The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra stands proudly as the pinnacle of the S-Series flagship lineup for this year. While the lower S23 models may not have undergone significant changes from last year’s iterations, the S23 Ultra comes packed with exciting features, including a groundbreaking 200-megapixel main camera.
As an in-depth review, we will explore the design, display, performance, camera capabilities, and more to provide a comprehensive assessment of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
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Design and Build:
The Galaxy S23 Ultra builds upon the design language of its predecessor, the S22 Ultra, featuring a large squared-off form factor reminiscent of the Galaxy Note series. The device boasts pressure-sensitive stylus support, with the stylus conveniently tucking into the phone. Samsung has made some subtle improvements, enhancing the overall build quality.
Both the back and front of the phone are protected by sturdy Gorilla Glass Victus, while the aluminum frame provides robust structural support. Notably, Samsung has taken a more eco-friendly approach this year, using more recycled materials in the manufacturing process, demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainability.
Display:
The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s display remains similar to last year’s model. It features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with QHD resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display offers excellent picture quality, with sharp visuals, accurate color reproduction, and support for HDR10+.
The maximum brightness is comparable to the previous model, reaching 830 nits manually and 1270 nits in auto mode. The display’s refresh rate dynamically adjusts between 120Hz and as low as 24Hz to optimize power efficiency, ensuring smooth on-screen movement while preserving battery life.
Additionally, the Vision Booster feature automatically adjusts the screen’s color and contrast based on ambient lighting in three different conditions, delivering an enhanced viewing experience in various lighting environments.
Stereo Speakers and Storage Options:
The S23 Ultra comes equipped with stereo speakers supported by Dolby Atmos, delivering improved audio quality with clear vocals, balanced treble, and noticeable bass. Samsung’s efforts to enhance the audio experience have paid off, providing users with an immersive soundscape.
As for storage options, the phone offers 256GB, 512GB, or even a whole terabyte of onboard storage, catering to different users’ storage needs. It is important to note that there is no MicroSD card slot for expandable storage. However, users seeking more space can explore cloud storage solutions like Terra box, which provides up to a terabyte of storage for free.
Terra box also offers additional features such as automatic backup, real-time sync, and video playback within the app, making it a valuable option for those requiring extra storage space.
S-Pen Functions and Features:
The S23 Ultra’s most unique feature is its active stylus support, offering 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and low latency, resulting in a natural and responsive writing experience. The S Pen serves as a remote for various tasks, and users can take advantage of features like quick note, screen translate, and screen off memo for seamless note-taking and productivity.
The stylus support remains consistent with last year’s model, offering familiarity and convenience to Galaxy Note enthusiasts and those who appreciate the versatility of a stylus for their daily tasks.
Performance:
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by Samsung’s exclusive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, which comes with an overclocked CPU and GPU, providing significant improvements in CPU and graphics performance compared to previous models.
The phone performs impressively in benchmarks, leaving last year’s flagships in the dust. It excels in heavy gaming and multitasking without any hiccups, while its thermal management ensures that the device remains cool even during extended use.
With advanced memory technologies like UFS 4.0 and LPDDR5X RAM, the S23 Ultra offers faster data access and improved memory performance, contributing to a seamless user experience.
Battery Endurance and Charging:
With a 5000mAh battery capacity and the power-efficient chipset, the S23 Ultra exhibits improved battery endurance over the previous model. It achieved an impressive endurance rating of 126 hours in tests, making it a reliable companion for heavy users.
The device supports 45W fast charging, similar to the previous year, allowing users to quickly recharge their phone when needed. However, it’s worth noting that there is no included adapter in the box, requiring users to purchase a compatible Samsung 45W adapter separately.
In addition to fast charging, the S23 Ultra also supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, making it a convenient option for users who prefer wireless charging solutions.
Camera Specifications and Performance:
The highlight of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its groundbreaking 200-megapixel main camera, featuring Samsung’s HP2 sensor that bins 16 pixels into 1, producing 12-megapixel photos with super quad pixel autofocus.
In daylight conditions: The main camera delivers excellent daylight photo quality, offering vibrant colors, improved dynamic range, and sharpness all the way to the corners of the frame. The upgraded autofocus system, known as super quad pixel autofocus, enables the main camera to detect both horizontal and vertical phase changes, resulting in more reliable and accurate autofocus performance in various shooting scenarios.
In low-light conditions, the S23 Ultra’s main camera applies Auto Night Shot processing, resulting in photos with abundant detail, minimal noise, and well-preserved colors. For dimmer scenes, the dedicated Night mode enhances shadows and light sources, delivering cleaner and better-detailed shots, making it an ideal option for users who enjoy nighttime photography.
The S23 Ultra’s secondary cameras, including the 10 times telephoto and the ultra-wide camera, also deliver impressive results. The 10 times telephoto camera captures sharp and detailed photos with improved edge detection compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the ultra-wide camera offers better noise performance, capturing likable colors and excellent dynamic range, catering to users who enjoy capturing wide-angle shots with enhanced detail.
Video recording capabilities on the S23 Ultra are equally impressive, with support for 8K video capture at 30fps. Unlike last year’s model, the S23 Ultra uses the full width of its sensor for recording, resulting in sharper and more detailed 8K videos.
The device also excels in 4K video recording, producing sharp and detailed videos with good dynamic range and color accuracy. The electronic stabilization available on all cameras ensures smooth and steady video recording, further enhancing the video capture experience.
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Conclusion:
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a plethora of high-end features, including a top-of-the-line 200-megapixel camera, a powerful chipset, and impressive battery life. While the improvements over last year’s model may not be game-changing for existing users, the S23 Ultra remains Samsung’s best offering for users seeking a feature-rich and high-performance flagship device. Its exceptional camera capabilities, combined with other top-tier features, make the Galaxy S23 Ultra a worthy recommendation for those who can afford it.
Overall, the Galaxy S23 Ultra delivers on its promises, providing a top-notch smartphone experience that caters to both productivity and multimedia needs. Samsung’s commitment to sustainability through the use of more recycled materials in its manufacturing process also adds a commendable environmental aspect to the phone. Whether you are a photography enthusiast, a power user, or simply seeking a premium smartphone experience, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has something to offer for everyone.
