Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review : Tech ARP Editor’s Choice!

Spread the love

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Camera Performance

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra : Camera Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a super-high resolution 200 MP main camera, built around a new ISOCELL HP2 sensor used in the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

This is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size. The Galaxy S23 Ultra camera will be able to combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel for much better low-light performance.

Video capabilities also got an upgrade, thanks to this new sensor. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can now record 8K videos at 30 frames per second, instead of just 24 fps previously.

It also boasts better Adaptive VDIS capability, and improved optical image stabilisation (OIS), delivering silky smooth videos by doubling the angle to ±3°, from the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera‘s ±1.5°.

Here are six shots I took in Singapore, using the 200 MP main camera, and the 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera.

They are 4000 x 3000 pixels in size, with a JPEG file size of between 4 MB and 8 MB – it all depends on the amount of detail in the picture. To save space, I definitely recommend that you enable HEIF – the High Efficiency Image Format.

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Jewel Waterfall day 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - portrait 02
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - portrait 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 29Rooms 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Gardens by the Bay day 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Supertree day 01

By default, the 200 MP camera takes 12 MP photos, combining sixteen pixels into one super-large pixel. Coupled with the improved lens and wider aperture, the final photos are not only much brighter, but have significantly lower noise.

Here are six night shots to show you just how bright the Galaxy S23 Ultra photos are, taken at night handheld without flash.

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Supertree night 02
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Cloud and Flower dome 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Marina Bay Sands night 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Clarke Quay night 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Clarke Quay night 02
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - Clarke Quay night 03

Here are six shots to show you the incredible amount of detail you can capture at just 12 MP. If you need greater detail, you can always increase the resolution to the full 200 MP, but frankly – these pictures should show you that you don’t really need to.

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - flower 02
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - vegetables 02
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - fruits 02
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - vegetables 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - food 01
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo sample - food 02

Of course, the 200 MP capability is not there for marketing purposes. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can truly take 200 MP photos, with a resolution of 16,320 pixels x 12,240 pixels, with each file at about 13-15 MB!

To demonstrate both the 200 MP capability and its ability to take bright photos at night, I took this 200 MP photo at Marina Bay Sands.

From that single photo, I could zoom in to make out individuals within the dome-shaped Apple Store hundreds of metres away – all unbeknownst that they were being captured on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at night!

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Photography Review!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra : Camera Performance Summary

If you want the best cameras on a smartphone money can buy, you should definitely consider the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Don’t put too much stock into the 200 MP marketing spiel. Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is breaking new resolution groups with its 200 MP photography capability. But most of us will probably never use it, except in special circumstances.

What you are really getting is an awesome 12 MP camera with super-large pixels for really great noise-free images, and better low-light photos.

I am especially impressed with its low-light night photography capabilities. The photos I took in Singapore look like they were well-lit by moonlight. That was not the case at all, and it was all the more impressive because I took it handheld.

The photos turned out great – bright, sharp and with much less noise than I dared to hope! There is no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has some of the best smartphone cameras I’ve tried this year.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Summary + Award

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

About The Author

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: