Nio Phone vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Charging, Performance, and Ecosystem
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains the more compelling choice. While the Nio Phone boasts significantly faster wired and wireless charging, Samsung’s superior battery optimization, established software support, and broader feature set provide a more polished and reliable experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nio Phone | 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 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 / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / 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 | 2023, September 21 | 2023, February 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, September 21 | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.50 x 2.97 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 | 212 g or 216 g (7.48 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 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | SkyUI | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Ring-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/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 65mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.8x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 110˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm | - |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), 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 | 66W wired, PD3.0, QC4 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5200 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray, Pink, Gold, Green, Blue, Dark Blue | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
| Models | N2301 | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS |
| Price | About 820 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) |
Nio Phone
- Significantly faster wired charging (66W)
- Industry-leading wireless charging (50W)
- Potential ecosystem benefits for Nio car owners
- Unknown camera performance
- Limited software support compared to Samsung
- Potential for thermal throttling due to smaller form factor
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Exceptional camera system
- Long-term software support and updates
- Superior battery life and optimization
- Slower wired and wireless charging speeds
- Higher price point
- Software bloat (subjective)
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but the display differences are notable. The Galaxy S23 Ultra achieves a measured peak brightness of 1274 nits, suggesting a superior outdoor visibility experience. While the Nio Phone’s display specs are not provided, Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel is renowned for its color accuracy and infinite contrast ratio. The absence of PWM frequency data for the Nio Phone raises questions about potential flicker-related eye strain for sensitive users, a known strength of Samsung’s displays.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed specifications are limited for the Nio Phone. The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s camera prowess is well-documented, offering exceptional photo and video quality across a wide range of conditions. The Nio Phone’s camera capabilities are unknown, but the lack of mention of a high-resolution sensor or advanced features suggests it may not compete directly with Samsung’s flagship. Focusing on the S23 Ultra, its image processing prioritizes detail and dynamic range, while the Nio Phone’s approach remains a mystery.
Performance
Both the Nio Phone and the Galaxy S23 Ultra are powered by the Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). This means CPU performance – with its Octa-core configuration of 1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 – will be virtually identical in most tasks. The key differentiator will be thermal management. Samsung’s larger chassis and advanced cooling solutions likely provide better sustained performance under heavy load, minimizing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Nio Phone’s smaller form factor may lead to more aggressive throttling.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts an impressive endurance rating of 126 hours, backed by a real-world active use score of 13:24h. The Nio Phone’s battery capacity is not specified, but its charging speeds are its standout feature. 66W wired charging, PD3.0, and QC4 support allow for significantly faster top-ups compared to the S23 Ultra’s 45W charging (65% in 30 minutes). Furthermore, the Nio Phone’s 50W wireless charging dwarfs the S23 Ultra’s 15W Qi wireless charging. However, faster charging doesn’t necessarily equate to better battery life; Samsung’s software optimization and potentially larger battery capacity contribute to its superior endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nio Phone if you are deeply invested in the Nio ecosystem and prioritize the absolute fastest charging speeds available. The 66W wired and 50W wireless charging are substantial advantages for Nio car owners. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you value a mature software experience, a versatile camera system, and long-term software support, and don't mind slightly slower charging.