I can kind of understand why now that I’ve had a chance to really test the S23 Ultra over the past few weeks. The S23 Ultra is a completely different concept from its siblings, bringing back classic Galaxy Note-like features combined with a brand-new list of exclusive goods. The S23 Ultra is definitely the model to aim for in 2023 if you have the cash to go out on a posh new phone.
Review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Design, Features, and S Pen
The S23 Ultra looks very similar to last year’s model, although having four additional color options: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. Although Samsung claims that the left and right corners of the screen have a somewhat more dramatic curve, I didn’t immediately notice this when I initially took up the device.
It’s still a big, bulky phone with dimensions of 78 x 8.9 x 163mm (WDH) and a weight of 234g, which is just a little bit more than the S22. The S23 Ultra is definitely better suited for the largest hands and the deepest pockets because that is bigger than the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The reflective aluminum sides of the S23 Ultra are a wonderful accent, and I really appreciate the frosted glass back. The selfie camera is located inside a tiny circular hole-punch notch at the top centre of the display, while the group of rear-facing cameras are all evenly spaced out in the top-left corner of the device.
Review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Display
The AMOLED screen on the S23 Ultra has the same 6.8-inch diagonal measurement as last year and a 1440p resolution along with a 120Hz refresh rate. There isn’t much new to speak about here either, save from its brand-new “Advanced Vision Booster” feature, which modifies onscreen color tone and contrast at high ambient brightness levels.
In fact, I’d say that this display is a perfect replica of the S22 Ultra. There are two different screen modes available, with the Vivid mode resulting in some really vibrant colors. Although it is easy on the eyes, I much preferred the Natural color option, which in testing covered 92.5% of the sRGB gamut, had a total volume of 94.8%, and had an average Delta E colour accuracy score of 1.23.
I measured a high screen brightness of 1,730cd/m2 while viewing HDR video, and the contrast ratio and black level are basically ideal. It’s important to note that this number can only be obtained when the auto brightness toggle in the phone’s settings menu is turned on. Aside from that, the maximum brightness was 1,010cd/m2.
Review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s functionality and battery life
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which is Qualcomm’s most recent flagship CPU, is found within the S23 Ultra. Strangely, this specific CPU contains the phrase “for Galaxy” next to it, which, according to Qualcomm, indicates that the maximum clock speed has been increased to 3.6GHz from the normal chipset’s 3.3GHz.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a totally different animal than the Galaxy S22. With a whopping 35% increase in multicore processing, the Geekbench 5 test results show performance differences that are night and day from Apple’s A16 Bionic CPU.
The performance of the games is similarly outstanding. In fact, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 outperformed the iPhone 14 Pro Max in our tests, attaining a staggering 281fps in the offscreen benchmark and a flawless 120fps in the Manhattan 3 test’s onscreen component.
Review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Software
Despite having Samsung’s One UI 5.1 modifications, Android 13 is already pre-installed on the S23 Ultra at launch. With four years of One UI and Android OS updates, a total of five years’ worth of security updates are promised.
With the One UI 5.1 upgrade, there are a few new software features, such as co-editing capabilities in the Samsung Notes app while you’re on a conversation and an updated Samsung Knox feature. You now have complete visibility over which apps have access to your data, how it is being used, and a breakdown of where you might be at danger thanks to this security feature.
Review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Cameras
Unsurprisingly, Samsung is making a big deal out of the cameras on the S23 Ultra in its marketing this year. The key feature is the addition of a 200MP main sensor, which replaces the 108MP one found in the S22 Ultra and is the largest sensor Samsung has ever included in a phone.
However, it’s not the first smartphone camera with a 200MP sensor that we’ve seen. The Xiaomi 12T Pro and Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, both of which were released last year, and the S23 Ultra have the identical Samsung-produced ISOCELL HP1 sensor. A pair of 10MP optical telephoto lenses (10x and 3.5x), a 12MP 120-degree ultrawide camera, and a 12MP selfie camera make up the rest of the camera array.
Of course, having more megapixels doesn’t automatically translate into better pictures, but Samsung has made a ton of progress. As an example, “Adaptive VDIS,” a software-level technique that analyzes movement and identifies lighting conditions in video and stabilizes accordingly, provides better stabilization.
The new 200MP camera is unquestionably outstanding. Every picture taken with the S23 Ultra is very beautiful: rich, detailed, and with neutral colors. If you’re switching from the ordinary S22 to the S23 Ultra this year, the improved sensor has unquestionably made a huge difference. Simply consider that comparison:
Review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Verdict
There is undoubtedly a lot to discuss when it comes to the S23 Ultra’s cameras, but this year, I have been most impressed with the device’s significant processing and efficiency upgrades. Generational benchmark upgrades don’t usually surprise me, but this one is noteworthy.
Being forced to use Exynos-based Galaxy phones for what feels like an eternity, Samsung’s European customers will appreciate the switch to Snapdragon. Although US Samsung users who have benefited from Qualcomm for a number of years previously may not agree, the S23 Ultra is a significant boost for those on this side of the Atlantic.
