Upgrade To The Galaxy S23 Ultra: Yes Or No?

So, let me guess, you’ve got some money in your account, and you’ve finally decided that you need a new phone. And, of course, being a person who likes good things and a staunch supporter of Android FC, you’ve decided that only the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will do for you.

The fact that it starts at $1,200 (roughly ₦1M) brand new is not a problem for you. Odogwu!

Now, we’re not here to discuss how you got the money. Rather, we just want to advise you on whether or not you really need to get the S23 Ultra, or maybe you should just go use the money to buy a small local government in Gombe State instead.

For this, we will be considering a number of factors, such as your budget (which is definitely not an issue if you’re still here), and the age and condition of your current phone.

Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra

If you are currently using the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, then there is practically no need to upgrade to the S23 Ultra. Yes, with the latter, Samsung improved certain areas like the camera quality and performance. The S23 Ultra is Samsung’s first phone capable of taking pictures at a 200-megapixel resolution, and the entire S23 lineup has its own specifically optimized processor, and the base version has twice as much storage as the S22 Ultra.

However, these upgrades will only feel really impactful when upgrading from an older phone. The S22 Ultra is still pretty new, and it has a lot in common with the S23 Ultra; both have large 6.8-inch screens, including an S Pen Stylus, great photography, and 5,000 mAh batteries. And as you can see from the comparison image above, there’s really no noticeable difference physically.

Also, Samsung also provides newer phones with four generations of Android updates and five years of security updates, which means the Galaxy S22 Ultra will feel relevant for the next few years. You can check out more on the S22 Ultra here.

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Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra

Our verdict for the S21 Ultra is the same as for the S22 above; save your money. The Galaxy S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra share many similarities; the only major differences are the S22 Ultra’s newer processor and improved low-light photography performance, as well as the included S Pen. 

Maybe your interest in the Ultra lineup is because you’re a photography freak, which is where the S23 shines with its new 200-megapixel sensor, better dynamic range and improved low-light performance. However, these changes aren’t really enough to justify spending big on a new device just yet, since the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 200-megapixel camera is only truly noticeable when you zoom in at the pixel level, or if you intend to print large copies of your photos. And since Samsung supports four generations of Android software updates on the Galaxy S21 lineup, you’ll also continue to get new versions of Android through Android 15. 

So, save your money. You still get a main camera sensor with a higher resolution than most phones with the S21 Ultra, as well as the ability to zoom up to 100x digitally. Yes, you’ll miss some of Samsung’s newer improvements to low-light photography and dynamic range, but the Galaxy S21 Ultra still has a very capable camera.

And if it’s the S Pen that is entering your eyes, you can always buy it separately instead of upgrading your entire phone. Check out the S21 Ultra here.

Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Galaxy S20 Ultra

This is where things start getting interesting. The Galaxy S20 Ultra falls into that gray area where it could be worth upgrading, but this depends on your device’s condition. If you purchased your Galaxy S20 Ultra when it was launched, your phone is now more than 3 years old. In phone years, that means it’s already past middle age and entering menopause (and its equivalent for men), as performance and battery life are already starting to degrade. 

Both the Galaxy S20 Ultra and S23 Ultra have dedicated lenses for wide, ultrawide and zoomed-in shots, but there are some notable differences in the cameras’ specifications. As previously mentioned, the Galaxy S23 Ultra can shoot photos at up to a 200-megapixel resolution, while the Galaxy S20 Ultra shoots only up to a 108-megapixel resolution – much like the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra. 

There are also some changes to the telephoto lenses. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has two 10-megapixel telephoto cameras compared with the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s 48-megapixel telephoto lens. And since two zoom lenses mean the S23 Ultra doesn’t have to crop as much to achieve a zoom, you should see crisper results when zooming at 3x and 10x. 

So, yes, you’ll be getting several routine upgrades with the S23 Ultra, like a faster new processor, a refreshed design that more closely resembles the Galaxy Note, and the included S Pen stylus. Newer Samsung phones also have ultra-wideband support, which makes it easier to share files with other Samsung phones and use your phone as a digital car key. But this means giving up the S20 Ultra’s micro-SD card slot, meaning you can’t add more storage. You’ll also lose the ability to use Samsung Pay on older payment terminals that don’t support tapping to pay.

Therefore, upgrading to the Galaxy S23 Ultra due to its better camera, battery life and power is definitely justifiable, but just in case you’re into matured minds and you like your phone like you like your men (or women), you can happily hang onto your Galaxy S20 Ultra for another year. However, remember that the Galaxy S20 Ultra is only eligible for three generations of Android platform updates, which means it’s reaching the end of its run since it launched with Android 10. It will still receive monthly security updates, though. 

READ MORE ON THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 ULTRA.

Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Galaxy S10 5G

The Galaxy S10 5G was Samsung’s top-of-the-line phone from 2019, which means it’s now roughly 4 years old. In phone years, that means it’s already a pensioner because, in those four years, Samsung has made many improvements that certainly justify an upgrade. Also, given its age, the Galaxy S10 5G no longer receives Android platform updates, since Samsung guaranteed only three generations of updates. 

As is typical for Samsung’s high-end phones, one of the biggest benefits you’ll get from upgrading is cameras. In addition to the major improvements in resolution, low light performance, stabilization and dynamic range, you’ll also get a much closer zoom on the Galaxy S23 Ultra with its 10x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom. Whereas, the Galaxy S10 5G supports only a 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. 

Apart from the camera improvements, you’ll also get a significantly newer processor that gives you faster performance and better power efficiency, a bigger battery, the S Pen and a slightly larger screen. All told, there’s plenty to be gained from upgrading, as just about everything will feel new.

So, if you have a Galaxy S10 5G, you should upgrade. Everything from the software to the cameras and performance will get a big boost. 

The table below gives a closer look at how the Galaxy S23 Ultra compares with its predecessors:

Galaxy S23 specs. vs. older Samsung phones

Our advice? Yes, it’s worth upgrading to the Galaxy S23 Ultra if you have a Samsung phone that’s at least 3 years old, as your phone is too old to receive new Android platform upgrades. You can check out the S23 Ultra in our stores today, and we offer amazing deals to make your purchase as easy as possible.

However, if you’re currently using one of the newer versions of the S Ultra family, then you should probably save your money, and you know you can trust me, because I could just as well advise you to come over to my store to upgrade anyways so I can make a profit.

You can also take our suggestion about the local government purchase in Gombe. Seriously, it’s a reasonable investment.