Samsung's new Galaxy S23 Ultra aims for the stars (2023)

It also still has the S Pen stylus.

cory gunther

After nearly a year of waiting, the biggest and best Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is officially here. It is the company's first flagship from 2023, replacing theS22 Ultra, and even has the S Pen stylus. Along with the usual annual updates, this phone is aiming for the stars with a new 200MP camera.

To use:Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S23 Ultra during its Unpacked event on February 1, 2023. The new phone was joined by Samsung's cheaper one.Galaxy S23 e S23+together with a newgalaxy buch 3Laptop-Series.

On the back is this new 200MP camera, laid out almost identically to last year's Galaxy S22 Ultra, but there's a lot of new stuff. The large 6.8-inch Infinity-O Quad HD 120Hz display is covered in an even stronger Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the base model offers 256GB of storage (up from 128GB) and is available in four colors.starting at US$1,199. Here's what you need to know.

Galaxy S23 Ultra specs

• Announcement: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED X2, Quad-HD AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, slightly curved (500 ppi, 1750 nit)
• processor: Mouth of the Lion 8 Gen 2
• Operational system:Android 13 (one UI 5)
• Storage/RAM: 8GB RAM with 256GB or 12GB RAM with 512GB/1TB storage
• reverse cameras: 200MP f1.7 (breit) com OIS, 12MP f/2.2 (ultrabreit), 10MPf2.4 (Tele) com OIS, 10MPf4.9periscope
• Enlargement:Optics 3X/10X, 100Xspace zoom
• Video:8K@30fps/4K@60fps/FHD@120fps e960 fps (super lento)–Eu)
• Selfie-Camera: 12 MP ultra-brief
• Battery: 5000 mAh
• Dimensions:3.07 x6.43 x0,35 inches (8.25 ounces)
• loading speed: 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless
• fingerprint sensor: Ultrasound on the screen
• Networks: 5G sub6/mmWave, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS
• headphone plug: BOM
• Schutz: Corning Gorilla Glass 2, aluminum armor frame
• Advance:S Pen Stylus
• Cores:Phantomschwarz,creams, green andLavender

The design: all about refinement

With each iteration, Samsung has refined the design and features of its Ultra. And while the overall look is pretty much the same as last year - still a massive square-edged rectangle hiding an S Pen - there are subtle changes you should be aware of.

For one thing, the large frame uses Samsung's "aluminum armour" to ensure the phone looks good and scratch-free no matter what color you buy it. It's also the first phone to feature Corning's new Victus 2 glass, meaning the screen is more durable and scratch-resistant than previous generations.

However, there is not much difference in terms of design. We still have a slightly curved screen that fits perfectly in the aluminum frame. The phone is large, with square edges reminiscent of the Galaxy Note line, with a flat bottom and a slot for the S Pen stylus. As a reminder, Samsungwill not be donea phone call moving forward.

Perhaps the only notable difference from the sleek design is that the rear camera lens is a little bigger and brighter, and the phone comes in four fun colors. Black and white goes without saying, but we like muted shades of green and lavender.

Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra still has the volume up/down and power buttons on the right side, with nothing on the left edge, along with a single speaker at the bottom and the USB-C port for charging. It's the same Ultra, only better.

200 megapixel Samsung camera

As you can see, Samsung still uses the same quad camera setup as previous generations. This fifth cutout (the smallest one at the top) houses the laser autofocus and other sensors.

The star of the show here is literally the new 200MP camera. Yep, that's almost double the 108MP that debuted on the Galaxy S21 Ultra in 2021. This new camera setup (ISOCELL HP2) is being touted as the biggest Galaxy camera upgrade in years. The company hopes this will help the S23 Ultra offer the best camera on any smartphone.

And while your phone won't always capture 200 MP photos (although that's an option in settings), it does reduce images to photos between 12.5 and 50 MP and blends the pixels together with a feature known aspixel binningto create amazingly beautiful, sharp, bright and crisp photos and videos.

According to Samsung, this sensor features sophisticated technology that allows the camera to spontaneously adapt to different lighting situations. Onstage, the company talked about improved color reproduction, dynamic range and better autofocus. The new 200-megapixel camera captures more light and makes night photography better than ever. There's even a new AI engine that can automatically brighten images when needed, especially at night.

And as you noticed in the title of this post, whether it's typical photos of friends and family or the stars, the Galaxy S23 Ultra will look great at night. This new 200-megapixel sensor enables Super HDR recording at 60 fps, an improved Nightography mode and a new "High Resolution Photo" recording similar to the 108-megapixel mode on the last two Ultra phones.

Plus, all 200 million pixels are used for autofocus, so it's fast and accurate. In fact, the shutter lag we saw on the S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra shouldn't be an issue, as Samsung says it's faster than ever.

Interestingly, Samsung reduced the front-facing selfie camera from 40MP on the S22 Ultra to just 12MP on the new Galaxy S23 Ultra. Now, the entire S23 range has the same front-facing camera, but Samsung says it has the fastest autofocus yet. It has been increased from 30fps to 60fps for better selfie photos and videos.

Galaxy S23 Ultra release date and prices

Now the big questions. When can you buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra and how much will it cost? Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will be availablebook from today, february 1, my yearFebruary 17 release date.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra retails for $1,199, with most carriers offering $33.33 a month for 36 months on an installment plan. Some rumors have suggested a price increase due to the new camera, but it will be $1200.

As expected, all partner airlines in the US will have deals ready and we'll add them to this post as soon as they're announced. For example, those switching to Verizon or upgrading an existing lineup can get $800 off any Galaxy S23 series phone with select swaps to a 5G plan. You also get a free Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G with your purchase.

Anyone who pre-orders a new Galaxy S23 model from Verizon or Samsung on February 1st will receive a free upgrade to the next tier of storage, i.e. 256GB instead of 128GB. Or for the S23 Ultra, upgrade to the 12GB RAM model with 512GB of storage.

Hands-on photos of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is finally here and we love all the new color options. Subtle green and lavender look great, but fans will also like the all-black look. Here's a quick set of Galaxy Unpacked 2023 photos from the new phone.

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