Tecno Phantom X2 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The Ultimate Showdown

The smartphone market is brimming with options, but two contenders stand out: the Tecno Phantom X2 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. One offers impressive specs at a competitive price, while the other represents the pinnacle of Android technology. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the clear winner, offering superior performance, a vastly better camera system, and a brighter, more vibrant display. However, the Tecno Phantom X2 provides excellent value with its impressive battery life and powerful chipset, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Tecno Phantom X2 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 09Available. 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 8.9 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)
Weight203 g (7.16 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, 120HzDynamic 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 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
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)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple64 MP, f/1.7, (wide), PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/1.3", 1.12µm, AF 2 MP-
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)12 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, Moonlight SilverPhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
ModelsAD8SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
PriceAbout 460 EUR€ 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 110h Endurance rating 126h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.8 LUFS (Good) -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 973623 (v9) GeekBench: 4027 (v5.1) GFXBench: 71fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Tecno Phantom X2

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

  • Camera not as advanced as flagship competitors
  • Display brightness lower than premium phones
  • Software support may be limited compared to Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Outstanding camera system
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Premium build quality
  • Excellent software support

  • 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 710 nits) and likely better color accuracy and overall visual quality. Both have 'infinite' contrast ratios, but Samsung's panel is expected to deliver a more impactful viewing experience. The S23 Ultra also likely has a higher resolution and refresh rate, further enhancing its display prowess.

Camera Comparison

Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra's camera system is a major selling point, featuring a versatile array of lenses and advanced image processing capabilities. While the Phantom X2 has a capable camera, it simply can't compete with the S23 Ultra's zoom capabilities, low-light performance, and overall image quality. The S23 Ultra's video recording capabilities are also likely superior.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23 Ultra provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Dimensity 9000 in the Phantom X2. While both chipsets are powerful, the Snapdragon generally offers better efficiency and optimized software integration. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the S23 Ultra.

Battery Life

The Tecno Phantom X2 boasts an incredibly impressive endurance rating (110h), suggesting exceptional battery life. The Galaxy S23 Ultra also has good battery life (126h endurance rating, 13:24 active use), but the Phantom X2 potentially edges it out in sheer longevity. Both offer fast charging, with the S23 Ultra adding wireless and reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Tecno Phantom X2 is ideal for users seeking a feature-rich phone with long battery life and strong performance without breaking the bank. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is perfect for photography enthusiasts, power users, and those who demand the absolute best in terms of performance, display quality, and features, regardless of price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Tecno Phantom X2 a good phone?
Yes, the Tecno Phantom X2 is a good phone, especially for its price. It offers a powerful chipset, long battery life, and a decent camera, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra worth the price?
For those who demand the best in performance, camera quality, and features, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is worth the investment. However, it's a premium device with a premium price tag.