Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review: Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra represents an incremental but significant improvement over its predecessor. Samsung has opted to fine-tune an already successful formula, focusing on refining key aspects for an enhanced user experience.
Often referred to as the “iPhone killer” or the “king of Android,” the Galaxy S23 Ultra maintains many of the same features as its predecessor—such as the battery, display, and S-Pen—but with notable advancements in performance and camera technology. The most significant upgrades come in the form of a powerful 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP2 camera and a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which, combined with up to 12GB of RAM, make for a snappier, more powerful experience. Samsung has also made strides in design, with a focus on sustainability rather than radical changes.
In this review, we delve into the S23 Ultra’s design, performance, camera improvements, and battery life to assess whether these updates elevate the user experience enough to justify the upgrade.
Design: At first glance, the S23 Ultra looks very similar to the S22 Ultra, but small changes—such as flatter sides and a more squared-off, “Galaxy Note-like” design—significantly improve the in-hand feel. The slightly larger camera lenses and less pronounced curve on the display also offer subtle yet effective refinements. Available in three colors (Green, Phantom Black, and Cream), the S23 Ultra’s design remains familiar but is enhanced by improved grip and a sturdier frame, giving it a premium feel without needing drastic changes.
Display: The 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,750 nits peak brightness is as stunning as you’d expect from a Samsung flagship. With LTPO 3.0 technology, the adaptive refresh rate ensures a smooth experience across all activities. The screen is bright, color-accurate, and responsive, making it a joy to use in all conditions. In real-world testing, it hit 1192 nits of brightness and showed excellent color accuracy, with only slight inaccuracies in orange and saffron tones.
Performance: The custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, clocked higher than the standard version, ensures that the S23 Ultra delivers top-tier performance across the board. With a 3.36GHz CPU and 719MHz GPU, it outperforms most other Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered devices in benchmarks. Whether you’re multitasking, gaming, or just navigating through apps, the S23 Ultra excels. Games run at max settings without any lag or frame drops, and the higher clock speed boosts performance in demanding tasks. In benchmarking tests, the S23 Ultra consistently outscored its rivals, including the iQoo 11 and OnePlus 11.
Heat management has also been improved, thanks to a larger vapor cooling chamber, making overheating a non-issue during intensive usage like gaming or charging. Throttling is significantly reduced compared to last year’s models.
Battery: Despite the same 5,000mAh capacity as the S22 Ultra, the battery life on the S23 Ultra is much better. It offers around 9 hours of screen time under heavy use, including gaming, camera usage, and video playback. In real-world tests, the phone only lost 2% battery after a 15-minute gaming session and 3% after 30 minutes of 4K video playback. The S23 Ultra supports 45W fast charging, getting from 0 to 100% in 84 minutes, along with 15W wireless charging.
Camera: The highlight of the S23 Ultra is its new 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP2 sensor. The primary camera produces incredibly sharp and detailed images, even without using the full 200MP mode. Autofocus is fast, and stabilization improvements make it easier to capture clear photos in various conditions. The telephoto capabilities remain impressive, with 10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom for distant subjects.
In low light, the S23 Ultra excels, though the night mode can sometimes capture too much light. Portrait shots are excellent, with accurate edge detection and a pleasing background blur. However, minor inconsistencies, like occasional over-saturation and rare image processing glitches, can still occur. But overall, it’s one of the best smartphone cameras available today.
Final Thoughts: The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it perfects it. With improvements in performance, battery life, and camera quality, it’s a polished, refined update that addresses the shortcomings of the previous model. While the design remains largely the same, small tweaks enhance usability and durability, making this a top contender in the 2023 flagship market. It’s not a radical overhaul, but the S23 Ultra provides a compelling package for those looking for a powerful, reliable, and premium smartphone.
