Samsung touts Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone as best of the best

Get ready for the best of the best, says Samsung Electronics Co.'s mobile business chief days before its Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event, where it plans to unveil its latest Galaxy S23 series of smartphones.

In a contributing article posted on Samsung’s newsroom website on Wednesday, TM Roh, president and head of Samsung’s MX (Mobile eXperience) business, said the upcoming S23 series will set new performance and quality standards by adopting state-of-the-art technology while meeting climate goals.

“Our pro-grade camera system is getting smarter, offering the best photos and videos under any lighting conditions among our Galaxy smartphones,” he said.

At the Unpacked event to be held offline in San Francisco on Feb. 1, Samsung is expected to unwrap several new models of its flagship Galaxy S23 series smartphones, which the company hopes to rival Apple Inc.’s high-end line of iPhones.

Samsung is the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer by volume but lags Apple by a large margin in the premium segment.

On Tuesday, Samsung unveiled its latest 200-megapixel image sensor, the ISOCELL HP2, with improved pixel technology, which is expected to power the main camera on its Galaxy S23 series smartphones.

Roh said the newest chipsets, “born out of Samsung’s open partnership philosophy,” will enable the fastest and most powerful Galaxy performance.

QUALCOMM’S SNAPDRAGON TO DRIVE ALL S23 SERIES

The entire line of Galaxy S23 series will be equipped with US chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies Inc.'s next-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile application processor (AP).

Samsung is adopting the Qualcomm AP, which serves as the brain of electronic devices, to quell any controversy pertaining to quality, industry officials said.

At the top of the Galaxy S series is the Galaxy S Ultra, which gives users the best of the best with redefined performance and quality, according to Roh.

“The Galaxy S Ultra has truly become the pinnacle of Samsung Mobile’s innovation, a marque that stands out against everything else,” the mobile chief said.

Starting with the S22 Ultra model unveiled at last year’s Unpacked event, Samsung has incorporated a built-in S Pen stylus into its high-end smartphones – previously available only on its Note family of smartphones.

"The new Galaxy S series will be the epitome of how we define the ultimate premium experience. We're raising the bar and setting new standards for what's epic,” the company said.

Samsung said it is also committed to combatting climate change, incorporating more recycled materials into its smartphone components.

“This means we’re collaborating with like-minded partners to bring people closer together and deliver positive change for people and the planet while setting new benchmarks for our industry,” Roh said.

Industry watchers expect Samsung to raise the prices of new models by about 150,000 won ($121) apiece compared to its previous S22 series.

When launched last year, the Galaxy S22 5G phone retailed for 999,900 won ($835), while the most premium S22 Ultra with a 512 GB capacity had a price tag of 1.55 million won.

Samsung is launching the new S23 series amid growing competition from Apple and Chinese companies in both premium and low-end segments.

“I can’t wait to share what’s next with you,” said Roh.

Write to Jeong-Soo Hwang at hjs@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.