Quick Verdict
Reviewers near-universally crowned the Galaxy S23 Ultra the best big Android phone of 2023: a new 200MP ISOCELL HP2 main camera with much better OIS, 10x periscope + 3x telephoto + ultrawide, the bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, a brilliant 6.8-inch 120Hz LTPO display, stellar 5,000mAh battery life, 45W charging, and the only mainstream phone with a built-in S Pen. Three years on, long-term owners and 2025/2026 'still worth it' videos consistently say yes — at $500-650 used it's one of the best smartphone bargains around. Buy this if you want a flagship Android with the best stylus, top-tier zoom and a phone that's already aged well; skip it if you need the absolute newest AI features, faster charging (it's 45W when rivals push 80-120W), or a more reliable in-display fingerprint sensor.
Pros reviewers agree on
Strengths consistently called out across sources
- Best stylus in any phone — the built-in S Pen remains uniquely useful for notes, signing PDFs and screenshots
- Stunning 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, 1-120Hz LTPO, 1750-nit peak — among the best phone screens of its era
- Stellar battery life from a 5,000mAh cell with the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy — comfortably an all-day phone, often two
- New 200MP main camera with a 3-degree OIS module hugely improves video stabilization (best on Android, just behind iPhone 14 Pro)
- Quad-camera versatility — 200MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto + 10MP 10x periscope — still class-leading zoom range
- Premium build with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 + Armor Aluminum frame, IP68; survived drop tests against the iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Stays cool under sustained load thanks to the upgraded vapor chamber — noticeably less hot than the S22 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Cons reviewers agree on
Weaknesses flagged across multiple sources
- Expensive at $1,199 launch — competition from the cheaper Pixel 7 Pro at $899 was real
- Only 45W wired charging (1h3m to full at best) — slow versus the OnePlus 11's 80W (~25 min full) and other 2023 rivals
- Box-bundled cable doesn't trigger Super Fast Charging 2.0 — you must buy a separate 5A cable and 45W brick to hit the rated speed
- Iterative upgrade — no single big new feature over the S22 Ultra, and the design is essentially identical
- Bulky boxy form factor; ultrasonic fingerprint reader is hit-or-miss for many owners
What reviewers disagree on
Points where expert verdicts diverge — weigh based on your priorities
- 200MP camera worth it — Forbes/Mrwhosetheboss say the main and zoom rigs are amazing; BGR/DXOMARK call it a loss to iPhone 14 Pro; 9to5Google headlined 'disappointing camera, stellar battery'
- Worth upgrading from S22 Ultra — most reviewers say modest gains; MKBHD argues many small improvements add up to better-than-you-think; XDA says still not Samsung's best display panel
- Versus the Pixel 7 Pro at $300 less — TechOdyssey and others argue the Pixel is the value play with similar cameras
How This Review Was Created
18Publications
14YouTube Reviews
5Reddit Threads
37Total Sources
High ConfidenceReviews & long-term tests published February 2023 – May 2026
This is a synthesis of expert reviews and user discussions; we may not have physically tested the product. See methodology.
Detailed Breakdown
Same boxy 6.8-inch silhouette as the S22 Ultra in Gorilla Glass Victus 2 + Armor Aluminum, but the Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 1750-nit peak and 120Hz LTPO is still among the best in 2026 — the design only loses ground to the later titanium S24/S25 Ultra refresh.
- 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1-120Hz LTPO, QHD+ (3088x1440), 1200 nits HBM, 1750 nits peak — sharp, vibrant and bright enough for outdoor use.— GSMArena
- The display is still one of the best on any smartphone, period — colors are vibrant, blacks are truly black, and HDR content pops.— YouTube — Thomas Tech review
- Build: Gorilla Glass Victus 2 + Armor Aluminum frame, IP68 — still flagship-grade by today's standard, even without titanium.— YouTube — S23 Ultra long-term
- Bulkier in hand than the S22 Ultra despite the same thickness — the frame and display curve add perceived heft.— YouTube — TechTalkTV first impressions
- By 2026, 1750-nit peak feels modest next to rivals pushing 3,000+ nits in direct sunlight — the design's main aging point.— YouTube — Simple Alpaca 2026 review
- S Pen housing remains the signature differentiator — the best stylus in a smartphone, useful even if only occasionally for marking screenshots or signing PDFs.— Marques Brownlee
The headline upgrade — a new 200MP ISOCELL HP2 main camera with a doubled-range OIS module, alongside the unique 10x periscope + 3x telephoto + ultrawide combo. Real-world results are generally excellent but mixed against the iPhone 14 Pro on DXOMARK scoring.
- Cameras: 200MP main (f/1.7, 1/1.3", 0.6μm, ISOCELL HP2) + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto + 10MP 10x periscope; selfie 12MP, all 4K60 capable.— Phone Arena
- New OIS module bumps stabilization from 1.5 to 3 degrees of movement — arguably the best Android video stabilization, just behind the iPhone 14 Pro.— Forbes
- 8K video bumped to 30fps (from 24fps on the S22 Ultra), with wider 8K capture (80° vs 57°) thanks to the new chip and sensor.— YouTube — ZONEofTECH features deep-dive
- DXOMARK scored the camera 140 — putting it tied for 10th alongside the Pixel 7, well behind iPhone 14 Pro models at 140-142.— BGR
- 'No-one big new feature, but so many smaller improvements' — Phone Arena's verdict captures the iterative camera nature.— Phone Arena
- Real-world: 200MP only kicks in for daylight wide shots; in the dark it falls back to 12.5MP binned, and there's persistent shutter lag in 200MP mode.— YouTube — Galaxy S23 Ultra 1 Month Later
- Versus iPhone 15 Pro Max: the S23 Ultra still wins on optical zoom range thanks to its 10x periscope; iPhone holds the edge on natural color and video.— Reddit r/apple
The bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (3.36GHz, higher-binned) was the fastest mobile chip of its day, with a much-improved vapor chamber. Three years on it still feels snappy for everyday use, only outclassed by the latest 8 Gen 3/4 silicon.
- Powered by a bespoke 'Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy' — same chip as other 8 Gen 2 devices but clocked higher at 3.36GHz vs the standard 3.2GHz.— Ars Technica
- 12GB RAM + 256GB UFS 4.0 base storage, scaling up to 1TB — flagship-tier specs that still hold up in 2026.— Phone Arena
- Significantly cooler under sustained load than the S22 Ultra and even the iPhone 14 Pro Max thanks to a larger vapor chamber.— YouTube — TechTalkTV review
- Still smooth in 2026 for everyday use, app switching and Call of Duty — multitasking remains snappy on 12GB RAM.— YouTube — S23 Ultra in 2026
- Sustained-load testing showed frame rate improvements over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with much less throttling.— YouTube — v0-r3mme6y4 gaming test
5,000mAh paired with the efficient 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivered the era's best Android battery life — 6-7 hours of screen-on time, still close to 5 hours of mixed heavy use after 2 years. The catch is charging speed: 45W wired (and a special cable is needed to hit it) when rivals offer 80W+.
- 5,000mAh battery + the efficient 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy gives 6-7 hours of screen-on time at full brightness in WQHD with no power-save modes.— Android Central forum owner
- Two-year battery test still delivered ~4h44m of mixed heavy SOT (PUBG, Genshin, 4K video, Spotify) — strong longevity even after 2 years.— YouTube — nxqrNBVc3lk drain test
- Pure-runtime lab test hit 11h5m vs 8h13m on the S22 Ultra — a major efficiency leap from the Snapdragon chip alone.— YouTube — A3UYp-NyFY8 endurance test
- 45W wired charging: 40% in 15 min, 72% in 30 min, 91% in 45 min, full in ~1h3m — but only with a separate 5A cable and 45W brick.— YouTube — 45W vs 25W charge test
- The included box cable doesn't trigger Super Fast Charging 2.0 — Samsung sells the 5A cable and 45W brick separately, a recurring complaint.— YouTube — GadgetMatch charge test
- 15W wireless charging works as advertised: 20% in 20 min, 50% in 50 min, full in 1h58m.— YouTube — GadgetMatch charge test
- Versus OnePlus 11's 80W charging (~25 min full): the S23 Ultra's 45W feels noticeably slow — the era's clearest charging gap.— YouTube — sAsKsb8VTGE comparison
One UI 5.1 on Android 13 at launch with Samsung's industry-leading 4 OS updates / 5 years of security — taking it through Android 17. The S Pen remains the unique selling point versus every other slab phone in 2026.
- One UI 5.1 launched on Android 13 with the 4-major-Android-updates / 5-years-of-security commitment — easily reaches Android 17.— YouTube — Zy-excRknr4 still worth 2025
- Samsung has delivered software updates reliably and on time — One UI feels buttery smooth and is updated to One UI 6.1/7 with newer AI features.— Marques Brownlee
- S Pen now does 4K60 selfies via Bluetooth remote, signing PDFs, screenshot markup, photo editing, presentation control — the most complete stylus in any phone.— YouTube — Thomas Tech review
- Long-term owner frustration: One UI 7 quietly removed the Bluetooth functionality from the S Pen — a useful feature taken away.— Reddit r/Android
- Pushy update policy and the removal of useful features (S Pen Bluetooth) is making some long-time fans question staying loyal.— Reddit r/Android
Drop tests put it slightly ahead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max — Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and the aluminum frame hold up well. Long-term owners report minor scratches without a screen protector but no major issues over 2-3 years.
- In a side-by-side drop test the S23 Ultra survived 4 rounds better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max — fingerprint scanner still worked through a small crack.— 9to5Mac
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2 resisted penny/dime/nickel/quarter scratch test; main durability gain over the S22 Ultra is the protected camera bezel.— YouTube — PBKreviews drop test
- After 2 years without a screen protector: a few small display scratches but the body has held up — IP68 keeps water/dust anxiety at bay.— YouTube — gtS_a1N7qfY 2 years later
- 3 years on, glass and aluminum body still feels great in hand with only minor wear; battery health stays strong with the 85% charge limit.— YouTube — FYT9IPw_lik in 2026
- Real owner concern: an odd charging-port smell after about a year may signal a problem — service-shop visit recommended if it appears.— Reddit r/Samsung
Launched at $1,199 in early 2023, the S23 Ultra is now $500-650 used / ~$800 new — one of the best smartphone bargains in 2026, especially with the S25 Ultra delivering only modest gains. The Pixel 8 Pro and OnePlus 11 were its strongest contemporaries.
- Launched at $1,199 with 256GB UFS 4.0 — premium flagship territory then; Samsung's trade-in deals + $200 cashback / Disney+ kept the real cost down.— Engadget
- Now ~$500-650 used on eBay/Swappa, ~$800 new — an absolute bargain for the spec package in 2026.— YouTube — em1SEah31T4 2 years later
- The S25 Ultra disappointed many owners expecting big gains — the S23 Ultra still feels close enough that 'I'd buy this again' is a recurring sentiment in 2026.— Android Central forum
- Versus Pixel 7 Pro ($300 less) and OnePlus 11 (much faster charging at lower price) — the S23 Ultra's S Pen and zoom range are the deciding edges.— YouTube — TechOdyssey value review
- Versus iPhone 14 Pro Max — the S23 Ultra wins on zoom and customisation; iPhone wins on video and ecosystem 'just works'.— MacRumors forum
- If you want the best possible Android phone when it comes to the entire package, the S23 Ultra is probably it right now.— Forbes
Long-term Verdict
What creators say after 30, 100, or 365 days of real-world use — the post-honeymoon reality that launch-day reviews can't cover.
Three years of long-term reviews — 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, even 'still worth it in 2026' — land on a remarkably consistent verdict: the S23 Ultra has aged shockingly well. The battery, display, S Pen and cameras still feel current; the design is showing only minor wear; and at used prices well under $700, it's regularly called one of the best smartphone bargains today.
- Two years later in 2025: 6-7 hours of SOT, 45W charging still 'a game changer', and the 1750-nit display + 200MP camera 'still outstanding' — comfortably still worth it.— YouTube — 2 Years Later 2025 review
- Long-term verdict: encompasses everything you'd want in a phone — S Pen, software refinement, battery and well-rounded charging.— YouTube — sAsKsb8VTGE long-term
- Six months in: cameras have proven themselves time and time again, no plans to upgrade for another 1-2 years, S24 Ultra AI features don't justify the steep hike.— YouTube — ER94Zrw2K7o 6 months later
- After 2 years: 'one of the most consistent phones I've used', battery still goes under an hour to charge to 50% from any 45W brick.— YouTube — HNhT4uPbCwE long-term
- Three years in (2026): the glass + aluminum body still feels great, performance still holds up, design holds up against the latest titanium Ultras.— YouTube — FYT9IPw_lik in 2026
- 2026 verdict from Simple Alpaca: still insane device that holds up very well, even with S26 Ultra around the corner — main weakness is the dimmer display next to 3,000-nit rivals.— YouTube — sCOhzd9b_uI 2026 review
- In 2026 with the S26 Ultra approaching: design still fresh, performance still good for Call of Duty, ~6 hours SOT — easily the best value Ultra you can buy.— YouTube — lI0nMG2S4ts old flagship
- 2 years later for $500-650 used: 'a powerhouse with a killer display, unmatched zoom, and battery life that keeps up with the best — an absolute bargain'.— YouTube — AndroTag 2-year honest review
- Owner-shared frustration in 2026: the green-line display issue that plagues older S-series owners is something to watch for after 2+ years of heavy use.— YouTube — Feb 2026 update review
- After 1 year with no screen protector: small bezel scratches and a few display nicks; the 85% charge limit setting helps preserve battery for multi-year ownership.— Android Central owner forum
- MKBHD-style summary from one long-term owner: 'no other slab phone has been so much better that it's worth spending $1,300' on — still kicking 2-3 years in.— Reddit r/Android
Real-World Tests
Battery drain runs, durability tests, camera shootouts, and gaming benchmarks — the numbers that only video testers capture.
Hands-on tests put hard numbers on the S23 Ultra: a controlled lab pulled 11h5m of total runtime (vs S22 Ultra's 8h13m), a 2-year drain still hits ~4h44m mixed heavy SOT, gaming stays at 40-42°C with the new vapor chamber, charging hits 91% in 45 min on 45W with the right cable, and PhoneBuff's 4-round drop test gave the S23 Ultra the edge over the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
- 2-year-later drain test (heavy mix): 4h44m total SOT — 2h of PUBG/Genshin at 41-42°C cost 55%, 1h 4K video cost 29%, 1h Spotify cost 14%.— YouTube — nxqrNBVc3lk 2-year battery test
- Controlled runtime test: 11h5m total — well ahead of the S22 Ultra's 8h13m (8 Gen 1) and 8h15m (Exynos 2200) on the same protocol.— YouTube — A3UYp-NyFY8 runtime test
- 7-phone battery shootout: S23 Ultra knocked off at 8h21m — beaten by iPhone 15 Pro Max (~11h), Vivo X100 Pro (10h22m), OnePlus 12 (9h46m) and Oppo Find X7 Ultra (8h27m).— YouTube — Hv7N3Pvd_ro battery shootout
- 45W charge test: 40% in 15 min, 72% in 30 min, 91% in 45 min, 100% in ~1h3m — about 10-15% ahead of 25W at each checkpoint.— YouTube — 45W vs 25W test
- 25W charge baseline: 0→100% in 1h21m32s on the standard Samsung charger, ~1% per minute initially before slowing past 80%.— YouTube — 25W charge test
- Critical real-world finding: the in-box cable doesn't trigger Super Fast Charging 2.0 — must buy a separate 5A cable + 45W brick to hit the rated speeds.— YouTube — GadgetMatch 45W charge test
- 15W Qi wireless charging: 20% in 20 min, 50% in 50 min, full in 1h58m — about double the wired time.— YouTube — GadgetMatch wireless test
- Gaming sustained: PUBG/BGMI ran at 80-90fps at a constant 41-42°C — meaningfully cooler than the S22 Ultra under the same load.— YouTube — nxqrNBVc3lk gaming test
- 4-round PhoneBuff-style drop test vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: the S23 Ultra took the lighter damage; fingerprint scanner kept working through a small bezel crack.— YouTube — sxS9rUaKZFE drop test
- Durability scratch test: Gorilla Glass Victus 2 resists penny/dime/nickel/quarter; the protected camera bezel is the only meaningful design durability upgrade vs S22 Ultra.— YouTube — PBKreviews durability
- Camera stabilization test: the larger OIS module delivers very smooth 4K60 video even while running, with super-stable mode on the main camera at 1440p60 working well.— YouTube — 6VYmKbGy-1I stabilization test
- Astro mode test: Samsung's downloadable Astro Photo (add-on in Galaxy Store) delivers 20-second-stack night-sky shots — Milky Way visible after minimal editing.— YouTube — HPFRaKMh330 astro test
- Camera shootout vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Samsung wins on optical zoom range thanks to the 10x periscope; iPhone wins on natural color and most video work.— YouTube — SuperSaf camera comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Update History
- May 20, 2026— Review published
- May 20, 2026— Added Real-World Tests section (13 points)
- May 20, 2026— Added Long-term Verdict section (11 points)
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This synthesis review was compiled from 37 independent sources. TechTalkTown did not receive products or compensation from Samsung.