The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was a cutting-edge flagship when it launched and continues to deliver a top-tier user experience. It’s known for its robust build, stunning display, a specially optimized processor, an incredibly versatile camera system, excellent battery life, and integrated S Pen.
1. Design and Build Quality: The S23 Ultra features a premium and durable construction. It’s built with an Armor Aluminum frame and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back. This provides enhanced resistance to scratches and drops. It maintains the IP68 dust and water resistance rating, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes. The device weighs around 234g. It was launched in classic Phantom Black, Green, Cream, and Lavender, with additional Samsung.com exclusive colors like Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, and Red.
2. Immersive Display: The S23 Ultra boasts a brilliant 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. It offers a Quad HD+ resolution (1440 x 3088 pixels), providing exceptionally sharp and detailed visuals. A key highlight is its adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (1Hz-120Hz), ensuring incredibly smooth scrolling, gaming, and overall responsiveness while being highly power-efficient. The display reaches a high peak brightness of 1750 nits, making it very bright and easily viewable even under direct sunlight. An ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor provides fast and secure biometric authentication.
3. Performance and Hardware: The Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy (4 nm). This was a custom-tuned, overclocked version of Qualcomm’s flagship processor, specifically optimized for Samsung’s S23 series, offering enhanced clock speeds and superior performance. It features an octa-core CPU and the Adreno 740 GPU, delivering outstanding speed and efficiency for gaming, intensive applications, and advanced tasks. It utilizes UFS 4.0 storage, which is twice as fast as UFS 3.1, providing lightning-quick app loading and file transfers.
RAM Configurations for 256GB Storage: For the 256GB internal storage variant of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, it typically comes with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, depending on the region and specific configuration. The 12GB RAM variant is more common for the 256GB model in many markets, especially for a top-tier device like the Ultra.
Storage Options: 256GB You’re specifically asking about the 256GB variant. This offers ample space for most users.
- 256GB Internal Storage: This provides a generous amount of space for a large number of apps, thousands of photos, and many hours of high-resolution video. For users who regularly back up their media to cloud services or external storage, 256GB is often more than sufficient.
Important Note on Storage Expansion: The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, like all Ultra models, does NOT feature a microSD card slot for expandable storage. Therefore, the chosen internal storage is what you will have for the life of the device.
4. Camera System: The S23 Ultra features an exceptional quad-camera system, which was a major highlight at its launch:
- Rear Camera:
- 200MP main sensor (f/1.7, wide, 1/1.3″, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS): Delivers incredible detail, excellent low-light performance, and allows for flexible cropping.
- 10MP periscope telephoto (f/4.9, 10x optical zoom, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF): Provides an impressive 10x optical zoom, enabling sharp photos of distant subjects and up to 100x Space Zoom (digital zoom).
- 10MP telephoto (f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF): For versatile 3x optical zoom.
- 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120˚ FoV, Dual Pixel PDAF, Super Steady video): For expansive landscape and group shots.
- Features: LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama.
- Video Recording: Up to 8K@24/30fps and 4K@30/60fps, with gyro-EIS, HDR10+, and stereo sound recording.
- Front Camera:
- 12MP (f/2.2, wide, Dual Pixel PDAF): For high-quality selfies and video calls, with improved low-light performance.
- Video Recording: Supports 4K@30/60fps.
The camera system includes advanced features like “Nightography” for enhanced low-light photography and significant improvements in image processing.
5. Battery Life and Charging: The Galaxy S23 Ultra is equipped with a large 5000mAh (typical) Li-Ion battery. Thanks to the power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, the S23 Ultra offered outstanding battery life, often lasting up to two days for moderate users and easily a full day for heavy users. It supports 45W wired Super Fast Charging, allowing it to reach approximately 65% charge in just 30 minutes. It also supports 15W wireless fast charging (Qi/PMA) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
6. Software and Updates: The S23 Ultra launched with Android 13 and One UI 5.1. Samsung originally committed to 4 major Android OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates for the S23 series. This means the S23 Ultra is projected to receive Android OS updates up to Android 17 (around 2026/2027) and security updates until February 2028. While newer Samsung flagships (like the S24 series) now offer 7 years of updates, the S23 Ultra’s update policy is still very competitive. It has already received Android 14 (One UI 6.0/6.1).
7. S Pen Integration: The S23 Ultra features a built-in S Pen, continuing the legacy of the Galaxy Note series. The S Pen is deeply integrated with the phone’s software, offering precise note-taking, drawing, air gestures, remote camera control, and other productivity features.
8. Connectivity and Other Features:
- Network: Comprehensive 5G support (Sub6 and mmWave).
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP, LE.
- NFC: Yes.
- USB: USB Type-C 3.2 with DisplayPort and OTG support.
- Audio: Stereo speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos.
- No 3.5mm headphone jack.
- SIM: Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and/or eSIM support).
- UWB (Ultra-Wideband) support for precise spatial awareness and finding compatible devices
Price and Availability in Nairobi, Kenya (July 2025):
As of July 2025, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is readily available in Nairobi, Kenya. Since it’s no longer the very latest model, you might find it at more competitive prices than when it launched.
Estimated Price Range in Kenya (for 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, new):
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (12GB RAM, 256GB storage): KSh 90,000 – KSh 115,000
Prices can vary depending on the retailer, current promotions, and whether you’re looking for a brand-new device or a “like-new” imported (Ex-UK/Ex-USA) model, which can be significantly cheaper (e.g., KSh 80,000 – KSh 95,000).
As per your saved information, Mobihub Electronics is a good starting point to check for the most accurate and up-to-date pricing and stock for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in Nairobi. You should also check other reputable electronics stores in the CBD and online retailers like Jumia, Avechi, Phone Place Kenya, and Kenyatronics for comparative pricing.
The S23 Ultra 256GB remains an excellent choice for anyone seeking a high-performance, feature-rich Android flagship, especially if the absolute latest model (S24 Ultra) is beyond budget. Its camera, display, and battery life are still among the best available
