Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Announced February 17, 2023
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a powerhouse Android flagship that combines a versatile 200MP camera system with top-tier performance and reliable battery life. While its large, boxy design and high price tag may deter some, it remains a highly capable and refined device for users seeking a feature-complete experience.
Weighted from 57 reviewer scores
Pros
- Versatile and highly capable 200MP camera system
- Top-notch performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
- Excellent battery life and efficient power management
- Stunning, bright, and detailed 120Hz display
- Integrated S Pen stylus for added productivity
Cons
- High starting price and expensive overall cost
- Large, heavy, and boxy design that can be uncomfortable to hold
- Slow 45W charging speed that lags behind competitors
- Noticeable camera shutter lag when capturing moving subjects
- Lack of microSD card slot and no charger included in the box
- Launch price $1,199 (USD)
- Main camera 200MP f/1.7 + 12MP Ultrawide + 10MP 3x Telephoto
- Video 8K 30p
- Display 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED 120Hz
- Chipset Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy 8GB, 12GB
What the Reviewers Say
All 57 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
Is this product missing a reputable review? Share a link to a review article or YouTube video for consideration.
- PetaPixel 8.5/10
It’s not the gimmicky stuff that makes the difference, it’s the smarter focus and improved computation elevating the camera to a more dependable shooter.
- The Verge 9/10
I haven’t been a huge stylus fan in the past, and I still think that most people will rarely use one given the option. But I was more inclined to pop out the S Pen and jot down a note with the S23 Ultra than when I tested the S22 Ultra.
-
If ever there was a phone worthy of the “ultra” moniker, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is it. The phone is unrivalled in size, power, capability and battery life on Android, while its camera is more capable than any other on the market.
- Android Authority 10/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is on a level all its own in the Android space. It delivers the best of just about everything while demanding a wallet-burning price to match.
-
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra set the benchmark for what the best smartphone should be capable of in 2023, and even with the release of the newer Galaxy S24 Ultra, it remains a very tempting option at a now-discounted price.
-
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is large and pricey, but an exceptional mix of features, performance, and quality makes it the best high-end Android phone you can buy.
-
A tougher build, faster memory and storage, a more efficient battery, a custom-tuned chipset and a new 200MP main camera hidden behind a familiar design; the S23 Ultra is a more substantial upgrade than you might first realize.
-
Based on my testing I'd say the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best Android phone you can buy period, and it makes a very strong case for being the best phone overall.
- Digital Trends 10/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the most complete, most versatile Android smartphone you can buy. It's a big purchase in more ways than one, but it'll last you for years.
-
[...] I've been pretty impressed with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
-
So long as the camera inconsistencies and issues with capturing motion don't bother you, this is the new king of Android phones.
- Android Police 9/10
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is as safe a phone as Samsung has ever made. It also just so happens to be one of its best.
-
At the end of the day, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a step in the right direction for Samsung.
-
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra brings predictably minor upgrades - camera tweaks here and new chipset there, mostly - but how much can you really improve on the S22 Ultra in just a year?
-
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a solid all-rounder, but it’s outdone in both the sound and picture departments by Apple and Sony.
-
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a revolutionary update in evolutionary clothing. Seemingly iterative changes yield a transformative upgrade for Android's one true flagship phone.
-
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra on face value doesn't make many changes from its predecessor.
- How-To Geek 9/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra provides unmatched reliability in terms of performance and battery life, arguably the most versatile set of cameras on a phone, and productivity features that no other phone currently offers.
-
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is not a cheap phone by any means, and it doesn’t help that Samsung hasn’t been as generous with its trade-in offers as one might hope. But if there’s any handset that can do it all, it’s this one.
-
But for now I am very impressed with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It is a lot of money and I think maybe the S23 Plus or the Pixel 7 Pro or the OnePlus 11 may be better value choices but if you want the biggest and just the most versatile phone in the world this is it.
- MakeUseOf 9.5/10
This year's Ultra is a solid buy, and if you are looking for a powerhouse Android smartphone with all the bells and whistles, the S23 Ultra should be at the top of your list.
-
If your current phone is still relatively recent, say, within the last year or so, then we would really advise against an upgrade right now.
- IGN 8/10
In this case, devices like the Google Pixel 7 Pro come at a much more approachable price point, offering more value if you want a camera that shoots almost as well and at incredible levels of zoom to boot.
-
[A]lmost every aspect of this smartphone is bloody marvelous, everything apart from, obviously, that sky-high asking price.
-
[T]his phone is a beast when it comes to performance, the battery life is good, the builder quality is great except for the easily scratchable frontal glass, the display panel itself is also one of the strengths of this phone [...]
-
If you want a flagship phone that does it all, then this is the smartphone for you.
-
If you're in the market for an Android smartphone that does it all and more, there’s no looking past the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
-
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was the best Android phone out last year in my opinion, and in my opinion this year the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is gonna have that same title.
-
From the camera experiences, which is I think everybody's been waiting for from video and content creation in there, I think the overall experience with this device is pretty much the best that Samsung has to offer.
- GadgetGuy 8.8/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra packs in class-leading camera features, along with the latest and most powerful hardware ever in a Galaxy smartphone. It's as good as you can get in an Android smartphone, as long as you can afford it.
-
So this time I genuinely feel that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a great alternative to the iPhone 14 Pro Max and I am really happy to see these two heavyweights competing again.
-
The S23 Ultra is an excellent smartphone in every regard, and it comes easily recommended for Android users, especially those who like big screens and take lots of photos.
-
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a worthy device to pick up even now and will still be relevant for a few more years.
-
This is the best flagship phone Samsung has created in a long, long time.
-
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra refines an already impressive flagship Android phone with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a 200MP camera.
-
Here's the thing, this is one of the most consistent Samsung experiences I have used in years.
- Pocket Tactics 9/10
With an industry-leading camera setup, exquisite design philosophy, and more than enough power for anything you throw at it, it's basically impossible to fault.
-
Yes, I recommend this phone for anyone who wants the best camera system on a Samsung phone and one of the best smartphone camera systems you can get in general.
-
[T]he Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has pretty much no compromises, and thus we can even say this is the best smartphone in the world right now.
-
[I]f I could only choose one device to use for the rest of the year like I couldn't use a laptop I couldn't use a TV or whatever I would choose this phone.
-
The Galaxy S23 Ultra makes sense if you’re switching to Android or Samsung for the first time, but the exciting future lies with the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip now more than ever.
-
As I said, this has just been my last 24 hours with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and so far I'm a big fan.
-
Once again, Samsung has made one of the best smartphones you can buy. The Ultra is powerful, sleek, built-to-survive and generally everything you could ever want from a phone and yet, it’s going to be a device that very few people should buy.
-
What do you think of the S23 Ultra though? I think it’s topped one of my favourite phones of 2022, the S22 Ultra, by making small but meaningful improvements that just make sense.
-
Mostly this one is a perfect phone with minimum compromises. Everything inside this phone is built with premium materials so it is a premium smartphone, it's worth every penny.
-
[T]he few minor nitpicks that I have with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are not enough to discourage me from recommending this phone.
-
The hype on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is real; it's a great phone, and if you get the opportunity to pick one up, especially at a discount, then I think this is going to be one of the best phones for quite a few years to come.
-
Whether the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is going to replace my Fold 4 or not, I don't know, but I think Samsung have done a fantastic job here.
-
The thing is, this isn't some groundbreaking phone; it's not gonna wow you like that. It's just a really, really solid device that builds on last year's model.
-
In my opinion, this is definitely one of the best phones you could buy, if not the best phone you could buy.
-
[T]he S23 Ultra might seem a bit boring at first, I think it's an extremely solid upgrade over last gen.
-
[T]he S23 Ultra has not disappointed and it's here to stay.
- Anubhav Roy 9.5/10
[I]f you want a Samsung flagship but don't want to pay Samsung flagship prices for this phone, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra might just be your best option right now.
-
I spent more than a week testing Galaxy S23 Ultra — and I can genuinely say that it’s today’s finest, most feature-packed big-screen Android phone by a massive margin.
-
I think that if you are someone who has the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, you should stick with it since it's basically the exact same phone as the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
-
As expected, it is undeniable that in an ocean of incredible smartphones that are available, the S23 Ultra is one of the greatest phones on the planet.
-
If you want flagship power without paying flagship 2026 prices, the S23 Ultra is still a very smart buy.
