The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is not the newest Ultra in Samsung’s lineup, but it remains one of the most complete spec sheets in the premium Android segment. Its mix of a 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, embedded S Pen, 200MP main camera, dual telephoto cameras, and 5000mAh battery still reads like a true flagship rather than a cut-down older model.
Announced on February 1, 2023 and released on February 17, 2023, the Galaxy S23 Ultra now sits in a particularly interesting position for buyers comparing current flagships with discounted previous-generation devices. This article focuses on the ownership value, strengths, and tradeoffs around the specs; the complete specification table is handled separately from the source data.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology: | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 2G bands: | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA | |
| 3G bands: | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| 4G bands: | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 – International |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 – USA | |
| 5G bands: | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 – International |
| 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave – USA | |
| Speed: | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
Launch
| Announced: | 2023, February 01 |
| Status: | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
Body
| Dimensions: | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight: | 234 g (8.25 oz) |
| Build: | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| SIM: | Nano-SIM + eSIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) |
Display
| Type: | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| Size: | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution: | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Protection: | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
Platform
| OS: | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1 |
| Chipset: | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| CPU: | Octa-core (1×3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU: | Adreno 740 |
Memory
| Card slot: | No |
| Internal: | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 4.0 |
Main Camera
| Quad: | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Features: | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video: | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
Selfie camera
| Single: | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2″, 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Features: | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Video: | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
Sound
| Loudspeaker: | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack: | No |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG |
Comms
| WLAN: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth: | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning: | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| NFC: | Yes |
| Radio: | No |
| USB: | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
Features
| Sensors: | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Circle to Search |
Battery
| Type: | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Charging: | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
Misc
| Colors: | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
| Models: | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS |
| SAR: | 1.12 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU: | 0.96 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) |
| Price: | € 493.00 / $ 499.99 / £ 460.00 / ₹ 77,000 |
Our Tests
| Performance: | AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) 3DMark: 3790 (Wild Life Extreme) |
| Display: | 1274 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Camera: | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker: | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Battery: | Active use score 13:24h |
| Battery (old): | Endurance rating 126h |
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €493, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of September 20, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $566
- Japan: ¥88,920
- United Kingdom: £423
- Australia: A$795
- Canada: C$792
- Taiwan: NT$17,998
- Denmark: kr3.686
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼2,122
- South Korea: ₩784,280
- Germany: €493
- Brazil: R$2.907
- Vietnam: ₫14.720.408
- Kenya: KSh 73,209
- India: ₹54,226
- Indonesia: Rp 10.041.971
- Nigeria: ₦770,171
- Pakistan: ₨157,052
- Philippines: ₱35,515
- Bangladesh: ৳৬৯,৪৬১
Why Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The strongest reason to consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra is that it combines several specialist features in one device. It is a high-end camera phone, a large-screen media phone, a stylus productivity phone, and a DeX-ready desktop-style device. Many newer phones can match one or two of those areas, but fewer offer the same overall toolbox without moving to a foldable or a much more expensive current flagship.
Its value case is especially clear for users who care about zoom photography, note-taking, and long-term performance more than having the latest model number. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy remains powerful enough for demanding apps and games, while UFS 4.0 storage helps the phone feel quick when installing apps, moving large files, or recording high-resolution video. Buyers should still compare warranty status, battery health, regional 5G support, and storage variant before choosing a unit.
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is unapologetically large: 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm and 234 g. That size brings the expansive display and internal S Pen slot, but it also means this is not the easiest phone for one-handed use. The squared-off shape feels closer to Samsung’s former Galaxy Note identity than to the rounded design of smaller Galaxy S models.
Materials are suitably premium, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back plus an aluminum frame. The IP68 rating adds dust protection and water resistance for immersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes under rated test conditions. The built-in S Pen remains a defining advantage for handwritten notes, quick sketches, document markup, remote camera controls, and users who prefer precision input over finger taps.
Display Experience
The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel is one of the main reasons the S23 Ultra still feels premium. It uses a sharp 1440 x 3088 resolution at about 500 ppi, supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and includes HDR10+. Samsung lists up to 1200 nits in high brightness mode and up to 1750 nits peak, while the supplied test data reports 1274 nits measured maximum brightness.
In daily use, that combination makes the phone well suited to reading, photo editing, streaming, split-screen multitasking, and map use outdoors. The curved-edge panel may not be ideal for everyone, particularly users who prefer flat glass for screen protectors or stylus writing near the edge, but the overall visual quality remains flagship-class.
Performance and Storage
The Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset is paired with the Adreno 740 GPU, giving the Galaxy S23 Ultra strong sustained performance for gaming, camera processing, multitasking, and DeX. The source test numbers are still impressive: AnTuTu 1241531 on v9, GeekBench 4927 on v5.1, and 3DMark Wild Life Extreme 3790.
Storage options are practical for heavy users: 256GB with 8GB RAM, 256GB with 12GB RAM, 512GB with 12GB RAM, or 1TB with 12GB RAM. There is no microSD card slot, so the right internal capacity matters. Anyone planning to shoot lots of 4K or 8K video should treat 512GB as the more comfortable starting point if the price difference is reasonable.
Camera System
The camera setup is the S23 Ultra’s headline feature. The 200MP wide camera brings high-resolution capture and pixel-binning flexibility, while the 10MP 3x telephoto and 10MP 10x periscope telephoto give it more optical reach than many conventional flagships. A 12MP ultrawide with autofocus rounds out the rear system and also supports Super Steady video.
Video support is similarly ambitious, reaching 8K at 24 or 30fps, 4K at 30 or 60fps, and high-frame-rate 1080p modes. Features such as OIS, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ video, stereo sound recording, laser autofocus, and auto-HDR make the phone versatile for travel, family events, social video, and casual creator work. The 12MP selfie camera is not extreme on resolution, but dual pixel autofocus and 4K recording make it more reliable than many fixed-focus front cameras.
Battery Life and Charging
The 5000mAh battery gives the Galaxy S23 Ultra the capacity expected from a large Android flagship. The supplied active use score is 13:24h, and the older endurance rating is listed at 126h, both of which support the idea that this phone can still serve as a full-day device for many users.
Charging is solid rather than class-leading. The phone supports 45W wired charging with PD3.0, listed as reaching 65% in 30 minutes under the stated conditions. It also supports 15W Qi wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Users moving from Chinese-brand fast-charging phones may find it slower, but Samsung’s charging approach is familiar, widely compatible, and predictable.
Software, S Pen, and Desktop Features
The source software line lists Android 13 with up to four major Android upgrades and One UI 6.1.1. Because update availability can vary by region, carrier, and model number, buyers should check the device’s software update screen before purchase, especially on imported or carrier-locked units. Samsung support material also lists newer One UI feature rollouts for supported Galaxy S23 models, including Galaxy AI-related tools and Circle to Search availability on eligible software builds.
Beyond standard Android features, the Ultra stands out through Samsung DeX, Wireless DeX, UWB support, and the integrated S Pen with Bluetooth functions plus motion sensors. These extras are not just spec-sheet decoration; they make the phone more useful for presentations, quick desktop sessions, file handling, precise annotations, smart tag tracking, and multitasking workflows.
Connectivity and Audio
Connectivity is broad, with GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE, and 5G listed across international and USA variants. The USA model includes mmWave bands, while international models focus on Sub-6 5G. That distinction matters: imported units may not deliver the same carrier compatibility, 5G coverage, or network features as a local model.
Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS with multiple satellite systems, USB Type-C 3.2, and OTG give the phone a strong connectivity base. Audio is handled by stereo speakers tuned by AKG with 32-bit/384kHz support, but there is no 3.5mm headphone jack or FM radio. The loudspeaker test result of -25.6 LUFS is rated very good in the supplied data.
Who Should Buy This Phone?
The Galaxy S23 Ultra makes the most sense for buyers who want a premium Android phone with real camera reach, a big high-resolution screen, stylus input, and strong productivity features. It is a particularly good fit for travelers, students, professionals, mobile photographers, and Samsung ecosystem users who can benefit from DeX, UWB, wireless charging, and S Pen workflows.
It is less ideal for buyers who want a compact phone, the lightest possible body, expandable storage, a headphone jack, or the fastest charging in the market. It is also worth comparing against newer Galaxy Ultra models if long software runway, camera processing updates, or future resale value are top priorities.
References
- Samsung Mobile Press: Galaxy S23 Ultra media assets and specifications
- Samsung Mobile Press: Galaxy S23 series launch announcement
- Samsung Support: One UI update and Circle to Search information
- Source catalog entry used for the supplied specification data
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains a high-end Android phone with a rare balance of camera flexibility, display quality, performance, battery life, and productivity features. Its size, weight, lack of microSD support, and moderate charging speed are the main tradeoffs, but the overall package is still highly competitive when priced below newer Ultra models. Recommendation: buy it if you want a feature-packed Samsung flagship with S Pen and long zoom capability, and choose the largest storage variant your budget comfortably allows.
