Is the S23 Ultra worth it?

Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra worth it?

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Is the S23 Ultra worth it? Or, to give it its full title, is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra worth it? Read below to see what you get for the $1,199 asking price for a comparison against competing offerings on the market.

Is the Galaxy S23 Ultra worth it? What specs do you get for your money?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is really the device you want to buy if you’re into filmmaking or photography. The below base specs don’t really give you the full story about the improvements for the camera, which now comes with 4k 60 fps super HDR video filming on the front and rear cameras, as well as 8K 30 fps video on the rear camera.

It has greatly improved low-light imagery and features, including faster autofocus in low-light conditions, where it’s usually difficult to focus.

You also get expanded Camera assistant settings, including auto shifting modes, and a faster shutter selector, plus Astro Hyperlabs enabling better photography of the stars at night, and ExpertRaw – gving you the best color grading tools of any phone on the market. There’s even a GIF remaster feature. All-in-all, it’s a videographer/photograpers dream.

• Screen size & resolution: 6.8 inches / 3,088 x 1,440
• Display type: 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2x Display with Vision Booster (1750 nits)
• Weight: 234g
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ‘For Galaxy’ edition
• Memory: 8GB / 12GB
• Storage options: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
• Battery: 5000mAh (Super Fast Charging 2.0)
• Cameras: 12MP selfie-camera / 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera / 200MP wide-angle camera / 10MP 2 telephoto lenses

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs the competition

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra

Unlike the regular Galaxy S23, the Galaxy S23 has seen substantial improvements over the previous generation: with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 giving 34% better CPU, 41% better GPU, and 49% better NPU performance. On top of this you get the superior cameras detailed above, a brighter screen, and slightly improved battery life.

If you thought the Galaxy S22 Ultra was worth the money last year at its MSRP, then we’d definitely say that the S23 Ultra is worth it given the improvements, however you can now pick up an S22 Ultra for $994 on Amazon, which is a substantial discount, and may be tempting if the chipset and camera improvements aren’t that important to you, as it’s still a superb phone.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max

Based on what we know from the latest info on the S23, the iPhone 14 Pro Max comes with superior battery life (around 4-5 hours, though this will need to be independently tested after the S23 Ultra’s release), a slightly more powerful chipset, comparable display, storage, and memory options.

The camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra however, is definitely superior, both in terms of its lenses and software, which may make it worth the additional price to those who are interested in photography / filming.

Both devices cost around the same amount, so which you think is better value really depends on what you prioritise. We go into a more detailed comparison of the two on our dedicated Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max guide.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro

Simply put, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is in a different league to the Pixel 7 Pro: it has a much more powerful processor chip, superior cameras (although the Pixel 7 Pro is a bit better at natural skin tones), and a brighter screen. The Pixel 7 Pro is however £300 cheaper at $899, making it a much more budget-friendly alternative.

For a more detailed look at a comparison between the two, have a read of our Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Pixel 7 Pro page.

Is the S23 Ultra worth it? Final Word

So in summary, is the S23 Ultra worth it? Well the improvement in technology between the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 Ultra is significant, and it has the best camera of any smartphone currently on the market, but the asking price is definitely steep.

If you’re not as interested in photography / filming, and don’t mind the Apple iOS, then the iPhone 14 Pro Max could be a better option for you. Alternatively the Galaxy S22 Ultra can now be bought for $994.

Is the S23 Ultra worth it? FAQs

Is upgrading to S23 Ultra worth it?

If you already have a Galaxy S22 Ultra, upgrading to the S23 Ultra is still worth it if you’ll make use of the improved camera features.

The battery life and CPU chip are also much improved on the new model.

Is S23 Ultra camera worth it?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the best camera of any smartphone currently available.

If you’re a photographer or filmmaker, the quality of the camera and its low-light software, make it well worth considering.