The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could be the best Android phone of 2023. Sure, it’s a phone we’re expecting big things from, as its predecessor — the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra — remains one of the best phones you can buy, even a year after launch.
We’ll know exactly how good the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is soon, as it’s expected to be unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2023 on February 1, but thanks to leaks and rumors, we already have a good idea of what this phone will offer.
With that in mind, we’ve compared what we expect from the Galaxy S23 Ultra with all the key specs and features of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, so you can see how much of an upgrade the next phone is likely to be.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: Price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is out now, officially starting at $1,199.99 / £1,149 / AU$1,849, but after being out for about a year, it can now be found at a discount – and the price will likely drop further once Samsung lands Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Speaking of which, it will likely be unveiled on February 1 and will likely hit stores a week or two after that. We suspect this will be widely available worldwide, but a price leak suggests it will be more expensive than the S22 Ultra, starting at $1,249 and likely to translate to around £1,200 / AU$1,900.
However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra may also start with 256GB of storage, while the Galaxy S22 Ultra may start with 128GB. For reference, the 256GB S22 Ultra costs $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$1,999, so you might actually get more for your money with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, compared to the current model’s standard prices.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: Design
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is rumored to have a very similar design to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, meaning it’s boxy with a slot for the S Pen and camera lenses that protrude individually from the back.
Like the S22 Ultra, it will also likely have a glass back and metal frame, and it almost certainly has the same water resistance as its older sibling.
We’ll likely see some design improvements, perhaps with slightly smaller bezels or something, but it can be hard to tell these phones apart visually.
However, its colors are likely to differ, as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra colors are rumored to include Cotton Flower (cream), Misty Lilac (pink), Botanic Green and Phantom Black, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is available in Phantom Black and Phantom White. , green, burgundy, graphite, sky blue, and red.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: Display
As for the screen, we don’t expect much difference here either, as reports indicate that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will have a 6.8-inch 1440 x 3088 screen, just like the S22 Ultra.
The upcoming phone is also believed to have the same 120Hz variable refresh rate and the same under-display fingerprint sensor as the current model.
However, its screen could be brighter, with reports suggesting it may be able to hit between 2,150 and over 2,200 nits, compared to 1,750 nits on the Galaxy S22 Ultra — though 1,750 nits is already quite bright.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra may have a tougher display as well, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 announced and likely listed, higher than the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Victus Plus.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: Camera and Battery
The camera could be one of the main upgraded components on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, as reports indicate that it will feature a new 200MP primary sensor, along with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera (with optical zoom). 3 x), and a 10-megapixel periscope camera (provides 10x optical zoom).
The only actual upgrade will be the main sensor, as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has 108MP. Reportedly, this new sensor will allow for better low-light shots, as well as the ability to provide more detailed images.
Otherwise, the cameras could be similar, though some of the smaller upgrades possible on the S23 Ultra include better focus, improved anti-shake, and a few new camera modes, like the ability to take ultra-high-speed videos of the sky — though that’s the latter and not. Software upgrades may come to the Galaxy S22 Ultra as well.
If you were hoping to increase the battery life on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, you might be in luck, as the consensus seems to be that it will pack a 5,000mAh battery — the same as the S22 Ultra — and such a phone will charge at up to 45W.
However, there is definitely a new chipset in the new phone (more on that below) that could make it more efficient, thus improving longevity even further.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: Specifications and Features
Other than the camera, the main update to the Galaxy S23 Ultra appears to be its chipset, with reports pointing to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset — in fact, a better version of it that non-Samsung phones will have access to.
That’s from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200 (depending on region) in the S22 Ultra, and should be a major upgrade to either. It’s also worth noting that the entire world will likely get the same chipset with the new phone, rather than some regions getting a lower-end Exynos device.
There isn’t much news about RAM, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra may also get a storage boost, with a starting size of 256GB, up from 128GB in the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Calling might be improved, too, showing talk of satellite connections on the phone, so you can make a call in an emergency if there’s no mobile signal.
We’ve also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra may have better speakers and an improved microphone.
We expect the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to run Android 13 out of the box, while the S22 Ultra will ship with Android 12. But the older phone has been updated to the latest OS already, so we don’t expect much of a difference there — other than the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will get Most likely on OS updates for a longer period in the long run.
away
Based on the leaks and rumours, it doesn’t look like we’ll see many upgrades on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The big changes appear to be the main camera, which will likely be upgraded to a 200MP sensor, and the chipset, which is sure to be better than last year.
On top of that, the screen could be brighter and tougher, satellite connections might be added, and the initial storage size could be higher — but with a higher starting price to go along with that.
At the same time, the design, battery size, charging speed, other cameras, and screen size and resolution, may be either very similar or identical to those of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
So while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra may end up at number one on our list of the best Samsung phones and even the best phones, it probably won’t be a huge improvement over the 2022 phone.