Samsung is now equipping its premium smartphone series globally with Qualcomm chipsets, which is definitely noticeable in our tests. But the Galaxy S23 Ultra also boasts some improvements outside the SoC.
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The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a very similar display to its predecessor, which again measures 6.8 inches, offers a high pixel density and works with a dynamic refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz. The sides are now less rounded, which benefits the contact surface when using the S Pen.
The Galaxy smartphone is now powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, whose prime core clocks a little higher than in the conventional Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The GPU seems to have also gotten a slight performance increase, but this is unfortunately negated by the weak cooling of the SoC. Nevertheless, this does not stand in the way of excellent everyday performance and has no noticeable negative effects in our tests, even in gaming. A pity, however, that Samsung does not support the additional audio codecs from Qualcomm.
The main camera has been upgraded to 200 MP and enables good photos and video recordings. At close range, small artifacts occasionally appear, as was the case with the S22 Ultra. Experience has shown that this will be improved with future updates. Speaking of updates: the S23 Ultra is set to receive four major Android upgrades, i.e. up to Android 17, and another year of security patches.
With its Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung has an excellent smartphone in its portfolio that will please its users for a long time. However, why Wi-Fi 7 has been omitted remains a mystery to us. The reduced RAM for the basic variant is also deserving of criticism. Moreover, Samsung should support stronger charging technologies and more standards.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at US$1199.99 (RRP) in the smallest memory variant (256 GB) and can be purchased directly via Samsung’s webstore. It is usually available at cheaper prices at Amazon and other online retailers.
Editor of the original article: Daniel Schmidt – Managing Editor Mobile – 501 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2013
As a child I was fascinated by my Commodore 16, and this sparked my enthusiasm for computers. Using my first modem, I surfed the BTX videotext system and later the World Wide Web. I have always been captivated by the latest technologies, and this is especially true for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. I’ve been part of the Notebookcheck team since 2013 and have also on occasion written for Notebookinfo.de, and I’m looking forward to testing new innovations for our readers. I like to spend my spare time indulging in photography and barbecues and being with my family.
Translator: Jacob Fisher – Translator – 161 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022
Growing up in regional Australia, I first became acquainted with computers in my early teens after a broken leg from a football (soccer) match temporarily condemned me to a predominately indoor lifestyle. Soon afterwards I was building my own systems. Now I live in Germany, having moved here in 2014, where I study philosophy and anthropology. I am particularly fascinated by how computer technology has fundamentally and dramatically reshaped human culture, and how it continues to do so.
Daniel Schmidt, 2023-03- 3 (Update: 2023-03- 3)
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