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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra stops by FCC as possible release date unearthed

The Galaxy S23 Ultra will be the spitting image of its predecessor, pictured. (Image source: NotebookCheck)
The Galaxy S23 Ultra will be the spitting image of its predecessor, pictured. (Image source: NotebookCheck)
The FCC has now published documentation for all Samsung Galaxy S23 series models, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra the final piece of the puzzle. With a strange downgrade from the Galaxy S22 Ultra that will affect recharging times, leaker Roland Quandt may have stumbled upon the release date for Samsung's next flagships too.

The FCC has published numerous documents for the SM-S918B, an unreleased Samsung smartphone thought to be the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Arriving a day after equivalents for the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus emerged, the documents shed a few details on the Galaxy S23 Ultra ahead of its release in early 2023. While the FCC has not leaked device photos, it has outlined changes from the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

On the one hand, the FCC describes the Galaxy S23 Ultra as being capable of 25 W fast charging, a 20 W downgrade on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. With this downgrade also applying to the Galaxy S23 Plus, it seems that Samsung is not looking to distinguish between Plus and Ultra models. Instead, it has harmonised charging wattages across its Galaxy S lineup, although it is unclear why at this stage. Potentially, Samsung has dropped 45 W support because of its instability.

As DxOMark discovered when reviewing this year's Ultra, 45 W fast charging is active for only a few minutes before dropping to 35 W and then further as the battery passes 60% charge. A declining wattage as Li-ion batteries near capacities is normal though, so capping the Galaxy S23 Ultra at 25 W likely means it will never recharge as quickly as its predecessor. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will retain its predecessor's 5,000 mAh battery capacity too, with the FCC describing the device as featuring the EB-BS918BY, a battery with a 4,855 mAh rated capacity. In other words, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is likely to offer significantly faster charging speeds than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Meanwhile, Roland Quandt may have discovered the release date of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, as well as the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus. Supposedly, a new Samsung wireless charger will be available from February 15, which he infers also applies to the Galaxy S23 series. With Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event rumoured for the first week of February, it would make sense for the company to start shipping the Galaxy S23 trio a week or so later.

(Image source: FCC)
(Image source: FCC)
(Image source: FCC)
(Image source: FCC)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 11 > Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra stops by FCC as possible release date unearthed
Alex Alderson, 2022-11-30 (Update: 2022-11-30)