Samsung has released a new batch of flagship smartphones in the Galaxy S23 series, led by the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This is the first non-folding Samsung phone I’ve used since the Galaxy S10, but I’ve been wanting to try one out since the first Galaxy Ultra phone was released with its weird Space Zoom photography function. The wait was completely worth it.
If you don’t keep up with smartphone design trends, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the current model and last year’s if you put them side by side. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, on the other hand, has a more balanced boxy shape that’s simple to grasp, and the reduced curve of the screen. Read out our full review to learn more.
Specifications Table
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| No of cores | 8 (octa core) |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR5X |
| Height-Width | 6.43in-3.07in |
| Weight | 233 grams |
| Colours | Red, Green, Phantom Black, Cream, Graphite, Sky Blue |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3088 pixels |
| Display Type | Dynamic AOLED, HDR 10+ |
| Colour Reproduction | 16M Colours |
| TouchScreen | Yes, Capacitive, Multi-Touch |
| Rear camera setup | Quad |
| Rear Camera | 200MP(Primary), 12MP(Secondary), 10MP(Tertiary), 10MP(Quaternary) |
| Front camera | 12 MP Resolution |
| Flash | LED Rear flash |
| Video Resolution | 7680 x 4320 @ 30 fps |
| Camera Features | Auto FlashAuto FocusFace detectionTouch to focus |
| Battery Type and capacity | Li-ion, 5000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 45W |
| Internal memory type | 256 GB, UFS 4.0 |
| Operating System | Android v13 |
| Custom UI | Samsung One UI |
| SIM Configuration | Dual SIM |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.3 |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes, On-screen |
| Face Unlock | Yes |
| Other Sensor | Light SensorProximity SensorAccelerometerCompassGyroscope |
Pricing and Availability
On February 1, Samsung introduced the whole Galaxy S23 range, and preorders started that day. It will be available in stores on February 17. The base model of the Galaxy S23 Ultra costs INR 98k at retail. Going directly to Samsung gives you a free upgrade to the next storage option, 8k off, and further savings chances.
The previously mentioned base model has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. When you upgrade to the larger storage options of 512GB and 1TB, your phone’s RAM will be increased to 12GB. The most expensive configuration will set you back at INR 1,32,999.
Colours: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender.
If you order through Samsung, you will have four additional colour options: lime, graphite, sky blue, and red.
Design
The Galaxy S22 Ultra introduced a new design language for the series last year, which has essentially remained intact for the 2023 model. When comparing the two versions, you’ll notice very little variances in physical stature. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is only slightly wider and heavier. The curvature of the glass, though, is one of the more visible differences from last year’s model. Samsung lowered the curve, making the phone more boxy but more comfortable to handle.
While it may appear that making the sides less curved would make the phone less comfortable to handle, the opposite was true. The reduced curvature leaves more space on the phone’s sides for the aluminium frame to occupy. Though minor, the modification softens the side rail and makes it more comfortable to hold. Even with the design update, the phone is still fairly huge, so if you have little hands, it will be difficult to use.
Display
The phone display beneath the front glass is arguably one of the greatest I’ve ever used. Samsung was already one of the best manufacturers of mobile displays, if not the best, and the one on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a chef’s kiss. The 6.8-inch AMOLED panel, or “Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O QHD+ Edge Screen Display,” has a 3088 x 1440 resolution and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. It performs well in bright light circumstances, with a peak brightness of 1,750 nits. It doesn’t have the greatest nit levels, but it should be good for 95% of lighting settings which makes it a great display.
Performance
With the term Ultra in the name, you’d expect this phone to tackle whatever task you throw at it and you’d be right. The S23 Ultra not only has the newest from Qualcomm, but it also has some unique, exclusive customizations.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy uses an already excellent chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and adds adjustments to provide the greatest possible performance from Galaxy S23 smartphones. Apart from the powerhouse that is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, Samsung additionally included some surprisingly fast memory and storage. It employs the LPDDR5X specification for both the 8GB and 12GB RAM choices, as well as UFS 4.0 for internal storage. When you combine all of this, operating the Galaxy S23 Ultra feels quite responsive.
Software
Samsung, like all other Android OEMs, customises the base OS with a “skin” to make it unique to the brand. When compared to other brands, Samsung’s interface was crowded, clunky, and cartoonish for a long time. However, that was TouchWiz UI, and after the release of One UI in 2018, the interface has become considerably more user-friendly.
Through upgrades, One UI 5 has been made available to all contemporary Samsung Galaxy handsets. I’ve been using it on my Galaxy Z Fold 4, but it’s not the same as on a “normal” Galaxy device. The S23 series debuts with a minor version upgrade to One UI 5.1. There are very few visual differences.
Camera
The cameras have always been a highlight component of Samsung’s Ultra range, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra is no exception. It also receives some excellent enhancements. The new 200MP camera sensor kicks off the advancements. During the event, Samsung stated that the 200MP sensor employs a new Adapt Pixel Sensor, which improves the shooting experience in numerous ways, including how the system handles all of those megapixels. By default, the camera will decide whether to take a full 200MP image or bin it down to 50 or 12MP images.
In addition to the new 200MP primary sensor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts two 10MP sensors with 10x and 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide sensor to complete out the back camera system. On the front, Samsung switched from a 16MP to a 12MP selfie camera.
Battery
Battery life was one of the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s flaws last year and was horrible. Fortunately, I’ve been satisfied with the time between charges for the roughly two weeks I’ve had this phone. I’ve been getting over 36 hours of use per charge on average, with 4-6 hours of screen time.
While all of it sounds nice, I do have a few concerns about charging. Samsung chose to keep the same 5,000mAh battery as the Galaxy S22 Ultra from last year, which is good, but it also kept the same 45W charging speeds. The charge rate could be lower (the base Galaxy S23 only offers 25W charging speeds), but 45W could be a lot more for the price.
Verdict
Samsung is one of the oldest and most successful Android phone manufacturers, so to say it knows how to build outstanding smartphones is an understatement. Even if the firm has been coasting a little in recent years, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is an impressive device. It can meet each person’s smartphone demands, if its in your budget.
