Great, but 200 megapixels isn’t enough

Samsung’s newest flagship isn’t a drastic change from its predecessor, so for most individuals, the S22 Ultra ought to most likely be your subsequent high-end Android buy, particularly now that it’s cheaper. With the Galaxy S23 Extremely, you get principally the identical specs because the S22, aside from an upgraded processor, a downgraded selfie digicam and an astonishingly nice 200-megapixel major digicam.

I sometimes examine Samsung’s ‘Extremely’ flagship to telephones just like the Pixel 7 Pro, however within the Canadian Android panorama, there isn’t actually something that compares to the S23 Extremely. Two telephones which are $500 aside can’t actually be in comparison with each other.

Samsung’s newest smartphone sports activities a number of of the perfect tech specs out there with any Android system; nonetheless, the South Korean firm might have taken this telephone additional in some ways past the 200-megapixel major digicam as a result of there isn’t sufficient that’s new this yr.

The most effective factor about this telephone

Let’s begin with what’s good. Within the Canadian market, you received’t discover a higher digicam on an Android system. The handset boasts a 200-megapixel major digicam that bins 16 pixels collectively to create massive 12-megapixel photographs. The photographs provide fantastically correct colors, and the smartphone expertly exhibits excessive dynamic vary that artfully captures sunsets. Even in comparison with its predecessor, the S23 Extremely captures much more particulars in photographs.

Throughout my time with the S23 Extremely, I took numerous photos of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, and the Palace of Superb Arts. Footage of the bridge reveal its stunning purple tones, and Pier 39’s seal lions are nonetheless extremely cute and vibrant. Within the photos of the Palace of Superb Arts, you possibly can see the detailed columns, the colourful colors on the mallard geese and the way the solar seems behind the intricate structure.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s low-light digicam efficiency remains to be excellent and higher than final yr’s efficiency in sure conditions. In some photos, the system is aware of tips on how to repair the lighting within the submit, leading to a extra true-to-life picture. When there’s an excessive amount of darkness, the S23 Extremely brightens the complete picture. On this image taken at evening of a graffiti-covered storage, you possibly can see how the colors are vibrant and but extra lifelike in comparison with what I snapped with the S22 Extremely.

Samsung’s S23 Extremely additionally options three extra cameras: an ultra-wide with a 12-megapixel sensor with a 120-degree lens, a 12-megapixel sensor with a 10x zoom lens and one other with a 3x telephoto lens.

Like final yr, the S23 Extremely’s 10x shooter is a beast and might snap detailed photographs from fairly a distance away. 100x zoom is right here once more, however sadly, it nonetheless appears to be like blurry and digitized. That mentioned, even after three years of this function being round, I nonetheless discover it spectacular in some methods. Portrait mode photos are related and provide depth mapping, which applies further element to the hair and ensures photos keep sharp. For instance, you possibly can even distinguish between particular person hair follicles in my beard.

If you flip the handset over to its entrance, you’ll encounter its downgraded 12-megapixel selfie digicam. For the previous three years, Samsung’s Extremely smartphones have featured a 40-megapixel selfie shooter, so it’s unusual to see the corporate decrease the standard. The 12-megapixel digicam takes respectable photographs, and I can’t actually inform the distinction between selfies I’ve taken with it in comparison with those I’ve shot with the S22 Extremely. Lowlight selfies aren’t essentially the perfect. Certain, the pictures are vibrant, however these photos have tons of smoothening and look over-processed.

The S23’s video high quality is improbable. The telephone options even higher Portrait Video than the S22 Extremely that may be shot at UHD/30fps, similar to Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro. Improved from final yr, the telephone does a greater job at conserving folks and objects within the body. Nonetheless, the S23 Extremely is at all times searching for the individual’s face. Moreover, you too can management the background blur depth, and there are totally different variants of the background blur as properly, which was out there final yr as properly.

I’m actually keen on the cameras out there within the S23 Extremely, and would even go as far as to say that I’d go for its lenses over the iPhone 14 Professional. Not solely are its shooters top quality, however they’re additionally extra versatile than Apple’s choices. And whereas I just like the Pixel 7 Professional’s digicam high quality, the S23 Extremely’s digicam captures particulars that the opposite Android might solely dream of.

The S23 Extremely’s cameras are the perfect a part of the telephone, and it’s fairly downhill from right here. That’s to not say the design, the S Pen, or its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 are unhealthy — they simply don’t provide a lot of an improve over the S22 and don’t really feel as particular.

Too related

The S23 Extremely incorporates a very related design to its predecessor, with Samsung taking the “if it ain’t broke” method this yr. The telephone has a 6.8-inch show and an oblong physique. It additionally sports activities Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on each the entrance and rear. The S23 Extremely feels strong, it isn’t too heavy — if you happen to’re already used to bigger handsets — and suits comfortably in my hand. After I first picked up the telephone, I assumed it felt higher than the S22 Extremely, however the longer I spent with this system, I discover in comparison with its predecessor, they’re just about the identical.

On the rear, the S23 options no digicam bump, just like its predecessor. The sensors protrude from the handset’s rear, which suggests the telephone doesn’t sit flat on its again. I’m on the fence about whether or not I like this design, however most individuals are over the digicam bump debate relating to smartphones.

The beforehand talked about 6.8-inch show sports activities a 3120 x 1440 pixel decision, and every part, from taking a look at photos to watching movies and enjoying video games, appears to be like crisp and vibrant. The handset additionally sports activities a 120Hz refresh fee that may dip as little as 1Hz if you’re taking a look at a static web page. 120Hz is nice, however some telephones are beginning to push to a 144Hz refresh fee. Whereas this increased refresh fee is pointless, and also you most likely wouldn’t be capable to inform the distinction between 144Hz and 120Hz, if you happen to’re paying greater than $1,600 for a telephone that doesn’t fold, it ought to include all of the bells and whistles.

On the within

The S23 Extremely options 8GB and 12GB variants, begins at 256GB of storage however can go all the way in which as much as 1TB, and sports activities Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Whereas benchmarks don’t equate to how properly your handset runs, with Geekbench 6, the Galaxy S23 Extremely had a single-core rating of 1,943 and a multi-core rating of 5,112.

“Years in the past, Android telephones had been progressive and provided fascinating, typically gimmicky options, which is what attracted me to them.”

Shifting on, I nonetheless suppose it’s bizarre that the handset begins at 8GB of RAM; a few years in the past, the S21 Extremely began with 12GB of RAM, so I’m not sure why Samsung goes backwards. Once more, if you happen to’re paying this a lot for a telephone, it ought to a minimum of begin at 12GB of RAM. Chances are you’ll not be capable to inform the distinction, however it improves the system’s efficiency, particularly if you’re working a number of apps directly. My evaluate unit options 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and alongside the processor, every part strikes shortly and easily.

The video games play properly. I’ve tried a few video games of PUBG Cellular and a variety of Marvel Snap matches. After a number of video games of Marvel Snap (most likely half an hour’s value), I seen the telephone began to heat up. Nonetheless, this could seemingly occur with any Android handset.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely can simply survive a day of utilization. This contains watching a couple of YouTube movies, texting, scrolling by means of Instagram and extra. Usually, on today, I nonetheless have sufficient juice to get me by means of to the following day with some leftovers within the morning.

On days with extra hardcore utilization, like after I took photos and movies for this evaluate, I solely had about 10 % battery at about 9pm. Total, that is higher battery efficiency than final yr’s S22 Extremely, regardless that the battery is identical measurement. Samsung has reportedly improved the display on the S23 Extremely so it consumes much less energy, which might clarify why that is the case. For essentially the most half, if I charged the S23 Extremely in a single day, I didn’t have to fret in regards to the system dying for the remainder of the day.

As for its speaker, the S23 Extremely is louder than its predecessor. Utilizing the Sound Meter app, I decided that music peaked round 79 to 82 decibels, which equates to “busy visitors” in response to the app. This makes it even louder than the Pixel 7 Pro, S22 Extremely and different flagship handsets just like the Z Fold 4. Nonetheless, quantity isn’t every part relating to music, and also you’ll nonetheless need to take heed to music on headphones or audio system in order for you good bass.