As someone who has been using the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy A34 5G, I can tell you that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a stunning upgrade that truly delivers on its promises.
UNBOXING
As soon as I received the package, I was struck by the sleek and elegant design of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s box. The box is black with the Samsung logo embossed in the center, giving it a minimalist and modern look. As now phones do not come with the adapter, the boxes have become slimmer, and this is great for our environment. You will be happy to know the S23 Ultra is also one of the most eco-friendly phone out there, with most of its body made with recycled glass, recycled pet film and recycled ocean-bound plastic!
Upon opening the box, I was immediately greeted with the phone itself. I was immediately struck by the phone’s large size and the gorgeous Cream finish. The back of the phone features a four-lens camera setup, which is one of the phone’s key features. The Ultra also comes in Green, Phantom Black, Lavender, and online exclusive colours like Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime and Red, all colours found in nature.
After admiring the phone for a moment, I turned it on and was greeted by the gorgeous 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The screen is incredibly vibrant and sharp, with a resolution of 3088×1440 (Quad HD+) pixels. The 120Hz refresh rate makes everything feel incredibly smooth and responsive.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a built-in S Pen, which is one of its standout features. The S Pen is an advanced stylus that allows me to take notes, draw, and navigate your phone with precision and ease. I mostly use it to draw as it’s so fun. When I remove the S Pen from its built-in slot, the phone automatically detects it and offers a range of S Pen-specific features.
The drawing capabilities of the S23 Ultra are also impressive despite being so small. The phone’s large screen and high resolution make it an excellent canvas for digital art. With the S Pen, I can create detailed sketches and illustrations with ease. The S Pen is pressure-sensitive, which means that the strokes will vary in thickness depending on how hard I press down, so it also works for digital calligraphy. It’s so easy to use that even my 11 year old can draw with it.
THE CAMERA
That being said, the camera on the S23 Ultra is what is truly exceptional. With its quad camera setup and 200-megapixel main camera, it’s capable of capturing stunningly sharp and detailed photos very quickly. But what really sets the S23 Ultra apart is its zoom capabilities. The phone features a 10x optical zoom and a whopping 100x digital zoom, allowing you to capture detailed shots from a distance. This makes it perfect for capturing wildlife, sports events, or even just beautiful landscapes from afar, without really moving an inch.
I’m sure you have seen people taking pics of the moon with the Ultra, well I had to give it a try too!
I waited till the full moon day, and without even using any tripod, I managed to capture the moon with all the craters that would usually be impossible with most phone cameras.
As if the moon was not enough, I also tried taking pics of the sun.
It so happen there was a beautiful sunset going out outside my room window, and the closer I got to the sun, the hotter I felt.
Of course, the S23 Ultra isn’t just about zooming in. It also excels at capturing wider shots, with its ultra-wide lens allowing you to capture stunning vistas and landscapes. And with its 200-megapixel main camera, the S23 Ultra is able to capture incredible levels of detail and clarity in every shot, even shots taken in the sky! I actually saw a rainbow while flying the other, but the plane was going so fast that I couldn’t whip out the phone in time.
With its advanced camera system, the phone is capable of capturing stunning photos even in low light conditions. The phone’s Night Mode feature is particularly impressive, as you can see incredible details and clarity even in near-total darkness.
The S23 Ultra’s camera also features an improved optical image stabilization system, which helps to reduce motion blur and improve image sharpness. If night is your day, then the S23 Ultra is your bestie.
Here’s a video as Kuching Waterfront Darul Hana Musical Fountain shot entirely with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at night. I was also there in the day time to zoom in on unsuspecting floating boats.
Night portraits are really bright and clear as well.
The shutter speed of the camera is so fast, that it is such a joy to shoot moving objects.
Portraits outdoor really pop up as background can be blurred, swirled, adjusted according to my liking.
When the background is what I want to show off, I can keep it clear and just blend the person into the shot. I was really able to create stunning photos and videos that will make everyone go #Send2MeLah.
PERFORMANCE
But the S23 Ultra isn’t just about the camera. The phone is packed with impressive features that make it a joy to use.
The phone’s intelligent 5000mAh battery life is also excellent, lasting all day with heavy use. And with fast charging and wireless charging capabilities, it’s easy to keep my phone topped up and ready to go at all times, especially when I am travelling.
In terms of performance, the S23 Ultra is a powerhouse. It’s equipped with a powerful Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 12GB of RAM, making it capable of handling even the most demanding tasks with ease. Whether I am multitasking, gaming, or streaming video, the phone performs flawlessly.
Overall, if you’re looking for a stunning upgrade from your current devices, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is definitely worth considering. Its camera, display, battery life, and performance are all exceptional, and it truly delivers on its promise of being a premium smartphone experience. I was definitely not disappointed, and now I truly understand what premium means!
For more info, https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-s23-ultra/buy/ and they even throw in a Galaxy Buds Live worth RM549 during this promo period.