The smartphone landscape is vast, ranging from ultra-affordable options to premium flagships. Today, we pit two vastly different devices against each other: the budget-friendly ZTE Cymbal 2 and the powerhouse Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This comparison will reveal which phone best suits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra utterly dominates in almost every category. Its superior performance, stunning display, exceptional camera system, and long-lasting battery make it a clear winner. The ZTE Cymbal 2 offers basic functionality at a significantly lower price point, appealing to users with minimal needs.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, January. Released 2020, January | 2023, February 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 109 x 56 x 19.5 mm (4.29 x 2.20 x 0.77 in) | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 135 g (4.76 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 |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~143 ppi density) | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~39.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| | Cover display:
TFT LCD, 1.77 inches | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm QM215 Snapdragon 215 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 308 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Linux 3.18.71 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Laser 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 | 2 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (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 |
|---|
| Charging | - | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 1600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
| Models | - | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS |
| Price | About 60 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 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) |
ZTE Cymbal 2
- Extremely affordable
- Compact size
- Basic functionality
- Weak performance
- Low-quality display
- Basic camera
- Short battery life
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Exceptional performance
- Stunning display
- Versatile camera system
- Long battery life
- Fast charging
- High price
- Large size
- Can be overwhelming for basic users
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a breathtaking 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1274 nits. Its infinite contrast ratio delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Cymbal 2 likely features a smaller, less vibrant LCD display with a standard refresh rate, offering a significantly less immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The S23 Ultra's camera system is a standout feature, offering incredible detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. It features multiple lenses, including a high-resolution main sensor and advanced zoom capabilities. The Cymbal 2's camera is likely a basic single-lens setup, offering acceptable image quality in good lighting conditions but lacking the versatility and performance of the S23 Ultra.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra provides blistering performance, handling demanding games and multitasking with ease. The Cymbal 2's Snapdragon 215 is a budget chipset, suitable for basic tasks but struggling with intensive applications. Expect noticeable lag and slower loading times on the Cymbal 2.
Battery Life
The S23 Ultra's large battery and efficient chipset provide exceptional battery life, easily lasting a full day of heavy use. It also supports 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. The Cymbal 2's battery capacity is likely smaller, and charging speeds are slower, resulting in shorter battery life.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Cymbal 2 is ideal for users on a tight budget who primarily need a phone for calls, texts, and basic apps. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is for power users, photography enthusiasts, and anyone who demands top-tier performance and features, regardless of price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the ZTE Cymbal 2 good for gaming?
No, the Cymbal 2's processor is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle very basic games, but performance will be limited.
❓ How much does the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra cost?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a flagship device and typically costs between $1000 and $1300, depending on storage configuration.
