Was the Galaxy S23 Ultra the last cool Ultra phone from Samsung?

In a world where smartphones have become increasingly predictable, the Galaxy S23 Ultra was likely the last of its kind. As the Galaxy S lineup becomes more refined and restrained with each year, the Galaxy S23 Ultra may have signaled the end of an era for Samsung’s over-engineered Ultra flagships.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra was probably the last Galaxy S phone that truly deserved its ‘Ultra’ badge.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra's biggest selling point was its 200MP camera sensor. And it wasn’t just a number on a spec sheet. It represented Samsung’s long-standing obsession with megapixels, for better or for worse. Images captured by the phone also carried that unapologetic ‘Samsung look' with popping colours, which have now been toned down in recent years.

But what made the phone truly special was its zoom camera. It was Samsung’s last phone with true 10x optical zoom, a rare feat even now. The Galaxy S24 Ultra switched to a more practical setup, pairing a 50MP sensor with a 5x optical zoom lens, marking the end of Samsung's bold camera experiments.

Another subtle yet defining aspect of the Galaxy S23 Ultra's identity was its dual-curved display. It gave the phone a distinctive Samsung look that the company started with the Galaxy S6 Edge. Dual-curved screens made Samsung’s phones instantly recognizable. The Galaxy S24 Ultra's flat screen may be more durable and practical, but it stripped away the brand's signature look.

And, of course, there is the signature S Pen which brings back fond memories of the power-packed Galaxy Note series. The Galaxy S23 Ultra's S Pen featured Bluetooth, allowing you to use the stylus as a remote, a camera trigger, and media playback controller through Air Actions. Even though people used it occasionally, it showcased Samsung’s willingness to go the extra mile.

With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung didn’t just build a high-end phone. It pushed the boundaries of smartphones, not because it had to, but because it could. Newer Galaxy S Ultra phones may be more practical for most people, but they probably push away people who liked Samsung's groundbreaking innovations.

During its recent launch events, Samsung has been leaning heavily on AI features, but people have now started to get tired of it. The company should bring back cutting-edge hardware to match the ‘Ultra' branding of its flagships. Until then, for people like me (and likely many others), the Galaxy S23 Ultra will be a reminder of what Ultra used to mean.

Like I mentioned earlier, I will happily stick to my Galaxy S23 Ultra until Samsung brings some major hardware improvements with its future Ultra phones.