Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G: The Ultimate Showdown

Samsung's flagship phones consistently set the bar for Android devices. The Galaxy S23 brings a refined experience and the latest Snapdragon chip, while the S22 Ultra offers a built-in S Pen and a larger display. But which one deserves your money?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The S23 offers a more streamlined, faster experience thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. However, the S22 Ultra's larger screen, integrated S Pen, and slightly better battery endurance make it a compelling choice, especially if you value those features. It depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S23 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, February 012022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, February 17Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 740Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 - 128GB only UFS 4.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, 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
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF-
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video-
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, HDR10+HDR
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 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 AKG32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (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)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 wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3900 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsPhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, LimePhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
ModelsSM-S911B, SM-S911B/DS, SM-S911U, SM-S911U1, SM-S911W, SM-S911N, SM-S9110, SM-S911E, SM-S911E/DSSM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
Price$ 237.95 / C$ 336.75 / £ 255.00 / € 322.41 / ₹ 49,990€ 397.07 / $ 269.98 / £ 304.99 / ₹ 63,899
SAR0.95 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)1.18 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.96 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)1.05 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 101h Endurance rating 108h
Camera Photo / VideoPhoto / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.0 LUFS (Good) -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1231075 (v9) GeekBench: 4950 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)AnTuTu: 968359 (v9) GeekBench: 3657 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy S23

  • Faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chip
  • Improved Image Processing
  • More Compact Design
  • Sleeker Design

  • Slightly Shorter Battery Life
  • Less Versatile Camera Zoom

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Larger Display
  • Integrated S Pen
  • Versatile Camera System with 10x Zoom
  • Slightly Longer Battery Life

  • Potentially Slower Performance (Exynos Version)
  • Larger and Heavier Design

Display Comparison

The S22 Ultra boasts a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1266 nits, offering a more immersive viewing experience. The S23 features a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a measured peak brightness of 1198 nits. While both are excellent, the S22 Ultra's size gives it an edge for media consumption and multitasking.

Camera Comparison

Both phones have excellent camera systems. The S22 Ultra generally has a more versatile camera setup with its 108MP main sensor, ultrawide, 3x telephoto, and 10x periscope telephoto lens. The S23 improves on image processing and low-light performance, but the S22 Ultra's zoom capabilities remain unmatched. Both capture excellent video.

Performance

The S23's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers a noticeable performance boost over the S22 Ultra's Exynos 2200 (Europe) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (ROW). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming performance on the S23. The S22 Ultra is still capable, but the S23's chipset is a clear winner.

Battery Life

The S22 Ultra has a slightly larger battery and an endurance rating of 108 hours, compared to the S23's 101 hours. While the difference isn't massive, the S22 Ultra generally offers slightly longer battery life. The S23's active use score of 11:27h is respectable, but not class-leading.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is ideal for users who prioritize performance, a compact design, and the latest technology. The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is best suited for those who need a large display, appreciate the S Pen's versatility, and want a feature-rich experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the S23 worth upgrading from an S22?
If you prioritize performance and a more compact design, the S23 is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you rely on the S Pen or prefer a larger display, the S22 Ultra remains a strong contender.
❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?
The S23 generally exhibits improved low-light camera performance due to enhanced image processing, although the S22 Ultra's larger sensor still captures plenty of detail.