Sharp Aquos R10 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Detailed Comparison of Two Snapdragon Powerhouses

The smartphone landscape is increasingly segmented. While Samsung continues to push the boundaries of the ultra-premium with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, brands like Sharp are offering compelling alternatives with newer chipsets at more accessible price points. This comparison pits the Sharp Aquos R10, powered by the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, against the reigning champion, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, to determine where each phone excels and who benefits most from their respective strengths.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around excellence, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains the superior choice. Its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, coupled with exceptional battery life and a brighter display, justifies the higher price tag. However, the Aquos R10 presents a strong value proposition for those seeking solid performance and fast charging without the flagship cost.

PHONES
Phone Names Sharp Aquos R10 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 bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 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
Announced2025, May 292023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, JulyAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions156 x 75 x 8.9 mm (6.14 x 2.95 x 0.35 in)163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight197 g (6.95 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
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypePRO IGZO LTPO OLED, 240Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1500 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x1.9 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7675-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 732Adreno 740
OSAndroid 15, up to 3 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
Dual50.3 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.55", dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50.3 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", PDAF-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Leica lens, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser 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
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
Features-HDR, HDR10+
Single50.3 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/2.88", PDAF12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos)Yes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, Display Port 1.4USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), 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
Charging36W wired, PD3.045W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type5000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsCashmere White, Charcoal Black, Trench BeigePhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
ModelsSH-51F, SH-M31SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
Price-€ 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)

Sharp Aquos R10

  • More affordable price point
  • Fast 36W wired charging with PD3.0
  • Modern Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset

  • Likely inferior display brightness and quality
  • Less powerful processor than the S23 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Brilliant and bright display with high contrast
  • Long-lasting battery life and fast charging options

  • Significantly higher price
  • Can be overkill for basic smartphone tasks

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1274 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Aquos R10’s display specs are not provided, it’s unlikely to match this peak brightness. The S23 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior OLED panel, likely with more refined color calibration. The absence of LTPO information for the Aquos R10 suggests it may lack the adaptive refresh rate technology found in the S23 Ultra, potentially impacting battery life during dynamic content viewing.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature capable camera systems, but the S23 Ultra is expected to offer a more comprehensive experience. While both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, the S23 Ultra’s likely inclusion of a larger main sensor and advanced image processing algorithms will yield superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The Aquos R10’s camera system is likely focused on providing good results for the price, but won’t match the S23 Ultra’s versatility and detail. The absence of specific sensor details for the Aquos R10 makes a precise comparison difficult, but it’s unlikely to feature the advanced features found in the S23 Ultra.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) features a more powerful CPU configuration – a 1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 prime core versus the Aquos R10’s 1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X4. While the X4 is newer, the 8 Gen 2’s overall architecture and higher clock speeds provide a noticeable performance advantage. The S23 Ultra also benefits from potentially faster LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing responsiveness. The 4nm process node in both chips contributes to efficiency, but the 8 Gen 2’s larger cache and more sophisticated thermal design likely result in less throttling during sustained workloads like gaming.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S23 Ultra demonstrates impressive battery endurance, achieving a 13:24h active use score and a 126h endurance rating. While the Aquos R10’s battery capacity is unknown, the S23 Ultra’s larger battery and efficient chipset provide a significant advantage. The S23 Ultra’s 45W wired charging (65% in 30 minutes) is faster than the Aquos R10’s 36W charging, offering quicker top-ups. The addition of 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging on the S23 Ultra adds further convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sharp Aquos R10 if you need a capable daily driver with a modern chipset and fast 36W charging, and are willing to compromise on ultimate camera performance and display brightness. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you prefer a no-compromise experience with top-tier processing power, a stunning display, a versatile camera system, and all-day battery life, and are prepared to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 in the Aquos R10 powerful enough for demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 is a capable chipset, and will run Genshin Impact, but you'll likely need to lower graphics settings for a consistently smooth experience. The S23 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will handle the game at maximum settings without issue, offering a more fluid and visually rich gaming experience.
❓ How does the charging speed of the Aquos R10 compare to real-world usage? Will 36W significantly reduce charging times?
36W charging with PD3.0 is relatively fast, and will provide a noticeable improvement over slower charging standards. Expect a full charge in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on battery capacity. While not as quick as the S23 Ultra’s 45W, it’s still a respectable charging speed for a mid-range device.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra experience thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The S23 Ultra’s advanced thermal management system minimizes throttling, but it can occur during prolonged, intensive gaming. However, the throttling is generally less severe than on other flagship devices, thanks to the efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Samsung’s cooling solution.
❓ What kind of video recording capabilities does the Aquos R10 offer? Does it support 4K recording at 60fps?
While specific video recording capabilities aren't detailed, it's reasonable to expect the Aquos R10 to support 4K recording at 30fps. 4K at 60fps is less certain and would be a differentiating feature for the S23 Ultra, which is expected to offer advanced video recording options.