Samsung Galaxy A73 5G vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Clash of Titans

Samsung offers a wide range of smartphones, catering to different budgets and needs. The Galaxy A73 5G sits in the mid-range, while the S23 Ultra represents the pinnacle of Samsung's mobile technology. This comparison will break down the key differences to help you decide which device is the best fit.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the clear winner in almost every category – performance, camera, display, and charging. However, it comes at a premium price. The A73 5G offers a solid experience for a significantly lower cost, making it a great value option for budget-conscious users.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, March 172023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 22Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.30 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· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight181 g (6.38 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)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
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED Plus, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 740
OSAndroid 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 5 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
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, HDR10+
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), 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
Charging25W wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Mint, WhitePhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
ModelsSM-A736B, SM-A736B/DSSM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
PriceAbout 600 EUR€ 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00
SAR1.14 W/kg (head)1.12 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)
SAR EU1.28 W/kg (head)     1.42 W/kg (body)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)

Samsung Galaxy A73 5G

  • Excellent value for money
  • Good camera performance
  • Decent display
  • Stylish design
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slower performance compared to flagship phones
  • Limited charging speed
  • Less premium build quality
  • Camera not as versatile as flagship models

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional performance
  • Best-in-class camera system
  • Stunning display
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Premium build quality
  • S Pen support

  • High price
  • Large and heavy design
  • Software can feel bloated to some

Display Comparison

The S23 Ultra boasts a stunning Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a peak brightness of 1274 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, offering exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. The A73 5G has a good AMOLED display, but it lacks the S23 Ultra's brightness and color accuracy. The S23 Ultra's adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz) also provides a smoother experience.

Camera Comparison

The S23 Ultra's camera system is a major upgrade, featuring a 200MP main sensor and advanced image processing capabilities. It excels in low-light photography and offers incredible zoom capabilities. The A73 5G has a capable camera system, but it doesn't match the S23 Ultra's detail, dynamic range, or versatility.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra delivers significantly faster performance than the Snapdragon 778G 5G in the A73 5G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the S23 Ultra. The S23 Ultra's chip is also more power-efficient.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the S23 Ultra demonstrating exceptional endurance. The S23 Ultra also supports 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, providing faster charging speeds and added convenience compared to the A73 5G's 25W wired charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G? Users seeking a reliable, 5G-enabled smartphone with a good camera and display at a mid-range price point. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Power users, photography enthusiasts, and those who demand the absolute best in performance, camera capabilities, and features, regardless of cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Galaxy A73 5G worth buying in 2024?
The A73 5G remains a good value option if you're on a budget and prioritize a decent camera and display. However, newer mid-range phones offer better performance.
❓ What is the biggest difference between the A73 5G and the S23 Ultra?
The biggest difference is performance. The S23 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip provides significantly faster speeds and better efficiency than the A73 5G's Snapdragon 778G 5G.