An In-Depth Review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a large phone with an expansive display. Unfortunately, it’s also quite heavy and tough, making it difficult to hold in one hand.

This device boasts a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Additionally, it is IP68 rated and made with Samsung’s Armor Aluminum chassis material for superior durability.

Display

One of the primary advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is its 6.7-inch QHD+ display, an upgrade over its predecessor’s display. Unfortunately, viewing this screen at full resolution may reduce battery life if you frequently view it at that resolution.

Fortunately, there are ways to extend the battery life of your Samsung phone. First and foremost, activate dark mode across all devices which reduces screen brightness and saves power by dimming it. This setting can be found under settings > display, though you may also quickly adjust its brightness using the quick settings panel.

Second, disable adaptive display (AOD): This feature can drain up to 8-9% of your battery overnight. You can disable it through the battery settings or manually switch it off.

Finally, enable Eye Comfort Shield: This uses a different colour of light to reduce blue light and prevent eye strain. It comes in adaptive modes too, so you can set it for all day or just certain times of day.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is an impressive smartphone for fans of Samsung’s design aesthetic and performance it provides. Plus, it boasts a powerful camera and long-lasting battery life.

This phone comes packaged in a 100% recycled box and boasts more recycled parts than its predecessor, the Galaxy S23. It boasts Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back panels as well as IP68 water and dust resistance rating. Plus, four standard colors are available: Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender.

Camera

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is Samsung’s biggest camera upgrade in years, taking smartphone photography to new heights. If you’re looking to upgrade from an older phone, its 200-megapixel main camera and other improvements make it a great value.

In an otherwise nondescript premium mobile space, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra stands out as a true game changer. The company’s new 200-megapixel sensor provides significant improvements in low light and video performance compared to earlier models.

It also allows for more light per pixel than the S22 Ultra’s 108-megapixel sensor did, meaning your photos and videos should take up less room in your gallery. Furthermore, its wider f/1.5 lens helps reduce camera shake and vibration during shooting as well.

Samsung also offers some advanced features for better-looking shots in low light conditions, such as Super Quad Pixel AutoFocus and adaptive lighting technology that allows the S23 Ultra to detect subjects too far away for clear visibility. Plus, its improved OIS system helps prevent blurring during shots, and its larger telephoto lens takes broader photos than its predecessor – the S22 Ultra.

However, in many cases the new sensor doesn’t make much of a difference when zooming in on your face. With the S23 Ultra’s selfie camera, for instance, extra pixels don’t seem to make much of an impact when zooming in close on yourself.

Samsung’s camera app and the S22 Ultra’s photo app use different sensors for taking pictures when zoomed in, meaning that even though the S23 Ultra has a 200-megapixel sensor, I was still able to view similar detail on both devices.

Performance

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the highest-end phones Samsung has ever created, boasting an array of features not found on other phones like an OLED screen, custom Snapdragon processor with even better performance, and S Pen.

Samsung’s tick-tock strategy means the latest Galaxy phone looks almost identical to last year’s model, yet the S23 Ultra still manages to be an impressive piece of hardware. It is fast, has the best display in its class and boasts a formidable set of cameras.

There are a few key differences, however, such as its new 200-megapixel camera sensor that’s twice as powerful as its predecessor and other smaller upgrades to improve image quality. But perhaps most significantly, though, is how well the S23 Ultra captures low light photos.

My testing of the S23 Ultra revealed some of the most detailed low-light photos I’ve ever seen from a smartphone, including photos taken inside Madison Square Garden during an intermission. This isn’t something most smartphones do, and it’s due to its 200MP sensor’s capacity for processing more details in dim light settings.

As with other Galaxy phones, the S23 Ultra features a large and vibrant OLED screen – an enormous improvement from the 1080p panels on the S22 Ultra. That’s one of the reasons I adore this phone so much.

It also boasts the fastest CPU speed of any phone I’ve tested, thanks to a custom chip. This results in smoother operation and ensures apps load quickly when you’re not using them.

Battery life on the S23 Ultra is excellent, too. While its 5,000mAh cell from last year’s model remains, I’m getting over 24 hours out of it with moderate use – significantly better than OnePlus 11 and iPhone 13 Pro Max which both offer much slower battery lives compared to that of the S23 Ultra.

Battery

Battery life is an essential factor when shopping for a new smartphone, particularly if you use it frequently for gaming or other high-intensity tasks. That is why Samsung has taken proactive measures to enhance the battery performance of their Galaxy S23 series models.

Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a 5,000mAh Li-ion battery. While not quite the biggest battery available, this capacity is far better than most other smartphones on the market.

Our battery tests showed the Galaxy S23 Ultra charged to 68% in 30 minutes, 8% faster than its predecessor. Unfortunately, it took 59 minutes to charge from 0% to 100% – not bad but not quite as quick as other options like the OnePlus 7 or iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra utilizes Samsung’s 45-watt Super Fast Charging standard, making it compatible with a variety of charging bricks that can be purchased from Samsung or Amazon for around $40 each.

On the Galaxy S23, there’s also a charging bypass option that enables you to pause power supply when plugged in and over 20% charged, helping prevent heat buildup that could degrade your battery. This feature is especially handy for power users who want their device to last longer.

In conclusion, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is an impressive phone that offers impressive performance and features. However, its lack of long-lasting battery life, which we’ve come to expect from Samsung, is somewhat disappointing.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra isn’t the most eye-catching phone on the market, but it certainly packs a powerful punch. With its large display, 200-megapixel camera and S Pen, this high-end device should appeal to users looking for an affordable high-end option.

Unfortunately, its design isn’t particularly groundbreaking either; it looks almost identical to last year’s model with the only noticeable distinction being larger camera lenses – likely just a marketing gimmick.

The S23 Ultra has a lower-profile fingerprint scanner on the front, as well as physical buttons that sit lower than on last year’s model. While these changes are not particularly significant, they help the device retain its shape without appearing too bulky.

On the software front, the Galaxy S23 Ultra runs Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 overlay. While not the most feature-packed Android OS available, this new release brings some welcome improvements to users’ experiences. These include a wider palette for accent colors within the UI, improved personalization options on the lock screen and more.

Samsung is also promising four generations of Android OS upgrades, which is on par with the OnePlus 11, and surpasses Google’s three-year promise for Pixel 7s and 7 Pros. These updates aim to improve battery life, make software more efficient and reduce power consumption.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes in four standard colors: Botanic Green, Cotton Flower, Misty Lilac and Phantom Black. It is IP68-certified for dust and water resistance and offers a generous 1TB storage option. Measuring 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm and weighing 234 grams, its display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 which should provide increased drop resistance while making it less scratch-resistant.