Owner of the S23 ultra 8/256 device for exactly one year.

The phone is truly a tool in your pocket and in your hand; if you have the chance to get it with tax exemption, it has no competition. The response to anything is really instantaneous, it is dual SIM and eSIM, and the photos are really very good, as are the videos.

Coming from an iPhone 14 Pro Max, I was very satisfied with the operating system, as it allows me to do wonders in every task on my phone, as I constantly need it for various complex issues. The only thing I miss from iOS is Face ID, which is simply the most practical and fastest option available (let's acknowledge that too). Once, Samsung was ahead with iris recognition, and they haven't progressed to anything similar to Apple.

I have nothing negative to say as it is perfect in every aspect except for the battery. It's not that I'm unreasonable; it has an amazing screen, yes it needs power, it's fast, yes it needs power, but that doesn't concern me. As a user, I want to open my new phone and use it to the fullest, and for it to last a decent day of use. Unfortunately, this does not objectively meet my demanding current standards. From the first week, I put it in power-saving mode for the first time, and since then, I've almost always had it that way. In my eyes, it doesn't affect performance, but it's a matter of ego. You spend a lot of money to know that you have something that objectively doesn't last the day. Yes, it charges quickly, but that doesn't concern me.

In conclusion, I recommend for the second and equally important-funny issue to get the 24 Ultra. I pay €30 every month for a screen protector. Nothing adheres well to its huge curved screen; Samsung itself hasn't released anything genuine for it, resulting in the guarantee that if it falls, it will break without protection. So you have to settle for poorly made Chinese products to save the screen!! At least with the 24, you won't have this issue. I've paid for the phone twice in screen protectors that break in my pocket on their own. Those who have the phone will understand me.

NAI, it is fast and handles the many applications I chose. For me, the battery runs out within 16 hours. It took a lot of searching to find compatible USB Type-C headphones for this device. The OEM ones I bought are not recognized, which several people mention in forums and communities. There is no icon for taking a screenshot directly from the screen, and for a screenshot, you need to press two buttons simultaneously, which are now on the same side and with the case, making it difficult for me, so I bought an app that does it. It does have the option for a screenshot with a voice assistant that I will never activate for important security reasons, but also with a palm swipe, which I find very likely to result in mistakes. The fact that there were no headphones in the box is a NO from me. In the end, I bought headphones from the same company that I found very uncomfortable and they were put aside (essentially, I will not enjoy the amount I paid for them), and I finally settled for the excellent cheaper colorful and cute JBL ones. Perhaps this high price is for seasoned photographers. Personally, I, who am not one, wanted a phone with a super menu that could make calls but also navigate with a space-themed menu and crazy conveniences. I did not find exactly what I wanted 100%. The manufacturer should also provide a free VPN in its own browser. I give it one more star today due to the very good Dolby Atmos sound.

I bought the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra on November 6, 2023 and, after a few months of use, I can confidently say that it is one of the best smartphones I have tried. With the upgrade to One UI 6.1, which is the same software as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the use of Samsung's AI, the phone really excels in performance.

Design and Build

The build quality of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is exceptional. The feel in hand is luxurious and durable. I put on a thick case for extra protection, but even with that, NFC and wireless charging work flawlessly. After initially placing a glass screen protector, I replaced it with a membrane, as I believe it offers better protection. readjusting the fingerprint unlock after the change, everything works perfectly. (for anyone buying it now or the S24 ultra, I would like to inform you that if the fingerprint unlock is set before the membrane or glass is applied, it will not work properly, so it is recommended to set it after).

Performance

I run the diagnostic tests offered by the phone almost every week and after several months of daily use, I can say that the phone continues to be fast. The processor and RAM work seamlessly, offering a smooth user experience even with the most demanding apps. I can confidently say that the S23 Ultra can easily compete with the latest iPhones.

Camera

The camera is one of the best I have seen on a smartphone. It covers every need for photography and video, while the ability to shoot in RAW format through the Samsung app allows for professional photo editing. The zoom reaches up to 100x, offering satisfactory results, although minor distortions are observed at maximum settings, something expected for digital zoom.

Battery and Charging

The 5000 mAh battery is durable and efficient. With daily use including 70% social media and apps like Instagram and YouTube, and 30% basic functions like calls and messages, the phone easily lasts a day and a bit into the second. Samsung's wireless charger charges the phone almost fully in just half an hour.

Sound

The speakers of the Galaxy S23 Ultra are powerful and the listening experience in landscape mode is excellent, giving the impression that the speakers are right next to your ears.

S Pen

Although the S Pen broke after a fall, it continues to work normally, proving its durability.

Samsung Ecosystem

Although a big fan of Samsung, I cannot hide that for the money I paid, I do not regret it and it will be difficult for me to change it. Along with Samsung's wireless charger, the Smartwatch6, and the Galaxy Buds, the phone and the whole set work flawlessly, offering a fantastic experience without disappointments from the purchase.

Conclusion

Personally, I consider this phone to be a quite powerful smartphone that can combine luxury with high performance to a satisfactory degree. The camera, battery life, build quality, and multiple functions make it one of the top choices on the market, easily competing with the latest iPhones.

Purchased with a Skroutz Plus offer, in January '24, at 1,045 euros.
This is the first flagship I have ever bought. I always had mid-range phones. My previous phone was the Huawei Nova 5t, one of the best phones and the most worthy 300-something euros I ever spent. But it's a 2019 model, and after almost 4 years I wanted a change. And since the other one was still working, I thought I'd get something better.

The S23 Ultra is a beast. I was worried about the size and weight, but I have long fingers and you generally get used to it. The stylus is smaller than it looks, kind of fake, but it's nice.
Now we've also received the 6.1 update that the S24 has, another reason to prefer the 23, just because of the lower price. You don't lose anything.

Personally, I haven't seen anyone with an S23 phone, except for a colleague who has the S22. It's true that if someone wants to spend 1,000 euros on a phone, they'll go for an iPhone. Personally, I wouldn't trade the S23U, the phone is the best and on a personal level I consider it superior. Design-wise, I like it more than the S24U.

Now I use the phone more qualitatively, with great apps that run perfectly like Yazio, Dailyart, Bend, Letterboxd, Fable, TVTime, Duolingo, which look amazing on the large, rectangular screen. I didn't know I would like it, but now yes, the rectangular screen is the best!

It's open in terms of customization, you can set it up however you want based on your tastes.

The stylus has many uses, even an app for drawing and design, with profiles. If I were into art, I would appreciate it even more.

EDIT: a) I bought the Huawei Watch Ultimate and Samsung's Buds2. No connectivity issues, they work perfectly. The phone remains excellent after six months, for me.

b) I broke the screen. I paid 320 for repair. I also put on a transparent case but at home I take it off. So, guys, be careful.

c) A piece of advice. Because I see many people sitting and comparing hardware and cameras. At these prices, obviously you'll get good hardware and camera. The whole discussion now is about the operating systems. Do you want OneUI or iOS? See which operating system fits your usage and leave the rest, unnecessary comparisons.

I think with this device the search for a "powerful phone" has come to an end, for the next 5 years (it will receive regular updates and new operating systems).
Of course, it’s even better to wait for the right moment and get it with some kind of offer or cashback to bring it down quite a bit below a thousand. I did the same for the S21 Ultra that I sold to a friend.
The green company with 5G easily hits speeds of 700s and 800s near towers, stable Wi-Fi calling, and better signal reception and Wi-Fi than the iPhone 14 Pro Max that I switched from (about 10% better reception in difficult spots).
It also has a stylus for notes that also acts as a remote control. You can connect a monitor and keyboard, and it works normally for office tasks or you can play wirelessly. It also has a much better grip in hand compared to other squared-off phones. Note that the Good Lock app is free and allows you to make any changes you want to the phone (for those who get bored with the same appearance after a while).
In my opinion, if you have a hobby with phones, don’t get it.. It will ruin your hobby because you won’t take the card out of it to try another device and compare them.
This is the first time I’m reviewing a phone from 2023 in 2024, but after a long period of use. And the S24 Ultra that came didn’t change my opinion at all. Well done, Samsung!!

Update!!: All the AI features (artificial intelligence features) that the S24 Ultra advertises were received with the upgrade to UI6.1 on 28.3.2024. And whoever wants to use them can.

WARNING!: Unfortunately, my screen now has quite a few scratches, for no reason, as I generally take care of my phones. Strange. This has never happened to me with normal use of previous phones, not even with the S21 Ultra I had after 2 years of use. Something has changed, so check if you can see a scratched screen every day for the next 4 years. What the hell, Samsung...
SOLUTION (1/2025): After many changes with screen protectors, some of which had UV treatments, etc., from Amazon, I found my joy with a tempered glass from the company Milomdoi [2+3Pack, 7 euros] (which was carefully applied) that erased all the scratches, covered the entire screen (you can't even tell it's there), and has no bubbles. If it peels off or breaks, I will let you know

Whatever you say, it's not enough. I had stopped, if I remember correctly, at the S5+ and since then I wandered to many other companies, even to the iPhones. For the past 7 years, I have been stuck with Xiaomi. Complete disappointment in many areas with the upgrades and the batteries.... While Xiaomi had released the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the processors were low-timed. No more coal. The end! I decided to go last June to the S23 Ultra due to Snapdragon (after researching) and I saw the epitome of technology, the speed of the camera, the battery, etc. etc. As for the pen, an unprecedented experience.... The phone is the vampire that sucks my blood, it has brainwashed me.... It's worth every EURO.... Camera, forget it, speed is unmatched, a plethora of settings, networks, screen - huge and many more. One issue I noticed, but it has to do with the accuracy of the fingerprint sensor, is that while I was adjusting it, if I did a manual job or even at work and I touched the finger that wasn't very obvious to me, it wouldn't recognize it. I would go over it again and it would work, it doesn't worry me since I understand the, let's say, insecurity of it.... It receives a security update every month.... I should mention that I have the J6 2016 and it still works.... It received updates until 2022. Now, as for the S24 Ultra, I don't see anyone convincing me to go for it. There is no significant progress or any important change that would motivate someone to make the transition. What bothers me is that it won't get the full AI nor immediately as if we didn't pay the same amount. Just like that....

The review is made after a year of use and coming from the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The phone works flawlessly and, let's face it, in this price category it can't be otherwise. Compared to the S22 Ultra, there are not so many differences to make the transition. Now the differences between the previous and next generation are so few that it's not worth "chasing" the new device every year.
I remove one star for the following reasons related to the company's policy.
1) I find it unacceptable for Samsung not to offer in the package of its flagship device, the expensive screen protector, silicone case, and fast charger, which are included in mobile packages at 1/5 of the value of the S23 Ultra. So, under the pretext of ecology, you pay more, with all that entails in packaging, vehicle emissions until they bring them to your home, etc. Your conclusions about the company's "sensitivities" to the environment.
2) Equally unacceptable is the removal of the memory card, which in combination with the great need for memory capacity due to the large size of photos and videos, forces you to buy the version with large capacity. With such cameras, 256GB memory is minimal, in my opinion, and 512GB is borderline, 1TB is the right choice. Worst of all, the device, apart from the e-sim, also has the ability for dual sim cards, so it could allocate space for a sim for memory card use. Your conclusions about the company's "sensitivities" to its customers.
3) Finally, the low resale value compared to the iPhone, where in combination with the above, forces you to dig even deeper into your pocket.
In conclusion, this particular device is very good and I believe that there is no need for someone to switch to the S24 Ultra unless they find it on sale.