SHINERS IN YOUR HAND

Got the cash to splash on a sparkly stunner or a flashy foldable? Maybe you'd rather stick to a bargain blower? This year's phone crop has something for everyone, and we've rounded up the best...

SAMSUNG GALAXY S23 ULTRA

The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a lot to live up to. Not only did its predecessor pick up where the retired Galaxy Note left off, but it also packed some of the most capable cameras of any Android. What else was Samsung’s new hero model to do but continue to embrace the S Pen and double down on photography?

There haven’t been big visual changes, with the firm’s designers focusing on the more mainstream Galaxy S23 and S23+ (see p39) this year. But under the skin, a new 200MP main snapper promises even higher-quality shots regardless of lighting. Add in a custom-tuned version of the fastest mobile silicon currently doing the rounds and, on paper at least, the S23 Ultra does plenty to justify its high price.

Styling: sizeable

Even with curved glass that bends into the central metal frame, the S23 Ultra is still a big brute of a phone. Well, there are only so many ways to slim down while still making room for the integrated stylus. It’s big enough to want to use two-handed even without the S Pen, and at 234g there aren’t many non-folding phones that tip the scales further.

Samsung has mixed things up on the materials front, though, doubling the number of recycled components. This is also one of the first phones with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which can survive a 1m drop straight onto concrete. The whole thing is IP68 water/dust-resistant, so it’ll also cope with a trip to the beach or an accidental dunking.

A fingerprint sensor sits underneath the display for biometric security. It’s quick, accurate, and placed high enough that you don’t need elastic thumbs.

Screen: sublime