Despite being older, the Galaxy S23 Ultra still boasts advantages over the iPhone 17 Pro Max, including a higher pixel density display, a more advanced camera system with higher resolution and zoom capabilities, faster charging, and unique productivity features like the S Pen and Samsung DeX, giving it ongoing bragging rights in 2025.
Samsung has released an exclusive update for the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra, improving stability and reliability, and fixing a camera issue. The update is currently limited to Thailand and has not yet been rolled out globally.
Samsung is delaying the release of the One UI 6.1 update, but a leaked video of the Galaxy S23 Ultra running the new software provides a glimpse of its smoother UI animations and AI-powered features. The update is expected to roll out to the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and the Galaxy Tab S9 lineup first, with other eligible devices to follow. Despite Samsung's promise of a March release, the delay is causing skepticism, but users can prepare for the update by following some tips.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a significant upgrade over the Galaxy S23 Ultra, with better cameras, longer Android update support, improved battery life, and superior performance. Despite the similar pricing, the S24 Ultra offers more value and future-proofing, making it a better choice over its predecessor.
Samsung is offering a $325 discount on all storage models of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, making it the lowest price ever for the flagship smartphone. Despite the release of the new Galaxy S24 Ultra with improved features, the S23 Ultra remains a solid choice, especially with the current discount. The phone boasts powerful specifications, including a 200MP main camera sensor and a large 6.8-inch display, and it will receive five years of major Android updates.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is set to be unveiled on January 17, with pre-orders expected to open on the same day. Leaks and rumors suggest key differences between the S24 Ultra and its predecessor, the S23 Ultra, including a more premium build, brighter screen, more powerful chipset, and potential camera upgrades. While the S24 Ultra may offer improvements, the S23 Ultra could still be worth considering, especially if found at a discounted price, until the S24 Ultra is officially launched.
According to a poll conducted by 9to5Google, the top smartphones of 2023, as voted by readers, were the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8, followed by the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the foldable OnePlus Open. Other notable mentions included the Google Pixel 7a, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Nothing Phone (2), and OnePlus 11. The authors of 9to5Google had their own individual top five lists, with the Pixel 8 Pro and OnePlus Open being their favorite releases of the year.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has maintained its position as the leading Android flagship smartphone even after a year since its release. The design, display, and camera capabilities have held up well, and Samsung's continuous software updates have added new features and improved the user experience. With the upcoming release of its successor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra remains a great option for customers looking for a high-quality smartphone at a discounted price.
Voting for the Reader's Choice Award for the best phone of 2023 has closed, and the winner will be announced over the weekend. The final round consisted of two phones, the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro, with readers having multiple chances to vote across various platforms. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to compete against the Pixel 7 Pro for the top spot.
New real-world pictures of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra have surfaced, revealing subtle differences between the two models. The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a flush stylus compartment, a redesigned speaker, and thicker power and volume buttons. It is also expected to have a slightly thinner body and a more durable titanium alloy frame. However, there are no major internal upgrades reported, with the S24 Ultra likely to have similar memory and storage options as its predecessor, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The camera system is rumored to include a 50MP telephoto sensor with 5x optical zoom.
Samsung's upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, is set to feature a titanium alloy chassis, a departure from the traditional aluminum and glass build. A comparison with its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, reveals improved textures and design refinements, including bigger buttons and a changed S Pen. However, concerns about the durability of titanium have been raised. The Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a cleaner texture and a reduced thickness of 8.6mm, with the speaker cutout now a long bar and the air vents moved to the top. The buttons are also thicker, promising a more tactile feel.
A recent survey on Flickr revealed that photos captured by Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone are highly favored among Android devices. The Galaxy S23 Ultra ranked second in terms of the number of times photos were favorited on the platform, with an average of 21.7 favorites per photo. The versatile camera setup, including a 200MP primary camera and telephoto lenses, received praise for its unmatched quality. Despite criticisms about camera sensors, the popularity of iPhones and Galaxy phones among the general public remains strong, highlighting the significance of real-world results over technical specifications.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, with its larger storage variant, has received a significant price drop of almost $400 in a Thanksgiving deal, making it the best price ever tracked. The smartphone, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, offers a 200MP camera, S Pen support, and a 6.8-inch display, making it ideal for note-takers on the go.
Samsung is offering a special Black Friday deal on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, with a 25% discount available exclusively through the Shop Samsung app. Customers can also receive up to $800 off by trading in eligible devices, and an additional $25 bonus for first-time purchases through the app. With these discounts, the Galaxy S23 Ultra can be purchased for as little as $275.
Samsung is offering boosted trade-in credit of up to $800 for the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Z Fold 5 in early Black Friday deals. The trade-in values are increased by a couple of hundred dollars, making it a good time to upgrade. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers the best trade-in values, with up to $1,000 for older foldable models. The Galaxy S23 Ultra also receives trade-in boosts, with the S22+ model getting $600 back instead of $200. Samsung is also extending deals to the Galaxy Watch 6, offering up to $200 back for older watch models.