vivo T4 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value

The vivo T4 Ultra arrives as a challenger, boasting the cutting-edge Dimensity 9300+ chipset and blazing-fast 90W charging. It directly confronts the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, a more established player offering a familiar experience with either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200, and a refined camera system. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone offers the best blend of performance, features, and price.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and charging speed, the vivo T4 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Dimensity 9300+ offers a significant leap over both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Exynos 2200 variants of the S23 FE. However, the S23 FE’s more polished software and established camera system make it a strong contender for those valuing a complete package.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo T4 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, June 112023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, June 18Available. Released 2023, October 05
Body
BuildGlass front, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.6 x 75 x 7.5 mm (6.32 x 2.95 x 0.30 in)158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight192 g (6.84 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - InternationalOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - USA
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - USA
GPUImmortalis-G720 MC12Xclipse 920 - InternationalAdreno 730 - USA
OSAndroid 15, Funtouch 15Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesRing-LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF (15cm - ∞), OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide)10 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
VideoYes4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoUnspecified
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
Battery
Charging90W wired, PD, 100% in 48 min Reverse wired25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5500 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsPhoenix Gold, Meteor GreyMint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, Tangerine
Models-SM-S711B, SM-S711B/DS, SM-S711U1, SM-S711U, SM-S711W, SM-S7110, SM-S711N
Price₹ 36,999$ 219.95 / C$ 327.90 / £ 248.99 / € 272.00 / ₹ 34,999
SAR0.99 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)0.80 W/kg (head)     0.72 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.76 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)

vivo T4 Ultra

  • Significantly faster charging (90W)
  • More powerful processor (Dimensity 9300+)
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Less established brand reputation
  • Camera performance is unknown

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

  • Refined software experience (One UI)
  • Versatile and well-regarded camera system
  • Strong brand recognition and ecosystem

  • Slower charging (25W)
  • Processor performance lags behind T4 Ultra

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE boasts a peak brightness of 985 nits, providing excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the vivo T4 Ultra’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to be slightly dimmer. Both phones utilize 4nm chipsets, which contribute to efficient power consumption and potentially better display performance. The S23 FE’s display is likely to benefit from Samsung’s established color calibration expertise, offering more accurate colors out of the box. The absence of LTPO technology on either device suggests a standard 120Hz refresh rate, impacting battery life during prolonged use.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE’s camera system is a known quantity, offering a versatile setup with strong image processing capabilities. While specific sensor details are missing for the T4 Ultra, the S23 FE’s established reputation for image quality and video stabilization gives it an edge. The S23 FE likely benefits from Samsung’s advanced computational photography algorithms, delivering consistently good results in various lighting conditions. The absence of detailed camera specs for the T4 Ultra makes a direct comparison difficult, but it will need to deliver exceptional image quality to compete with Samsung’s offering. We can assume the T4 Ultra will have a focus on computational photography as well, but the S23 FE has a head start in software optimization.

Performance

The vivo T4 Ultra’s Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ is the clear performance leader. Its Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.4 GHz, coupled with three additional Cortex-X4 cores, provides a substantial advantage over the S23 FE’s Cortex-X2 based Exynos 2200 (2.8 GHz) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (3.0 GHz). The Dimensity 9300+'s newer architecture and 4nm process node translate to superior multi-core performance and improved thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads. The S23 FE’s performance will vary depending on the region, with the Snapdragon variant generally offering better sustained performance than the Exynos version. Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs, but the architectural differences heavily favor the vivo.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE achieves an active use score of 8 hours and 28 minutes, demonstrating solid battery life. The vivo T4 Ultra compensates for a potentially smaller battery capacity with its incredibly fast 90W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 48 minutes. The S23 FE’s 25W charging is significantly slower, taking 30 minutes to reach 50%. The T4 Ultra also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the S23 FE. While the S23 FE may offer slightly longer overall battery life, the T4 Ultra’s charging speed is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their device.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo T4 Ultra if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and if rapid charging is a top priority. You'll benefit from the latest chipset technology and a significantly faster charging experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you prefer a more refined software experience, a versatile camera system with strong image processing, and the brand recognition of Samsung's ecosystem. It's the safer choice for users prioritizing a well-rounded experience over bleeding-edge specs.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 chip in the S23 FE overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 is known to throttle under sustained load, leading to reduced performance during extended gaming. While Samsung has implemented thermal management solutions, it generally doesn't perform as efficiently as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Dimensity 9300+ in the T4 Ultra. The T4 Ultra's Dimensity 9300+ benefits from a newer process node and improved thermal design, offering better sustained performance.
❓ Is the 90W charging on the vivo T4 Ultra safe for long-term battery health?
While 90W charging is incredibly fast, vivo incorporates intelligent charging algorithms to minimize battery degradation. The charging speed slows down as the battery approaches full capacity, preventing overcharging and heat buildup. However, consistently using extremely fast charging *can* contribute to slightly faster battery wear over several years compared to slower charging methods.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 version of the S23 FE compare to the Exynos 2200 version in terms of performance?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant of the S23 FE generally offers better sustained performance and thermal efficiency compared to the Exynos 2200 version. The Snapdragon chip is less prone to throttling under heavy workloads, resulting in more consistent frame rates during gaming and faster processing times for demanding tasks.