Should I Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in 2025? A Complete Buyer's Guide
In the fast-moving world of smartphones, making a smart choice with your hard-earned money is important. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was once the king of smartphones when it launched in early 2023. But we are now in 2025, and many new phones have come out since then. If you are thinking about buying the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra today, you might be wondering if it’s still a good choice. This article will help you decide if the S23 Ultra is worth buying in 2025, especially for Indian users.
Current Price of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in India in 2025
Before we look at the features, let’s talk about how much the phone costs now. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has seen big price drops since its launch:
- 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage: Rs 82,999 – Rs 84,999 (Amazon and other online stores)
- 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage: Rs 99,999 – Rs 1,07,991
- Samsung’s official store price: Rs 1,09,999 (but often available with additional discounts)
During sales and with bank offers, you can sometimes get the 256GB model for around Rs 70,000 – Rs 75,000, which is a big drop from its original launch price of Rs 1,24,999.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Key Features and Specs Design and Display
The S23 Ultra has a design that hasn’t changed much from earlier models. It has a big 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a sharp Quad HD+ resolution (3088 x 1440 pixels). The screen refreshes at 120Hz, making everything smooth when scrolling or playing games. The screen can get very bright (up to 1750 nits peak brightness), which helps when using the phone outside in sunlight.
The phone has a glass front and back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) with an aluminum frame. It weighs 233g, which is quite heavy compared to regular phones. The S-Pen stylus is built into the phone, which is useful for taking notes, drawing, or precise tasks.
Performance and Hardware
The S23 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which was top-of-the-line in 2023. Even in 2025, this chip handles most tasks without any problems. You can choose between 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and storage options of 256GB or 512GB. There’s no option to add more storage with a memory card.
For gaming, the phone works well with most games, even the heavy ones. Though newer phones from 2024 and 2025 are faster, the S23 Ultra is still powerful enough for everyday use and gaming.
Camera System
This is where the S23 Ultra still shines in 2025. The phone has a powerful camera setup:
- Main camera: 200MP wide-angle camera
- Ultra-wide camera: 12MP
- Two telephoto cameras: 10MP (3x zoom) and 10MP (10x zoom)
- Front camera: 12MP
The 200MP main camera takes very detailed photos, especially in good light. The phone can zoom up to 100x with its “Space Zoom” feature, though pictures at that extreme zoom level aren’t very clear. The 3x and 10x optical zoom cameras take excellent photos, which is still a strong point for this phone even in 2025.
The camera app has many modes including Night mode, Portrait mode, Pro mode, and a special Expert RAW app for professional-style photos. In low light, the camera performs quite well, capturing bright and clear images.
Battery Life and Charging
The S23 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery that typically lasts a full day with medium to heavy use. However, some users have reported battery drain issues after recent updates in early 2025.
Charging speeds include:
- Wired charging: 45W (but no charger in the box)
- Wireless charging: 15W
- Reverse wireless charging: 4.5W (to charge earbuds or other phones)
With a 45W charger (bought separately), the phone can charge from 0% to about 65% in 30 minutes. This is decent but not as fast as some Chinese phones in 2025 that offer 100W or faster charging.
Software and Updates
The S23 Ultra launched with Android 13 and Samsung’s One UI 5. In 2025, it has received updates and now runs on Android 15 with One UI 7. Samsung promised 4 years of major Android updates and 5 years of security updates for this phone. This means:
- Android updates until 2027 (up to Android 17)
- Security updates until 2028
In April 2025, the phone received the stable One UI 7.0 update, showing that Samsung is still supporting this device with the latest software features.
Pros and Cons of Buying S23 Ultra in 2025
Pros
- Price drop: The phone now costs much less than at launch
- Still excellent cameras: The camera system remains competitive even in 2025
- S-Pen functionality: No other phone except Samsung’s Ultra series has this feature
- Good software support: Will continue to receive updates for 2-3 more years
- Solid performance: Still powerful enough for most users
- Premium build quality: High-quality materials and good durability
Cons
- Newer models available: The S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra have better specs and newer features
- Battery drain issues: Some users report battery problems after recent updates
- Charging speed: Slower than many 2025 competitors
- Heavy and bulky: Not the most comfortable phone to hold for long periods
- No major design change: Looks similar to older models
- Price still high: Even with discounts, it’s a big investment
Alternatives to Consider in 2025
If you’re looking at the S23 Ultra, you might want to check these alternatives too:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Rs 92,000): Newer model with titanium frame, flatter display, and newer processor
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Rs 1,24,999): Latest model with many improvements
- OnePlus 12 (Around Rs 60,000): Excellent performance, faster charging, but no S-Pen
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Rs 1,14,999): Great cameras and pure Android experience
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Rs 99,999): Top camera performance with Leica partnership
- Vivo X200 Pro (Rs 94,999): Excellent camera system and fast charging
Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in 2025?
Buy If:
- You want a phone with S-Pen functionality at a lower price than the S24/S25 Ultra
- Camera quality is very important to you
- You need a phone that will receive updates for 2-3 more years
- You find a good deal (below ₹75,000)
- You want a premium Samsung experience without paying for the latest model
Don’t Buy If:
- You want the absolute latest technology and features
- Fast charging is important to you
- You prefer a lighter, more comfortable phone
- You have the budget for the S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra
- You don’t care about the S-Pen
Final Verdict On Should I Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in 2025?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in 2025 is like buying a slightly old but still luxury car at a discount. You’re getting most of the premium features at a much lower price than when it launched. The phone still has excellent cameras, good performance, and will continue to receive software updates for a few more years.
For most Indian users who want a premium phone without spending over Rs 1,00,000, the S23 Ultra at its current price of around Rs 80,000 (or even less during sales) is a good choice. However, if you can stretch your budget, the newer S24 Ultra adds some meaningful improvements, especially in design, battery life, and performance.
If you don’t need the S-Pen, there are other options from OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Vivo that offer similar or better performance in some areas at lower prices.
In simple terms: The S23 Ultra is still a very good phone in 2025, but no longer the very best. If you find it at a good price (below Rs 75,000), it offers excellent value. Otherwise, you might want to consider newer alternatives.
Before making your final decision, try to visit a store and hold the phone to see if the size and weight feel comfortable for you. Also check for any ongoing discounts, as festive and seasonal sales can bring the price down significantly.
Also see: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Full Review. check all its feature and review on smarttechbyte.com