Samsung returns to the charge. The South Korean company has presented the new Galaxy Book 3 and the Galaxy S23 family, made up of three mobile phones with which it will compete in the highest segment over the next 12 months. Among them is, of course, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Crown jewel. A product that, in hypertextualwe have been able to test briefly before its official presentation.
As usual – not only in the case of Samsung, but in the industry in general -, this S23 Ultra is not a revolution compared to its predecessor. Mobile phones have reached a point of maturity that makes it difficult to put truly disruptive innovations on the table, except in specific cases.
However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is not a revolution It does not mean that Samsung has not implemented certain changes or new interesting functions in it. In some cases, I would define them as welcome refinements. In others, like the camera, as interesting promises.
First, all Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will carry Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. A loss for Samsung’s chip division but, at the same time, a victory for the consumer. The previous generation Exynos wasn’t a disaster, but it was behind the Qualcomm-based model in the US in some respects. That differentiation now comes to an end. And the first benefit was announced by Samsung during its presentation: the S23 Ultra promises better autonomy than its predecessor despite having a battery of the same capacity. I eat? According to the brand, thanks to the greater efficiency of the processor.
Another apparently minor change but with some impact on the experience is found on the left and right sides. On the S22 Ultra, these were fully curved. Nevertheless, in the S23 Ultra a slight curvature is combined with a completely flat part. and it shows a lot. As much as to detect it as soon as you pick up the Galaxy S23 Ultra for the first time. The grip is better and also makes the product feel better in the hand.
The screen is now too flatter than before. A positive step considering that these types of panels are in disuse. It is not a 100% curve-free panel, but the radius is much smaller than in the previous model.
It is also worth noting the color palette. Like the rest of the models in the family, the S23 Ultra can be purchased in four shades: green, cream, violet and black. The one that Samsung will promote the most is green. My favourite, however, is the cream colour, if that interests you for any reason. In any case, it is a quite successful range and, together with the chrome finishes on the sides and the matte glass on the back, it gives a quite attractive appearance.
A promising camera
Samsung has decided to implement for the first time in a Galaxy S a 200 megapixel resolution sensor. A very high figure that has a double objective: on the one hand, the undeniable marketing claim of having 200 megapixels –because yes, people continue to think that more pixels equals better photography–; on the other, to combine even more adjacent pixels to achieve better results in adverse lighting conditions.
Considering Samsung’s track record, this camera is likely to be up there with its range. But, will it be the reference in the sector? How noticeable will the improvement be over the previous generation? Those are questions for which we still do not have answers. The environment in which we were able to test the phone did not allow us to find out at all. However, the changes that Samsung has made in this new generation, as well as the promises that the brand makes in relation to them, make it inevitable to feel some excitement about what this camera can become.
That the camera now has 200 megapixels, however, doesn’t mean I always shoot at that resolution. The phone offers different shooting modes: one with 200, another with 50 and a third with 12 megapixels. In case of using the last two, the S23 Ultra combines adjacent pixels in different proportions to create a larger super pixel that captures more light and information.
The most recommended, in the absence of validation, It’s probably shooting at 12 megapixels as a general rule. –thus achieving the best results in adverse situations– and, in those specific scenarios in which we are looking for extra sharpness and the environment allows it, manually activate one of the other two modes.
What’s new in the field of cameras they are not limited to just the main sensor. Samsung has also made changes to other components that have as much or more impact on the resulting photos. For example: the ISP that brings the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, added to new artificial intelligence algorithms, promises to more accurately reduce noise while treating color or sharpness better.
The S23 Ultra also debuts the new Expert RAW modewhich allows you to take raw images (RAW) with up to 50 megapixel resolution – something that few mobile phones currently allow – and control various parameters manually.
The brand has also implemented a new multiple exposure optionSuper HDR technology, an AI that analyzes scenes and objects to apply the best treatment and a new mode of astrography that allows you to capture the night sky in more detail – although, yes, it requires the use of a tripod or support, since exposure times exceed 4 minutes.
The S23 Ultra also debuts an improved optical stabilizer in its main camera and allows you to record 8K video at a maximum of 30 FPS. Features that are added to the ultra-wide angle, the 3x optical zoom and the 10x optical zoom, three cameras that also had the previous model and that offer great creative flexibility.
Finally, Samsung has also improved the front camera, which now promises to offer better results in adverse situations – such as those with low light.
No news on other fronts, but at the level of the best
In other sections, Samsung has not implemented so many new features. The screen remains at 6.8 inches, QHD+, AMOLED technology, 120 Hz dynamic… It is a fantastic screen. It also keeps the stylus, the battery (5,000 mAh), the connectivity, the IP68 certification, etc. In terms of charging, we are talking about 15 W wireless charging, reverse charging for other devices, and fast wired charging up to 45 watts.
Features of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |
---|---|
Screen | 6.8-inch QHD+ Edge 2X AMOLED Dynamic Screen Super smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz) |
Dimensions and weight | 78.1 X 163.4 X 8.9mm, 234g |
Camera | Ultra Wide Angle: 12MP (F2.2, FOV 120˚) Main camera: 200 MP (F1.7, FOV 85˚) 3x telephoto lens: 10MP (F2.4, FOV 36˚) 10x telephoto lens: 10MP (F4.9, FOV 11˚) Front camera: 12MP (F2.2, FOV 80˚) |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
Memory | 12GB+1TB 12+512GB 12+256GB 8+256GB |
Battery | 5,000mAh |
Load | Up to 45 watts wired. Also compatible with wireless and reverse charging |
Biometrics | Fingerprint sensor under the screen |
connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC |
Water and dust resistance | Yes, IP68 |
What Samsung did want to highlight is that The Galaxy S23 are now more sustainable. More recycled materials have been used for its manufacture, the box is 100% recycled paper… A small step forward compared to previous models.
When will the Galaxy S23 Ultra go on sale?
This phone It will go on sale on February 17th both in official channels and in authorized distributors.. The brand, yes, has not yet revealed the sale price for which it will hit the stores. Therefore, we will have to wait for future communications. However, it is likely that it will be in the window of 1,200-1,300 euros considering the RRP of the previous model.
In general terms, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a fairly successful evolution that combines small corrections –such as the incorporation of a Qualcomm chip or the changes on the sides– with promising evolutions in areas such as photography –which, yes, will have to be checked if It lives up to what is projected. In any case, and to no one’s surprise, this phone clearly aims to be one of the best smartphones of 2023.