The Samsung Galaxy S23 series is being launched today at the Unpacked event in San Francisco, marking the first major flagship phone launch of 2023. The updates to the standard S23 and S23 Plus models are minor, while the main upgrade to the S23 Ultra is its 200-megapixel camera, improved selfie camera, and software updates. Other changes include a slight screen curvature modification, different case materials, and the latest Qualcomm processors, along with new color and storage options. The camera improvement is the highlight of the S23 Ultra, but the overall changes are incremental. This means that those who have last year’s model won’t feel left behind by not upgrading.
The phone is available in new colors such as green and lavender.
Camera set
The cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra have received a significant update with the introduction of its 200-megapixel “Adaptive Pixel” rear sensor, which Samsung claims is a first for its Galaxy line. By default, the system uses pixel-binning to produce brighter and clearer images at 12MP, but users have the option to shoot at 200MP.
The optical image stabilization (OIS) has been improved with a doubled range, allowing for compensation of twice the amount of movement in all directions. The processing algorithms have also been updated to better capture a person’s dynamic features.
Samsung has improved its Nightography mode for better low-light images through the implementation of a new “AI-powered image signal processing (ISP) algorithm”. However, this claim has yet to be verified as the demo area was brightly lit and did not provide an opportunity to test the feature in low-light conditions. An 8K video was captured at 30 frames per second (up from 24fps). Users who plan to film a lot of 8K video may want to consider purchasing the new 1TB storage model.
Curved display
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has remained largely similar to its predecessor, although the screen curvature has been reduced to improve its compatibility with the S Pen. The display now reaches a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, but the difference may not be easily noticeable without a direct comparison. Despite its 6.8-inch screen size being difficult to handle with one hand, reaching across the display is possible with some effort.
Further testing needed
A full range of tests will be needed to determine the true capabilities of the new S23 series, powered by a custom version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The chipset features higher clock speeds, reaching up to 3.3GHz, 100MHz faster than the standard version. Qualcomm claims this results in improved performance in both CPU and GPU frequencies, making it the fastest Snapdragon ever. Despite this, the S23 series will still enjoy the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 benefits, including hardware-accelerated ray-tracing for improved lighting effects in games.
Cooling system
The S23 line includes a larger vapor cooling system to prevent overheating during extended gaming sessions and a 5,000mAh battery in the S23 Ultra, which according to Samsung, has a longer lifespan of over 20% compared to the previous model.
The S23 Ultra starts at $1,200 and will be available on February 17th.
