Design: Huge, Heavy, but Feels Like a Flagship
The S23 Ultra is a brick in a good way if you like big phones. At 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm and 234 grams, it’s heavier than the S23+ (196 grams) and way chunkier than the compact S23. The curved edges make it slippery without a case, but the matte glass back in Green (my pick) looks premium and resists fingerprints better than glossy phones. Phantom Black is stealthy, Cream is clean, and Lavender is fun plus exclusive colors like Lime or Red online.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 everywhere, Armor Aluminum frame, IP68 dropped it on tile (heart attack), but it’s fine. The S Pen slots in the bottom, and pulling it out feels satisfying for notes or doodles during calls. Compared to iPhone 16 Pro’s flat edges, the curve helps with swipes but causes accidental touches sometimes. The 6.8-inch screen is massive for movies, but one-handed use? Forget it S23+ is the balance if you want big without phablet vibes.
Display: Best I’ve Used on Any Phone
That 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with QHD+ resolution (1440 x 3088, 501 PPI) is stunning sharper than S23+’s FHD+ and brighter at 1750 nits. HDR10+ makes YouTube or Netflix pop with deep blacks and vivid colors. 120Hz (adaptive down to 1Hz) is buttery, and Vision Booster adjusts for sunlight perfectly. Always-on display shows notifications nicely, and the curve immerses you in games.
Versus iPhone 16 Pro’s 120Hz, Samsung wins for size and peak brightness outdoors. S Pen support turns it into a mini tablet drawing in Notes or marking up screenshots is addictive. Only gripe: curved screen glare in bright light, but the anti-reflective coating helps.
| Additional details |
| Operating System | Android 13 |
| Processor Type | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Display Size | 17.27 cm (6.8 inch) |
| Memory Storage Capacity | 128 GB , 256 GB , 512 GB |
| Colour | Cream, Lavender, Green, and Phantom Black |
| Camera | 200MP + 10MP + 12MP + 10MP | 12MP Front Camera |
| Form Fator | Smartphone |
| Biomatric Security Feature | Face Recognition |
| Sim Card Size | Nano + eSIM |
| Water Resistance Level | Water Resistant |
Performance: Overkill for Most, Perfect for Power Users
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy with 12GB RAM (or 8GB in base) this thing crushes everything. Ray-traced games like Honkai Star Rail on max, no throttle, and multitasking with DeX on a monitor feels like a PC. Better cooling than S23/S23+ means longer sessions without heat. iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro is snappier for some apps, but Android’s flexibility wins for me.
Storage up to 1TB (UFS 4.0), no microSD. One UI 7 on Android 15 love the customization, but some updates caused minor battery hiccups for folks on X (mine’s smooth now). Updates till 2028, Wi-Fi 6E, ultra-wideband for precise tracking. Satellite SOS saved a hiker friend once cool feature.
Cameras: Zoom King, Photo Beast
Quad setup: 200MP main (f/1.7), 12MP ultra-wide, dual telephotos (10MP 3x and 10MP 10x). The 200MP sensor bins to 12MP for everyday shots detail is insane, zoom to 100x (Space Zoom) gets moon shots that look pro (though some say AI helps too much). Night mode is magic, portraits with bokeh are flawless. Beats S23/S23+’s 50MP main in versatility, and rivals iPhone 16 Pro’s 48MP but wins big on zoom.
12MP selfies are sharp, 8K video stable. Expert RAW app for manual controls love it for editing. Downsides: colors can be oversaturated vs Apple’s natural tones, and ultra-wide isn’t as wide as some rivals.
Software and Battery: Endurance Champ
One UI 7 packed with S Pen features remote shutter, air commands, screen-off memos. DeX is underrated for productivity. Battery: 5000 mAh lasts 1.5-2 days easy (8-10 hours screen time), crushing S23+ and matching iPhone in heavy use. 45W charging to full in ~60 minutes, 15W wireless, reverse wireless for buds.
Price and Final Thoughts
Snagged a renewed one for ~$500-600 now in November 2025 (launch was $1199). Bargain for what you get S Pen, zoom, screen alone worth it over S23+.
The S23 Ultra is still a monster in 2025. If you want the ultimate Android big screen, best cameras, productivity tools it’s unbeatable used. Heavier than S23+, but the extras make up for it. Versus iPhone 16 Pro, Samsung for fun/features, Apple for simplicity. 9.5/10 my favorite of the S23 series!