Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra First Look: Going Big On the Camera

Android

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra First Look: Going Big On the Camera

Micheline Lykke

February 4, 2023

This story is a part of Samsung Event, CNET’s assortment of stories, suggestions and recommendation round Samsung’s hottest merchandise.

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is getting a 200-megapixel digicam, the cellphone line’s greatest digicam improve in years. Roughly double the decision of its predecessor, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the cellphone made its debut on the Samsung Unpacked occasion on Wednesday, with pricing that begins at $1,200 (£1,249, AU$1,949). It’s accessible on Feb. 17, with preorders reside now. The Galaxy S23 lineup, which additionally consists of the $1,000 Galaxy S23 Plus and $800 Galaxy S23, is Samsung’s newest effort to encourage individuals to improve because the smartphone business has struggled. The addition of a 200-megapixel digicam on the Galaxy S23 Ultra would not come as an enormous shock, contemplating Samsung introduced a brand new picture sensor with that very same decision simply final month.

Samsung’s all-new Galaxy S23 flagship lineup is now accessible to preorder, with gadgets delivery on Feb. 17. You can save on the newest gadgets with a number of Galaxy S23 preorder offers already accessible at Samsung, Best Buy, all the foremost cellphone carriers and extra.

It does counsel, nevertheless, that Samsung views the digicam as being essentially the most instrumental a part of a cellphone — and expects us to pay prime greenback for it. With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung is clearly concentrating on photographers who desire a large display screen and an outstanding digicam. We’ll have to attend till we have examined the cellphone to see if it delivers on these guarantees. Read extra: Galaxy Book 3 First Look: Samsung’s Pro Laptops Are Leveling UpOtherwise, the Galaxy S23 Ultra consists of routine upgrades resembling a brand new processor, recent colours and further storage for the bottom mannequin, together with extra elements which are made out of recycled supplies.

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The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s new digicamThe Galaxy S23 Ultra’s digicam.
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On paper, the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 200-megapixel digicam feels like a significant step up. It seems to be like the most important digicam leap Samsung has made in years, contemplating the final three generations of Galaxy S Ultra telephones have had 108-megapixel foremost cameras, relationship again to the Galaxy S20 Ultra in 2020. But megapixels alone do not inform the entire story. Sensor measurement, velocity and picture processing algorithms additionally have an effect on the digicam’s picture high quality, so we’ll have to check the cellphone earlier than deciding whether or not this can be a really monumental improve.Those algorithms certainly play an enormous position within the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s digicam enhancements. Joshua Cho, head of Samsung’s visible options workforce, stated synthetic intelligence performs a extra outstanding half in every part from evening mode to the best way the digicam captures excessive dynamic vary. “As soon as you press the button on the camera, the AI function kicks in,” Cho stated in an interview with CNET through an English language translator forward of Samsung’s Unpacked occasion. The Galaxy S23 Ultra takes 12-megapixel images by default, grouping 4×4-pixel squares into one greater pixel utilizing a expertise referred to as pixel binning. This, mixed with higher efficiency for every pixel, permits the sensor to assemble extra gentle, which may very well be helpful when taking pictures in dim environments. You can even shoot on the full 200-megapixel decision, which Samsung positions as being excellent for individuals who need massive prints of their images. If you need one thing in between, you may as well seize images at a 50-megapixel decision. Previous Galaxy S Ultra telephones additionally allowed you to shoot on the sensor’s full decision, however bear in mind that you will have to take care of massive file sizes when you achieve this.

The selfie cameras throughout all the brand new Galaxy S23 telephones have an upgraded 12-megapixel sensor, which is a lift in decision from the S22 and S22 Plus’ 10-megapixel entrance digicam however decrease than the S22 Ultra’s 40-megapixel sensor. Instead, Samsung says the selfie digicam makes use of synthetic intelligence to enhance object identification in order that it will possibly optimize photographs accordingly fairly than prioritizing decision. That means it needs to be higher at distinguishing individuals from their backgrounds extra precisely. The Galaxy S23 Ultra inherits the identical zooming capabilities as its predecessor, providing an optical zoom at 3x or 10x magnification and as much as a 100x digital zoom. Like the S22 Ultra, the S23 Ultra makes use of two 10-megapixel telephoto cameras to perform this. Even although evening mode was an enormous focus for the Galaxy S22 lineup, Samsung says it is additional improved the best way the Galaxy S23 Ultra can seize images at the hours of darkness, providing much more brightness this time round. The Galaxy S23 Ultra in lavender.
Bobby Oliver/CNET
Video recording will get a slight change throughout the lineup, with the S23 household supporting 30 frames per second when taking pictures at 8K decision. That’s a rise from the S22 Ultra’s body price of 24fps when recording on the identical decision. Compared to 24fps, 30fps is normally preferable for broadcasting reside footage in line with Adobe, which is smart contemplating Samsung’s efforts in interesting to social media influencers, streamers and Gen Z consumers. You’ll additionally be capable of shoot 1080p video at 120fps as a substitute of 60fps, which ought to enhance the standard of slow-motion photographs. Samsung additionally says the correction angle for its optical picture stabilization has doubled. I’m curious how a lot of a distinction that makes since I discovered the iPhone 14 Pro’s Action Mode to be extra dependable than Samsung’s Super Steady mode throughout my testing. The S23 Ultra can even shoot video at a wider angle, Samsung says. However, it would not appear that Samsung added any new taking pictures modes for the Galaxy S23 lineup. Given the S23 Ultra’s large give attention to digicam high quality, I had hoped to see new instruments and options that would put that new {hardware} to raised use. But Samsung is doing one thing attention-grabbing with its exterior digicam apps, Expert Raw and Camera Assistant. After you obtain these apps for the primary time, the extra digicam settings that these apps present might be built-in immediately into the native digicam app. That may make it simpler for photographers who need extra enhancing management to customise the appear and feel of their images with out having to change between apps.

Galaxy S23 Ultra has a brand new chip, acquainted designSamsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra in inexperienced.
Bobby Oliver/CNET
Samsung’s new telephones are powered by a particular model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that is been optimized for the brand new Galaxy S23 lineup, which it claims ought to end in sooner efficiency. We’ll have to check the cellphone to see if it lives as much as these claims. But if it does, it’d assist set the Ultra aside from different telephones that embrace Qualcomm’s new chip, just like the OnePlus 11 5G. The choice for satellite tv for pc connectivity is noticeably absent from Samsung’s new smartphone lineup, coming after Apple added the power to contact emergency providers through satellite tv for pc to its iPhone 14 lineup. Qualcomm additionally introduced the same function, which might be launching later this yr. Like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung’s latest Ultra cellphone additionally has a 5,000-mAh battery capability and consists of the S Pen. You’ll be capable of get the cellphone in 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage capacities.The Galaxy S23 Ultra would not look all that completely different from final yr’s Galaxy S22 Ultra. It has the identical boxy design however is available in a brand new choice of colours: black, cream, inexperienced and lavender. Samsung additionally says it is elevated using recycled supplies within the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s design by utilizing ocean-bound plastics within the cellphone’s exterior parts for the primary time. The display screen nonetheless measures 6.8 inches like final yr’s mannequin, making it one of many largest telephones you should buy. (The Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max every have a 6.7-inch display screen.) That cellphone can also be protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, a brand new model of Corning’s glass that the corporate says gives higher drop resistance on powerful surfaces like concrete. There’s additionally an adaptive refresh price of as much as 120Hz to permit for smoother scrolling and animations, a function that is turn out to be widespread even on cheaper telephones.Samsung is launching the Galaxy S23 lineup because it’s turn out to be more and more tough to persuade smartphone homeowners to improve their gadgets. Economic challenges slowed smartphone shipments all through 2022, in line with estimates from The International Data Corporation, Canalys and Counterpoint Research. Data from Assurant, an insurance coverage supplier that helps firms develop trade-in packages, additionally means that clients are holding onto their gadgets longer. The firm reported in September that the typical age of traded-in gadgets surpassed three and a half years for the primary time.But Counterpoint Research’s Peter Richardson does describe the premium smartphone phase as “more resilient” than the marketplace for low to midrange telephones within the firm’s report. Perhaps clients usually tend to put money into pricier telephones with the hope that they will not need to improve as typically. Samsung dabbles in all three markets, however the $1,200 Galaxy S23 Ultra and $1,800 Galaxy Z Fold 4 sum up the tech large’s imaginative and prescient for what a premium cellphone needs to be.As telephones have advanced, annual {hardware} upgrades have began to really feel much less revolutionary and extra incremental. Whether that sentiment holds true for the Galaxy S23 Ultra all comes right down to how a lot of a distinction that new 200-megapixel digicam really makes.

Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup specs in contrast

Galaxy S23

Galaxy S23 Plus

Galaxy S23 Ultra

Display measurement, tech, decision, refresh price, brightness

6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 pixels; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate; 1,750 nits

6.6-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 pixels; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate; 1,750 nits

6.8-inch AMOLED 3,088×1,440 pixels; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate; Edge Screen; 1,750 nits

Pixel density

425 pixels per inch

393 pixels per inch

500 pixels per inch

Dimensions (inches)

2.79 x 5.76 x 0.3 in

3 x 6.21 x 0.3 in

3.07 x 6.43 x 0.35 in

Dimensions (millimeters)

70.9 x 146.3 x 7.6 mm

76.2 x 157.7 x 7.6 mm

78 x 163.3 x 8.9 mm

Weight (ounces, grams)

168 g (5.93 oz)

196 g (6.91 oz)

234 g (8.25 oz)

Mobile software program

Android 13

Camera

50-megapixel (extensive), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto)

200-megapixel (extensive), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) 10-megapixel (telephoto) 10-megapixel (telephoto)

Front-facing digicam

12-megapixel

Video seize

8K at 30fps

Processor

Galaxy-optimized Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

RAM/storage

8GB RAM + 128GB; 8GB RAM + 256GB

8GB + 256GB; 8GB + 512GB

12GB + 256GB; 12GB + 512GB; 12GB + 1TB

Expandable storage

None

Battery/charging speeds

3,900 mAh (25W wired charging)

4,700 mAh (45W wired charging)

5,000 mAH (45W wired charger)

Fingerprint sensor

In-display

Connector

USB-C

Headphone jack

None

Special options

5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 ranking, sooner wired charging, wi-fi PowerShare to cost different gadgets

5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 ranking, sooner wired charging, wi-fi PowerShare to cost different gadgets, UWB for locating different gadgets

5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 ranking, sooner wired charging, wi-fi PowerShare to cost different gadgets, built-in S-Pen, 200x Space Zoom, 10x Optical Zoom, UWB for locating different gadgets

US worth off-contract

$800 (8GB/128GB)

$1,000 (8GB/256GB)

$1,200 (12GB/256GB)

UK worth

£849 (8GB/128GB)

£1,049 (8GB/256GB)

£1,249 (12GB/256GB)

Australia worth

AU$1,349 (8GB/128GB)

AU$1,649 (8GB/256GB)

AU$1,949 (12GB/256GB)