Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Is this Galaxy as Ultra as its name suggests?

Here is another example of the iterative phone cycle we have found ourselves in recently. Not much has changed with the S23 Ultra from last year’s S22 Ultra, particularly when it comes to AV and sound. An upgrade to the camera and processor, while good additions, for us don’t justify the steep rise in pricing – well above the iPhone 14 Pro Max and just slightly cheaper than the Sony Xperia 1 IV, our current favourite Android phone.

While the Galaxy S23 Ultra is feature-packed, so was its predecessor. The S23 Ultra has a similar 120Hz 1440p, 6.8in screen, and again it’s a joy to interact with – sharp and silky smooth. But what’s new? In addition to an advanced camera system with the main sensor coming in at 200MP, the S23’s “for Galaxy” variant of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor has a slightly higher clock speed – and in practice the phone is blisteringly fast and responsive in day-to-day use.