Honor GT 2 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Performance and Battery Life
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with exceptional battery life and a versatile camera, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the clear winner. However, the Honor GT 2 Pro’s blistering 90W charging and potentially higher peak performance make it a compelling choice for power users and mobile gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor GT 2 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2023, February 01 |
| Status | Rumored | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Giant rhino glass), aluminum frame, fiber-reinforced plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | - | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | - | 234 g (8.25 oz) |
| - | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Giant rhino glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2800 pixels (~447 ppi density) | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.83 inches, 110.5 cm2 | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 4320Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 1600 nits (HBM), 6000 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 16, MagicOS 10 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser 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 |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L1+L5), GLONASS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 90W wired 5W reverse wired | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 8500 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Gold | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
| Models | - | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS |
| Price | - | € 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 126h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor GT 2 Pro
- Potentially faster CPU performance due to 3nm process
- Blazing-fast 90W wired charging
- Likely optimized for gaming
- Battery life is unknown and potentially lower
- Camera details are lacking, making a comparison difficult
- Software experience may be less refined than Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Excellent battery life (13:24h active use)
- Versatile and high-quality camera system
- Refined software experience and long-term support
- Slower 45W charging compared to Honor
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) may be less power efficient than 3nm
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 1274 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Honor GT 2 Pro’s display specs are not provided, Samsung’s display technology is renowned for its color accuracy and infinite contrast ratio. The S23 Ultra’s likely use of LTPO technology dynamically adjusts the refresh rate, contributing to improved battery efficiency. Without comparable display specs for the Honor, the S23 Ultra holds a clear advantage in known display quality.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature capable camera systems, but details are limited for the Honor GT 2 Pro. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is known for its versatile camera setup, excelling in both photo and video capture. Without specific sensor details for the Honor, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The S23 Ultra’s image processing is generally praised for its natural colors and dynamic range. The absence of information regarding the Honor’s camera capabilities makes it difficult to assess its strengths and weaknesses beyond speculation.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor GT 2 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm), featuring a unique Oryon V3 Phoenix CPU configuration (2x4.6 GHz + 6x3.62 GHz). This 3nm process should offer improved power efficiency and transistor density compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core (3.36 GHz) is a proven performer. The Honor’s architecture *could* translate to higher peak performance in sustained loads, but the S23 Ultra’s optimized thermal management and software integration are likely to provide a more consistent experience. The S23 Ultra benefits from a mature platform, while the GT 2 Pro represents a newer, potentially less refined implementation.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra delivers an impressive 13:24 hours of active use and an endurance rating of 126 hours, demonstrating excellent battery life. The Honor GT 2 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 90W wired charging is a significant advantage, potentially offering a full charge in under 30 minutes. The S23 Ultra’s 45W charging, while supporting PD3.0 and reaching 65% in 30 minutes, is considerably slower. The Honor’s faster charging is ideal for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly, while the S23 Ultra prioritizes overall longevity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor GT 2 Pro if you demand the absolute fastest processing speeds for gaming and demanding applications, and 90W charging is a priority. You're willing to trade some battery longevity and camera versatility for raw power. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you value a complete package – a stunning display, a highly capable camera system, all-day battery life, and a polished software experience. It’s the more refined and versatile option for everyday use.