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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra outshines the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) with its stunning 200MP camera compared to the SE's 12MP. If you're a photography enthusiast, the S23 Ultra's capabilities will blow you away, capturing stunning details and vibrant colors with its 10x optical zoom. If you want to save some cash, the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is the budget-friendly option with a compact design that weighs just 5.09 oz. Its 4.7-inch LCD screen may not have the vibrancy of the S23 Ultra's 6.8-inch AMOLED, but it still offers decent performance powered by the A15 Bionic chip.
📱 Display: 6.8" vs 4.7"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 60 Hz🔋 Battery: 5000 mAh vs 2018 mAh
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
★4.4
(1,332)•Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 740
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Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
★4.5
(225)•Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Typically 6+ years of OS updates from release (2022)
Processor:Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)
Graphics:Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
4.7"
Refresh Rate
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
1–120Hz (Adaptive)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
60Hz
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)
RAMKey
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
8GB / 12GB LPDDR5XWinner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
4GB
Storage
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
64GB / 128GB / 256GB NVMe
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
200MP Wide (f/1.7, 85° FOV), Laser AF, OISWinner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
12MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS, Digital Zoom up to 5x
Ultra-Wide Camera
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
12MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
No (Not supported)
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
5,000 mAh (Typical)Winner
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
2,018mAh (Approximate)
Wireless Charging
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W); Wireless PowerShare
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
7.5W Qi Wireless (No MagSafe magnetic alignment)
Design2 specs
Weight
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
8.25 oz (234 g)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
5.09 oz (144 g)Winner
Dimensions
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm)
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Android
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
iOS
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
5G (Sub-6 GHz only - No mmWave), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
★4.4(1,332)Best Buy
Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
★4.5(225)Best Buy
| Criterion | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.4(1,332)Best Buy | ★4.5(225)Best Buy |
Operating System | Android | iOS |
Software Support | 4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates | Typically 6+ years of OS updates from release (2022) |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) |
Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno 740 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
RAM | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5X | 4GB |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB NVMe |
Display Size | 6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less) | 4.7" |
Screen Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display | Retina HD LCD (IPS) |
Resolution | 3088 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 500 ppi | 1334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | 1–120Hz (Adaptive) | 60Hz |
Peak Brightness | 1,750 nits (Peak) | 625 nits (Typical) |
Main Camera | 200MP Wide (f/1.7, 85° FOV), Laser AF, OIS | 12MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS, Digital Zoom up to 5x |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 12MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV) | No (Not supported) |
Telephoto Camera | 10MP Telephoto (3x optical, f/2.4) + 10MP Periscope (10x optical, f/4.9); OIS | No (Not supported) |
Optical Zoom | 3x, 10x Optical Zoom | No (Not supported) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 100x Space Zoom | Up to 5x |
Video Recording | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps | 4K @ 60fps; 1080p @ 60fps; Slo-mo 1080p @ 240fps |
Front Camera | 12MP Front (f/2.2, 80° FOV), Dual Pixel AF | 7MP FaceTime HD, f/2.2, 1080p @ 30fps |
Battery | 5,000 mAh (Typical) | 2,018mAh (Approximate) |
Wired Charging | Up to 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 (Adapter sold separately) | 20W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min) via Lightning |
Wireless Charging | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W); Wireless PowerShare | 7.5W Qi Wireless (No MagSafe magnetic alignment) |
Connectivity | 5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB | 5G (Sub-6 GHz only - No mmWave), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 | Lightning Connector (USB 2.0 speeds) |
Durability | IP68 (Water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | IP67 (Dust/Water Resistant up to 1m for 30 min); Ion-strengthened glass |
Dimensions | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm) | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm) |
Weight | 8.25 oz (234 g) | 5.09 oz (144 g) |
Biometrics | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor; Face Recognition | Touch ID (Fingerprint sensor in Home button) |
Extras | Integrated S Pen (2.8ms latency); Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox | Stereo speakers, Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM), Dual eSIM support |
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Rating:★4.4(1,332)Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 740
RAM:8GB / 12GB LPDDR5X
Storage:256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0)
Display Size:6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display
Resolution:3088 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 500 ppi
Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Adaptive)
Peak Brightness:1,750 nits (Peak)
Main Camera:200MP Wide (f/1.7, 85° FOV), Laser AF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:12MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)
Telephoto Camera:10MP Telephoto (3x optical, f/2.4) + 10MP Periscope (10x optical, f/4.9); OIS
Optical Zoom:3x, 10x Optical Zoom
Digital Zoom:Up to 100x Space Zoom
Video Recording:8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps
Front Camera:12MP Front (f/2.2, 80° FOV), Dual Pixel AF
Battery:5,000 mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging:Up to 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 (Adapter sold separately)
Wireless Charging:Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W); Wireless PowerShare
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB
USB:USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
Durability:IP68 (Water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Dimensions:6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm)
Weight:8.25 oz (234 g)
Biometrics:Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor; Face Recognition
Extras:Integrated S Pen (2.8ms latency); Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox
✓ Pros:
- • Class-leading 200MP main camera and versatile 10x optical zoom
- • Custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy provides top-tier performance
- • Excellent battery life with 5,000mAh capacity
- • Integrated S Pen adds unique productivity features
- • Premium build with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 rating
✗ Cons:
- • Slow charging speed (45W) compared to competitors
- • Large and heavy (8.25 oz) form factor is difficult for one-handed use
- • Expensive starting price
- • No microSD card slot for expandable storage
- • Included USB cable is only USB 2.0 despite port supporting 3.2
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Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Rating:★4.5(225)Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Typically 6+ years of OS updates from release (2022)
Processor:Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)
Graphics:Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
RAM:4GB
Storage:64GB / 128GB / 256GB NVMe
Display Size:4.7"
Screen Type:Retina HD LCD (IPS)
Resolution:1334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi)
Refresh Rate:60Hz
Peak Brightness:625 nits (Typical)
Main Camera:12MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS, Digital Zoom up to 5x
Ultra-Wide Camera:No (Not supported)
Telephoto Camera:No (Not supported)
Optical Zoom:No (Not supported)
Digital Zoom:Up to 5x
Video Recording:4K @ 60fps; 1080p @ 60fps; Slo-mo 1080p @ 240fps
Front Camera:7MP FaceTime HD, f/2.2, 1080p @ 30fps
Battery:2,018mAh (Approximate)
Wired Charging:20W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min) via Lightning
Wireless Charging:7.5W Qi Wireless (No MagSafe magnetic alignment)
Connectivity:5G (Sub-6 GHz only - No mmWave), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
USB:Lightning Connector (USB 2.0 speeds)
Durability:IP67 (Dust/Water Resistant up to 1m for 30 min); Ion-strengthened glass
Dimensions:5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm)
Weight:5.09 oz (144 g)
Biometrics:Touch ID (Fingerprint sensor in Home button)
Extras:Stereo speakers, Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM), Dual eSIM support
✓ Pros:
- • Most affordable entry point into the new iPhone ecosystem
- • Compact and lightweight design is easy to use with one hand
- • A15 Bionic chip provides flagship-level performance for the price
- • Retains the classic Touch ID Home button (preferred by some users)
- • IP67 water resistance rating is rare in the budget category
✗ Cons:
- • Dated design with thick top and bottom bezels
- • Small 4.7-inch LCD screen lacks the vibrancy of OLED competitors
- • Base storage starts at a low 64GB
- • No Night Mode for the camera (struggles in low light)
- • Lacks 5G mmWave support (Sub-6 GHz only) unlike main iPhone models
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Which one is better?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the better buy for most people - its incredible 200MP camera crushes the iPhone SE's 12MP.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if: you shoot a lot of photos and videos, need a large and vibrant display for media, or want top-tier performance for gaming. (6.8" display, 120 Hz refresh)
Choose the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) if: you prefer a compact design that's easy to use one-handed, want a budget-friendly entry into the iPhone ecosystem, or mostly use your phone for social media and light tasks. (4.7" display, 60 Hz refresh)
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra excels if you value class-leading 200mp main camera and versatile 10x optical zoom. Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is better if you prioritize most affordable entry point into the new iphone ecosystem. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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