As a long term IPhone user I tried this phone and was satisfied with its performance. The customisability is unparalleled as compared to iOS. Sadly, as I’m big into the Apple ecosystem the switch was very difficult and the interaction between android and iOS wasn’t the same compared to iOS. The battery life wasn’t bad, as I’m not a heavy user, but Apple optimisation is far superior as compared to android. Overall, this phone is a solid Apple competitor, with good cameras, decent battery life and quality performance.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G is the pinnacle of smartphone technology, and I couldn’t be more impressed with its exceptional performance and array of cutting-edge features. As an avid tech enthusiast, I always look for a device that pushes boundaries, and this flagship phone from Samsung has truly exceeded my expectations.

Let’s start with the design and build quality. The Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G boasts a sleek and premium design that immediately catches the eye. The combination of a glass front and back, along with the robust metal frame, not only provides a luxurious feel but also ensures durability. The phone feels solid in hand, and the attention to detail in its craftsmanship is evident.

One of the standout features of this phone is the stunning display. The S23 Ultra 5G showcases a massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with a QHD+ resolution. The colors are vibrant, and the contrast is incredibly rich, creating an immersive viewing experience. The display’s 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and navigating through the interface buttery smooth, enhancing the overall user experience.

The camera capabilities of the Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G are unparalleled. Equipped with a quad-lens rear camera setup, including a powerful 108MP primary sensor, a periscope zoom lens, an ultra-wide lens, and a depth sensor, this phone takes photography to a whole new level. The images captured are incredibly detailed, with accurate colors and excellent dynamic range. The 100x Space Zoom feature allows me to get up close to subjects that are far away without compromising image quality. The video recording capabilities, including the ability to shoot in 8K resolution, further demonstrate Samsung’s commitment to innovation.

Performance-wise, the S23 Ultra 5G leaves no room for disappointment. With a cutting-edge Exynos or Snapdragon processor (depending on the region), paired with a massive 12GB of RAM, this phone effortlessly handles any task thrown at it. Multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications run smoothly without any lag or slowdowns. The 512GB of internal storage provides ample space for all my apps, media, and files, and the ability to expand it further with a microSD card is a welcome addition.

The battery life on the Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G is impressive. The sizable 5,000mAh battery easily lasts me through a full day of heavy usage, and the phone supports fast charging, both wired and wireless, which ensures I spend less time tethered to a charger. The inclusion of reverse wireless charging is a convenient feature, allowing me to charge my other devices or even share power with a friend in need.

In terms of software, Samsung’s One UI is intuitive and feature-rich, providing a seamless user experience. The phone runs on the latest version of Android, and Samsung’s commitment to regular software updates ensures that I have access to the latest features and security patches.

Lastly, the inclusion of 5G connectivity ensures that I can take full advantage of the fastest network speeds available, delivering lightning-fast downloads and smooth streaming experiences.

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G sets the bar incredibly high for smartphones. Its stunning design, exceptional display, powerful camera system, top-notch performance, and extensive features make it a true flagship device. If you’re seeking the absolute best in smartphone technology, the Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G is the device to consider. It’s an investment that will undoubtedly provide a premium and futuristic mobile experience for years to come.

I’ve read a few of these reviews before doing my own to see what points were being made and what was not. I can’t speak as a former samsung owner as I never went through the exynos period of mobiles where battery seemed to be lacking but I did come from the nothingphone (1) which is considered a midtier mobile and I can see differences between the two.

I’ll start of with my previous phone, the nothing phone (1) which was the gimmick phone with the clear back and lights released july 2022 and actually it’s been a decent phone. The battery life was really good and would typically last about a day and often longer so seemed to pair well with the seven series chip that it was using, It was a good phone but NOTHING much more to say. The Thing I didn’t like about the phone was the quality control, I spoted dust underneath the near glass panel meaning it was either there on purchase or over time slipped in and was there to stay, there are other reports of this as well as screen issues and with glyph lights. The overall feel of the phone in the hand was ok but there was something hollow about it and a sense that it was going to fall apart eventually.

Although unnecessary I decided I wanted something a bit smaller from a more reputible brand with quality products. I’ve had samsung devices in the past such as the Tab S7+ and was very impressed with the quality then so I made the plunge to buy the S23. The first thing I notice on arrival is the quality difference between nothing and the S23 just by holding it. There were no sharp edges (those complaining of such have never experienced a sharp edge clearly), the weight although heavy for some is appreciated by myself as it’s typically a sign of quality, the frame feels far more sturdy and grippy and the glass backing repells fingerprinters well and doesn’t feel cheap, so far so good.

The software/GUI, One UI 5.1 is really enjoyable to use and looks neat with everything easily accessible and customizable (Except playstore icons! argh!) aside from that really nice to use. The one problem I do have however is out of the box bloatware, I don’t know why typically asian brands load their devices with unwanted apps, (Xiaomi does it as well) fortunately it isn’t hard to uninstall them and I appreciate that they don’t force us to have these perminately.

I want to be fair on the phone in regards to the battery because I understand the type of device i’ve come from and moved onto and it’s my own choice in doing so. If i’m comparing battery with the nothing phone it does lose as I will typically get over a day of use from nothing and maybe 10hrs+ from the S23. It all comes down to my typical use case but that is what happens when you go from a phone with 4500mAh with a midtier processor to 3900mAh with a toptier processor. I wanted the smaller phone and will need to put up with the smaller battery, something I will adapt and get used to. Considering the phones nice size however I am happy with the use I get from it and the software seems well optimized.

The S23 cameras are really nice, will they be the best? no of course not there will always be better cameras out there, The S23 ultra for example will have better cameras because it’s even more of a premium phone with better goodies built in. That said the S23 takes some really nice clear imagery without a ridiculous amount of processing, I can tell there’s some slight sharpening but not terrible levels. In the end it makes great photo’s in both lighter and darker enviornments. (Photo’s taken using 3:4 50MP, scene optimizer off, effects off)

I’m sure there are other points I can make but as a conclusion I would recommend the S23 to anyone who can afford it and is typically used to small phones. You will be paying a premium but in return you are getting a quality, well developed product that will likely last you years.

Edit: I’ve had the phone for about a month now and it’s still running well. The battery seems to learn your usage patterns and adapts based on that. I now get a day or more (based on usage).

Some reviews complain of very minor problems which is simply put, part of being an android user and not likely down to the phone itself. If you want a very simple easy to use phone without a gram of faff, go to iPhone.

This has to be the best phone samsung has ever made, it is like having a dslr camera that fits in your pocket, i watched some YouTube videos before pre-ordering and it showed this phone taking pictures of the moon, I was like no way, impossible, as soon as I got the phone I tried it and I have not looked back, the battery is incredible, when you play games you can turn off calls and messages and other stuff so your not interuppted and the ram is solely focused on your games you play which when Dow loaded are automatically saved in your game launcher not your usual place, I use my phone moderately and charge it once a night or on occasion have left it off charge for day and ahalf while still using it, I haven’t even used power save which would increase my battery life by days, absolutely recommend this to anyone who is serious about wanting a phone, you want need to upgrade for a few years but if your a keeper this will stick with till the s33

After reading tonnes of reviews, I decided to go for it. Got a deal with headphones and a cover. Three packages arrived at different times but everything is good.

Now, the phone: I am a long term of user of P30 Pro. I’m not a fan of Huawei’s UI but P30 pro is still awesome after nearly 4 years and is more than capable of taking stunning pictures, very good battery and still handles all kinds of software. The point I’m trying to make is that it is hard to beat.
However, I think S23 Ultra made it. The camera is definitely next level, and if you know what you’re doing with photography, is a serious contender for the foreseeable future. I’m also impressed by the quality of sound on the videos too. Some friends sent me private messages on the back of my latest social media posts to ask if I have a new phone and comment on quality of content. This was adding to a “Wow” effect.

120hz display is definitely awesome, even not at highest resolution.
Battery is very good but real measure for this can be done after a year. Slightly annoying that it doesn’t really charge nearly as quick as the old Huawei. However, this could be a good thing for battery life, who knows.
It is the first phone I have with an S-pen and I think in some situations it is great! Certainly works like nothing ever so accurate. And is great tool to remote control your camera shutter – great!
The overall feel of the phone is very nice, even though 225 gramms is a substantial amount of weight.

Now the “not so great” sides:

Firstly, it is a shame that a flagship of a phone costs so much money these days. However, this is across all manufacturers so I guess it is partially inflation and shortage of microchips – we need to get used to this. On the bright side, I can say it looks like there is no compromise on quality of materials used on the S23 Ultra – you get what you pay for – best technology available today.
Secondly, the phone is pretty big. Not unmanageable big, just an “XL” phone. I’m a bit annoyed that the cutting edge technology has to be of this size. Quality of the screen and overall experience make you feel you can live with this though. One advice – when getting a protector bumber, might be a good idea to take a ring at the back of the case too – for better grip.
Thirdly, same as all manufacturers, Samsung is trying really hard to pre-install their ecosystem of apps that may not be suitable for everyone. This is a problem with all manufacturers, to be fair. I just spent half a day cutting down apps and permissions.

In conclusion, having used various manufacturers through the last 10 years, including Sony, Samsung, Huawei and Apple, every one of these manufacturers has some features that are awesome and others that aren’t so great. You cannot buy “a best phone ever”, just depends on what you like.
I like the S23 Ultra and think it’s worth the money and the upgrade. Time will show but my first impression is that this phone can breeze through the next 5 years with no issues.
Hope you find this useful!