Best Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Camera Settings
The last Ultra with an optical 10x periscope, plus a 200MP main camera, on its final major update.
Published ·Last updated
The Galaxy S23 Ultra was the first Galaxy with a 200MP main camera and the last Ultra with a 10x periscope. One UI 9 started reaching it in October 2026, and that's its fourth and final major update. These settings play to its strengths in daylight and at long range, and they work around its weaker zoom after dark.
Galaxy S23 Ultra camera specs
| Lens | Resolution / aperture | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6x ultra-wide | 12 MP · f/2.2 | 13mm, 120° view, autofocus |
| 1x main | 200 MP · f/1.7 | 24mm, 1/1.3-inch ISOCELL HP2 sensor, OIS, laser AF |
| 3x telephoto | 10 MP · f/2.4 | 70mm, 1/3.52-inch sensor, OIS |
| 10x periscope | 10 MP · f/4.9 | 230mm, 1/3.52-inch sensor, OIS |
| Selfie | 12 MP · f/2.2 | Dual Pixel AF |
Video: 8K at 24 or 30fps, 4K at up to 60fps, Full HD slow motion at 240fps and HDR10+. No Samsung Log
Signature features: Optical 10x periscope · Expert RAW with Astrophoto · S Pen Air actions as a remote shutter · One UI 9 as its last major update
Settings to change first
| Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Composition guide | Grid lines and level | Long-lens shots tilt easily, and the level shows it before you shoot. |
| Press Volume buttons to | Take picture or record video | A side key moves the phone less than a tap when you're at 10x. |
| Scene detection | On for quick shares, off for natural colour | One UI 9 moved it into Photo enhancer, where it used to be Scene optimizer. |
| Pro mode picture format | RAW and JPEG | You get a DNG for editing next to the usual JPEG. |
| Auto lens switching (Camera Assistant) | Off when you want the real 10x | In very dark scenes the phone may crop from the 3x instead. |
Settings by situation
Everyday and travel
Daylight is where the S23 Ultra does its best work, and GSMArena found its colour warmer and punchier than the S22 Ultra's.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | 1x for most scenes, 3x and 10x for details | Pinching anywhere between 3x and 10x gives you a crop of the 3x. |
| Resolution | 12MP, or 50MP outdoors in good light | GSMArena found 50MP added detail, while 200MP made huge files and lost dynamic range. |
| Exposure | Pull it down a little for bright skies | It's easier than rescuing a blown-out sky later. |
| Motion photo | On for groups | It gives Best face extra frames to work with. |
Portraits
The 3x Portrait mode was much sharper than the S22 Ultra's in GSMArena's review.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | 3x from about 1.2m | The 70mm view flatters faces and keeps background lines straight. |
| Mode | Portrait, with blur below the maximum | Edges around hair look more natural with less blur. |
| Skin tone | Check the warmth in Gallery afterwards | GSMArena saw slightly warm, yellowish skin at 3x. |
| Prioritize focus over speed (Camera Assistant) | On | It lets focus settle on the eyes before the shot fires. |
Low light and night
The main camera handles night well, while the 3x and 10x need Night mode.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Photo mode | Leave the crescent Night shot icon on | GSMArena found it turns yellow when it kicks in, and the phone remembers if you switch it off. |
| Night mode | For the 3x and the ultra-wide after dark | Night mode cleaned up blotchy automatic shots in GSMArena's testing. |
| 10x at night | Only with decent light, and braced | Very dark scenes were cropped from the 3x in testing. |
| Pro mode on a tripod | Low ISO, 2 to 10 seconds | The shutter runs to 30 seconds for trails and moving water. |
Action and long range
The 10x gives real reach in daylight for birds and sport.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | 10x for distant subjects in good light | Its f/4.9 lens needs plenty of light to hold fast shutter speeds. |
| Shutter in Pro mode | 1/500s to 1/1000s at 10x | Long lenses show every shake and every movement. |
| Burst | Swipe the shutter to the edge | Set Take burst shot in Camera Assistant on One UI 9. |
| Bracing | Lean on a rail or a wall | Framing at 230mm is much steadier with support. |
Video
The S23 Ultra records well-stabilised 4K, but it has no Log profile.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday clips | 4K at 30fps | You get small, sharp files that play anywhere. |
| Motion | 4K at 60fps | It's the highest 4K frame rate this phone offers. |
| Walking shots | Super steady on | Turn it off when the phone is on a tripod. |
| Footage you'll grade | Pro Video with manual white balance and exposure | There's no Samsung Log on the S23 Ultra, so fix the colour before you record. |
RAW and editing
Expert RAW saves a 16-bit linear DNG with each JPEG.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pro mode RAW | Photo format > Pro mode picture format | Choose RAW and JPEG to keep a file for sharing too. |
| Astrophoto | Expert RAW at 12MP, Special photo options on | Use a tripod and focus at infinity. Our astrophotography guide goes step by step. |
| Remote shutter | S Pen Air actions, single press set to Take picture | It fires the shutter without you touching the phone. |
| Editing | Lightroom mobile or Snapseed | Both open DNG files from Expert RAW and Pro mode. |
One UI 9 menu paths
One UI 9 (Android 17) began rolling out to the S23 series in South Korea on 14 October 2026, according to GSMArena. The phone launched on Android 13 with a promise of four OS upgrades, so this is its last major update, and monthly security patches continue. The paths below use One UI 9 names checked on a Galaxy S25 Ultra running One UI 9, November 2026. Older phones can show fewer Camera Assistant options than newer ones.
| What you want | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Grid and level | Camera settings > General > Composition guide |
| Volume keys as a shutter | Camera settings > General > Shooting methods |
| Scene detection | Camera settings > Intelligent features > Photo enhancer |
| RAW in Pro mode | Camera settings > Photos > Photo format |
| Burst gesture and lens switching | Camera settings > General > Camera Assistant |
| S Pen shutter | Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Air actions |
What the S23 Ultra can't do
- There's no Samsung Log, since Samsung's developer page lists the S24 series and newer.
- 4K tops out at 60fps, so there's no 4K at 120fps.
- There's no 5x lens, so subjects between 3x and 10x get a crop of the 3x. Our telephoto guide explains the trade-off.
- The 12MP ultra-wide and the f/4.9 10x both struggle after dark.
- One UI 9 is its last major update.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best camera settings for the S23 Ultra?+
Keep Photo mode at 12MP and use 50MP outdoors when you want to crop. Turn on the grid and level, use 3x for portraits and 10x for distant subjects in daylight, and switch to Night mode for zoomed shots after dark.
Does the S23 Ultra get One UI 9?+
One UI 9 began rolling out to the S23 series on 14 October 2026. It's the phone's fourth and last major Android update.
Can the S23 Ultra record Log video?+
Samsung Log isn't available on it, since Samsung lists the S24 series and newer. Use Pro Video with manual white balance if you plan to grade, and see our video settings guide for the rest.
Is the S23 Ultra's 10x zoom optical?+
The 10x is a true optical periscope, a 10MP sensor behind a 230mm-equivalent f/4.9 lens. Later Ultras switched to a 50MP 5x lens.
Everything for your Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
S23 Ultra camera guides
- → Samsung S23 Ultra Camera: Strengths and Weak Spots, strengths and weak spots by situation
Comparisons
- → Samsung S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Camera: 10x or 5x Zoom?, the 10x periscope against the 5x
- → Samsung S23 Ultra vs S26 Ultra Camera: Time to Upgrade?
Features that work on your S23 Ultra
- → Samsung Expert RAW: Pro Photography Guide (2026), the RAW workflow and Astrophoto
- → S Pen Camera Remote: Can the S25 Ultra S Pen Take Pictures?
- → Samsung Camera Assistant: Every Setting and When to Use It
- → 12MP vs 24MP vs 50MP vs 200MP on Samsung: Which to Use
- → Samsung Night Mode: Sharper Low-Light Photos, when to switch modes yourself
- → How to Make Samsung Photos Look Natural (Less Over-Processed)
- → Samsung 100x Space Zoom: What It Can and Can't Do
- → Samsung Telephoto Lenses: 3x, 5x and 10x on Every Galaxy, when each zoom lens earns its place
- → Samsung Moon Photography: Real Moon Shots, No Faking
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