The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra represents the pinnacle of Samsung’s smartphone engineering in 2024. It’s not just a phone but a flagship that pushes the boundaries of mobile technology, packed with cutting-edge features, high-performance hardware, and a design that screams premium. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a mobile gamer, or a professional looking for a productivity powerhouse, the S23 Ultra aims to satisfy on all fronts. This review will explore every aspect of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, including its complete specifications and detailed features, making it easier for you to decide whether this smartphone deserves your attention and investment.
Design and Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra stays true to Samsung’s design language but with several refinements. Its premium design is immediately apparent when you hold it. The device is crafted from a combination of metal and glass, with a sleek aluminum frame sandwiched between Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back.
Dimensions and Weight
- Height: 163.4 mm
- Width: 78.1 mm
- Depth: 8.9 mm
- Weight: 233 grams
While the phone is on the larger and heavier side, it’s designed for those who appreciate bigger displays and more substantial battery life. Despite its size, the curved edges and ergonomic design make it relatively comfortable to hold for a phone of its stature.
Color Options
- Phantom Black
- Green
- Graphite
- Cream
- Lavender
The available color options reflect Samsung’s focus on subtle yet elegant aesthetics. The phone’s matte finish reduces fingerprints, giving it a clean and sophisticated appearance.
Durability
With an IP68 rating, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is both water and dust-resistant. It can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, ensuring it can survive the occasional drop into water without issue. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 offers enhanced scratch and drop resistance, keeping the phone looking pristine even after extended use.
Display: Stunning Visuals at Their Best
The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes equipped with one of the most stunning displays on the market. Samsung’s expertise in screen technology is on full display (pun intended), and the S23 Ultra makes no compromises in this area.
- Display Type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Size: 6.8 inches
- Resolution: 1440 x 3088 pixels (WQHD+)
- Pixel Density: 501 PPI
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz (adaptive)
- HDR10+ Support
Brightness and Color Accuracy
The screen is incredibly bright, peaking at 1,750 nits, making it easily viewable even in direct sunlight. HDR10+ support enhances dynamic range, delivering vibrant colors and deep contrasts that are particularly noticeable when watching high-definition content on platforms like Netflix or YouTube. The S23 Ultra’s screen is a delight for those who love media consumption, gaming, or simply browsing through social media feeds.
Adaptive Refresh Rate
The adaptive 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling, gaming, and overall UI interactions. The phone automatically adjusts the refresh rate based on the content you’re viewing, which conserves battery life without sacrificing performance. For example, while browsing or scrolling, the phone runs at 120Hz, but when viewing static content, it drops to a lower rate, thus saving power.
Performance: The Beast Under the Hood
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a performance powerhouse, designed for those who demand top-tier specifications in their smartphone. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with up to 12GB of RAM, which means it can handle anything you throw at it, from intensive gaming sessions to productivity tasks like video editing or multitasking with ease.
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (1x Cortex-X3 + 3x Cortex-A710 + 4x Cortex-A510)
- GPU: Adreno 740
- RAM Options: 8GB / 12GB
- Storage Options: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0)
Gaming and Graphics
Thanks to the Adreno 740 GPU, gaming performance on the S23 Ultra is flawless. Games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Fortnite run smoothly at the highest settings. The phone also supports Ray Tracing technology for gaming, providing more realistic lighting and shadows, making it one of the best smartphones for gaming enthusiasts in 2024.
Software: One UI 6.0 on Android 14
Running Android 14 with Samsung’s custom One UI 6.0 skin, the S23 Ultra offers a user-friendly interface packed with customization options. One UI 6.0 introduces improved multitasking features, such as split-screen and pop-up windows, making the most of the large display. Samsung DeX also returns, allowing you to use your phone as a desktop computer by connecting it to a monitor and keyboard, which is perfect for professionals on the go.
Camera: Pro-Level Photography and Videography
One of the most significant highlights of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is its camera setup. Samsung has gone all out to ensure that the S23 Ultra remains one of the best camera phones in the market, providing photographers and videographers with a versatile and powerful tool.
Camera Specifications
- Main Camera: 200 MP (f/1.8, 24mm, OIS)
- Telephoto 1: 10 MP (f/4.9, 230mm, 10x optical zoom, OIS)
- Telephoto 2: 10 MP (f/2.4, 70mm, 3x optical zoom, OIS)
- Ultra-Wide: 12 MP (f/2.2, 13mm, 120-degree FOV)
- Selfie Camera: 40 MP (f/2.2, 26mm)
200MP Main Sensor
The standout feature is the 200 MP main sensor, which delivers highly detailed images, especially in well-lit environments. The use of pixel-binning technology ensures that even in lower light conditions, the camera performs exceptionally well by combining smaller pixels into larger ones for better light absorption.
Zoom Capabilities
The S23 Ultra offers dual telephoto lenses for zoom photography. The 10x optical zoom is perfect for capturing distant objects without losing detail, while the 3x optical zoom gives you more flexibility for mid-range shots. Additionally, Samsung’s software allows for up to 100x Space Zoom, though this feature is best used in well-lit conditions.
Nightography and Low-Light Performance
With the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s enhanced Nightography capabilities, the phone excels in low-light conditions. The larger sensor and AI-powered image processing deliver sharper and more colorful photos even in dimly lit environments. The Ultra’s laser autofocus also ensures fast and precise focusing in all lighting conditions.
Video Recording
- Resolution: 8K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps, 720p at 960fps
- Stabilization: Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS)
The S23 Ultra can shoot 8K video at 30fps, providing incredibly sharp footage for content creators. The Super Steady mode uses a combination of OIS and EIS to deliver smooth video even when you’re on the move. Samsung has also improved low-light video recording with HDR10+ support, allowing you to capture footage with more accurate colors and deeper contrasts.
Battery Life: Built for Power Users
One of the most crucial aspects of any smartphone is its battery life, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra does not disappoint. Packed with a 5000mAh battery, the phone is capable of lasting an entire day of heavy use.
Charging Speeds
- Wired Charging: 45W (fast charging)
- Wireless Charging: 15W
- Reverse Wireless Charging: 4.5W
The 45W fast charging can bring the phone from 0 to 50% in under 25 minutes, which is impressive for a phone with such a large battery. Wireless charging is also supported at 15W, and the phone includes reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge accessories like the Galaxy Buds or other Qi-enabled devices.
Connectivity: Future-Proof Networking
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is designed to be future-proof with the latest connectivity standards.
- 5G: Supports both mmWave and Sub-6 GHz 5G networks.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth: 5.3, with A2DP, LE
- USB: USB-C 3.2 with support for DisplayPort
- NFC: Yes
The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 ensures ultra-fast internet speeds, making the S23 Ultra one of the fastest phones in terms of connectivity, ideal for gaming, streaming, and large file transfers.
Additional Features
- In-Display Fingerprint Sensor: The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, providing secure biometric authentication.
- Face Recognition: Samsung’s improved facial recognition works even in dimlighting and can be used as a secondary biometric security option.
- S Pen Support: Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra includes an S Pen housed in the body of the phone, making it the ultimate device for note-taking, drawing, and productivity tasks. The S Pen’s latency is incredibly low, mimicking the feel of writing with a real pen, and it offers useful Air Actions, such as remote shutter control and quick app shortcuts.
- Sound: The Galaxy S23 Ultra features stereo speakers tuned by AKG, providing rich sound with good bass response and clear highs. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos makes watching movies or gaming on the phone a more immersive experience. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, so users will need to use USB-C headphones or wireless options.
Software Experience: One UI 6.0 Enhancements
Samsung’s One UI 6.0, built on top of Android 14, brings several new features and improvements to the S23 Ultra, making it more customizable and user-friendly. Some key enhancements include:
Improved Widgets
Widgets are now more interactive and customizable, allowing you to add multiple functions to a single widget. For example, you can have a weather widget that also shows news updates, making better use of the screen real estate.
Enhanced Privacy Features
One UI 6.0 improves privacy settings with clearer controls for location, microphone, and camera access. A Privacy Dashboard gives users an overview of which apps have accessed sensitive data and when, giving you more control over your privacy.
Productivity Features
With the Samsung DeX feature, the Galaxy S23 Ultra can transform into a desktop-like experience. You can connect the phone to an external display, use it with a mouse and keyboard, and get a full-fledged desktop UI, which is perfect for multitasking, presentations, or even light work.
Bloatware and App Management
Samsung has reduced the number of pre-installed apps, giving users more control over what’s on their phone. Additionally, the One UI 6.0 update improves app management, allowing apps to hibernate when not in use, saving battery and memory.
Storage and RAM Options
The Galaxy S23 Ultra provides a variety of storage and RAM configurations to meet different user needs. Here’s a quick breakdown of the available options:
- 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage
- 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage
- 12GB RAM + 1TB Storage
All models come with UFS 4.0 storage, which offers lightning-fast read and write speeds, ideal for high-performance tasks such as 8K video recording, gaming, and handling large files. Unfortunately, the Galaxy S23 Ultra does not have a microSD card slot, so it’s important to choose the right storage option for your needs.
Battery Performance: Real-World Usage
Samsung has packed the Galaxy S23 Ultra with a 5000mAh battery, which, combined with power-efficient hardware and software optimizations, translates to excellent real-world battery life. During typical use, which includes web browsing, social media, video playback, and light gaming, the phone easily lasts a full day. Power users may need to recharge towards the end of the day, but the 45W fast charging ensures you’ll be back up and running in no time.
For more battery-conscious users, Power Saving Modes can extend the battery life further, allowing you to choose between performance and longevity depending on your needs.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Competition
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is positioned at the top of the smartphone market, and it competes with other flagship models from brands such as Apple, Google, and OnePlus. Let’s take a look at how it stacks up against some of the top competitors in 2024:
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Display: While the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers an impressive OLED screen, the S23 Ultra’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a higher refresh rate and larger size gives it the edge for media consumption and gaming.
- Performance: The A17 Bionic chip in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is powerful, but Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the S23 Ultra is no slouch, especially with its emphasis on AI and gaming features.
- Camera: The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 200MP camera beats the 48MP main sensor of the iPhone 15 Pro Max in terms of resolution, though both phones excel in low-light photography and video capabilities.
- Software: iOS 17 is incredibly polished, but Samsung’s One UI 6.0 offers deeper customization options, especially for power users who prefer a more personalized experience.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro
- Camera: While the Pixel 9 Pro excels in AI-assisted photography and computational photography, especially in portrait and low-light shots, the S23 Ultra’s 200MP sensor offers more versatility, particularly for zoom and high-resolution shots.
- Software: The Pixel 9 Pro’s clean, stock Android experience is ideal for those who want fast updates and a bloatware-free environment. However, One UI 6.0 brings additional features like Samsung DeX and S Pen support, making the S23 Ultra more suitable for productivity.
- Performance: Both phones are extremely capable, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the S23 Ultra edges out the Tensor G3 in the Pixel 9 Pro, especially in gaming and raw processing power.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. OnePlus 12 Pro
- Design: The Galaxy S23 Ultra feels more premium with its glass and metal construction, while the OnePlus 12 Pro takes a slightly more minimalist approach. Both phones offer curved displays and a high screen-to-body ratio.
- Charging: The OnePlus 12 Pro offers faster charging speeds with its 100W SuperVOOC charging, while the S23 Ultra maxes out at 45W. However, the S23 Ultra’s larger battery ensures better overall endurance.
Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is available globally, with prices starting at:
- 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage: $1,199
- 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage: $1,299
- 12GB RAM + 1TB Storage: $1,499
While the price is undoubtedly on the higher side, the Galaxy S23 Ultra justifies its cost with the sheer number of features it offers. From its pro-grade camera system to its top-tier display and processing power, this is a phone designed for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Conclusion: Is the Galaxy S23 Ultra Worth It?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is without a doubt one of the best smartphones available in 2024. It excels in virtually every department—display, camera, performance, and battery life. Samsung has refined the user experience with One UI 6.0, added valuable productivity tools like the S Pen and Samsung DeX, and packed in a camera system that caters to both casual photographers and serious creators.
However, its premium price tag means it’s not for everyone. If you are looking for a device that combines power, productivity, and exceptional camera capabilities, then the S23 Ultra is a top choice. For those who want the best Android experience, excellent hardware, and a phone that can do it all, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is worth every penny.
In a crowded flagship market, the Galaxy S23 Ultra stands tall, cementing Samsung’s position as a leader in smartphone innovation. Whether you are a power user, content creator, or simply want the best device money can buy, the S23 Ultra offers an unparalleled smartphone experience.