Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Source

JerryRigEverything

Key Takeaways

• Subtle curved display edges make tempered glass screen protectors peel and bubble; UV glue risks voiding warranty if it seeps into seams.
• Conservative 45W charging throttles below 20W as soon as internal temps rise, taking 70+ minutes to top off 5,000mAh.
• Tipping the scales at 233g with sharp squared corners, one-handed grip fatigues the palm, dragging trousers down.
• The 200MP sensor suffers heavy shutter lag in indoor lighting, producing blurry motion trails when capturing moving pets.

✅ Pros

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers outstanding efficiency and zero thermal throttle stutters
• 10x optical periscope zoom captures unmatched moon and distance shots
• Built-in S-Pen silo with air action remote gestures

❌ Cons

• Curved glass edges peel tempered protectors
• 45W charging throttles quickly to slow curves
• Heavy 233g heft with sharp palm-biting corners
• Severe 200MP camera shutter lag on moving subjects

📝 Verdict

"S23 Ultra is a zoom master held back by curved glass protector headaches, shutter lag, and sluggish charging."

Source

• Video: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review - 6 Months Later
• Channel: 6 Months Later | Type: Long-term review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Self-bought, used for 6 months and taken on a trip to Hawaii; main camera photos have consistent detail and color, and HDR handles sunsets more naturally than the iPhone 14 Pro
• The 10x optical telephoto is much improved over the S21 Ultra, and video of planes taking off shot from a car is still stable and clear; but it struggles at close range and under stage lighting
• The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has been smooth for half a year with no performance degradation; battery at bedtime is about 40–45%
• The S Pen changes how you hold the phone and makes control more precise, but he wouldn't buy the phone just for it
• The screen's PWM dimming is about 240Hz, which may bother people sensitive to flicker
• Downsides: the 234g body is thick and heavy, Bixby is hard to remap to Google Assistant, and One UI has preinstalled apps and an ad-like feel

✅ Pros

• Top-notch camera system, especially the 10x telephoto
• Stable performance
• Good battery life
• Unique S Pen

❌ Cons

• 234g, thick and heavy
• Low-frequency PWM dimming
• Bixby and preinstalled software
• Confusing SIM eject hole

📝 Verdict

Recommended if you want Samsung's best cameras and the S Pen; if you care about neither, consider the cheaper Pixel 7 Pro or Nothing Phone (2).

Source

• Video: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra full review
• Channel: GSMArena Official | Type: Professional review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• It continues the S22 Ultra design, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back, less curvature, IP68 and more recycled materials
• 6.8-inch QHD 120Hz, measured at 830 nits in manual mode and 1,270 nits in auto mode, similar to its predecessor; the speakers are louder
• The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is well ahead of the previous generation in benchmarks, and thermals were good in a one-hour stress test
• The 5,000mAh battery earned a 126-hour endurance rating; 45W charging reaches 68% in 30 minutes
• The 200MP HP2 main camera is more vivid in daylight with sharper corners; 50MP mode is useful, while 200MP mode produces huge files with worse dynamic range; the 10x camera is less consistent in low light
• 8K30 uses the full sensor width and is sharper than its predecessor

✅ Pros

• Improved battery life
• Good performance and thermals
• Upgraded main camera image quality
• Fully featured S Pen

❌ Cons

• Upgrades aren't groundbreaking
• 200MP mode is of little practical use
• Average telephoto performance in low light

📝 Verdict

None of the improvements are revolutionary, and S22 Ultra users don't need to upgrade; but as Samsung's best phone right now, it's worth recommending if your budget allows.

Source

• Video: The Galaxy S23 Ultra is Better Than You Think!
• Channel: Marques Brownlee | Type: Professional review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• It looks almost identical to the S22 Ultra, with squarer sides and Gorilla Glass Victus 2
• The whole lineup switches to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (3.36GHz prime core, 719MHz GPU), with no more Exynos version, improving both performance and efficiency
• The 5,000mAh battery life is amazing: after two days of heavy use and about 8.5 hours of screen-on time, it still had about 10% left; 45W charges it fully in about an hour
• The new 200MP main camera's optical stabilization range is doubled (about 3 degrees), and the Super Steady video mode and 8K30 are both useful; 200MP mode is only good in ample light, and 50MP mode is a better compromise
• The new 12MP front camera has fewer pixels but is better; base storage is upgraded to 256GB UFS 4.0
• There's still shutter lag, and 45W charging isn't fast

✅ Pros

• Big improvement in battery life
• Snapdragon worldwide, with good performance and efficiency
• Main camera stabilization and video performance
• Screen, speakers and S Pen still top-tier

❌ Cons

• Shutter lag
• Charging speed only 45W
• Little change in appearance

📝 Verdict

Like the Porsche 911 of smartphones: understated but meeting a high bar in every area—an underrated, complete flagship.