Samsung has released the latest iteration of its flagship S-series smartphones. The lineup includes the very high-end Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the base S23, and S23+ (the slightly larger version of the S23).
There's no doubt that the S23 Ultra is the overall better phone, but with a price tag starting at a whopping $1,399, is it really that much better than S23?
We'll take a close look at the S23 and S23 Ultra and compare their specs to help you find out which one is right for you.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S23 Ultra Summary
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Ultra aren't giant upgrades from the S22 and S22 Ultras, but anyone in the market for a new phone should take a good look at the S23 series. The S23 Ultra blows the S23 away in almost every way. However, the S23 has the S23 Ultra beat in price.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S23 Ultra: Specs
The S23 Ultra offers the best specs of the latest Samsung flagship series. These are highlighted by larger internal storage, more RAM, and a significantly better camera system.
Take a look at some of the key S23 and S23 Ultra specs:
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Specs
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $1,099 | From $1,399 |
| Display | 6.1” Dynamic AMOLED |
6.8” Dynamic AMOLED |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Rear cameras | 50MP wide, 12MP ultra wide, 10MP telephoto 3x optical zoom |
200MP wide, 12MP ultra wide, 10MP telephoto 10x optical |
| Front camera | 12MP |
12MP |
| Internal storage/memory | 128GB (8GB RAM) 256GB (8GB RAM) |
256GB (8GB RAM) 512GB (12GB RAM) 1TB (12GB RAM) |
| Battery | 3,900 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE 5G (sub-6 GHz, mmWave) |
4G LTE 5G (sub-6 GHz, mmWave) |
| Colours | Lavender Cream Phantom Black Green |
Lavender Cream Phantom Black Green |
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S23 Ultra: Price
Starting at $1,099, the base model Samsung Galaxy S23 is the most affordable of the bunch. The S23 is the one you get if you are more concerned about saving money than having the absolute best tech. Meanwhile, the Samsung S23 Ultra starts at $1,399, which is about as far away from budget-friendly as you can get for a phone. Still, if you want the best of the S-series, the Ultra is the way to go.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Size
With its 6.8" display the S23 Ultra has plenty of screen while walking right up to the line of being cumbersome. The S23 is the smaller of the set with its 6.1" display. You're not going to get the most screen space with the S23, but it will fit nicely in your pocket.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Cameras
On paper, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has one of the most impressive camera systems we've seen on a smartphone—it's a big part of what makes the device "ultra.” The Samsung Galaxy S23's camera system isn't too shabby either. Here's how the two different camera systems stack up against each other:
- Samsung Galaxy S23 rear cameras:
- 50MP wide (main)
- 12MP ultra wide
- 10MP telephoto
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra rear cameras
- 200MP wide (main)
- 12MP ultra wide
- 10MP telephoto
Who needs to take a 200MP photo on their phone? Well, nobody really, but that's not what you do with the S23 Ultra's main camera and its whopping 200 megapixels. Instead, the camera system produces 12MP photos made up of information from 16 megapixels. All of that extra information allows for things like clearer details, better colour, and more light.
The S23 was never going to beat the S23 Ultra's cameras. Still, anybody who decides to save the cash and go for the less expensive phone will not be disappointed with the S23.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Battery Life
According to Samsung, each of the new Galaxy S-series models has enough battery power to get you through the day. The expectation is that the S23 Ultra and its bigger 5,000 mAh battery can stretch that day much further than the S23 and its 3,900 mAh battery.
We're calling this another easy win for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, but truth be told both phones offer very good battery life.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Display
Bigger is better when looking at a phone's display, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's 6.8" display definitely beats out the S23's 6.1" display. One other major difference between the displays is that while both feature a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, the S23 Ultra will adapt down to 1Hz when the screen is static to save battery. The S23 only goes down to 48Hz.
With size and adaptive refresh rate on its side, the Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra is the clear winner.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S23 Ultra: Internal Storage and Memory
This is another example of the S23 Ultra totally overshadowing the S23. The S23 Ultra storage options start at 256GB compared to the S23's 128GB base model. If that's not high enough for you the Ultra also comes in 512GB and 1TB options.
That's not the whole story here either. Those 512GB and 1TB options also come with 12GB of RAM. The rest of the models in the series top out at 8GB of RAM. So, if you want the absolute best performance, you'll want to look at the S23 Ultra 512 or 1TB options.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S23 Ultra Recap
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the clear winner in this comparison. It has a bigger, better display, way more storage and memory options, an incredible camera system, and superior battery life. It's all wrapped up into one impressive package that you'll have to pay for, but it will be worth it. If cost is a factor, the S23 is still an impressive phone and a great value. However, if you're looking for the absolute best, the S23 Ultra is the way to go.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S23 Ultra: Frequently Asked Questions
Does the S23 Ultra have an SD card slot?
The S23 Ultra does not have an SD card slot. If you are worried about storage on your phone, know that it comes in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options.
Is Samsung S23 waterproof??
Yes. All of the Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra models have an IP68 rating. However, you shouldn't try to test this out for yourself.
Is the S23 Ultra worth the price?
Whether or not the S23 Ultra's high price is worth it is entirely up to you. If you want one of the best Android phones available today, and you have the money to spare, you really can't go wrong with the S23 Ultra. However, if paying over $1,000 for a phone stretches out your budget at all, stick with the S23—it's still a solid phone.
Methodology
To compare the Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. S23 Ultra, we looked at a range of specs and features including camera systems, battery life, display size and quality, internal storage, and memory options. We then took all of this data into account to determine which device is the better overall value for consumers.
We are working on a complete hands-on review of these phones and will update this comparison after we fully test them out.
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