Samsung is looking to build some excitement ahead of its Feb. 1 Galaxy Unpacked event. TM Roh, president and head of Samsung’s MX business, said in a blog post that the company "will introduce two devices that set the new premium standard for innovation."
Just what is he talking about? Samsung is widely believed to be using the Galaxy Unpacked event to announce the Galaxy S23 smartphone family. Three S23 models are expected, including the S23, the S23+, and the S23 Ultra. It's the Ultra model to which Roh is referring most directly in his post.
Roh says the company designs mobile tech to enrich people's lives. "This purpose drives us to push the limits of what’s possible for the performance and quality of mobile experiences. Nowhere is that more relevant than in the Galaxy products that carry the Ultra name. For Samsung, Ultra means big. Ultra means bold. Ultra means the best of the best in performance."
The Galaxy Ultra is certainly big. Last year's Galaxy S22 Ultra was a beast of a phone with a 6.8-inch screen—one of the largest on the market. The Ultra line is also bold. The phones are distinct in their design and often ship with the absolute latest technology, such as advanced camera modules. Then there's performance. The S22 Ultra used Qualcomm's premiere chip for 2022 and the S23 Ultra is expected to do the same for 2023—most believe the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor will power the phone.
"The upcoming Galaxy is all about camera, performance, and sustainability," says Roh. "That’s why our pro-grade camera system is getting smarter. Our performance is getting more powerful. And our connectivity is getting more seamless." There's not much talk about the S23 Ultra's connectivity features, but the latest in 5G mid-band spectrum support, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 are all safe bets.
Samsung seemingly confirmed one of the biggest rumors concerning the S23 Ultra, which is its camera. The company announced a new 200MP ISOCELL HP2 mobile camera module. The sensor packs 200 million pixels, each 0.6μm in size, on a 1/1.3-inch sensor. It can handle a number of imaging arrangements, including the full 200MP pixel count, as well as 50MP images (binned by a factor of four) and 12.5MP images (binned by a factor of 16). The sensor boosts video-capture powers, too, jumping from 8K24 video to 8K30, with 4K60 capture now possible in HDR.
Roh also made mention of innovation that lasts, which means "building durable devices engineered to last longer and incorporating more sustainable materials that consider each phase of the product’s lifecycle. It also means supporting peak performance with years of security and OS updates and simplifying the longevity of a device."
Samsung's top-shelf phones are already made of aluminum with Gorilla Glass Victus panels on the front. They're often IP68 rated, as well, which protects them from dust and water. Can Roh be insinuating a new level of durability for the S23 line? That would be innovative.
The last and most curious thing noted by Roh is that Samsung has two devices on deck for Galaxy Unpacked. What is this mystery second device? A new tablet? More headphones? A laptop? Samsung's website refers to a new Galaxy Book, so that could be it.
We'll have to wait until Feb. 1 to find out. Until then, don't forget to reserve now to score a deal on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra before it is announced.