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People react to Galaxy S23 Ultra: Glad I bought the Pixel 6! This looks like iPhone, Huawei, Sony

Updated: Feb 19, 2023, 11:47 PM

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This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.

People react to Galaxy S23 Ultra: Glad I bought the Pixel 6! This looks like iPhone, Huawei, Sony

It didn't take me long to realize that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a big phone. It doesn’t just make my iPhone 13 mini feel like a toy but also makes the Pixel 7 Pro (another device I usually find to be too big) feel “normal”...

Now, sure - phone sizes can be subjective, depending on a bunch of factors such as the size of your hands (mine are on the small side), whether you use a case (most people do), and something even more important we often ignore, which is how you use your phone - whether you use it in bed (as a tablet); if you use it with two hands (some people hold their phone in one hand and navigate the UI with the other), etc.

How likely you are to buy and fall in love with a large-screen phone also depends on whether you have alternative devices for entertainment, work, etc. For example, I have access to a MacBook and a TV, and I much prefer watching longer YouTube videos and movies on the larger screens, which also aren't right up in my face. On the other hand, a college student or a backpacker might not have as many options.

A phone with a large 6.8-inch screen like the Galaxy S23 Ultra (especially compared to my 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini) tends to change your use patterns, even if you don’t realize it. Suddenly, watching YouTube videos on your phone (instead of using your TV/laptop) is something you do more often. Even scrolling through Instagram and TikTok can be more addictive, as you quite literally get a bigger “window” into the vanity of social media.

But! What can make or break a large smartphone could be the way the phone-maker chooses to handle and work around the large formfactor. And unfortunately, when it comes to the new Galaxy S23 Ultra, it’s fair to say Samsung didn’t really try to make up for the dimensions of its biggest slab phone by implementing a more functional design.

In fact, it seems like the problem here is with Samsung’s philosophy of what the top model Galaxy “S” flagship is supposed to look/feel like. So, let’s dig a little deeper…

Galaxy S23 Ultra weighs as much as the smallest iPad; giving up beloved S21 Ultra design to turn the most powerful Galaxy into a Note was selfish, Samsung

300g with a case and a screen protector, the S23 Ultra is one heavy phone. Kinda like the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra’s ergonomic design makes Galaxy S23 Ultra feel rough around the edges (quite literally)

The vanilla Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ also offer a better “feel in the hand” compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra

The otherwise large Pixel 7 Pro feels like a far smaller phone compared to Galaxy S23 Ultra

In a nutshell, that’s how I think Samsung’s other phones compare to the Galaxy S23 Ultra when it comes to look/feel. Also, despite being almost as big as the S23 Ultra, the Pixel 7 Pro also feels like a far (far!) more manageable handset, and that’s because the S23 Ultra really is a boxy Galaxy Note. Let’s not forget that!

Despite being a fairly open-minded OEM that offers a diverse portfolio of products and a ton of choice when it comes to hardware (and software), Samsung quite literally forced the Galaxy Note design onto its new and existing users who want the latest and greatest Galaxy. “And that's not cool, man!”

The question I asked over a year ago still stands: Why do I need to buy a Galaxy Note in order to get the best Samsung experience? Many Samsung fans on social media agree that the Galaxy S21 Ultra was the pinnacle of the company’s flagship design.

The S21 Ultra’s curvy back and rounded edges made what was a big phone feel as manageable as possible. On the contrary, the boxy S23 Ultra digs into my palm, while the wider screen and flatter back make it significantly more difficult to operate than the smaller and curvier Pixel 7 Pro. What doesn’t help is that Samsung actually made the frame of the S23 Ultra flatter compared to the S22 Ultra - a nice touch if the phone wasn’t huge.

I have now received my Galaxy S23 Ultra case, and while the grippy case helps (a lot) with the grip, it doesn’t make the S23 Ultra any lighter or more manageable. The naked Galaxy S23 Ultra weighs 234g, coming up to a whopping 293g with the case I have, which (wait for it) is basically as heavy as the iPad mini 6 (297g). I don’t have a screen protector on, which means adding one could easily bring the S23 Ultra over the 300g mark, which is a lot!

I’m preparing a story on the camera of the S23 Ultra and how it compares with the iPhone and Pixel. The biggest challenge while snapping pictures with all phones was trying not to drop the humongous Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’s nearly impossible to operate the Ultra with one hand - especially when you’re moving, taking photos.

Ordinary people react to/review the new Galaxy S23 Ultra: "It’s nice, but I expected a different design... It looks like a Huawei/Sony."

People don't understand why the S23 Ultra looks that way.

Anyway, let’s look away from my views and opinions for a minute…

Here’s the conversation that unfolded right after I handed the Galaxy S23 Ultra to my aunt, who then showed it to my uncle, my mother, etc. For the record, my aunt asked me to see the phone, and I said absolutely nothing when I handed the S23 Ultra over. I started writing down everything I managed to catch from the conversation. Verbatim. Also, bear in mind, my relatives know jackfruit about phones, which in this case is a good thing:

A: Those Samsung people! What did they try to do? It looks like those phones… Huawei?

M: No, Sony!

A: It’s squarish. They have run away from their thing. Adding more cameras like iPhone and stuff?

U: I’m happy I bought this one! (he recently bought a Pixel 6 Pro)

A: It’s nice, but I expected a different design. If you were to hit someone on the head (with the S23 Ultra)... you’d wreck them!

“A” smartphone history: Galaxy S6, iPhone 8, iPhone 13; the iPhone 13 was a very recent purchase; although I suggested a Pixel 6a (great price and camera), she decided to pay double and stick to iPhone as she was already used to iOS

“M” smartphone history: Galaxy S9 - since 2019; she recently started using my old Huawei P30 Pro as the Galaxy is slowing down and struggles to make it through a full day of use; she’s willing to get the upcoming Pixel 7a as she finds Samsung’s new flagships too expensive

“U” smartphone history: Galaxy S6, Galaxy S8, Pixel 6 Pro; I actually sold him my Pixel 6 Pro at a symbolic price after vouching he’d never pay more than $400-500 for a phone ever again; if you’re curious, I wasn’t in a hurry to sell my Pixel 6 Pro, so I pitched the Galaxy S21 FE as the best option according to the budget and the fact that he was coming from a Galaxy (S8) - he said he wanted to try something different

There’s your unbiased hands-on review of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, peeps - about as real as it gets!

I’d have to agree with the average family member here - if I had to pick a phone as a weapon, I think the S23 Ultra would be my first choice. It’s got the sharp edges, and I’m pretty sure the S-Pen could be a good torture device - like a Bluetooth eyepick! Ew.

Samsung picked the wrong time to get lazy with design upgrades; best-looking Galaxy S23 Ultra colors are hard to get

Red is the hottest new Galaxy S23 Ultra color but it's hard to come by. Thanks to Samsung.

But back to my take…

Although my critical opinion of the S23 Ultra’s design has mostly to do with ergonomics and the “form over function” issue, I can’t avoid discussing the aesthetic look of the S23 Ultra altogether. In fact, too many people seem to care about the way their phones look, despite putting them in a case almost immediately…

I do prefer the way phones like the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Pixel 7 Pro look. Don’t get me wrong, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a beautiful device (more specifically the Cream color I have here), but it lacks what I call the “badass” attitude of the S21 Ultra as well as the unique flair of the Pixel 7 Pro in Hazel. On top of that, save for the Cream S23 Ultra (a fancy name for off-white), the rest of the S23 Ultra colors appear too muted and almost shy. Like, are you a color or not?!

Anyway, what’s particularly heartbreaking is that Samsung does actually offer four other color variants of the S23 Ultra, but those are exclusive to the company’s official website/store and overall harder to get - with longer waiting times, often out of stock, and restricted to only specific countries.

I find the Galaxy S23 Ultra in the red-black combo particularly attractive and definitely would’ve gone for this one if the waiting time wasn’t nearly a month longer compared to the standard, more boring colors. But why, Samsung?

Galaxy S24 Ultra: Get rid of the S-pen; make it narrower and curvier; give it uniform screen borders, please... Samsung

Samsung needs to stop being selfish and get rid of the old, boxy design. The S-Pen is for the Fold 5.

As someone who has the chance to voice his POV on the latest smartphone tech on the internet, I’m rarely as strongly convinced when it comes to a single topic, but I do think that walking away from the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s ergonomic design was a big miscalculation on Samsung’s side.

I get it - killing off the Note lineup (emphasis on “lineup”) was probably necessary, and the easiest thing to do was to repurpose the actual design of the Note, and turn it into the “S Ultra” flagship. Still, I find this to be a selfish move (phone-makers do that), which doesn’t benefit the user. It essentially means less or no choice for those who want the best Galaxy - one premium flagship phone is less then two.

So, Samsung, if you’re reading this, I wouldn’t mind giving up the S-Pen in return for a narrower phone. While you’re at it, make the Galaxy S24 Ultra curvier (not the screen but the frame and back), and for God’s sake, try getting the bezels to be symmetrical all around? Why does the $800 Galaxy S23 have uniform display borders but the $1,200 Ultra doesn’t? Oh, wait, is it due to the fact that it’s a Galaxy Note, and this design doesn’t allow flexing the display connector on the bottom? Just a guess.

Given that Samsung used the same design for its top flagship two years in a row (quite unusual for the company), I do expect the Galaxy S24 Ultra to bring something new to the table, so I remain optimistic!

2024 might also be a good time for Samsung to start looking for new materials that could make the company’s big phones lighter. For example, Appleis expected to use titanium for the casing of the recently-leaked iPhone 15 Pro, which could (in theory) reduce the weight of the phone, as it requires less materials to achieve the same durability compared to stainless steel.

As of right now, I wouldn’t buy a Galaxy S23 Ultra, as functional design (the way a phone feels) is right on top of my priority list - far more important than an S-Pen or a 200MP camera. Which is why I’m still rocking my trusty iPhone 13 mini over the iPhone 14 Pro. Priorities.

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Martin, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, brings a unique blend of humor and insight to his work. His fascination with smartphones began with a Galaxy Young and evolved through a series of trades and upgrades, making him a self-proclaimed smartphone nerd. Martin's content often combines current analysis of market trends with historical references and future predictions. Whether it's a deep dive into technical issues or a first-person commentary on industry events, Martin's articles are designed to inform and engage. His critical perspective is driven by genuine curiosity and a desire to keep readers informed, not by any corporate sponsorship.