Galaxy S23 / Ultra Impressions: Cruise Control! | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Samsung's S23 lineup features three models - S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra - with subtle design changes and improved cameras, including a 200-megapixel main camera.

Key Insights

• 🐿️ The S23 lineup maintains a similar design to last year, with incremental updates focused on the camera system and chip.
• 📣 Samsung's naming convention of "Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy" might not indicate significant differences compared to other Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones.
• 🎥 The S23 Ultra stands out with its reshaped design, larger camera bumps, and impressive camera system, featuring a 200-megapixel main camera.
• 🎏 The presence of shutter lag in the camera is a potential concern that needs further testing in various conditions.
• 🇦🇪 The S23 Ultra's display offers exceptional brightness at 1750 nits, but some units may exhibit flickering issues during recordings.
• 💨 The absence of chargers in the boxes of the S23 lineup makes the Anker Ace charger a suitable option, providing fast and efficient charging capabilities.
• 😣 The camera improvements, particularly in dynamic range and image quality, differentiate the S23 Ultra from the rest of the lineup.

Transcript

foreign so we do have some new Samsung phones for early in the year as we usually expect them this time it's s23 s23 plus and s23 Ultra spoiler alert I've played with them for like two hours they are very similar to last year's phones which is great those were Rock Solid but that also means that I can probably make this like the shortest MKBHD vide... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the major differences between the S23 and S23 Plus?

The main differences between the S23 and S23 Plus are the screen size, battery capacity, wired charging speed, and base storage. The S23 has a smaller 6.1-inch screen, 3900mAh battery, 25W peak wired charging, and starts at 128GB of storage. The S23 Plus has a larger 6.6-inch screen, 4700mAh battery, 45W peak wired charging, and starts at 256GB of storage.

Q: What are the noticeable changes in the design of the S23 Ultra?

The S23 Ultra features slightly larger camera bumps with pronounced rings around them and a more flat, boxy shape, providing a different aesthetic and feel compared to last year's model. Samsung states that the shape change optimizes the phone for the S Pen and offers a refreshing design.

Q: Are there any concerns about the camera performance?

Initial impressions of the camera are positive, with improved dynamic range and excellent image quality in well-lit environments. However, there were reports of noticeable shutter lag, which might affect capturing fast-moving subjects. Testing in real-world scenarios will help determine the camera's performance thoroughly.

Q: Does the S23 Ultra offer any standout features?

The S23 Ultra's standout feature is its camera system, which includes a 200-megapixel main camera, along with an Ultra-wide and two telephoto cameras (3x and 10x). It offers improved optical image stabilization, low-light performance, and integration with Galaxy camera features on select apps like Instagram.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The S23 and S23 Plus are nearly identical, differing only in size, battery capacity, wired charging speed, and base storage, while maintaining the same design as last year's models.

• The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip powers the phones, which feel fast but may not have significant advantages over other Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones.

• The standout feature is the refreshed camera system with new sensors, image processing, and AI remastering, resulting in improved dynamic range and the introduction of a 200-megapixel main camera.