HTC Wildfire E2 Play vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A David vs. Goliath Showdown

The smartphone landscape is vast, ranging from ultra-budget options to premium flagships. Today, we're pitting two extremes against each other: the budget-friendly HTC Wildfire E2 Play and the powerhouse Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Can the underdog even put up a fight?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra utterly dominates this comparison. Its superior chipset, display, camera, and charging capabilities make it the clear winner. The Wildfire E2 Play offers affordability, but sacrifices performance and features. It's a budget choice for basic users.

PHONES
Phone Names HTC Wildfire E2 Play Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 411, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, April 172023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 17Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions174.2 x 78.6 x 9.3 mm (6.86 x 3.09 x 0.37 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)
Weight210 g (7.41 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
Resolution720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~80.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 450 nits (typ)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetUnisoc T606 (12 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MP1Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens200 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
Video1080p@30fps8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, HDR10+
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video720p4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEOGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), 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
Charging10W wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, BluePhantom 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)

HTC Wildfire E2 Play

  • Affordable
  • Compact size (likely)
  • Decent for basic tasks

  • Weak performance
  • Low-quality display
  • Basic camera
  • Slow charging
  • Limited storage

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Versatile camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Fast charging
  • Premium design

  • Expensive
  • Large size
  • Can be overwhelming for basic users

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a stunning 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1274 nits. Its infinite contrast ratio delivers incredible visuals. The Wildfire E2 Play likely has a smaller, lower-resolution LCD display, offering a significantly less vibrant and immersive experience. Color accuracy and viewing angles will also be noticeably inferior.

Camera Comparison

The S23 Ultra's camera system is exceptional, offering incredible detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. It features multiple lenses and advanced features. The Wildfire E2 Play's camera is likely a single, basic sensor, producing mediocre results, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra is a beast, handling demanding games and multitasking with ease. The Unisoc T606 in the Wildfire E2 Play is a budget chipset, struggling with anything beyond basic tasks. Expect noticeable lag and stuttering on the Wildfire E2 Play.

Battery Life

The S23 Ultra provides exceptional battery life, easily lasting a full day with heavy use and boasting an endurance rating of 126 hours. It also supports 45W fast charging. The Wildfire E2 Play's battery is smaller and charging is limited to 10W, resulting in shorter battery life and slower charging times.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the HTC Wildfire E2 Play? Users on a very tight budget who primarily need a phone for calls, texts, and basic apps. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Power users, photographers, and anyone who wants the best possible smartphone experience, regardless of price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the HTC Wildfire E2 Play good for gaming?
No, the Wildfire E2 Play's chipset is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle very basic games, but expect low frame rates and lag.
❓ How does the camera quality of the S23 Ultra compare to other flagship phones?
The S23 Ultra's camera is consistently ranked among the best in the flagship category, offering excellent image quality, versatility, and features.
❓ What is the difference in charging speed between the two phones?
The S23 Ultra charges significantly faster with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, while the Wildfire E2 Play is limited to 10W wired charging.