Lab – Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: a finally convincing 200 Mpx module

Samsung is a major supplier of sensors for the smartphone industry, especially those very defined 108 or 200 MP. However, the South Korean manufacturer is only rarely the first to market terminals to be equipped with it. For example, for the symbolic barrier of 200 megapixels, Samsung comes after a Xiaomi 12T Pro and a Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, precursors in the field, for nevertheless nuanced results.

200, 50 or 12 MP: your choice

But here comes the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra equipped in its main module with a 200 Mpx Isocell HP2 sensor accompanied by 24 mm optics opening at f / 1.7 (all in 24×36 equivalent). The sensor is in 1/1.3″ format, each pixel measuring 0.6 µm on a side. A relatively large sensor for a smartphone, therefore, but with really small sub-pixels. By default, the Galaxy S23 Ultra shoots photos 12 MP (4000 x 3000 px), using the pixel binding and by merging 16 pixels into 1. There is – as on the Xiaomi 12T Pro – an intermediate mode of 50 megapixels grouping 4 pixels into 1.

To switch from one mode to another, click on the ratios (4:3 by default) to see the other choices appear. Note that when you capture images in 50 Mpx, and this is even more true in 200 Mpx, once the trigger is activated, it will take a few moments for the terminal to demosaic the cliché. For the sake of readability, we are focusing today on the capture in 200 Mpx. Small disappointment for those who would like shoot in RAW at full definition (to be able to edit their images well), the S23 Ultra restricts the capture of RAW to only 50 Mpx. It must be said that a RAW snapshot of 50 Mpx already weighs the trifle of … 120 MB.

A big definition difficult to master

During our previous tests with phones equipped with a similar module, we had appreciated the rendering of the images passed through the pixel-binning mill or even the native shots in 200 million pixels, but resized by us in 12.5. Mpx. The level of detail obtained was then very satisfactory, but in this mode, smartphones quickly showed their limits, proving the usefulness of pixel-binning, which notably optimizes images taken in low light.

A few months later, Samsung seems to be doing much differently. By day and in 200 Mpx, when we analyze the shots displayed at 100%, the level of detail in the center of the image is really very satisfactory – let’s ignore the very garish colors here, again and again the signature of the manufacturer. The smoothing is well limited and on the periphery, quite logically, the sharpness is less marked. But what is most striking is comparing the images to those of the other two terminals.

An excellent performance in the day lab…

The Samsung quite easily outclasses the competition. Put in parallel, it is almost hard to believe that the shots from the Xiaomi 12T Pro and the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra are 200 Mpx. The level of detail is much lower and the processing applied by the manufacturers to the images is such that one has the impression of having simply digitally zoomed in the image.

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Samsung offers here a real viable solution for those who want to capture very defined images and wish to benefit from all the possible cropping latitude, especially in the center of the photo. During our tests with its elder, the S21 Ultra, we had already praised the precision of the module’s shots at 108 Mpx compared to the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro, which applied a very marked smoothing. Here, the competitors accentuate the contrasts at the cost of a clear loss of quality, while the softer treatment of the S23 Ultra, associated it seems with a better optical unit, makes it possible to obtain successful photos.

… but further back at night

At night, however, the aggressive treatment of the Xiaomi 12T Pro makes it possible to keep a more readable image if not really usable. For its part, the lighter processing of the Samsung S23 Ultra does not allow you to recover a decent shot at 200 Mpx.

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In general, night performance shows us that these sensors are not – for the moment – ​​intended to be used as they are in low light. The sub-pixels are in fact so small that the capture of light is insufficient to restore a satisfactory image by default, hence the interest of pixel-binning associated with a night mode lengthening the exposure times and optimizing the fusion of the shots .

And faced with the Pixel-shift mode of the Sony A7R V?

To feed our thinking and also out of curiosity, we compared the 200 Mpx daytime shots of the Samsung S23 Ultra to those of the Sony Alpha 7R V (A7R V) hybrid. Admittedly, more than 3000 € separate the two machines. In addition, the Sony’s 24×36 sensor is (much) larger than the Samsung’s. Finally, the most informed will have noticed that the sensitive cell of the A7R V is “only” 61 Mpx. This record figure in the world of 35 mm is well below the 200 Mpx of the 23 Ultra, but, thanks to the Pixel-shift mode of the device, which captures a series of shots (to be combined later with in-house software) , we can obtain images of… 240 megapixels! It’s still not equivalent, but we’re getting closer.

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Faced with this extraordinary device, the Galaxy S23 Ultra does a good job. If the debauchery of pixels on a large format sensor offers a very significant (and superior) sharpness in the center of the image, the Samsung smartphone does not deserve and holds its rank. Obviously, the level of detail, due to the sensor as well as its better definition, is higher with the Sony and the smoothing is less marked. Nevertheless, the S23 is quite relevant and demonstrates how far smartphone manufacturers have come. Similarly, on the periphery of the image, we notice that the fusion in post-production of the Alpha 7R V shots is not perfect, and artefacts remain. Certain points of the image seem to multiply, while the S23 Ultra offers a much more homogeneous result.

Furthermore, with the Sony A7R V, images to be merged can only be obtained using a perfectly stabilized tripod, while the S23 captures 200 MP images handheld without difficulty.

Finally a usable 200 MP mode

Under strong controlled lighting, the main module of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra therefore allows you to take very good shots in full definition. However, this comes with several constraints. First, a slightly longer recording time. In addition, it will be necessary to do without AI improvements, which cannot be activated in this mode, just like autofocus tracking. Similarly, the shots weigh significantly heavier, around 25 MB, against 2 or 3 MB in 12 Mpx, a non-negligible factor when you are aware of the space available by default on an S23. Finally, as soon as the light runs out, it will be necessary to do without the 200 Mpx.

That being said, the quality of the images captured at 200 Mpx with this Samsung should not be put into perspective. The level of detail is impressive and the cropping possibilities quite mind-boggling. We must also be aware of the technological leap offered by Samsung, which, a bit like the Oppo Find X5 Pro in 2022 and its 50 Mpx module, allows us to sometimes relieve ourselves of pixel-binning to finally enjoy a high native definition. .