Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review
Pros
- Outstandingly fast
- Very good cameras
- Excellent battery life
- Lovely premium object
Cons
- Slow 45W charging
- Poor selfie camera
- Huge premium object
Our Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the most phone you can buy with every feature you could ask for, with the only downsides being its size, bad selfie camera, and slow charging.
Samsung has always been a major player in the smartphone market, and the latest addition to their Galaxy lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, is a true powerhouse. Packed with cutting-edge features and top-of-the-line specs, this phone is truly unique and noteworthy. In this review, we'll take a closer look at what makes the Galaxy S23 Ultra stand out from the crowd.
Design and Display
First and foremost, let's talk about the phone's physical design and display. The Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a sleek and modern design, with a large 6.9-inch display that offers stunning visuals thanks to its QHD+ resolution and AMOLED technology.
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| Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry |
The phone's screen-to-body ratio is impressive, too, at around 93%, giving you a nearly edge-to-edge viewing experience. The display is also protected by Corning's latest Gorilla Glass Victus, which offers improved scratch resistance and drop protection.
Camera
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| image: Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry |
When it comes to the camera, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is truly a standout. It boasts a quad-camera setup, with a 108-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 10-megapixel periscope camera with 10x optical zoom. There's also a 40-megapixel front-facing camera for high-quality selfies. The camera features on the Galaxy S23 Ultra are truly impressive, including 8K video recording, a Director's View mode that lets you switch between camera lenses on the fly, and an improved Night mode for stunning low-light shots. In terms of image quality, the Galaxy S23 Ultra's camera performs exceptionally well, with sharp and vibrant photos even in challenging lighting conditions.
Here’s a selection of shots showing what the phone can do:
A 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, a 10MP f/2.4 2x optical telephoto, and a 10MP f/4.9 10x optical zoom lens are also included. Except for the similarly equipped S22 Ultra, this phone has the most versatile camera setup on the market.
Having a 3x optical and 10x optical zoom on a mobile camera is pure luxury. I took shots at 10x with the S23 Ultra that aren't going to win a Pulitzer Prize, but they're sharper than anything I could get on the iPhone 14 Pro, which has an optical zoom limit of 3x.
The 10x lens can also perform Samsung's'space zoom,' which can go up to 100x and is so named because it can capture grainy images of the moon's craters. Don't get me wrong: the fact that it can do it is amazing, but the results aren't. The phone's gimmick is space zoom.
Better to concentrate (ha!) on the excellent software portrait mode, which produces a very good bokeh effect, even if phones with larger sensors, such as the Vivo X90 Pro, are now doing it with just hardware.
On paper, the S23's 12Mp f/2.2 selfie camera is a downgrade from the S22 Ultra's 40Mp lens, but the processing is smarter. Shots appear sharper and more detailed, with improved clarity.
That’s only in daylight though – the selfie shooter is very poor in low light, with bad detail and blurry shots unavoidable. The lighting in the pub was bad, but other phones at this price can take better shots than this:
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| image: Henry Burrell / Foundry |
Even with PDAF autofocus, the main lens cannot handle fast-moving subjects (though many other phones cannot). The S23 Ultra struggled to capture my friend holding a wriggly dog without significant blurring. I took a few pictures, and they all look like this:
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| Neither man nor dog was moving that fast Henry Burrell / Foundry |
Samsung still likes to saturate colors to make photos stand out. The skies are bluer than they are in real life, and the grass and plants hum a vibrant green that is not quite of this world. However, when I was out with friends and family, I would always show a photo to someone after taking it, and they would always comment on how much better it looked than their phone's version. If you prefer your colors to be true to life and muted, the iPhone is the device for you. However, if you prefer shots that are vibrant and ready to share on social media, the Galaxy is a better option. It's also worthwhile to download Samsung's Expert RAW app if you want to shoot in RAW format and experiment with manual modes. It's strange; it must be a Whole separate app, but at least it exists. It directs you to Adobe Lightroom for editing, and you might get lost in the camera settings, but that's to be expected on a phone at this price - and the cameras are good enough to justify your effort.
The video quality is also excellent, with up to 8K at 30fps on the rear camera and UHD at 60fps on the front. If you're into mobile videography, the S23 Ultra is a good bet thanks to its pro video mode and solid stabilization, but the iPhone 14 series still outperform it in terms of pure quality and better (miraculous) stabilization.
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| image: Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry |
Performance and Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts impressive performance and processing power. Equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, this phone delivers lightning-fast speed and responsiveness, making multitasking and running multiple apps a breeze. The phone's RAM has also been upgraded to a whopping 16GB, ensuring smooth operation even under heavy loads. As for the battery life, the S23 Ultra has a 5000mAh battery that provides excellent longevity. With moderate use, the phone can last up to two days on a single charge. And when it's time to recharge, the phone supports fast charging and wireless charging, allowing you to quickly juice up your battery without any cords or cables. Additionally, the phone has several battery-saving features, including a power-saving mode and adaptive battery, which help to conserve power and extend battery life even further. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers top-notch performance and battery life, providing users with a seamless and enjoyable user experience.
Software and Features
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra runs on the latest version of Android, with Samsung's One UI 5.5 skin on top. One UI 5.5 is sleek and user-friendly, with a host of useful features and customization options. One of the standout features of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its support for the S Pen, which is included in the box. This makes the phone a great option for creatives or anyone who enjoys taking notes or sketching on their phone. Additionally, the phone supports 5G connectivity, which means lightning-fast download and upload speeds.
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| image: Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry |
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a high-end phone with
exceptional performance, long battery life, and a plethora of impressive features.
The camera setup on the phone is particularly impressive, with a variety of
lenses and sensors that capture stunning photos and videos. The display on the
S23 Ultra is also among the best on the market, with vibrant colors, deep
blacks, and impressive clarity. The phone performs admirably, with a powerful
processor and plenty of rams to handle even the most demanding apps and games.
The phone also has 5G connectivity, which allows for fast internet speeds and
low latency connections. While the S23 Ultra is an impressive phone, its high
price makes it out of reach for many users. However, The S23 Ultra is a truly
outstanding device for those who can afford it.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an excellent phone
with excellent performance and a plethora of impressive features. While its
high price tag may put some people off, the S23 Ultra is a truly
top-of-the-line device for those who can afford it. The camera setup on the
phone is particularly impressive, with a variety of lenses and sensors that
capture stunning photos and videos. The display on the S23 Ultra is also among
the best on the market, offering a truly immersive viewing experience. The
phone performs admirably, with a powerful processor and plenty of rams to
handle even the most demanding apps and games. Users can also enjoy fast
internet speeds and low latency connections with 5G connectivity. While the S23
Ultra may not be the best phone for everyone, it is an excellent choice for
those who value performance and features above all else.
Conclusion
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an exceptional smartphone that sets a new standard for flagship devices. Its impressive camera system, stunning display, lightning-fast performance, and useful features make it a top contender in the high-end smartphone market. That said, the phone's premium price point might not be suitable for everyone, and its size might be a drawback for some users who prefer smaller devices. But for anyone who wants the latest and greatest smartphone technology, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is definitely worth considering.
Recommendation
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is best suited for people who are looking for a top-of-the-line device with cutting-edge technology, including a powerful
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