Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The Ultimate Battle

The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra represent two distinct approaches to the smartphone experience. One is a dedicated gaming powerhouse, while the other is a versatile flagship. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which phone is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The S23 Ultra offers a more refined, all-around experience with a stunning display, versatile camera system, and premium design. However, the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate delivers unparalleled gaming performance and exceptional battery life, making it the clear choice for mobile gamers prioritizing raw power.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48 - A version1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A version1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/210 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - B version1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, September 192023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 07Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions173 x 77 x 10.4 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight247 g (8.71 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
 Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IPX4 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storageUFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)-
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR, HDR10+
Single12 MP, 28mm (wide)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1), NavIC (L5)GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0 10W reverse wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSpace GrayPhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
ModelsAI2203, AI2203-3E010EUSM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
PriceAbout 1100 EUR€ 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00
SAR-1.12 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.40 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 103h Endurance rating 126h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.1 LUFS (Very good) -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1107464 (v9) GeekBench: 4575 (v5.1) GFXBench: 68fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate

  • Exceptional gaming performance
  • Outstanding battery life (103h endurance)
  • 65W fast charging
  • Customizable gaming features
  • Powerful Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ chipset

  • Less versatile camera system
  • Design may not appeal to everyone
  • Lacks some premium features found in flagships

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Stunning display with high brightness
  • Versatile and high-quality camera system
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • S Pen functionality

  • Shorter battery life compared to ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  • 45W charging is slower than ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The S23 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display (1274 nits peak) compared to the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, offering better outdoor visibility. Both have 'infinite' contrast ratios (a nominal value), but the S23 Ultra's AMOLED panel provides richer colors and deeper blacks. The ROG Phone's display is excellent for gaming, but the S23 Ultra's overall quality is superior.

Camera Comparison

The S23 Ultra's camera system is significantly more versatile, offering a wider range of lenses and superior image processing. Its 200MP main sensor captures incredible detail, and its zoom capabilities are unmatched. The ROG Phone 6D Ultimate's camera is competent but lacks the S23 Ultra's overall quality and features.

Performance

Both phones pack powerful chipsets – the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate with the Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ and the S23 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. While benchmarks might show slight differences, both offer blazing-fast performance for demanding games and applications. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 generally has a slight edge in sustained performance and efficiency.

Battery Life

The ROG Phone 6D Ultimate shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 103h. The S23 Ultra's active use score of 13:24h is still respectable, but the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate offers significantly longer usage times, especially for gaming.

Buying Guide

The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who demand the best possible performance, customizable features, and long battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is perfect for users who want a premium flagship with a top-tier camera, beautiful display, and a blend of productivity and entertainment features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is specifically designed for gaming and offers superior performance and features for mobile gamers.
❓ Which phone has the better camera?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a more versatile and higher-quality camera system with a wider range of lenses and advanced features.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate offers significantly better battery life than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
❓ Is the S Pen worth it?
If you value stylus input for note-taking, drawing, or navigation, the S Pen on the S23 Ultra is a significant advantage.