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Evening Standard

Lifestyle

Abha Shah

Samsung S23 Ultra review: the power of a photography studio in your pocket

Samsung Sun Qualcomm

If there’s one name you can count on in Android phone innovation, it’s Samsung. The tech giant continually impresses with new launches, from a foldable handset that turns into a tablet, to its latest gizmo, the Samsung S23 Ultra.

The sleek new flagship device is an intoxicating blend of power and capabilities, armed to the eyeballs with special features that make it stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Aimed at on-the-move gamers, photography fans, and doodlers with a built-in stylus (the S-Pen), this phone is a serious upgrade and will leave all other contenders - Apple included - quaking in their boots.

The Ultra is the most powerful of Samsung’s S23 range which was announced earlier in 2023: its sisters include the S23 and the S23+. Needless to say, the S23 Ultra is the favourite child in this particular family.

Here’s what we thought of Samsung’s S23 Ultra.

Samsung S23 Ultra key specs

Release date: February 2023
Display: 6.81 inches, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Dimensions: 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
Weight: 234g
Processor: Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Battery: 5000mAh
Storage: 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Front camera: 12MP wide selfie camera
Rear cameras: 12MP Ultra Wide Camera, a 10MP 10x Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera, 10MP 3x Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera and a 200MP Wide-angle Camera.
Waterproof rating: IP68, water-resistant
Colours available: Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
Prices: from £1249 for handset only from Samsung.co.uk

First impressions: it’s what’s on the inside that counts

On the face of it, this phone looks virtually identical to its predecessor, the S22 Ultra - it feels like the only difference in price. If you’re a stickler for details, you’ll notice a smidge more screen space on the S23 Ultra compared to last year’s model.

Yet take a look under the hood, and it’s a whole other story. The biggest change is the custom-made Qualcomm processor; after charging and switching the handset on, you’ll feel its power running across this phone’s features, whether you’re snapping food pics, streaming shows or indulging in a game of Candy Crush on the commute. This chipset is now standard for the new phone regardless of your region, ditching the Exynos 2200 some users had to make do with in the S22.

The souped-up Snapdragon processor is also responsible for preserving battery life, good news to anyone fed up with carting around heavy battery packs every day to revive their current device.

Streaming and videos: silky smooth viewing

Capture or watch your clearest content to date with the S23 Ultra, thanks to 3088 x 1400 resolution and an adaptable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which relegates juddery clips to the past. The 6.81-inch screen gives you plenty of space for gaming-on-the-go or streaming while peak brightness goes to 1750nits (or 1200nits for HDR) which should be plenty if you want to stream entertainment on your summer sun lounger.

Gaming: glitch-free and glorious

The aforementioned specs make gaming a dream too, with richer colour and details pinging off the AMOLED screen for an immersive experience. The processor shows its strength here too, able to handle hours of play without overheating or completely zapping your battery. Expect fast loading times and speedy in-game transitions.

Photography: you won’t believe your eyes

It’s the five cameras loaded onto the device that makes the S23 Ultra a force to be reckoned with. At 12MP, the front-facing camera gives the clear portraits, while the rear cameras consist of a 12MP Ultra Wide Camera, a 10MP 10x Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera plus a second 10MP 3x Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera and the star of the show, a 200MP Wide-angle Camera.

This is the Tom Cruise of cameras, best used for panoramic shots where you want to drink in every last detail with pitch perfect clarity: think city shots from Hampstead Heath or snaps of a starry night sky (try the Astrophoto mode for that).

The zoom deserves a standing ovation - it’s astonishing. We wouldn’t be surprised if MI6 put in a S23 Ultra bulk-order off the back of it. Creative types will adore the multiple exposure feature which allows you to layer up to nine frames to create a digital masterpiece.

The S-Pen

An invaluable tool, the slim fine-nibbed pen slides into the phone’s body keeping it safe from harm when you’re not using it to photo edit, trim videos or take pictures remotely. It’s light, easy to hold and makes taking notes so easy you may never reach for your tattered old notebook again.

Where to buy and best S23 Ultra contract deals

Unsurprisingly, every major network has jumped on Samsung’s shiny new phone, with contract deals. You can purchase the handset on its own from Samsung starting at £1,249. Right now, Samsung is even throwing in a six-month subscription to Disney+ for S23 customers who purchase before Jan 31, 2024.

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