The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Price In Pakistan: The ultimate smartphone for tech enthusiasts.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the new flagship smartphone from Samsung. Announced simultaneously as the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23+, it wants to be the ultimate phone that should seduce users in search of perfection. In short, the S23 Ultra has the ambition to be the king of the market. For that, this handset takes the excellent Galaxy S22 Ultra formula to improve it.
We say goodbye to the Exynos processor for a Qualcomm SoC, a 200-megapixel has replaced the 108-megapixel sensor, and the screen has been revised to be less energy-consuming.
We also find what made the particularity of the previous model, that is, the incorporation of the stylus. On paper, we have a smartphone that aims for excellence, even perfection. Promises are nice, but they still have to be kept. Is the new Galaxy S23 Ultra the new boss of Android telephony? Is it a damp squib? Answer right away.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is already available on Samsung’s website and from partner retailers. It is an ultra-high-end smartphone, so the price is high. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Price in Pakistan Rs 559,999.
We notice a significant increase in price compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. For example, the 512GB model takes 140 euros in the view, while the 1 TB model takes 180 euros! An increase due to inflation, according to the manufacturer. The other models of S23 also know the same fate. Suffice it to say that the smartphone must be impeccable to convince at this price.
A TECHNICAL SHEET THAT ERASES THE DEFECTS OF THE S22 ULTRA
The technical data sheet of the S23 Ultra is impressive. The smartphone has a screen size of 6.8-inch AMOLED LTPO 2. Inside, we find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset processor, theoretically the most powerful on the market, backed by 12 GB of RAM. The battery, for its part, is 5000 mAh.
On the photo side, the S23 Ultra wants to put all the chances on its side to become the new king of the market. We have four sensors, an ultra-wide angle of 12 megapixels, two telephoto lenses of 10 megapixels each, and a primary sensor of 200 megapixels. It is the latter that represents the big news on the photo module. On paper, this S23 Ultra is a monster. It is time to see what it is worth in everyday life.
A DESIGN THAT FOLLOWS AN ESTABLISHED FORMULA
In terms of design, Samsung has taken the Galaxy S22 Ultra for its S23 Ultra. The two terminals are almost identical. Putting them side by side, we notice some changes, especially in the slices (flatter on the S23 Ultra, which reduces the impression of thinness), but the manufacturer did not shake up its formula.
The S23 Ultra is a brick. It is one of the largest smartphones on the market, with dimensions of 163 x 78 x 8.9 mm and a weight of 235 grams. It is a monster that needs to be used with two hands and requires space in your pocket or bag. A choice completely assumed that could put off many.
Despite its titanic dimensions, the terminal is an absolute pleasure to handle. Its weight is perfectly balanced, and the flat edges guarantee a good grip. Moreover, the texture of the back cover is made of polished glass, which is very pleasant to the touch. It is IP68 certified, which means that it is water and dust resistant, and has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, which provides a certain solidity, especially during accidental drops.
Available in four colours (green, black, cream and lavender), not counting those exclusive to the Samsung website, the S23 Ultra still sports that extraordinary S22 Ultra camera module, with the four sensors and laser autofocus just “sitting” on the back cover. It is a design that does not seduce us but is only a matter of taste.
Of course, with the sensors protruding a few millimetres from the chassis, we have a shaky smartphone when it is placed on the back. A defect that can be found in many manufacturers but takes another dimension here: it is difficult to write with the stylus when placed on a table—a shame.
Yes, the stylus is back in this Galaxy S23 Ultra. We remember that Samsung had introduced it in the range with the S22 Ultra, which became the natural successor of the Galaxy Note. No notable change here; we still have the S-Pen, which is placed naturally on the bottom edge and whose use is accompanied by the One UI 5.1 overlay.
We find the bright aluminium edges that give a very chic effect to the whole and a screen slightly curved on the edges. Still talking about the screen, we have an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, more extensive than before and which makes unlocking even easier. It can work hand in hand with facial recognition, which is also very effective.
Finally, we still have a punch at the top of the screen that houses a 12-megapixel camera against 40 megapixels on the S22 Ultra. This concession is surprising in the era of Visio and selfies. If you’re cutting back on quality, offering a sensor under the screen might have made sense, as the Z Fold 4 does.
In terms of design, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a success, as usual for Samsung. With impeccable finishes and a very pleasant grip despite its XXL size, the smartphone is undoubtedly one of the most successful on the market in this respect. We are not fans of the visual part, mainly because of this strange photo module, but it is a matter of taste.
A BEAUTIFUL DYNAMIC AMOLED 2X PANEL
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a Dynamic AMOLED panel of 6.8 inches and a definition of 3088 x 1440 pixels (FHD + by default in the options). It is an LTPO 2.0 screen, with a refresh rate ranging from 1 to 120 Hz, depending on what is displayed—a way to save energy without the user noticing.
Note also the presence of HDR10+ for better management of contrasts, but still no Dolby Vision. Let’s not play the suspense any longer: the S23 Ultra has the best panel on the market. We expected nothing less from Samsung.
We passed the screen under the lens of our probe, and the results were excellent. The contrast is infinite, AMOLED obliges, which allows it to offer many shades of grey. Visibility is simply perfect in dark scenes, whether in series or games. According to our measurements, the maximum brightness is also very high, at 700 cd/m², with a mode that can boost it to 1200 cd/m². Even on a bright sunny day, we will have no trouble seeing what the panel displays.
Regarding colours, Samsung offers two options: vivid and natural modes. The explicit mode, the default one, makes the primary colours “explode” to make the display more attractive (average Delta E of 3.6). In natural mode, they are incredibly close to reality (average Delta E of 2, below 3 translating authentic colours). It is the latter that you should choose to admire your photos. The temperature is 6500K, which is perfect. The screen does not pull towards red or blue—an impeccable calibration.
All in all, we have a high-flying, perfectly calibrated, bright and dynamic refresh rate. What more could you ask for? With its screens, Samsung knows how to do it and proves it again today.
On the good side, we have two speakers: one on the bottom edge and one under the screen. Considering the format, the result is very satisfactory. We have a balanced and powerful audio part. We regret a stereo that could have been better worked and the hazardous location of the lower speaker: while playing, we put our palm on it, which leads to muffling the sound. Inverting the positions of the SIM cover and the speaker would have been much more informed.
ON THE PROCESSOR SIDE, SAMSUNG FINALLY MAKES THE CHOICE OF REASON
Samsung’s Galaxy S has always been plagued by a significant flaw in its processor. The European manufacturer has been using its processor for years the Exynos. While it’s not bad in itself, it pales compared to the competition, especially Qualcomm’s Snapdragon (used in American models).
In 2023, Samsung finally heard the complaints of users! The Galaxy S23 Ultra says goodbye to the Exynos SoC to ship a Qualcomm SoC, a first since the Galaxy S6. Here we have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the most powerful mobile processor on the market today. It is supported by 12 GB of RAM.
We obviously rushed to run our battery of benchmarks on the S23 Ultra, and the results were short in coming: it’s one of the most powerful phones we’ve been able to test in our columns, alongside the OnePlus 11 and the Vivo IQOO 11. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 works wonders. For the user, it means a smartphone that is always fluid, even with many active applications, faster photo processing and, above all, the ability to play all the big games in the PlayStore.
The most demanding titles on the market, such as Genshin Impact or Diablo Immortal, all run perfectly (60 frames per second) with the graphics set to maximum. Simply put, the S23 is a natural workhorse ideal for gamers. For comparison, the S22 Ultra (Exynos 2200) struggled to exceed 30 FPS on Diablo Immortal. It was still quite embarrassing for an ultra-high-end phone.
Our concern was about the heating, but our doubts were quickly dispelled. Even if it is present in the game, it is well-managed and remains perfectly concentrated in the SoC. We were worried that the metal slices would be unpleasant after a while, but it is not the case. In short, Qualcomm masters its subject perfectly, and it is still a notable improvement compared to Exynos.
A SOFTWARE PART ALWAYS MASTERED
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is equipped with Android 13 and One UI 5.1 overlay, making its debut here. As for the hardware, we remain in line with what already exists. One UI 5.1 takes the main lines of the previous version (One UI 4.1) by improving it with small touches.
If we notice some aesthetic adjustments in terms of customization (more choices in the always-on-display mode or the lock screens), we remain globally within limits. Emphasis has been put on data security and the phone’s software management. For example, your S23 Ultra can restart automatically if necessary (the option can be disabled).
We also appreciate the appearance of the RAW format for photos, which is ideal for those who want to rework them later. Multitasking, with the possibility of dividing the screen in two, is always present and efficient.
The overlay is interesting for those who use other Samsung products. Convergence is the order of the day with files shared between different terminals (your Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tablet or your Galaxy Book 2 Pro, for example). How convenient! The brand’s ecosystem, as long as you are equipped, is fascinating daily.
Note that Android and One UI 5.1 take up 40 GB of your storage (not 60 GB, as we sometimes read). That’s a lot, which justifies the absence of a model with 128 GB of memory. If you’re a person who takes a lot of photos (especially in RAW or 200MP format) or videos (in 8K), we can’t advise you enough to go for the models with the most storage.
The overlay has been designed to accompany the use of the S-Pen. There is no revolution here either: as usual, we have straightforward software that reacts to the finger and the eye. For example, you must take the pen out of the drawer to immediately write something down, even if the phone is locked.
A practical aspect for those who like to take a lot of notes (that’s our case!) or draw. With its response time of 2.8 ms, the S-Pen gives an accurate impression of having a real pencil when writing. Nothing to complain about; everything is impeccable.
GOOD AUTONOMY, BUT FAST CHARGING IS NOT SO FAST
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery. The presence of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which promises a lot about power consumption, gives hope for excellent autonomy.
During our test, we used the smartphone in a classic way (internet browsing, social networks, photo, GPS, 25 minutes of games per day …), and we found that the autonomy fell between 30 and 40% at bedtime. That’s good! This measurement was made in QHD+. By setting the screen to FHD+, we gain 15%. It significantly improved compared to the S22 Ultra, which had the same battery.
The cause is obviously to be found in the processor, which manages its consumption better. To summarize, the S23 Ultra is enduring, which is excellent.
For the fast charge, Samsung has chosen to limit itself to 45 Watts, which is tiny for an ultra high-end, and the market is now accustoming us to loads that can exceed 100 Watts—a decision taken to avoid damaging the battery in the long term, but which is not unanimous. We measured a charge from 1 to 100% in one hour with the appropriate charger for all batteries. It is not crazy compared to the competition, but it is assumed.
THE BEST PHOTO PHONE ON ANDROID?
The Galaxy S23 Ultra seeks to become the new king of photography in the field of telephony. Samsung relies on a formidable weapon: a primary sensor ISOCELL HP2 of 200 megapixels (f/1.7). It is accompanied by an ultra-wide angle sensor of 12 megapixels (f/2.2) and two sensors of 10 megapixels each (f/4.9 and f/2.4). Since the Galaxy S20, the Ultra model is equipped with a 108-megapixel sensor; it is quite a change.
Not surprisingly, the photos obtained with the classic mode of the Galaxy S23 Ultra (12 Mp) are of high quality. Outside and with good light, the automatic mode works wonders. We have good sharpness and perfect management of contrasts and colours.
By activating the appropriate option in the application, taking photos in 200 megapixels is possible. The results obtained range from exceptional to very average. First, let’s talk about the special: we have precise, detailed shots with perfect detail management. We can bring out tiny elements by zooming in on the photograph.
A real tour de force that should help please photography enthusiasts. As for the very average, we must regret a software treatment that is sometimes too abrupt in terms of colours. The pictures in this mode offer saturated colours, even very far from reality. It is enough to compare a photo taken in 12 mp and in 200 mp to see the difference. The more light is missing, the more this concern becomes obvious. Nothing can be fixed with a software update, but for now, it’s annoying.
Regarding the night mode, the processing of the S23 UItra is persuasive. We have shots with excellent light management. If we judge it a hair below the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung’s new baby is among the best in the Android world on this point, on the same level as the Pixel 7 Pro.
CONCLUSION
With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung takes the formula established with the S22 Ultra while correcting its last defects. The result is an impressive, balanced phone offering the best in all segments. With its impeccable design, high-flying camera, attractive screen and powerful processor, the terminal ticks all the boxes of the perfect small smartphone and even brings a little extra something with the S-Pen. It will satisfy buyers who can afford it.
Pros
Impeccable design
High-quality screen
One of the most powerful smartphones on the market
Controlled heating
Good autonomy
An excellent photo part
The S-Pen, the little thing that makes the difference
Cons
An XXL size that will not please everyone
Difficult to handle with one hand
Too much saturation in the 200 Mp shots
The price of Samsung is Very high
