Samsung S20 Ultra Unboxing & Review: Still Worth It In 2023?

Hey guys! So, you're curious about the Samsung S20 Ultra in 2023, huh? Awesome! This phone was a beast back when it dropped, boasting top-tier specs and a camera system that wowed everyone. But, with newer phones constantly hitting the market, is the S20 Ultra still worth your hard-earned cash? That's what we're diving into today! We'll do a full unboxing, check out its key features, and give you a straight-up review to help you decide if this phone is still a winner in the current landscape. Get ready to find out if the S20 Ultra is a worthwhile buy in 2023, or if you should look at some newer options.

Unboxing the Samsung S20 Ultra: What's in the Box?

Alright, let's get this show on the road! The unboxing experience is always exciting, right? It's like unwrapping a present, filled with anticipation. The Samsung S20 Ultra came in a sleek, premium-feeling box, typical of Samsung's flagship phones. Inside, you'd find the phone itself, of course, nestled snugly. Along with the phone, there were a few essentials. First up, the USB-C charging cable, which is a must-have for charging and data transfer. Samsung has always been good about including quality cables. Then there was the power adapter, which is the charging brick. In the earlier days it supported fast charging capabilities, and the included adapter would let you take advantage of that. You'd also find a pair of AKG-tuned earbuds, which were a nice bonus, offering decent sound quality right out of the box, especially if you didn't have wireless earbuds. Finally, there's the usual paperwork: the user manual, warranty information, and a SIM ejector tool to help you get started. However, in today's world, it's very likely that the charger is not included in the box. Many companies are doing this to reduce waste. It’s worth checking the specific model you're buying. So, overall, the unboxing experience was pretty standard for a high-end phone, with everything you need to get started. While it might not have the bells and whistles of some other phone releases, the core essentials were all there, which is what truly matters.

The S20 Ultra itself is a sight to behold. It has a massive display that really grabs your attention. It's a statement piece, for sure. The build quality feels super premium. The phone is a bit on the heavier side, due to its size and the materials used, but it gives you a sense of durability. The back is a glossy glass, which is beautiful to look at, but is also a fingerprint magnet. You'll definitely want to have a microfiber cloth handy. The camera bump is quite prominent, but that's because of the advanced camera system packed inside. We'll delve into that later. Overall, the first impression is one of quality and sophistication. It's a phone that feels like it belongs in the premium category, and it definitely stands out from the crowd.

Design and Build Quality: A Closer Look

Let's get up close and personal with the Samsung S20 Ultra's design and build quality. This is where you really get to appreciate the attention to detail that Samsung put into this phone. The front is dominated by a stunning 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The screen is absolutely gorgeous, with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and incredible viewing angles. The display also boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes everything feel incredibly smooth and responsive, from scrolling through menus to playing games. It's a game-changer and adds a real sense of fluidity to the user experience. The screen has a small punch-hole cutout for the front-facing camera, which is unobtrusive and doesn't distract from the overall viewing experience. The bezels are super thin, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and giving you more screen real estate to enjoy.

The back of the S20 Ultra is where you'll find the eye-catching design elements. The phone has a glass back, available in a variety of colors. The glass gives it a premium look and feel, but it's also a fingerprint magnet, as mentioned earlier. The camera module is quite large, housing a complex array of lenses and sensors. This camera bump does make the phone wobble slightly when you lay it flat on a table, so you might want to consider a case to even things out. The frame of the phone is made of metal, providing a sturdy feel and adding to the overall premium aesthetic. The phone has a comfortable feel in hand, despite its large size. The power button and volume rocker are located on the right side of the phone, and they are easily accessible. The bottom of the phone houses the USB-C port, the speaker, and the SIM card tray. Overall, the design and build quality of the S20 Ultra are top-notch. It's a phone that looks and feels premium, with a display that's a joy to behold. The design, with its large screen and powerful camera system, makes it a real head-turner.

Display and Performance: Smooth Operator

Alright, let's talk about the heart and soul of the Samsung S20 Ultra: its display and performance. The display, as mentioned earlier, is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, and it's absolutely stunning. The colors are vibrant and punchy, the blacks are deep and inky, and the viewing angles are excellent. The 120Hz refresh rate is a real treat, making everything feel incredibly smooth and responsive. Scrolling through social media, browsing the web, and playing games all feel silky smooth. It's a feature that makes a big difference in the overall user experience, and it's hard to go back to a phone with a lower refresh rate after experiencing this. The display also gets incredibly bright, making it easy to see in direct sunlight. This is a crucial feature, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. The resolution is sharp, ensuring that everything on the screen looks crisp and clear. Whether you're watching videos, playing games, or browsing the web, the display on the S20 Ultra is a joy to use.

Now, let's talk about performance. The S20 Ultra is powered by either a Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 processor, depending on the region. Both are powerful processors that can handle any task you throw at them. You can expect smooth multitasking, fast app loading times, and lag-free gaming. The phone also comes with plenty of RAM, ensuring that you can keep multiple apps open in the background without any slowdown. During my testing, I found that the S20 Ultra could handle any game or app I threw at it with ease. The phone remained fast and responsive even after hours of use. It handled intensive tasks like video editing and gaming without any issues. The software is well-optimized, contributing to the phone's overall responsiveness. Overall, the display and performance of the S20 Ultra are excellent. The stunning display and powerful processor combine to create a seamless and enjoyable user experience. The phone is still a strong performer even in 2023, capable of handling all the latest apps and games.

Camera Capabilities: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!

Alright, let's dive into the Samsung S20 Ultra's camera capabilities – the crown jewel of this phone! This phone was known for pushing the boundaries of what a smartphone camera could do. The main camera system consists of a 108MP wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 48MP telephoto lens with impressive optical zoom capabilities, and a depth sensor. That's a lot of tech packed into one phone! The 108MP main camera captures incredibly detailed photos with excellent dynamic range and color accuracy. In good lighting conditions, the photos are stunning, with plenty of detail and sharpness. You can zoom in and crop your photos without losing much detail. The phone's processing does a fantastic job of enhancing the images, producing vibrant and eye-catching results. The ultrawide lens is great for capturing landscapes and group photos, allowing you to fit more into the frame. The quality is solid, although it’s not quite as detailed as the main lens. The 48MP telephoto lens is where the magic really happens. It offers impressive optical zoom capabilities, allowing you to get up close to your subjects without losing image quality. You can zoom in to levels that were unheard of in other smartphones at the time. The photos taken with the telephoto lens are surprisingly good, even at higher zoom levels, making it a versatile tool for capturing distant subjects. The phone also supports up to 100x digital zoom, which is, honestly, a bit gimmicky. The image quality degrades significantly at these extreme zoom levels. The front-facing camera is a 40MP sensor, which takes great selfies with plenty of detail and good dynamic range. It also supports 4K video recording, perfect for video calls or creating content.

The S20 Ultra also excels in video recording. It supports up to 8K video recording at 24fps, allowing you to capture incredibly detailed videos. The videos are sharp and vibrant, with excellent stabilization. The phone also offers various video modes, including super slow-motion and hyper-lapse. Overall, the camera system on the S20 Ultra is truly exceptional. It's versatile, offering a wide range of shooting options, and it produces stunning results in both photo and video. While newer phones might have evolved, the S20 Ultra's camera still holds its own in 2023, making it a great choice for photography enthusiasts.

Battery Life and Charging: Keeping You Powered Up

Let's talk about keeping the Samsung S20 Ultra powered up – its battery life and charging capabilities. The phone packs a massive 5,000mAh battery, which is designed to keep you going throughout the day, even with heavy usage. With typical use, including browsing, social media, taking photos, and some gaming, you can easily get a full day's use out of the phone. If you're a light user, you might even get into a second day before needing to charge. The battery life is one of the S20 Ultra's strong suits. It can handle all kinds of usage scenarios. The phone also supports 45W fast charging, which allows you to charge the phone from 0% to 100% in a relatively short amount of time. The exact charging time will depend on the charger you use, but you can expect to get a significant charge in about an hour. However, it’s very likely that the charger is not included in the box. Many companies are doing this to reduce waste. It’s worth checking the specific model you're buying. The phone also supports wireless charging, making it easy to top up your battery without having to plug in a cable. It also supports reverse wireless charging, which allows you to charge other devices wirelessly by placing them on the back of the phone. This is a handy feature if you have wireless earbuds or other devices that support wireless charging. Overall, the battery life and charging capabilities of the S20 Ultra are excellent. The massive battery will keep you going all day, and the fast charging will get you back up to full power in no time. The wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are nice extras that add to the phone's convenience.

Software and User Experience: Samsung's One UI

Let's discuss the software and user experience, which is largely defined by Samsung's One UI. The S20 Ultra launched with Android 10 with Samsung's One UI 2.0 on top. Thankfully, it has since been updated to newer versions of Android, including Android 13, with Samsung's latest One UI. The user interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate. One UI is known for its customization options, allowing you to personalize the look and feel of the phone to your liking. You can change the theme, icons, and even the layout of the home screen. Samsung also includes a variety of useful features, such as Edge Panels, which allow you to quickly access your favorite apps and contacts. The phone also supports Samsung's DeX, which allows you to connect the phone to an external display and use it as a desktop computer. The software is generally smooth and responsive, with no noticeable lag or stuttering. The One UI offers a seamless experience with frequent updates to ensure your phone is up-to-date with security and new features. The software is well-optimized, which contributes to the phone's overall responsiveness and performance. Samsung has a good track record of supporting its phones with software updates, ensuring that you'll continue to get the latest features and security patches.

Is the Samsung S20 Ultra Still Worth Buying in 2023? The Verdict

So, the big question: Is the Samsung S20 Ultra still worth buying in 2023? Here's the lowdown. Considering the current market, the answer is, it depends! If you can find it at a significantly reduced price, especially compared to newer models, then absolutely, it can still be a great choice. The S20 Ultra offers a premium experience with a gorgeous display, excellent performance, a versatile camera system, and all-day battery life. It's a phone that still holds its own against the competition. However, there are a few things to consider. New phones will have the very latest processors, potentially better camera features, and longer software support. Some people might find the larger size a bit cumbersome. The camera bump is quite prominent, which may bother some users. However, if you're looking for a top-tier phone that offers a great all-around experience without breaking the bank, the S20 Ultra is definitely worth considering. It remains a powerful phone, especially if you're upgrading from an older device. The display is still top-notch, the performance is still snappy, and the camera system remains incredibly versatile. It's a solid choice that can deliver a premium smartphone experience without you needing to spend big bucks on the latest model. You will not be disappointed!

Pros:

• Stunning display with 120Hz refresh rate
• Excellent performance
• Versatile and powerful camera system
• All-day battery life
• Premium design and build quality
• Competitive price in the used market

Cons:

• Large size might not be for everyone
• Camera bump is prominent
• May not have the latest software features as newer models

So, there you have it, folks! The Samsung S20 Ultra in 2023. Hopefully, this review has helped you make an informed decision. Happy phone hunting!