Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro I547 vs. Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Tale of Two Eras

The Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro I547 represents a bygone era of durable, basic smartphones, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra embodies the pinnacle of modern mobile technology. This comparison explores the vast differences between these two devices, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S23 Ultra utterly dominates in nearly every category – performance, camera, display, and features. The Rugby Pro's appeal lies solely in its extreme durability and affordability for users needing a simple, rugged phone. It's a generational leap, with the S23 Ultra the clear winner.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro I547 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 bands4, 171, 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
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
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
Announced2012, October. Released 2012, October2023, February 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions128 x 67 x 12.7 mm (5.04 x 2.64 x 0.5 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)
Weight159 g (5.61 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
Resolution480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~53.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUDual-core 1.5 GHz KraitOcta-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 PlusQualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 305Adreno 740
OSAndroid 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Call records20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls-
Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot)No
Internal8GB (5GB user available), 1GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
PhonebookYes, up to 250 entries-
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLaser 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
Single5 MP, AF12 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+
Single1.3 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video-4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
BrowserNo-
GamesYes-
JavaNo-
MessagingSMS-
SensorsAccelerometer, proximityFingerprint (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
Stand-byUp to 288 h (2G) / Up to 336 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 11 h (2G) / Up to 11 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 1850 mAh, removableLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackPhantom 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 150 EUR€ 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00
SAR1.42 W/kg (head)     1.11 W/kg (body)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)
OUR TESTS
Battery-Active use score 13:24h
Battery (old)-Endurance rating 126h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-1274 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker--25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) 3DMark: 3790 (Wild Life Extreme)

Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro I547

  • Extremely durable
  • Affordable
  • Simple to use
  • Water resistant

  • Outdated performance
  • Low-resolution display
  • Basic camera
  • Limited features

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Flagship camera
  • Long battery life
  • Fast charging
  • Advanced features

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

Display Comparison

The S23 Ultra boasts a stunning Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 1274 nits peak brightness and infinite contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and exceptional clarity. The Rugby Pro's display is a much smaller, lower-resolution LCD, adequate for basic tasks but lacking in visual appeal and brightness. The difference is night and day.

Camera Comparison

The S23 Ultra's camera system is a flagship-level powerhouse, capable of capturing stunning photos and videos in various conditions. The Rugby Pro's camera is basic, offering limited resolution and features. The S23 Ultra's versatility and image quality are unmatched.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra provides blistering performance, handling demanding games and multitasking with ease. The Rugby Pro's Snapdragon S4 Plus is significantly slower, struggling with modern apps and offering a noticeably laggy experience. The S23 Ultra's octa-core CPU dwarfs the Rugby Pro's dual-core processor.

Battery Life

The S23 Ultra offers exceptional battery life with an endurance rating of 126 hours and supports 45W wired charging. The Rugby Pro's battery life is decent for its age and usage profile, but charging is significantly slower.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro I547 is for those prioritizing ruggedness above all else, needing a basic phone for construction, outdoor work, or as a backup. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is for power users, photographers, and anyone wanting the best possible Android experience with top-tier performance and features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Rugby Pro still worth buying in 2024?
Only if you absolutely need a very rugged, basic phone and are on a tight budget. Otherwise, modern smartphones offer far superior features and performance.
❓ Can the S23 Ultra handle demanding games?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 easily handles demanding games at high settings with smooth frame rates.
❓ What is the difference between the displays?
The S23 Ultra has a vibrant, high-resolution AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the Rugby Pro has a smaller, lower-resolution LCD display.