Tecno Phantom X2 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The Ultimate Battle

The smartphone landscape is fiercely competitive, and today we're pitting two titans against each other: the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. One offers impressive specs at a more accessible price, while the other represents the pinnacle of Samsung's engineering. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins overall, offering a superior display, more refined software, and a consistently excellent camera system. However, the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro provides incredible value with its powerful chipset and exceptional battery life, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Tecno Phantom X2 Pro 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, 20, 28, 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, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 71, 77, 78, 79 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, December 072023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, January 17Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.6 x 72.7 x 9 mm (6.48 x 2.86 x 0.35 in)163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight201 g (7.09 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 VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~93.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, 500 nitsDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 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)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, HIOS 12Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLaser 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
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, PDAF 50 MP, f/1.5, 65mm (telephoto), 1/2.7", 0.64µm, PDAF, 2.5x optical zoom, retractable lens 13 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/1.3", 1.12µm, AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesLED flashHDR, HDR10+
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radio, recordingNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-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
Charging45W wired, 54% in 20 min, 100% in 60 min45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type5160 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsStardust Gray, Mars OrangePhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
ModelsAD9SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
Price₹ 49,999€ 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 109h Endurance rating 126h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -29.3 LUFS (Average) -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 961576 (v9) GeekBench: 3984 (v5.1) GFXBench: 71fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Tecno Phantom X2 Pro

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Powerful Dimensity 9000 chipset
  • Fast 45W charging
  • Competitive price

  • Less bright display
  • Camera not as refined as S23 Ultra
  • Software experience not as polished

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Stunning display with high brightness and refresh rate
  • Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Exceptional camera system with versatile zoom
  • Premium design and build quality
  • S Pen functionality

  • High price
  • Large and heavy design
  • Charging speed could be faster

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display (1274 nits vs 505 nits), offering superior visibility in direct sunlight. Both have 'infinite' contrast ratios, but the S23 Ultra's Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel delivers richer colors and deeper blacks. The S23 Ultra also features a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smoother scrolling, a feature the X2 Pro lacks.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's camera system is a clear winner. Its 200MP main sensor captures incredible detail, and its versatile zoom capabilities are unmatched. The X2 Pro's camera is capable, but lacks the S23 Ultra's image processing prowess and advanced features. Video recording on the S23 Ultra is also superior.

Performance

Both phones are powered by high-end chipsets – the Dimensity 9000 in the X2 Pro and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra. While the Dimensity 9000 is powerful, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 generally offers slightly better sustained performance and efficiency, especially in demanding tasks. The S23 Ultra's software optimization also contributes to a smoother overall experience.

Battery Life

The Tecno Phantom X2 Pro shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 109h. The S23 Ultra also has a good endurance rating of 126h and active use score of 13:24h. While both offer all-day battery life, the X2 Pro's larger battery capacity gives it a slight edge.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro? Users seeking a high-performance phone with exceptional battery life at a mid-range price point. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Users who demand the absolute best in display quality, camera capabilities, and overall premium experience, and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro a good phone?
Yes, the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro is a very good phone, especially considering its price. It offers excellent performance and battery life, making it a great value for money.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra worth the price?
If you want the best of the best in terms of display, camera, and performance, then yes, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is worth the price. However, it's a significant investment.