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The Samsung S23 Ultra made its grand entry into the Indian smartphone market at the beginning of 2023. Launched alongside the Samsung Galaxy S23, this phone quickly became a stand-out launch within a few weeks. Though the device looks very similar to its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, it boasts many improvements, upgrades and new features.
Let's have a closer look at the Samsung S23 Ultra review to explore what it has in store for its users. From mentioning the pros and cons to a detailed analysis of all the important features, we’ll end this write-up by comparing the Samsung S23 Ultra with some of its top competitors in the market.
Display
- The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a feature-packed premium smartphone that boasts a large 6.8-inch WQHD+ Super AMOLED panel with excellent viewing angles. Its high refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz ensure smooth and vibrant visuals. Moreover, its peak brightness level of 1,750 nits delivers excellent clarity even under direct sunlight.
- The display is crisp, delivers punchy colours and deep blacks and, most importantly, can also take input from the S Pen Stylus. The lower half of the display has an integrated ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. Furthermore, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, providing better durability and reliability against accidental drops and scratches.
Camera
- In terms of photography, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra sports a quadruple rear camera setup, headlined by a high-resolution 200-megapixel primary sensor. Moreover, the camera is backed with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens (with 3X optical zoom), and another 10-megapixel telephoto lens (with 10X optical zoom). The rear camera setup can capture up to 8K video at 30fps with better optical stabilisation (OIS), sharper night videos, and bright clicks even in low light.
- For selfies, there is a 12-megapixel front camera housed in the centre of the front panel. The front camera enables capturing RAW photos and records HDR10+ video.
Battery and Charging
- This impressive device is backed by a massive 5,000mAh battery, which supports 45W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging, ensuring long-lasting usage throughout the day.
- Though the charging speed is relatively slow at this price point, the battery life is more than satisfactory on the Samsung S23 Ultra. On average, it lasts more than one full day with strenuous usage, multitasking and gaming, plenty of apps running in the background, and media play.
- However, the phone doesn’t come with a charger in the box; only a USB Type-C to Type-C cable.
Software & Connectivity
- Running on Android 13 with the One UI 5.1 interface, the Samsung S23 Ultra5G offers a slick user interface. Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, a powerful processor intelligently engineered with groundbreaking AI that offers a maximum clock speed of 3.36GHz.
- The phone has support for several 5G bands, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC and Ultra Wideband (UWB).
Memory & Storage
- With 8GB and 12GB of RAM options, the device can cater to a variety of users, enabling hefty gameplay, editing and multitasking.
- Similarly, with up to 1TB of internal storage, the device offers ample space for storing files, apps, and multimedia content.
- The phone's performance is snappy, and it loads heavy apps and games effortlessly.
- For power users with extensive storage needs, the 1TB variant would be an ideal choice as there is no option to expand the storage with an additional microSD card.
Design and Build
- Available in three stunning colour options viz. Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender, the Galaxy S23 Ultra looks quite like the S22 Ultra. However, when you dig in deeper, there are many minor differences you'll notice.
- First and foremost, the device has flattened sides around the metal frame, while the older model was curved. This improves the phone's grip and results in a broader, usable flat area. The rear panel features a matte finish, but overall, it feels quite like the previous model. However, it comes with a slightly refreshed camera design but the same floating layout.
- You’ll find chrome rings around each of the lenses in this iteration. Furthermore, the front glass and the rear panel are both made from Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Last but not least, the device offers an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
- The brand has also taken the design process carefully from a sustainability perspective by using more recycled materials. As a result, recycled glass has been used for the front screen and back cover. Furthermore, the SIM tray, side keys and volume keys have been made with recycled aluminium, and recycled plastic has been used for the speaker modules as well as the S Pen's inner cover.
- On the bottom, the phone has the S Pen tucked away in its own silo, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, a speaker, and a SIM tray that can hold two nano-SIM cards. The top of the frame only features a microphone.
Price
- Compared to its predecessor – the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is priced much higher. As for the official Samsung S23 Ultra price for the 8GB RAM, the phone is priced at Rs. 1,16,999 for 256GB storage, while its 512GB variant is nearly Rs. 12,000 higher in India.
- With 12GB of RAM, the 256GB storage, 512GB storage and 1TB storage are available at Rs. 1,24,999, Rs. 1,34,999 and Rs. 1,54,999, respectively. The pricing of this device thereby makes it close to the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and many other market giants.
- So, the price starts from Rs. 1,16,999 and progresses as the variants get more advanced with RAM and internal storage configurations. However, this is just the official pricing. The retail prices are different and can even get lower with occasional discounts and deals.
Weight and Thickness
- The Galaxy S23 Ultra tips the scales at 234g and measures 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm. Though the weight is quite noticeable in hand, it is distributed quite well, which helps with one-handed use.
Positives
- Unique design
- In-built S Pen stylus
- Impressive battery life
- Bright and accurate display
- Lag-free gaming performance
- Excellent cameras, high-quality video recording
- S Pen works well; Can jot down handwritten notes or even convert them to characters instantly.
Negatives
- Expensive
- Quite large in size
- No charger in the box
- No dedicated microSD slot
- Relatively slow charging
- OneDrive cannot be uninstalled
- Comes with many apps preinstalled
- Palm rejection when using the S Pen is slightly problematic
Difference Between the Previous Version And This One
- The previous version of the S23 Ultra was Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra which was released on 9th February 2022 in India.
- Both devices are pretty much identical but still vary in their specifications. At first glance, both models appear quite similar and even feature almost the same display type, battery capacity, storage & RAM configurations, etc. However, the S22 Ultra has a triple rear camera setup with a 108 MP primary lens, whereas the S23 Ultra boasts a quad camera setup with a 200 MP primary lens. Furthermore, the S22 Ultra features Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, whereas the S23 Ultra sports Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, delivering even better performance.
User Feedback
- Despite its high price, users seem to love the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for its exceptional camera setup, premium looks, robust build quality, and of course, fantastic display. Many users have praised the device's excellent battery capability and intuitive user interface. However, the bloatware and slow charging speed is slightly disappointing for most of them. However, the overall sentiment amongst the users suggests that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a remarkable device with the best display you can still possibly find in the Indian Android smartphone market.
Our Product Testing Expert's Opinions and Observations
- The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is overall a solid performer that delivers a proper balance of unique hardware and optimised software.
- The device brags a massive 6.8-inch WQHD+ Super AMOLED panel with exceptional colours.
- Its customised Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and high RAM and internal storage configurations ensure users don't have to worry about multitasking or gaming.
- The quad camera setup featuring a 200MP primary sensor with exceptional zooming capabilities and video recording offers an engaging photography experience.
- Furthermore, the long-lasting 5000mAh battery ensures that users don't dread outings without a power bank or charger. However, our experts are not happy with the slow charging speed of the phone.
- The UI is easy and smooth but not free of bloatware or third-party apps. However, thankfully, most of them can be uninstalled.
Who Should Buy This?
- The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a do-it-all Android smartphone perfect for those seeking a premium device that doesn't compromise on any type of specifications.
- The device is ideal for photographers and videographers looking for a phone with 8K 30fps capability.
Helpful User Testimonial
- The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has made me fall in love with it because of its far-reaching zoom capabilities, 8K recording, S Pen, solid battery life and customised SoC. I really wish the Samsung S23 Ultra case and charger were also provided with the device.
5 Phones In Similar Price Range & How Are They Better Or Worse Compared To This Model
Ranking quite high in the premium segment of the smartphone market in India, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t really have a lot of real competitors if the specifications are to be considered. However, there are still some competitors as per the Samsung S23 Ultra price.
While the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max offers a slightly superior display and performance, it falls short in terms of battery capacity and, most importantly, the camera capability of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 also boasts a better front camera setup and larger screen size. Still, it has a relatively smaller battery capacity, a slightly lower chipset and, of course, the efficient camera setup as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
With both phones featuring almost the same display type, RAM, battery setup, etc., the Google Pixel 7 Pro has a completely different price segment altogether and, thereby, lags in many places, including camera quality.
Since both devices are quite similar to each other, we cannot forget to add them to the competitors. You can go for it if you're looking for similar specs at a much lower price point.
Almost half the price of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra but still features a similar display type, chipset, RAM and connectivity.
What's in the Box?
The Samsung S23 Ultra5G retail package comes equipped with the following items:
- The smartphone itself
- S Pen
- A user manual
- SIM card ejection pin
- Data Cable (USB C to C)
Please note that the Samsung S23 Ultra case and the device's charger are sold separately.
Samsung S23 Ultra Review: Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does the phone perform after extended use? Does it slow down significantly over time?
No. The phone performs pretty well despite extended use and running heavy apps.
2. Is the Galaxy S23 Ultra waterproof?
Yes. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is waterproof and even resistant to accidental drops and scratches.
3. How effective is the manufacturer's after-sales service? Are repairs and replacements handled quickly and efficiently?
Samsung has not only formed its customer base due to its exceptional range of products but also because of its remarkable after-sales service. From repairs to replacements, Samsung never fails to impress its users because of its excellent customer service.
4. Which S23 has the best camera?
So far, in the Indian Android smartphone market, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the best quad rear camera setup with a 200-megapixel primary lens. The phone is best known for its exceptional zooming capabilities and the ability to capture up to 8K video at 30fps.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a flagship smartphone with a mind-blowing 200MP camera, fantastic display and impressive battery life. Despite a few shortcomings, such as the absence of a charger inside the box, the microSD card slot in the device and slow charging, there hasn’t been yet a real competitor to the device now.
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