i-mate Ultimate 6150 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A 20-Year Tech Time Capsule

Comparing the i-mate Ultimate 6150, a landmark device from 2004, to the 2023 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is akin to comparing a horse-drawn carriage to a Formula 1 car. This isn't about a fair fight; it's about illustrating the astonishing pace of innovation in mobile technology and understanding where modern smartphones originated.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra unequivocally wins this comparison. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, stunning display, and advanced camera system are light years ahead of the i-mate Ultimate 6150. However, the i-mate deserves recognition as a pioneer that paved the way for today's smartphones.

PHONES
Phone Names i-mate Ultimate 6150 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands-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
SpeedHSPAHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPAGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2007, February. Released 2008, January2023, February 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions118.5 x 60.5 x 15.5 mm (4.67 x 2.38 x 0.61 in)163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMMini-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight152 g (5.36 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
Resolution640 x 480 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~286 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~33.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT resistive touchscreen, 256K colors (65K effective)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 Handwriting recognitionAlways-on display
Platform
CPUIntel Bulverde 520 MHzOcta-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset-Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU-Adreno 740
OSMicrosoft Windows Mobile 6.0 ProfessionalAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSD (dedicated slot)No
Internal128MB RAM, 256MB ROM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
Features-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
Single2 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
VideoYes8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, HDR10+
SingleVGA videocall camera12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video-4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Alert typesVibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones-
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth2.0, A2DP5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFC-Yes
PositioningNoGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioStereo FM radioNo
USBminiUSBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/e/iWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
BrowserWAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE)-
Sensors-Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Voice memo MP3/AAC/AAC+/WMA/OGG/AMR player WMV/MP4 player Pocket Office File manager TV-outSamsung 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
TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1530 mAh batteryLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilverPhantom 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
PriceAbout 260 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)

i-mate Ultimate 6150

  • Historical significance – a pioneer in smartphone design.
  • Compact size – significantly smaller and lighter than modern phones.
  • Unique aesthetic – a nostalgic design for collectors.

  • Extremely limited processing power.
  • Low-resolution display.
  • Poor camera quality.
  • Limited battery life.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
  • Stunning display with high brightness and contrast.
  • Advanced camera system with excellent image quality.
  • Long-lasting battery life with fast charging.
  • Modern features and software support.

  • High price point.
  • Large size and weight.
  • Complex software with potential bloatware.

Display Comparison

The i-mate Ultimate 6150’s display specifications are unavailable, but typical of the era, it would have been a small, low-resolution LCD. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a display capable of reaching 1274 nits of peak brightness, offering exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. The S23 Ultra’s infinite contrast ratio, likely achieved through OLED technology, provides deep blacks and vibrant colors, a stark contrast to the limited color gamut and lower brightness of the i-mate. The S23 Ultra also benefits from adaptive refresh rate technology (LTPO) for smoother scrolling and improved power efficiency, a feature unimaginable in 2004.

Camera Comparison

Camera details for the i-mate Ultimate 6150 are limited, but it likely featured a low-resolution CMOS sensor. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, on the other hand, features a sophisticated camera system with a high-resolution primary sensor (details unspecified in provided data, but likely 200MP) and advanced image processing algorithms. The S23 Ultra’s optical image stabilization (OIS) and larger lens apertures allow for superior low-light performance and sharper images. The i-mate’s camera would be limited to basic photography, while the S23 Ultra offers professional-grade photo and video capabilities.

Performance

The i-mate Ultimate 6150’s Intel Bulverde 520 MHz CPU represents a significant technological leap *for its time*, but is dwarfed by the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s octa-core architecture (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) delivers exponentially faster processing speeds and significantly improved multi-tasking capabilities. The 4nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 also contributes to superior thermal efficiency, preventing throttling during demanding tasks. The i-mate would struggle with even basic modern apps, while the S23 Ultra handles graphically intensive games and complex applications with ease.

Battery Life

Battery capacity for the i-mate Ultimate 6150 is unknown, but typical of devices from that era, it would have offered limited talk time and standby duration. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s endurance rating of 126 hours and active use score of 13:24h demonstrate a massive improvement in battery life. The S23 Ultra also supports 45W wired charging with PD3.0, achieving a 65% charge in just 30 minutes, and 15W wireless charging (Qi), features unavailable on the i-mate. The addition of 4.5W reverse wireless charging further enhances the S23 Ultra’s versatility.

Buying Guide

Buy the i-mate Ultimate 6150 if you're a collector of mobile history, fascinated by the early days of smartphone development, or seeking a nostalgic piece of tech. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you demand cutting-edge performance, a versatile camera, all-day battery life, and the latest features in a modern smartphone experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Given the i-mate Ultimate 6150 ran Windows Mobile, can I still use it with modern services like Google Maps or Gmail?
No. Windows Mobile is a discontinued operating system with limited modern app support. While some legacy applications might still function, accessing services like Google Maps or Gmail directly on the i-mate Ultimate 6150 is not possible without extensive and complex workarounds, if at all.
❓ The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a large battery. How does its battery life compare to using the i-mate Ultimate 6150 as a dedicated MP3 player?
Even using the i-mate Ultimate 6150 solely as an MP3 player, its battery life would be significantly shorter than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s typical usage. The S23 Ultra’s efficient chipset and larger battery capacity allow for hours of continuous music playback, while the i-mate would likely require daily charging even with minimal use.
❓ Is the i-mate Ultimate 6150's stylus compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's screen?
No. The i-mate Ultimate 6150’s stylus is designed for a resistive touchscreen, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra utilizes a capacitive touchscreen. The i-mate stylus will not function correctly on the S23 Ultra’s display and could potentially cause damage.