By yourgadgetsinfo.com Explore the groundbreaking features and cutting-edge technology of the Samsung S23 Ultra in our comprehensive review. Discover its stunning design, exceptional camera capabilities, powerhouse performance, and innovative functionalities, making it a top-tier choice in the smartphone market. Dive into our detailed analysis of the Samsung S23 Ultra to uncover why it’s a game-changer in the world of mobile devices.
| NETWORK | Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
|---|
| LAUNCH | Announced | 2023, February 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| BODY | Dimensions | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 234 g (8.25 oz) | |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | |
| SIM | Nano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by) | |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) |
| DISPLAY | Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) | |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) | |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | |
| Always-on display |
| PLATFORM | OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 15, One UI 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) | |
| GPU | Adreno 740 |
| MEMORY | Card Slot | No |
|---|---|---|
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM | |
| UFS 4.0 |
| MAIN CAMERA | Quad | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | |
| Video | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| SELFIE CAMERA | Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual video call, Auto-HDR, HDR10+ | |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| SOUND | Loudspeakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG |
| COMMS | WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
|---|---|---|
| bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| Radio | No | |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| FEATURES | Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support |
| BATTERY | Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable |
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| MISC | Colors | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Models | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS | |
| SAR | 1.12 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body) | |
| SAR EU | 0.96 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) | |
| Price | ₹ 95,398 / $ 820.71 / £ 819.99 / € 900.00 |
PROS
- Large, bright display
- Speedy performance
- Excellent cameras
- S Pen integration
- Solid battery life
- Durable hardware
- Strong software update commitment
CONS
- Expensive
- Big, heavy build
The Galaxy S23 Ultra, which starts at $1,199.99, is the only smartphone in Samsung’s S- lineup to carry on the legacy of the Galaxy Note. The company uses a kitchen-sink approach with the S23 Ultra, providing nearly every feature a buyer seeking a flagship phone, including top-notch cameras, an outstanding display, blistering performance, and high-quality hardware. We are a little concerned about the phone’s oversized footprint and price, but we believe that many buyers will overlook these compromises in exchange for such a capable device. If you do not need the stylus or the extra cameras, the slightly smaller and more reasonably priced Galaxy S23+ (starting at $999.99) might be a better fit. However, if you want it all, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is our Editors’ Choice winner for high-end smartphones.
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Beautiful, But Big
The largest and most powerful member of the S23 family—which also includes the S23+ ($999.99) and the S23 ($799.99)—the Galaxy S23 Ultra is distinguished from its more affordable stablemates by means of its squared-off design, integrated S Pen, and additional cameras.
There is no denying that the S23 Ultra is a massive piece of hardware; slapping a case on it, which we recommend given the price tag, just adds to its size and weight. The S23 Ultra shares many design cues with the S22 Ultra from last year, measuring exactly the same 6.43 by 3.07 by 0.35 inches (HWD), though the S23 Ultra weighs more at 8.25 ounces compared to the S22 Ultra’s 8.07 ounces.
ULTRA DESIGN AND COLORS OF THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA
The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s design immediately grabs attention in two ways: firstly, it has larger rear cameras than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and secondly, it has a flatter display. The 6.8-inch panel still has a gentle curve, but the curve is slimmer and the surface area is flatter, making using the S Pen slightly more comfortable.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is built to be tougher, too, as it is the first phone with Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which promises to protect the front and back from scratches and drops better. The YouTuber JerryRigEverything has conducted some durability tests, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra fares quite well when it comes to scratching and bending. However, you will still want to invest in one of the best Galaxy S23 Ultra cases to protect your phone.
Phantom Black, Green, Cream, and Lavender are the four color options for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The model I am testing is green, which is my favorite color because it stands out the most. Next up is the subtle and elegant lavender, and I also like how well the design deters fingerprints.
The S23 Ultra, which weighs 8.2 ounces and measures 6.4 x 3.0 x 0.35 inches, is slightly heavier than the flagship S22 Ultra, which weighed 8.08 ounces. It is important to note that the S23 Ultra still has a SIM card slot, unlike the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is located on the bottom of the device. Samsung is also talking about the S23 Ultra’s eco-friendliness, as the company is using more recycled materials for the phone. These recycled materials include recycled discarded fishing nets for the S Pen inner cover and bottom speaker module, recycled water barrels for the side key and volume key, and recycled aluminum for the SIM tray.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA DISPLAY
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra sports a 6.8-inch QHD OLED screen with a resolution of 3088 x 1400 pixels and a rated peak brightness of 1,750 nits. It also has the same 120Hz refresh rate as the S22 Ultra, which can scale down to 1Hz. During my testing, I was really impressed with the overall image quality from the S23 Ultra’s panel. When watching the trailer for The Mandalorian season 3, the shiny helmets popped off the screen, and I enjoyed wide viewing angles. Even in bright sunlight, I could see the display quite well.
I had an amazing time going over the pictures I captured with the S23 Ultra’s cameras, including the amazing picture of the water fountain in Bryant Park that is shown above. This is also a fantastic canvas for showing your images and videos.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA CAMERAS
After extensive testing, I am leaning more toward the latter. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the first flagship phone in the United States with a 200MP camera; according to Samsung, this sensor can produce poster-size prints. However, having a main wide camera this powerful has other advantages as well. The adaptive pixel sensor combines 16 pixels into one larger pixel for brighter and more detailed photos, especially in low light.
I was shocked to see how much I could crop in on the sign and then the lanterns themselves when I took a photo of Bryant Park surrounded by colorful paper lanterns, even though I was shooting at 200MP. (Note that the establishing shot is in 12MP because our system cannot support uploading such a large file.) But that is not the only benefit of having a main wide camera this powerful. The adaptive pixel sensor can combine 16 pixels into one larger pixel for brighter and more detailed shots, especially in lower light.
Although the 40MP selfie camera on the S22 Ultra is technically better than the new 12MP front camera on the S23 Ultra, Samsung promises upgraded portraits overall with upgraded AI and a unique Night Portrait feature.
Each of these 10MP telephoto lenses with 3x and 10x optical zoom is still included, along with a powerful 30x digital zoom option and the more shaky 100x Space Zoom option.The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 100x space zoom photo captures darker and lighter spots on the surface; it is almost like having a telescope in your pocket. Other camera upgrades include an astro hyperlapse mode for taking clips of star movements, enhanced auto focus, and a multiple exposures mode for combining multiple frames into one picture. I was really impressed when I turned the camera on the moon, especially since all I could get out of the iPhone 14 Pro Max was a blurry, bright blob.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA VIDEO
The iPhone 15 Pro Max easily wins this competition because its footage is the smoothest, the blue in the sky is more pronounced, and it performs better in handling the sun. I would say the S23 Ultra is second best here with fairly smooth video, and the Pixel 7 Pro just looks washed out. On the video front, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers improved video stabilization in video, and video recording now goes up to 8K at 30 fps (up from 24 fps) with a wider angle for recording (from 57 to 80 degrees).
Next, I wanted to see how the Galaxy S23 Ultra performed with a video of the Bryant Park skating rink, so my colleague jack provided a skate. I actually think that the Samsung’s video is better in this instance because it appears brighter and more colorful, and I was able to get closer to Mike without losing detail thanks to the S23 Ultra’s 10x optical zoom feature (which the iPhone lacks). The zoom mic also activated, which was a little shocking because the music became louder almost immediately, but it works. In contrast, I think that the Pixel 7 Pro’s video is just dull and flat.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA PERFORMANCE
We have run several Galaxy S23 Ultra benchmarks, and the results are fairly strong. In fact, the S23 Ultra outperforms the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max on graphics. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is equipped with an exclusive version of Qualcomm’s new chip, called the Snapdragon 8 Gen for Galaxy. Samsung promises that this processor can deliver even higher clock speed than the standard version of the chip, going as high as 3.36 GHz. Samsung also promises the world’s fastest mobile graphics in a phone.
Geekbench (CPU)
| CPU | Single-core | Multicore | |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | 1396 | 4882 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | A16 Bionic | 1882 | 5333 |
| iPhone 14 Pro | A16 Bionic | 1891 | 5469 |
| iPhone 14 | A15 Bionic | 1727 | 4553 |
| Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | 1240 | 3392 |
The Galaxy S23 easily defeated the Galaxy S22 Ultra on both tests, and the iPhone 14 on multi-core but not single-core; the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 Bionic is still the fastest. Geekbench analyzes CPU performance in both single-core and multicore applications.
3DMark Wild Life (graphics)
| Unlimited (FPS) | Extreme Unlimited (FPS) | |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | 79.3 | 20.9 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 74 | 20 |
| iPhone 14 Pro | 74 | 19 |
| iPhone 14 | 69 | 18 |
| Galaxy S22 Ultra | 57 | 14 |
The Galaxy S23 Ultra outperformed the iPhone 14 Pro in terms of frames per second (FPS) count, overcoming it by 79 fps to 74 fps on the Unlimited test and by a narrow margin of 20.9 to 20 fps on the more difficult Extreme Unlimited test. We test mobile device graphics performance using 3DMark Wild Life.
Adobe Premiere Rush (video transcoding)
| Time to complete (Mins:Secs) | |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | 0:40 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 0:30 |
| iPhone 14 Pro | 0:26 |
| iPhone 14 | 0:28 |
| Galaxy S22 Ultra | 0:47 |
We transcode a 4K video file to 1080p in our Adobe Premiere Rush test, timing the results. The Galaxy S23 Ultra took 40 seconds, 7 seconds faster than the S22 Ultra, while the iPhone 14 Pro took only 26 seconds and the Pro Max took 30 seconds.
When it comes to actual gameplay, I played Apex Legends, and the graphics were amazing and the controls were incredibly responsive. Whether I was sliding down a mountain to ambush an opponent, blasting away enemies, or punching them, the S23 Ultra never slowed down. Plus, I did not notice the device getting hot even after a half hour straight. It is also worth noting that the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a larger vapor cooling chamber than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, so you should see stronger sustained performance.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA BATTERY LIFE AND CHARGING
When it comes to actual gameplay, I played Apex Legends, and the graphics were amazing and the controls were highly responsive. Whether I was sliding down a mountain to ambush an opponent or blasting away enemies or punching them, the S23 Ultra never slowed down. Plus, I did not notice the device get hot even after a half hour straight. It is also worth noting that the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a larger vapor cooling chamber than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, so you should see stronger sustained performance along with more responsiveness.
In the Tom’s Guide battery test, the previous Galaxy S22 Ultra lasted only 10 hours and 18 minutes, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max survived for an even longer 13:39. For more information, see our comparison of Galaxy S23 Ultra battery life results. Unfortunately, Samsung is sticking with the same 45W fast charger for the S23 Ultra; we would like to see it go higher, as the OnePlus 11 that shipped shortly after the S23 Ultra features 80W charging in the U.S. and 100W charging abroad. On our charing test, the S23 Ultra reached 57% in 30 minutes, which is lower than Samsung’s claimed 65%. After 30 minutes, the OnePlus 11 was almost fully charged, showing that the faster charging speed does matter.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA: S PEN
I find that the S Pen on the Galaxy S23 Ultra is still a useful tool for taking notes, sketching, and making finer changes to photos, and it is even an excellent alternative for scrolling while reading, aside from reducing the display’s the curve for easier S Pen use.
Though you have to set this up in settings, I like that you can just tap the S Pen button to unlock the screen if your screen locks on you while you are taking notes, saving you from having to enter a password or fingerprint. I also like that you can hover over images in the gallery to see an Air preview, even though this is not a new feature.
There is a new collaboration function in the Samsung Notes app that lets users share notes and have many people modify them at the same time.