Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review: the king has found his crown

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the difficult job of becoming an ultra-high-end reference smartphone. It must be good in terms of photography, autonomy, power, durability, and screen quality… Will the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and the 200 megapixel sensor suffice? This review requires a response.

After a less-than-perfect Galaxy S22 Ultra, it’s time for Samsung to raise the glove with its next flagship, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. At such a high price, it must be the smartphone equivalent of the hypercar in the car, the epitome of the genre, a flawless product that is, should we say, a bit exaggerated.

Here are some large shoes for your smartphone. Photophone ultra-polyvalent owing to its X10, power recovered thanks to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, perfect screen since arriving from the house (Samsung Display), daring design that bids goodbye to the photo block to better say yes to the pen… the promise is enticing on paper. What about the truth? This test requires a response.

TECHNICAL SHEET

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AN EVEN MORE COMFORTABLE DESIGN

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra appears to be identical to its predecessor. Rectangular shape, photo block deleted in favor of three island cameras, disproportionate size (163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm)… we appear to be looking at the identical gadget, as comments on the device’s release swiftly pointed out.

So, while the S22 Ultra is not far away, we have a strong feeling that something fundamental has changed. The occupation. The slices have flattened significantly. They provide the comfort of a somewhat more firm grasp while not being straight. Perfect for writing with a stylus that demands firm support. The smartphone is also less likely to fall from the fingers. But be careful, because this decision boosts its huge side even more. If you were terrified of the Galaxy S22 Ultra before, you will most likely be much more so now. Despite its weight, we completed this big template in two or three days without difficulty. Even though you feel them strongly, the 234 g do not significantly impede.

It also guarantees a simply massive slab of 6.8 inches, which we shall discuss in more depth later. Flat slices offer the advantage of erasing portion of the curved screen, resulting in a less noticeable curvature. We get comfort in this area as well.

In terms of design, Samsung does not scrimp and includes everything you’d expect from a high-end smartphone: IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (intended to withstand a one-meter fall on concrete), mat color that resists finger marks rather well. You may add a fingerprint sensor under the highly responsive screen and buttons that are rather well positioned, even though you will have to move a little to access them if you have small hands.

To round off the phone turn, keep in mind that the hall is in the center of the room, which isn’t ideal for enjoying the entire slab of multimedia material, but considering the size of the latter, we forgive him. Add the existence of a style hatch to the phone’s lower left end. This is not necessarily the most practical side if you are right-handed like your servant. The stylus hatch coexists with a USB-C connector and a Dual SIM drawer.

THE FEARLESS SCREEN WITHOUT REPROACH

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has one of the biggest screens on the market. It is a 6.8-inch DYNAMIC Amoled x2 with a resolution of QHD and an adaptable frequency of up to 120 Hz in one direction and 1 Hz in the other. Samsung guarantees a maximum brightness of 1750 cd / m 2.

This is unquestionably a very pleasant slab to use on a daily basis, if only because of its format, which lets you to see micro-details in the image that less generous formats would not.

The screen of S23 Ultra reveals its secrets thanks to our probe and software CalMAN Ultimate of Portrait Displays. Color loyalty is a bit low in Vif mode, with an average Delta E of 4.58. As a reminder, we are aiming for the 3 and hoping for a natural result. It is the color salsa in exchange. It covers 184% of the sRGB, 123% of the DCI-P3, and even 83% of the BT.2020. With 6992 K, the screen leans slightly toward the blues, but we don’t deviate too much from the white light of 6500 K.

While HDR allows for increased color vibrancy and brightness levels, it also causes the phone to lose accuracy. The average Delta E in HDR is 7.59.

If the E delta improves accuracy in natural mode, dropping to 3.93, it does so at the expense of the previously noted color explosion. We only cover 105% of the sRGB gamut and 70% of the DCI-P3. The color temperature, on the other hand, improves with 6467 K.

The highest brightness observed is 1086 cd / m 2 in SDR and 1609 cd / m 2 in HDR. A very good score: on our measurements, very few phones achieve 1000 SDR, and use in direct sunlight will not be an issue. You won’t burn your retina in the evening: we measured 0.77 cd / m 2 and even 0.11 cd / m 2 with the “attenuated brightness” option.

ONE IU 5.1: THE SOFTWARE FINALLY MASTERED

The Galaxy S23 Ultra runs One IU 5.1, a version of Samsung’s home interface released at the same time as the phones and based on Android 13. As a result, the now-installed Samsung UI is based on ease of use. Even with a liner like the S23 Ultra, tiny tiles tend to congregate where they are easily accessible.

New and very welcome improvements include the addition of modes similar to those seen on iOS. Fully customizable, for example, a reading mode can be built that disables all messaging app alerts while retaining access to press, reading, and music apps. Each mode may be assigned to a different screen backdrop, and the status bar even shows the symbol for the current mode. Furthermore, they can be automated based on the time, location, or application in use.

Since One IU 5, you can now configure your lock screen in more depth. The new features in Android 13 are also appreciated, such as the ability to prevent alerts of program entry after installation, or the ability to select a language for each application.

Samsung is currently integrating several fascinating proprietary programs into his Galaxy Store, such as the Assistant Camera, which allows access to more extensive camera inspections. This is also a significant benefit. The Korean company, on the other hand, is a little selfish with the capacity allotted to their system. Indeed, even without any loaded applications, the phone starts with roughly 40 GB preinstalled. It’s a lot when you consider that Windows 11 weights 30 GB while the OS on a Pixel 7 Pro is only 15 GB.

Let us not forget about the S-Pen. When you pull this out, a little shortcut bar emerges, displaying the suitable programs that you have already recorded. After a brief load of one to two seconds, simply click on one of them to begin. You may also use the locked phone’s S Pen to scribble on a black screen Always On before storing the note. Convenient.

Add to that four years of Android updates and five years of security monitoring, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra certainly has a lot of software experience. The DRM Widevine L1 assures that videos are at least in Full HD on SVoD devices, with no problems in the future.

PHOTO: THE SPRINKLED VERSATILITY OF 200 MP

The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s photo setup is as follows:

• Ultra wide angle lens, 12 MP sensor, autofocus, pixel size 1.4 μm, FOV 120 °, F / 2.2 ;
• Large angle objective, 200 MP, pixel size 0.6 μm ( or 2.4 μm in 12 megapixels ), FOV 85˚, F / 1.7 ;
• X3 telephoto, 10 MP, pixel size 1.12 μm, FOV: 11 °, f / 4.9 ;
• X10 telephoto lens, 10 MP, pixel size 1.12 μm, FOV: 36˚, f / 2.4.
• Selfie, 12 megapixels, dual photodiode, autofocus, pixel size: 1.12 μm, FOV: 80˚, f / 2.2.

• MAIN SENSOR

With 200 megapixels, the primary sensor of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the biggest breakthroughs. Of course, the fundamental photographs do not have such a high quality and instead use pixel binning to blend the photosites and achieve 12 megapixels.

At first, the color treatment is considerably less magenta than typical, with a shift toward somewhat green tones. Another innovation is that the clarity appears to be more advanced than before, perhaps reminiscent of the treatment of Google Pixel by some elements. We can see it most clearly in the first photograph, in the intricacies of the extremely pressed stone or the sting on the cat’s coat.

The end result is absolutely outstanding. We sacrifice a little of the surreal aspect of the images for fairer tones, while remaining in hues that are just pushed enough for each shot to please the eye.

The only little problem on the horizon is that focusing may fail when the subject moves, most likely because to the relatively short shutter speed. I had to go back multiple times in the photographs of the kitties above to reach a final finish.

• 50 AND 200 MP

You may enable the 50 and 200 megapixel modes by heading to the upper half of the UI. Here are two comparisons to show you what they provide. We consciously zoomed in to better observe the retrieved features.

First, compare the 200 megapixels to the 12 megapixels. There is no photo without a horrible pun. We go from a fuzzy vision with information we can only guess at to something considerably sharper.

Inevitably, the difference between 50 and 200 megapixels becomes less apparent. We already have a lot more detail with 50 megapixels. Elements with coarse details, such as the fresco, are already clearly defined. On the other side, we surely gain refinement with 200 megapixels. This is most noticeable on the tree or foliage, which is densely packed with little features.

• ULTRA WIDE ANGLE

When employing the ultra-wide angle, the aforementioned features may be detected on the wide-angle sensor under excellent settings. Colorimetry placed water in his drink once again, and the micro-contrasts were pushed. The end consequence is bluffing for an ultra-angle, typically weak sensor parent. We can see ourselves in his photographs.

The ultra-angle only sins little when it runs out of light. The outcome of the night photo is not very convincing. The focus is also challenging to get on the cat’s head in the image of the cat in the cat tree.

• TELEPHOTO LENS X3

Again, under favorable conditions, there is nothing to complain about with the X3 telephoto lens. Consider this fruit basket or the ark. The clarity is excellent, and the photos just must be displayed.

However, under artificial light, I found some issues, as shown in the shot of the two cats with the black and white armchair. There, we believe that the therapy either adds a light veil to the individuals or fails to completely remove it. Nothing too heartbreaking; it’s a tricky issue.

• TELEPHOTO LENS X10

You’ve seen the money shot at the movies, right? It’s a sequence designed to offer you (or the producer) the most bang for your buck. You are truly in this category with the X10 and S23 Ultra. Only ultra-high-end phones, such as his, have it, and even in this price range, it is uncommon.

Put it in the hands of people who have never used a telephoto lens with such a zoom factor, and the effect is certain. Control and crispness are immediately felt. To frame a detail, you no longer need to move closer; instead, simply click on X10.

As you can see from the close-up images of my colleagues, the outcome, while lacking in clarity, has the advantage of providing a very startling frame. The details maintained by this X10 optical zoom are amazing, as shown in the shot of the brown radiator or the Parisian frescoes.

• ZOOM X30 AND X100

Even if digital zooms do not provide the same precision as optical zooms, the advances in this field are very astounding.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes very close to the Pixel 7 Pro and its Super Res Zoom. It’s considerably more pronounced in certain places, such as on the statue or the entrance here. If you don’t zoom close, it might be difficult to tell that these photos were taken using a digital zoom. Impressive.

The X100 zoom is a little riskier. We believe the algorithms are doing everything possible to fill in the gaps, yet the system remains difficult to use.

• NIGHT

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is more lifelike at night than it is during the day. Under public lighting, this produces photos that are somewhat brighter than reality in order to capture maximum detail, at the expense of some lens flare. With less severe lighting, the smartphone manages to regulate and delete the light beams rather effectively.

In darker situations, the outcome is aesthetically pleasing and successful. Nice sharpness, not too much light, even though a small lack of sharpness here and there is to be regretted. Especially when it comes to a moving subject like a cat.

The X3 performs admirably at night, particularly with interior lighting. The images are crisp, and the white balance is perfect. Outside, it’s a little more complicated, especially in terms of sharpness, but nothing too severe.

• PORTRAIT

By using a good background blur, the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s portrait mode successfully separates its subject from the backdrop. Even with a few flyaways trimmed, it works on even the most unruly hair.

Portrait mode shows especially well on the X3. This is where he truly demonstrates his abilities. The topic is clearly defined, and the crispness is great. A true thrill. Even in a rather challenging circumstance with artificial lighting, such as my colleague Anthony’s blue photo, we note that the phone produces an artistic result that is pretty attractive to the eye.

• VIDEO

The device can record video in 4K at 60 frames per second or 8K at 30 frames per second. Stabilization is straightforward; there is no abrupt jerk. When I rapidly shift the camera, however, there is a minor unattractive impact with the refresh that appears jerky about 4 seconds.

PERFORMANCE: DAY AND NIGHT

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is used in the Galaxy S23 Ultra, including the European edition. Without a doubt, this is the greatest innovation of this generation. Last year, the Exynos 2200 was installed in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and its performance was, to put it mildly, dismal.

The Galaxy S23 extreme has 8 or 12 GB of RAM as well as 256 to 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage.

The first benchmarks show that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is no longer in the same league as its predecessor. On nearly every benchmark, the phone exceeds the S22 Ultra by a wide margin. On the GPU side, the outcome is quite evident; we gain 10 FPS, an almost 77% improvement, on 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme.

The progress is also displayed in-game. Genshin Impact works well and consistently, even at maximum settings and 60 frames per second. During a 20-30 minute period, the phone’s frame rate dropped to 54 FPS at its lowest. The temperature reaches 38°C, and the hot feeling is not unpleasant. Extremely hefty.

Fortnite, on the other hand, is a little more unstable at the highest quality level at the start of the game, with certain delays that really slow down the game. However, once the game begins, there are no serious issues. On “high” settings, the game averages 50 frames per second.

Apart from a few minor glitches while activating the phone on the first day, we did not experience any slowdown on a regular basis. The phone responds to the touch on the eye as one would expect from a quality device.

BATTERY: THE GREAT STRENGTH

A 5000 mAh battery powers the Galaxy S23 Ultra. On paper, it’s a wonderful battery, yet phones with such a setup frequently have poor battery life. One of them is not the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Let’s start with the basics: at Ag4tech, we test a lot of phones. When they go beyond a day, it’s typically not too unpleasant; when they reach two days, we rejoice. So when I saw that the S23 Ultra was on its third day, I thought I was nuts. To be more specific, I unplugged the phone at 10 a.m. on Sunday, and when 11 a.m. arrived on my watch on Tuesday, I still had 26% battery life. Indestructible.

My usage has certainly not been the most intensive. Only 7.25 hours of screen usage, or around 48 hours, or slightly more than 3.5 hours every day. My screen time is usually close to these times, and I never, ever achieve this level of performance.

The phone took 15 hours and 14 minutes to decline to 10% battery life when tested using ViSer software and our own protocol mimicking diverse usage. It’s a fantastic score. It ranks 12th out of 86 phones we tested.

• RECHARGE

With such autonomy, one would be tempted to claim that charging speed is irrelevant. Samsung has, however, stepped up its game with the Galaxy S22 by converting the charger to 45 W. It is, however, not included in the package and costs a stunning 50 euros.

We were able to charge the S23 Ultra starting at 3% with this charger. The end result is as follows:

• 5 minutes : 14 % ;
• 10 minutes : 24 % ;
• 15 minutes :  35 % ;
• 30 minutes :  65 % ;
• 45 minutes :  87 % ;
• 55 minutes : 94 % ;
• 60 minutes : 96 %.

AUDIO: A LITTLE TOO SHARP

The audio score of the Galaxy S23 Ultra isn’t its strongest suit. The sound on Samsung’s phone is a touch too high.

It doesn’t get any better as the volume on the phone is increased. The highs then take up more and more room, leaving only a little space for the mids at mid-volume. The bass is almost nonexistent. The maximum volume is not the highest, and there is no guarantee of balance between the two loudspeakers, with the listening loudspeaker only functioning as an additional. There is some difficulty in determining the source of the noises in the game.

In summary, as you may have guessed, we do not advocate using the S23 Ultra without a wireless headset or wireless headphones.

NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS

On a crowded street, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is an excellent pupil. The sound is clear, the subject is comprehensible, and the sounds are adequately filtered, albeit at the expense of some little robotization here and there. When speaking, certain unexpected noises manage to trickle through, but it remains primarily behind. When you are silent, the microphone cuts well.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a 5G phone. It is theoretically capable of ensuring mmWave, but only the American variants do. WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and an NFC chip are also included. Ultra Wide Band is also included. I experienced no issues with the GPS chip during my testing.

PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The Samsung Galaxy S23 begins at 1419 euros with 256 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM. The price then rises to 1599 euros for 512 GB + 12 GB RAM and 1839 euros for 1 TB + 12 GB RAM.

Green, black, lavender, and cream are the four primary hues offered. Graphite, sky blue, and lime are the additional hues offered on the Samsung shop.