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If you are looking for a high-end Android phone, the first name that comes to mind is probably “Samsung.” The Korean smartphone manufacturer has a stranglehold on the premium smartphone market when it comes to Android devices. The company’s latest offering, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, is no exception.
This stunning, massive flagship phone is among the best Samsung has ever made. It boasts a gorgeous OLED screen, a lightning-fast chipset, and the all-important S Pen to make it easier to take notes or doodle. But is it worth that sky-high $1,200 price tag? Well, let’s take a closer look.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is sporting a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen that hits a breezy 120Hz refresh rate. Your pictures and videos will look great on it, too, as it offers up a downright massive resolution: 3,088 x 1,440. The screen is really the star of the show, with luminous colors and buttery-smooth animations making it look downright decadent.
It also boasts an impressive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip made specifically for Galaxy phones. Since the devs had exclusive access to this bespoke chip, the phone is more than just fast – it’s like lightning. No sooner have you tapped an app icon than the app is loaded and ready to rock.
As you might expect by now, every Galaxy phone is made with productivity in mind. The S23 Ultra is no different, as it comes with a handy S Pen stylus included. You can use this to take notes on the fly, scribble in the margins of your documents, or otherwise control your phone from a distance like a remote control.
Some reviewers have pointed out that there is nothing really new in terms of features for the Pen. However, there is also not much else you can do to make a stylus exciting beyond letting it do stylus things. Either you love the productivity-enabling little pen, or you don’t need it.
The S23 Ultra is a pricey phone that offers the very best performance and screen you can find on an Android device. If you are in the market for the top-of-the-line, this is it. But if you are just looking for a handset that will take calls and let you browse social media, it might be a bit too much phone for you. It is okay to know when you don’t need the best-of-the-best flagship phone!