A tech journalist tested the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for photographing a solar eclipse, finding that it's challenging due to exposure issues. Using eclipse glasses to reduce glare, the journalist compared the phones' zoom capabilities and image quality, ultimately favoring the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for its 10x optical zoom and detail, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max as a close second. The Google Pixel 8 Pro struggled with exposure but produced some atmospheric shots.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro has been named the best phone of 2023 by Android Authority. The Pixel 8 Pro stood out for its on-device AI smarts, excellent photography, industry-leading software policy, and refinements to the Pixel aesthetic. It narrowly beat out the OnePlus Open, which impressed with its foldable design and competitive price. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra took third place, followed by the Google Pixel 7a and the Motorola Razr Plus. The Reader's Choice award went to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Android Authority will continue to release best of the year lists and retrospective features for 2023.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has been crowned as the Reader's Choice for the best phone of 2023. After Google's Pixel 7 Pro won the award in 2022, Samsung fans rallied behind the Galaxy S23 Ultra to reclaim the title. The phone impressed voters with its 200MP main camera, beautiful display, and S Pen functionality. In the elimination round, underdogs like the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S23 and the OnePlus Open garnered significant support. However, the final four phones consisted of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and Pixel 8, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra emerging as the clear winner in the final round of voting across multiple platforms.
The author explains why they switched from using the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to the Google Pixel 8 Pro as their backup video camera. Despite the Galaxy S23 Ultra's superior camera specs on paper, the author found that the Pixel 8 Pro's 5x telephoto zoom provided better framing for shooting acting reels. They also praised the Pixel 8 Pro's seamless video zooming and the upcoming Video Boost feature, which is expected to improve video quality.
Sony's LinkBuds S wireless earbuds are on sale, with discounts of up to $90. The earbuds are lightweight and comfortable, with noise cancellation and transparency modes. Nanoleaf Lines smart LED lights are also discounted, offering colorful accent lighting for your walls. Samsung's flagship phone, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, is available at its lowest price since Amazon Prime Day, with $300 off. Other deals include discounted Dyson Zone noise-canceling headphones, the Amazfit Band 7 fitness band, Samsung's T7 2TB external SSD, and the Sonos Roam and Wireless Charger Bundle. The original Apple Watch Ultra is also on sale at a reduced price.
Samsung UK is offering a Black Friday deal on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, with a discount code that takes £250 off the price. This discount can be combined with Samsung's trade-in program, potentially saving customers up to an additional £500. To claim the deal, customers can visit Samsung's UK site, select their preferred storage capacity and color, choose the device they want to trade in, and enter the code 'S23ULTRA250' at checkout. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is known for its excellent performance, versatile camera, and S Pen stylus integration.
iPhone 15 Pro Max users are showcasing the phone's 5x zoom on TikTok, but Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra owners point out that their phones have had 10x zoom since February. While the iPhone 15 Pro Max impresses with its zoom capabilities, the S23 Ultra wins in terms of maximum zoom.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are two flagship smartphones with impressive features. The Pixel 8 Pro offers a comfortable design, brighter display, and exclusive software features, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a stylus, powerful camera system, and unique software customization options. In terms of performance, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has an advantage with its Snapdragon chip and faster wired charging. However, the Pixel 8 Pro's Tensor chip and AI-powered camera features are noteworthy. Pricing-wise, the Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at $1,199. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on personal preferences and priorities.
CNET conducted a camera shootout between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, comparing the image quality across various types of shots. While both cameras were deemed excellent, the iPhone 15 Pro Max was favored for delivering more accurate colors, better zoom capabilities, and superior night mode performance.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are compared in terms of their portrait mode capabilities. Both phones offer depth sensors for portrait photos, but the Ultra has a higher-resolution main camera sensor. The iPhone produces more balanced images with flatter colors and depth, while the Ultra has a stronger blur effect. In various portrait tests, the iPhone consistently delivers decent-quality shots in different lighting conditions, while the Ultra's photo processing can make shots look unnatural. Both phones allow users to adjust the bokeh effect to their liking.
In a drop test conducted by PhoneBuff, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra outperformed the iPhone 15 Pro Max, sustaining less damage in three out of four rounds. While the iPhone's back and front glass cracked, its titanium frame proved more resilient than the aluminum frame of the S23 Ultra. Both smartphones remained fully operational after the test, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max exhibited more damage than previous models with steel frames.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are both top contenders in the $1,200 phone market. The Galaxy S23 Ultra impresses with its versatile camera system, good battery life, and excellent display. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max brings better optical zoom capabilities and a design update with solid build materials. It features a glass and titanium design, weighs 221 grams, and offers a 6.7-inch OLED display. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by Apple's A17 Pro chipset and offers 256GB of storage. While the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a more versatile camera setup and faster charging, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers features like Dynamic Island and Live Activities. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preferences and priorities.
The author initially found the size of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comically large compared to the Asus Zenfone 10, but was won over by the camera's versatility and performance. Despite the inconvenience of its size, the S23 Ultra remains the most enjoyable, versatile, and powerful camera on any current smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's telephoto camera is one of its standout features, offering exceptional zoom capabilities and producing high-quality zoomed-in shots. The camera's performance is particularly impressive when compared to other smartphones, capturing more detail and textures even at great distances. This makes it an excellent tool for wildlife photography, allowing users to get up-close shots without disturbing the animals. The author hopes that other smartphone manufacturers will prioritize the development of quality telephoto cameras in the future.
Best Buy is offering a $200 discount on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra as part of their Independence Day sale. With its stunning display, top-notch camera, fast performance, long battery life, and years of software support, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is highly recommended for Android users. The phone also offers extras like the S Pen and DeX mode for a desktop computing experience. Priced at $999, it is a reasonable option for those seeking the best Android phone on the market.
