Samsung’s new Galaxy S23 Ultra arrives with a 200-megapixel camera
Imaging and the new Snapdragon chip are highlights of Samsung’s new flagship.
Common knowledge about digital photography says that megapixels aren’t everything. This is somewhat important. But smartphone manufacturers have a long history of relying a lot on these numbers as shorthand for camera quality. In other words they play an important role. But it needs to work with other key elements. to truly deliver on their promises
The good news for the upcoming Galaxy S23 Ultra is that Samsung has a great track record of building camera ecosystems in both hardware and software. In fact, the company created a 200MP system that appeared in Xiaomi’s flagship 12T Pro late last year. The company won’t confirm if the S23 Ultra uses the same chip. (Just say in vain that they call it a “200MP adaptive pixel sensor”). But I say if it’s not 1 to 1, then it is possible. Too close.
I think it makes sense that Samsung wouldn’t want to promote its own brand as the second device to use this component, but again, the ecosystem and usability are important here. Even using the same sensor in two phones. The experience and photos are very different.
The use of this type of high-resolution sensor has evolved over the years, and in the case of the Ultra, this means using binning to combine data from multiple pixels to create a larger super pixel that can collect more light for better image quality. Pictures with less noise
Honestly, a camera update is surprisingly the name of the game here. It’s always been the last big battleground for smartphones, and today, Samsung and Google’s Pixel phones are vying for the Android space. Let’s see if the S23 line changes, the Ultra gets improved optical image stabilization that’s specifically targeted for low-light video. to reduce interference
All three phones, the Ultra, S23 and S23+, have “improved” 8K video capture at 30fps with wide-angle shooting, along with new object-oriented AI technology that Samsung claims will analyze human features like eyes and hair in every framework to “carefully reflect the dynamics of a person”
In addition to the 200MP wide camera, the Ultra has a 12MP ultra-wide lens and two 10MP telephoto lenses with 3x and 10x optical zoom, respectively. A lot of the dates—”because selfie cameras are more important than ever in our communications these days”—including faster autofocus. 60fps video capture and what Samsung calls “the first Super HDR selfie camera.”
Around this time last year, Samsung discontinued the beloved Galaxy Note after 11 years and combined it with its flagship Galaxy S. While a lazy person from a nostalgic standpoint, the exclusion was reasonable. The smartphone market has evolved and contracted over the past decade. With hardware sales slowing down, it makes sense to consolidate into one flagship device. In addition, the line between products has become increasingly blurred in recent years. So why not collect them?
Most importantly, the S23 Ultra retains the Note’s defining feature, the built-in S Pen (the other two don’t support styluses at all). Perhaps the biggest news is the partnership with Google to offer Samsung Notes Collaboration. Come Meet, the small mobile whiteboard app.
The S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra sport 6.1- and 6.6-inch (both FHD+) and 6.8-inch (QHD+ Edge) screens, respectively, with up to 120Hz refresh rate. The phone will be the first on the market to use Gorilla Glass Victus 2. This is the latest model from Corning, which offers improved drop and scratch protection over the original Victus model announced for 2020.
The Galaxy S line joins a growing number of devices being launched with Qualcomm’s latest flagship, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Samsung says the new chip, along with the Ultra’s massive 5,000mAh battery, will add about a quarter of the battery life to the Galaxy S Five, the S23 and S23+ have 3,900 and 4,700 mAh batteries respectively, Samsung is pushing mobile gaming again here. The company claims that the new Snapdragon chip offers 40% faster graphics and 40% better AI performance, and the Ultra Sports 8 or 12GB of RAM, along with storage between 256GB and 1TB, has 5G (form normal) and supports Wi-Fi. Fi 6E
As it has with many Galaxy products in the past, Samsung has focused on some sustainable manufacturing processes here, noting that the S23 is made with more recycled materials than its predecessor. It is made from approximately 22% recycled materials, including aluminum, glass, and plastic made from fishing nets, buckets, and old plastic bottles.
“The most impactful technology is measured not by what it enables people to do today, but by how it helps them build a better future,” said TM Rowe, CEO of Mobile, in a statement. “Galaxy S23 Ultra and the entire Galaxy S family are new standard-bearers for a reliable premium smartphone experience. We’re constantly innovating to deliver the highest performance by integrating energy into devices with a low environmental impact.”
All three devices are available for pre-order starting today and will ship on February 17. If you order before the 16th, the company will offer bonuses like a free storage upgrade or a $100 Samsung credit.
The S23 starts at $800, the S23+ at $1,000, and the Ultra at $1,200. Colors include black, cream, green, and lavender, as well as online exclusives like lime, graphite, sky blue, and red. Samsung also announced three laptops aimed at the creative professional market, currently powered by MacBooks and Microsoft Surface devices.