Expert review Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- With the telephoto lens, I can zoom in up to 10 times without losing quality.
- This powerful device is suitable for the most demanding apps and 3D games.
- With the included S Pen, I edit photos and videos even more accurately.
- Samsung doesn't include a charger, so you have to purchase one separately.
- The large, 6.8-inch screen is difficult to control with 1 hand.
First impression of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Samsung S23 Ultra comes in a compact box. Besides the device itself, I only find a USB cable, SIM needle, and a short manual in the box. A charger isn't included. On the back, there are 4 separate cameras, a flash, and a depth sensor. The S23 Ultra doesn't have a camera island, which looks very sleek. The device also includes an S Pen that you can keep in the S23 Ultra. In terms of design, the large S23 Ultra with its angular edges looks a lot like its predecessor, the S22 Ultra.
Zoom in up to 10 times, razor-sharp photos
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With the 200-megapixel lens, you can see many details.
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With the regular lens, you barely see anything of the lions from this spot.
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Thanks to the telephoto lens with 10 times optical zoom, you can take a razor-sharp photo from the same place.
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With the wide-angle lens, you can easily capture a large building.
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Thanks to the night mode, you can even take photos with bright colors in the dark.
I'm very impressed by the different cameras on the S23 Ultra. Especially the telephoto lens is a real star. I zoomed in on 3 young lions in the back of the shelter. Thanks to the 10 times optical zoom, the photo was razor-sharp and you can still see many details. The wide-angle lens works well too. During a day trip to Antwerp, I was easily able to capture a large building in 1 photo.
Large and razor-sharp screen
The screen of the S23 Ultra is the best one in the S23 series and I clearly notice this. Details and colors really pop on the screen when I watch a series on Netflix. The 6.8-inch screen is very large, which is nice when I'm watching a movie. It's difficult for me to control the screen with 1 hand, and the S23 Ultra barely fits into the pocket of my pants. The screen refreshes 120 times per second and I notice both scrolling and animations look very smooth.
Useful S Pen stylus
Just like with its predecessor, the S23 Ultra includes an S Pen stylus. I find this especially useful when editing videos. With the S Pen, I can accurately select the place I want to crop the video. I can also use the button on the S Pen as a useful remote. When I press the button and move the S Pen to the right, Spotify will skip to the next song of the playlist.
Easily performs the most demanding tasks
The S23 Ultra is a high-end smartphone, which I definitely notice by its speed. Not a single app slows down or freezes, and I can multitask without problems too. In split-screen mode, I can watch a video on YouTube while I text a friend on WhatsApp. And 3D games and apps for photo or video editing run effortlessly on my S23 Ultra.
Good battery life, charging takes quite long
The battery of the Samsung S23 Ultra easily lasts an entire day with average use. When I took it with me for the day, the battery wasn't empty until I arrived back home late at night. During the day, I took about 400 photos, watched YouTube videos for 2 hours, sent messages via WhatsApp, and scrolled through my Facebook timeline. It took my about 1 hour to fully charge my battery again. The charging speed is quite slow for a smartphone like this, in my opinion.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a high-end smartphone and this is clear. The razor-sharp photos are especially impressive. This device can easily perform any task and has a crystal clear screen. The battery also lasts long enough to get through the day. The only cons are the charging speed of the battery and the large size of the S23 Ultra.
