2.4GHz + 4x Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz |
| Graphics (GPU) | Adreno 740 | Adreno 710 |
| AI chip (NPU) | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (TOPS not officially stated) | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (TOPS not officially stated) |
| RAM and storage | 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB (UFS 3.1 on 128GB, UFS 4.0 on 256GB; LPDDR5X) | 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB (UFS 2.2, LPDDR4X; microSDXC (shared SIM slot)) |
| Battery | 3900 mAh | 5520 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired PD (about 50% in 30 min), 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless | 45W wired, 18W reverse wired |
| Cameras | 50MP main (f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS) + 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4, OIS) + 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120 degrees); 12MP front | 50 MP main (f/1.8) + 2 MP auxiliary; 20 MP selfie (f/2.2); 4K 30fps video |
| Water and dust | IP68 (1.5m for 30 mins) | IP65/IP66 |
| Size and weight | 7.6mm thick, 168g | 7.35mm thick, 178g |
| Software | One UI 5.1 (Android 13) at launch, One UI 9 (Android 17) now | HyperOS 2 (Android 15) at launch, HyperOS 2 (Android 15) now |
| Updates | 4 years promised | 4 years promised |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Only on some versions |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C 3.2 | 5G, NFC market dependent, IR blaster, USB-C |
| Modem | Snapdragon X70 5G (integrated) | Integrated Snapdragon 5G modem (model not officially stated) |
| Speakers and haptics | Stereo speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos; haptics not detailed | Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos; haptics not detailed |
| Screen flicker (PWM) | Not officially stated | 3840Hz PWM; 240Hz touch sampling |
| Cooling | Vapour chamber cooling | Not officially stated |
| Colours | Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender | Carbon Black, Glacial Blue, Frost Silver |
Where to buy
- Samsung Galaxy S23₹23,768
Pick your version and colour, then your store:
Opens 8GB + 128GB.
- Poco M8 5G₹21,999
Pick your version and colour, then your store:
Opens 6GB + 128GB.
Store links may earn Tuvvo a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our rankings.
Waiting for a better price?See it here next time you open Tuvvo if any of these phones drops in price.
Common questions
- Which is better, Samsung Galaxy S23 or Poco M8 5G?
- Samsung Galaxy S23 wins 3 of 5 areas (camera, battery, speed, updates and price). Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want better photos, more speed for games and to spend less. Buy Poco M8 5G if you want longer battery life and the longest software support.
- Which has the better camera?
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes the better photos.
- Which has the better battery life?
- Poco M8 5G lasts longer on a charge.
- Which is faster for gaming?
- Samsung Galaxy S23 is faster for games and heavy apps.
- How much do they cost?
- Samsung Galaxy S23 (8GB + 128GB) costs ₹23,768, Poco M8 5G (8GB + 128GB) costs ₹23,999.
- Which gets software updates for longer?
- Samsung Galaxy S23, now on One UI 9 (Android 17). Android upgrades: until about Feb 2027 (4 upgrades). Security patches: until about Feb 2028 (5 years from launch). Poco M8 5G, now on HyperOS 2 (Android 15). Android upgrades: until about Jan 2030 (4 upgrades). Security patches: until about Jan 2032 (6 years from launch).
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