Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra Equips the Most Advanced Smartphone Camera Optics
Samsung has unveiled its premier smartphone lineup for the year, which includes the much-anticipated Galaxy S23 Ultra, S23, and S23+. These devices will be available for purchase starting February 17, each at a distinct price range. The Ultra is the crème de la crème, boasting top-tier specifications in the Android realm. The other two models, S23 and S23+, also pack a punch and appear more polished compared to their predecessors. Let's delve into what's new with Samsung's latest smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The pinnacle of Samsung's offerings
If you're prepared to invest in Samsung's most feature-rich handset, the massive Galaxy S23 Ultra is your best bet. This flagship device shares similarities with the discontinued Galaxy Note series, including an integrated stylus at its lower edge. The Ultra is a pricey choice, starting at $1,200.
Rocking the same 6.8-inch AMOLED display as its predecessor, the Ultra features a QHD+ resolution, appealing to binge-watchers like myself, who prefer smaller screens over television. Even though I've only had limited hands-on time with the Ultra, I'm confident it could double as a secondary screen for my desk, but will it be enough to lure me away from the Z Fold 4's current role in my digital life? Stay tuned for the Ultra's comprehensive review.
The Ultra's display delivers a maximum brightness of 1,750 nits in direct sunlight, along with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate during standard usage and a 240Hz one during gaming.
The ultrapowerful Galaxy S23 Ultra comes in four vibrant colors: Lavender (looking pink?), Phantom Black, Cream, and Green. Image: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The S23 Ultra carries forward the legacy of the Note with its stowable S Pen. Image: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Inside its chassis, the Galaxy S23 Ultra utilizes the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in its base model, the device can be upgraded to a maximum of 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is equipped with an impressive 5,000mAh battery, a familiar size from its predecessor. The S22 Ultra succeeded in lasting 16 hours on a single charge, but the iPhone 14 Pro Max managed a complete 24-hour marathon. Samsung promises that the Ultra's battery life will be improved by 20% compared to 2022's Ultra. Fast wired and wireless charging are also available, offering up to a 65% charge in just 30 minutes with a 45W adapter and a 5A USB-C cable.
The rear of the Galaxy S23 Ultra plays host to four cameras, comprising a 200-MP main lens, an ultra-wide angle lens, and two 10-MP telephoto lenses. Image: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The Galaxy S23 Ultra's primary camera boasts a powerful 200-MP sensor with an 85-degree field of view, promising impressive Nightography videos. We'll put this claim to the test in our review. It is complemented by three other lenses, including a 12-MP ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view and a pair of 10-MP lenses, offering 3x and 10x optical zoom capabilities.
The digital space zoom offered by the Galaxy S22 Ultra impressed when capturing subjects at impressive distances, even if stability was a challenge with moving objects. Regrettably, this performance has not been enhanced for the Galaxy S23 Ultra; the space zoom remains capped at the same 100x. However, the Samsung camera app has introduced a new Astrophoto mode, which we'll investigate when we receive our review unit.
The selfie camera on the S23 Ultra is a 12-MP sensor with an 80-degree field of view. As a devout TikTok viewer, I've come to realize that the current generation of front-facing cameras falls short of capturing high-quality confessionals, so we'll check the Ultra's selfie camera's capabilities against its rivals. The S22 Ultra featured a 40-MP camera, so it remains intriguing to see Samsung's reductions in this department with the S23 Ultra.
Video recording enhancements on the Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has improved its support for video recording, with Samsung boasting its ability to stabilize footage under low-light conditions using "doubled" optical image stabilization. The phone can also capture enhanced 8K video at 30 frames-per-second (fps) at a wide angle, supported by AI enhancements to maintain facial clarity and avoid blurring. We'll put these features to the test in our review.
Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+: Significant Improvements
The Galaxy S23+ in Phantom Black. Image: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I'm getting a feel for the brand new backsides of the Galaxy S23 and S23+. Samsung has done away with what they call the "contour housing," and the triple-camera setup now sits flatter on these devices' backs. If you look closely, you'll spot a chassis-matching color sheen around the camera lens, similar to the Ultra model. It's a luxurious touch.
The Galaxy S23/S23+ feel more top-tier compared to last year's models. The Galaxy S22/S22+ lacked a solid feel, but the Galaxy S23/S23+ are more substantial in hand this time around. It's good news, too, as the Pixel 7 needs more competition, and Samsung's simplified design might appeal more to traditionalists who aren't fond of Google's distinctive styling (like me).
The front of the Galaxy S23+ presents in Lavender. Image credit: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The smaller Galaxy S23 sports a 6.1-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, while the larger Galaxy S23+ boasts a 6.6-inch display. Both displays emit as much light as the Ultra in sunny conditions. Like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the S23/S23+ are equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 8 GB of RAM. The S23 maxes out at 256 GB of storage, while the S23+ can go up to 512 GB.
Here's hoping that the Galaxy S23's camera system outperforms last year's Galaxy S22/S22+. The devices boast a 50-MP primary lens teamed up with a 12-MP ultra-wide lens and a 10-MP telephoto lens with up to 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom. The front-facing camera is a 12-MP wide-angle sensor.
The Galaxy S23 (left) and the Galaxy S23+ (right). Image credit: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The battery capacity in the Galaxy S22/S22+ lags behind the Pixel 7's offerings. The smaller Galaxy S23 carries a 3,900 mAh battery compared to the Pixel 7's 4,355 mAh battery, while the larger Galaxy S23+ boasts a 4,700 mAh battery compared to the Pixel 7 Pro's 5,000 mAh battery. What can we expect from battery life in Android territory this year?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Pricing and Pre-orders
Are you considering a Samsung flagship this year? The Galaxy S23 Ultra retails at $1,200 for 256 GB of storage. The Galaxy S23 starts at $800 for 128 GB, and the Galaxy S23+ starts at $1,000 for 256 GB. All three phone models will go on sale on Feb. 17 online and at major retailers. If you pre-order before Feb. 16, Samsung is offering a storage upgrade—if you're looking at the smaller Galaxy S23, I'd recommend taking advantage of this offer to keep the cost below $900 and upgrade to 256 GB.
All phones will be available in the same four colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender, which appears more pink in person. Additional colors are available for those purchasing their devices unlocked directly from Samsung, including Lime, Graphite, Sky Blue, and Red.
The future of technology in mobile devices is evident with Samsung's introduction of the tech-packed Galaxy S23 lineup. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, with its integrated stylus and top-tier specifications, is a testament to this trend.
Moving forward, the tech industry is expected to focus on enhancing camera capabilities and battery life for smartphones, as seen with the improvements in the Galaxy S23 series.
