Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Specs and Features Review

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (SM‑S918U)

The SM‑S918U is the US carrier‑variant model of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023 flagship), powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm) and featuring a 6.8‑inch QHD+ LTPO 2.0 Dynamic AMOLED, 200MP quad rear cameras, integrated S Pen, 5000mAh battery with 45W fast charging, and IP68 durability. It is optimized for US 5G networks (Sub‑6 + mmWave) and supports single physical SIM + multiple eSIMs.

Key Hardware Specifications

Component	Details
Model Identity	SM‑S918U (US carrier variant); SM‑S918U1 (US unlocked variant)
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm); Octa‑core (1×3.36 GHz Cortex‑X3 + 2×2.8 GHz Cortex‑A715 + 2×2.8 GHz Cortex‑A710 + 3×2.0 GHz Cortex‑A510); Adreno 740 GPU
Display	6.8‑inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity‑O; 1440×3088 (500 ppi); LTPO 2.0 (1‑120Hz adaptive); 1750 nits peak brightness; Vision Booster; Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Memory & Storage	8GB/12GB LPDDR5X RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0; no microSD expansion
Camera System	Rear: 200MP wide (f/1.7, OIS, Laser AF, PDAF)+12MP ultra‑wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)+10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4, OIS, PDAF)+10MP 10x periscope telephoto (f/4.9, OIS, PDAF); 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps videoFront: 12MP (f/2.2, Infinity‑O); 4K@30fps video
Battery & Charging	5000mAh non‑removable Li‑Po; 45W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging
Network & Connectivity	5G (Sub‑6 + mmWave: bands n258/n260/n261), 4G LTE, 3G, 2G; Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS/BDS; USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type‑C
Design & Build	Glass front/back, aluminum frame; IP68 water/dust resistance; dimensions: 163.4×78.1×8.6 mm; weight: 233 g; colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender
Security & Sensors	In‑display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor; Samsung Knox; accelerometer, gyro, proximity, ambient light, magnetometer, barometer, S Pen stylus sensor
Software	Launched with Android 13 + One UI 5.1; guaranteed 4 OS upgrades + 5 years of security patches

Core Features & User Experience

1. Performance & Display

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers flagship‑level gaming and multitasking; LPDDR5X + UFS 4.0 enable fast app loading and data transfers.
LTPO 2.0 display dynamically adjusts refresh rate (1–120Hz) for smoothness and efficiency; 1750 nits peak brightness ensures outdoor visibility.

2. Quad Camera System

200MP wide sensor with OIS/Laser AF captures sharp details; 10x periscope telephoto enables 100x Space Zoom (digital).
Ultra‑wide lens handles landscapes/group shots; front 12MP excels at selfies and video calls; 8K video supports professional content creation.

3. S Pen & Productivity

Integrated S Pen with 2ms latency for note‑taking, drawing, and remote control (camera shutter, presentation navigation).
One UI 5.1 adds productivity tools: Samsung Notes (sync to cloud), Secure Folder, and DeX mode for desktop‑like multitasking.

4. Battery & Durability

5000mAh battery supports all‑day use; 45W fast charging refuels 50% in ~20 minutes; wireless charging adds convenience.
IP68 protection and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 resist water, dust, and drops; premium glass‑and‑metal build ensures longevity.

5. Network & Security

US‑optimized 5G (Sub‑6 + mmWave) delivers ultra‑fast speeds; eSIM support allows multiple carrier profiles on a single device.
Samsung Knox provides hardware‑level security; ultrasonic fingerprint sensor offers reliable biometric authentication.

Market Positioning & Legacy

Target Audience: US flagship users prioritizing top‑tier performance, camera versatility, S Pen productivity, and 5G connectivity.
Competitive Edge: Outperformed rivals like iPhone 14 Pro Max and Google Pixel 7 Pro in gaming performance and S Pen functionality.
Lineage Impact: Set the standard for S Ultra series with Snapdragon exclusivity in the US, LTPO displays, and integrated S Pen—features carried forward to the S24 Ultra.

Post‑Launch Updates & Support

Firmware updates improved camera processing, battery efficiency, and S Pen latency, enhancing long‑term usability.

Launched with Android 13; upgraded to Android 14 (One UI 6.0) and Android 15 (One UI 7.0); scheduled to receive Android 16 and 17, with security patches until 2028.