The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the camera and stylus flagship of Samsung's 2023 line, now a strong value buy since the S24 and later Ultras arrived. It keeps the built-in S Pen and a rare dual optical zoom system, and every unit including the UK's uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Display
The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X runs at 120Hz with a sharp 1440 x 3088 QHD+ resolution and quotes 1200 nits in high-brightness mode, with GSMArena measuring 1,274 nits and a 1,750-nit peak for HDR, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The panel is bright, sharp and flat, among the best screens of its generation, with little to fault beyond newer models edging ahead on peak brightness.
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Camera
The quad camera pairs a 200MP main sensor with OIS, a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 10MP 10x periscope telephoto, both with OIS, and a 12MP ultrawide, with a 12MP selfie camera and 8K video. The two zoom lenses give reach single-telephoto rivals cannot match.
Video tops out at 8K, and the only notable limit is the 10MP resolution of the zoom lenses.
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Battery
The 5,000mAh battery returned a strong active use score of 13:24 hours in GSMArena's lab, with 45W wired charging quoted at 65% in 30 minutes, plus 15W wireless and reverse wireless.
Charging is slow against the 80W-plus systems on rivals, so charging speed rather than endurance is the weak point.
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Size, Weight and Build
At 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm and 234g with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both faces, an aluminium frame and IP68 sealing, the S23 Ultra is a large, premium phone with the S Pen housed in the body, in colours including Green and Sky Blue.
At 234g and 78.1mm wide it is big and heavy, the trade-off for the large screen, stylus and quad camera.
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with up to 12GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage delivers full flagship speed, on Android 13 at launch and since updated, with Samsung DeX and UWB rounding out the productivity case.
The chip is a couple of generations old now but remains very fast, so performance is not a concern.
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Who Should Buy
Buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra at a discount if you want a stylus, dual optical zoom and a QHD+ screen without paying current-flagship money. Buyers who want the newest chip, a titanium frame and a brighter screen should compare the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Buyers comparing contract terms will find current network pricing in the table above.