The smartphone landscape is vast, ranging from ultra-budget options to premium flagships. Today, we're pitting two extremes against each other: the HTC Wildfire E Plus, a budget-friendly contender, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, a powerhouse of technology. Can the Wildfire E Plus even compete?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra utterly dominates this comparison. Its superior chipset, stunning display, exceptional camera, and long-lasting battery make it the clear winner. The Wildfire E Plus offers affordability, but sacrifices performance and features.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 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 | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 24 | 2023, February 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 24 | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.1 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) | 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 | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 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 | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6739 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8100 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 12 (Go edition) | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, (wide), AF
5 MP | - |
| Features | LED flash | 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 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 5 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, 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 | - | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5150 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | 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 | About 130 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 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) |
HTC Wildfire E plus
- Affordable
- Compact size (likely)
- Basic functionality
- Weak performance
- Low-resolution display
- Basic camera
- Limited storage
- Slow charging
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Exceptional performance
- Stunning display
- Top-tier camera
- Long battery life
- Fast charging
- Premium design
- Expensive
- Large size (potentially unwieldy)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a breathtaking 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1274 nits. Its infinite contrast ratio delivers stunning visuals. The Wildfire E Plus likely features a smaller, lower-resolution LCD display with standard refresh rate, offering a significantly less vibrant and immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
The S23 Ultra's camera system is a standout feature, offering incredible detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. It likely includes multiple lenses with advanced features. The Wildfire E Plus's camera is likely a basic single-lens setup, suitable for casual snapshots but lacking the capabilities of the S23 Ultra.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra is a beast, offering unparalleled speed and efficiency. The Wildfire E Plus's Mediatek MT6739 chipset is a budget-oriented processor, struggling with demanding tasks and multitasking. Expect noticeable lag and slower app loading times on the Wildfire E Plus.
Battery Life
The S23 Ultra provides exceptional battery life, easily lasting a full day with active use and offering endurance ratings of 126 hours. It also supports 45W wired and 15W wireless charging. The Wildfire E Plus likely has a smaller battery and slower charging speeds, offering less overall battery life.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the HTC Wildfire E Plus? Users on a very tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and affordability above all else. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Anyone seeking a top-tier smartphone experience with the best possible camera, performance, and features, regardless of price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the HTC Wildfire E Plus worth buying in 2024?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and need a basic phone for calls and simple tasks. Otherwise, there are better options available.
❓ What are the key differences between the S23 Ultra and the Wildfire E Plus?
The S23 Ultra offers significantly better performance, a superior display and camera, longer battery life, and faster charging. The Wildfire E Plus is much more affordable but compromises on almost every other aspect.
