PRICE 256GB/8GB, £1,041 (£1,249 inc VAT) from samsung.com/uk
The S22 Ultra (see issue 331, p46) T was a big shift. The first the stole Samsung phone to fuse the style of the Galaxy S series with the functionality of the Galaxy Note, it brought a fresh impetus to stylus-based phones. Physically, the S23 Ultra is a much more subtle change; I needed Samsung to point out that it had reduced the radius of the curved display edges to provide a greater flat area on which to use the S Pen.
Head to samsung.com and you can choose one of its exclusive colours: sky blue, graphite, lime and red. Buy from elsewhere and you're restricted to black, cream, green and lavender. Cutely, the cap of the S Pen matches the body colour of your choosing.
An aluminium alloy frame accompanies the Ultra's usual IP68 certification against dust and water ingress, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 also makes its debut on the S23 series. You might need its protective powers, too, as the size of the Ultra makes it tricky to wield one-handed.
The screen hasn't changed, so your eyes are treated to a 6.8in AMOLED panel with a 1,440 x 3,088 resolution and a dynamic refresh rate that can scale between 1Hz and 120Hz. Colours and visibility - even against strong ambient light - are superb, with an average Delta E of 0.37 in its default Vivid setting. This covers all the DCI-P3 space and beyond.
Peak brightness doesn't match the 1,448cd/m³ we measured on the iPhone 14 Pro (see issue 338, p64), topping out at 1,184cd/m² in HDR mode, but try to spot the difference. Whether you're viewing movies, photos or games, the S23's screen is exceptional.
Soft touch
This story is from the May 2023 edition of PC Pro.
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This story is from the May 2023 edition of PC Pro.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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