Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra $1,199.99 at Best Buy Check Amazon The Galaxy S23 Ultra includes several key improvements over last year’s model — namely a 200MP main camera and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip customized for Samsung phones. The other big change is a faster new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip exclusive to Samsung phones that boasts world-beating graphics performance.
Swipe to scroll horizontally Galaxy S23 Ultra Galaxy S22 Ultra Price $1,199 / £1,249 $1,199 / £1,149 Display 6.8-inch QHD AMOLED 6.8-inch QHD AMOLED Refresh rate 1 – 120Hz adaptive 1 – 120Hz adaptive Rear cameras 200MP main (f/1.7), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4), 10MP 10x telephoto (f/4.9) 108MP main (f/2.2), 12MP ultrawide f/2.2), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4), 10MP (f/2.4), 10x telephoto (f/4.9) Front camera 12MP (f/2.2) 40MP (f/2.2) Chipset Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 RAM 8GB/12GB 8GB/12GB Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Battery 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh Charging 45W wired/10W wireless 45W wired/10W wireless Water/dust resistance IP68 IP68 Size 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm (6.4 x 3.0 x 0.35 inches) 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches Weight 233g (8.2 ounces) 228 grams (8.04 ounces) Colors Phantom Black, Cotton Flower, Botanic Green and Mystic Lilac Row 14 – Cell 2
Our look at Galaxy S23 Ultra deals can help you find ways to save on your new Samsung phone purchase. One welcome upgrade is that the display on the S23 Ultra has a less severe curve, which makes writing and drawing using the S Pen a more natural and comfy experience as you approach the edges of the phone. Even so, in our Galaxy S23 Ultra testing, we still found it difficult to tap on icons or buttons on the extreme edge of the display where there still is some curve. The main Galaxy S23 Ultra color options are Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender. The S23 Ultra Samsung has an enhanced comfort feature allows users to adjust color tones and contrast levels, lessening eye strain from screen time at night.
In addition, the Vision Booster feature now adjusts at three levels of lighting instead of two to fight glare in daylight. This chip promises more clock speed than the regular version along with the fastest graphics performance you can get on a phone. Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 – Cell 0 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Geekbench 5 single/multicore scores 1,396/4,882 1,240/3,392 Wild Life Unlimited result (FPS) 79.3 57 Adobe Premiere Rush result (Mins:Secs) 0:40 0:47 More impressively, the graphics scores even topped the latest iPhones, so the Galaxy S23 Ultra is quite the powerhouse handset.
This release focuses on things like stability, permissions changes and Material You design personalization, along with better privacy and security. There’s also an updated media player in Android 13 and the ability to customize Bedtime mode to help your eyes adjust before going to bed.
Samsung’s new One UI 5.1 software delivers a bunch of new upgrades, though it’s not clear which features are exclusive to the S23 Ultra. Other One UI 5.1 highlights include a Routines option for triggering a sequence of actions on your device and the ability to co-edit Samsung notes while on a Google Meet call.
We test the battery life of phones by having them surf the web continuously over cellular until they run out of power. The biggest is the jump from 108MP to 200MP on the main camera, with image quality really making this a critical upgrade for the Ultra. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is also a really big deal, given its terrific graphics performance and how it helps the new phone last longer. Probably not given the high starting price, but since the S22 Ultra is still on sale in some places, it’s good to know what the biggest differences are so you buy the right flagship for you.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22: What’s Different?
Like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, you’ll be fully immersed in the epic 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with standout brightness and adaptive Vision Booster technology. The Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers a premium smartphone experience with desktop-level functionality and advanced customisation.
Intelligently engineered it delivers ground-breaking AI to enable truly extraordinary smartphone interactions, putting the power back in your hands.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – the best made better?
With prices for the outgoing model dropping and tempting contract offers starting to come thick and fast, the Galaxy S23 Ultra needs to prove itself a worthy upgrade. Apple’s UK customers have been similarly stiffed, so the problem clearly lies with the local economy and the relative strength of the US dollar, but it still stings. One notable difference is that Samsung has flattened out the display a little for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so while it’s still curved at the edges, the effect is less pronounced.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes in Phantom Black, green, lavender, and cream color options. If you order from Samsung’s own store then there are additionally Lime, Graphite, Red and Sky Blue shades to choose from. Check out our Samsung Galaxy S23 colors roundup to get eyes on every available finish, if you’re curious.
That’s a similarly varied selection to the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Phantom Black, white, burgundy, green, Graphite, red and Sky Blue. Samsung has spoken of the green credentials of its new flagship, with recycled materials from discarded fishing nets, water barrels and PET bottles going into its build; it reportedly features twice as many components as the S22 Ultra that are, at least in-part, made from recycled materials (12 instead of 6).
In both cases you’re looking at a 6.8-inch ‘Dynamic AMOLED 2X’ panel with a 1440 x 3088 (WQHD+) resolution and a variable 120Hz refresh rate, which can step right down to 1Hz as needed, in the name of saving power.
Both displays can hit 1,750 nits, too, which remains one of the brightest peaks in the business (with the iPhone 14 Pro line being the notable market leader). In practice, our Galaxy S23 Ultra reviewer found that this new sensor offers “just as consistent and impressive an experience as its predecessor” with improvements when it comes to low light shots. A nearly all-black depth sensor is all that visually sets the S23 Ultra’s new camera system apart (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Interestingly, Samsung has dropped the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 40MP selfie camera in favor of a 12MP unit. This isn’t necessarily the downgrade it would appear to be, as we found it delivered pleasing results with impressive dynamic range. However, this was for the model that came with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and therein lies the (fairly minor) problem with recent Samsung flagships.
There are no such problems with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra though, which packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 whatever country you buy it in. This isn’t just any Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip either, but rather a specially enhanced one with its prime Cortex-X3 core clocked to 3.36GHz, rather than the usual 3.2GHz. It’s worth noting that the Galaxy S23 Ultra uses that improved processor, memory and storage, which proves to be a little more energy efficient.
Samsung claims you should get 20% greater longevity in this latest Ultra, and our reviewer was inclined to agree, saying that “What was a one-day phone at best now lasts a day and a half, in normal usage and will still see you through a full day, even if you plan on streaming Disney Plus with brightness pushed up or want to dive into an hour of CoD: Mobile or Wreckfest.” They also noted that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra delivered some of the longest screen-on time of any recently tested handset.
So this offers a big upgrade in life from the S22 Ultra, and is just generally a strong performer on this front. This is stored on the underside of both phones, and enables you to scrawl messages and reminders, with natural handwriting recognition translating your notes to digital text. The changes are fairly incremental with this year’s model, but we’re fans of the S23 Ultra’s tweaked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which even Europeans will be able to benefit from this time around.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra: Is it time to upgrade?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is finally here, bringing several improvements under the hood. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the first phone to use the new Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which provides better drop protection. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 6.8-inch Edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Armor Aluminum, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Armor Aluminum, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was and still is a beast, running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or an Exynos 2200, depending on the region.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has similar core specs, but there are a few notable changes. We’ve seen Exynos chips in select regions in the past, but that’s no longer the case.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra runs globally on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
As part of this new exclusive agreement, Samsung and Qualcomm are giving us a slightly overclocked version of its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor exclusive to Samsung phones (for now, at least). This is enough to give Samsung a marketing point, but does it make a difference in real-world use? We tested the chipset during the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review, and found that the Galaxy S23 Ultra beats the competition (OnePlus 11 and REDMAGIC 8 Pro) in peak speeds.
Regardless, the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 version offers a more stable experience than the one in the OnePlus 11, which spikes and drops constantly. Of course, neither beat the REDMAGIC 8 Pro, which has an integrated active cooling system. The good news is that the Galaxy S23 Ultra might be at least a bit more durable, thanks to the addition of the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2. But the real magic is its ability to survive drops of up to a meter on solid concrete. Corning claims rival solutions failed after drops of a half meter or less. Samsung is one of the best Android device manufacturers regarding software support, which remains for the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Everything else remains uniform between the two phones, save for the camera and a few other bits, which we’ll discuss more in the sections below. The Galaxy S23 Ultra takes everything we love about its predecessor but refines it with subtle changes like smaller curves on the side that make for a slightly flatter display.
The good news is that if you liked the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s design, you won’t have anything to complain about here. The bad news is that this design is starting to become too familiar, as Samsung has used the same general shape since the Galaxy Note 20. The Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t dramatically switch things up but makes a few notable adjustments. The primary shooter is the most significant change, and now features a 200MP sensor.
Instead, letting the phone use pixel-binning technology to produce higher-quality 12.5MP images is better. All that said, the rear camera system on both devices is excellent, but there are some things in the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra that give it an edge. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor helps with the new AI-powered Cognitive ISP, which provides real-time semantic segmentation. It essentially recognizes elements in the photo in real-time, then fine-tunes details before pressing the shutter button. Remember, there’s more to a good camera than just megapixels, so we wouldn’t necessarily say this is a step downward. Our S23 Ultra review mentions that the “40MP selfie shooter won’t be missed too much.” We also noted that the new 12MP alternative is “just as good, if not better.” This is because the 12MP camera has larger pixels that don’t have to be binned down.
Our Galaxy S22 Ultra review found we could easily make it through a full day with as much as 25% left to spare. While we weren’t expecting much of an upgrade in battery life with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the newer device impressed us.
This is primarily due to efficiency enhancements from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the variable refresh rate, and screen improvements. If it makes any difference, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra also charges a bit faster. Yeah, the difference is a few minutes in charging time, so there is nothing to write home about. You can find it even cheaper second-hand or refurbished from places like Swappa or eBay.
Remember that the Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at the same price while giving you double the storage space. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra might not be a massive leap on paper, but it’s still a jump forward. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a more powerful camera and processor, removes Exynos from the equation, and gives you double the storage for the same starting retail price. Similarly, if you own a Galaxy S22 Ultra, we’d stay put unless you can get one heck of a trade-in deal. The upgrades here just aren’t massive enough to trade in a phone with years of life ahead of it. Samsung continues to offer some of the most impressive flagships in the Android world, and you can’t go wrong with either device. These offer great performance and similar camera improvements, and the Galaxy S23 Plus offers similar battery life and charging times compared to the Ultra. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (256GB) Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (256GB) Ultra-premium build quality • Gorgeous screen • Solid performance MSRP: $1,199.99 The Note and S series merged in one device The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra pushes productivity, power, and photography to the utmost to satisfy the most demanding users out there. The phone combines outstanding performance, a stunning design, and the S Pen previously found on Galaxy Note handsets.
It has a newer, more powerful processor, improved battery life, and a higher-megapixel main camera. The only benefit to getting the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is probably to save some money, as it is an older device and can be easily found at a discount. The only real difference is that the newer device has smaller curves along the edges.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy 22 Ultra
Whenever the newest Samsung Galaxy flagship hits, it’s common to jump on the “latest and greatest” version. Packed with amazing features and all the bells and whistles, there’s a reason these two flagship devices are among Samsung’s most popular. The new S23 Ultra keeps the same 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display as its predecessor, as well as Quad HD+ that makes all your favorite content come to life in full, brilliant color.
Also unchanged is the ever-popular Note-style design with built-in S Pen stylus—offering you exciting ways to work, play, multitask and create, regardless of which phone you choose.
As for battery power, the S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra both share the same 5000mAh battery (with one caveat, which we’ll discuss later) and when it comes time for fast charging, both offer 45W max and require a 5amp USB cable and 45W wall adapter bundle (sold separately). In addition, both models utilize Wi-Fi 6E technology that—when paired with T-Mobile’s 5G Network— delivers performance, impressive download/upload speeds, as well as getting great 5G coverage. The new chipset makes everything more efficient, as well, including the 5000mAh battery, which delivers longer-lasting power compared to the S22 Ultra. In addition, the S23 delivers a better cooling system, up to 30% faster speeds over the previous generations, as well as Samsung’s newest Android-13 software experience right out of the box (although you can upgrade on the S22 Ultra), so you can enjoy the latest gallery and camera app features, updated widgets, and new screenshot enhancements.
This new version is great for multitasking, even if you love to watch high-quality videos or play high-bandwidth games while juggling several other tasks. Serious photographers and/or content creators may like Galaxy S23 Ultra a bit more due to the amazing 200MP camera that delivers clear, vivid pictures, even from far away and in low light.
The impressive new chipset on the S23 Ultra won’t go unnoticed by avid gamers, movie watchers or multitaskers. While the price difference may be worth it to some, others who don’t need all the brand-new bells and whistles this latest phone has to offer may opt for the S22 Ultra.
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