Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S23
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the premium choice here, offering a stunning 200MP camera and a massive 5000mAh battery that lasts up to 30 hours of video playback. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S23 provides a compact design and impressive performance but falls short with a smaller 3900mAh battery and 50MP camera. In real-world usage, the S24 Ultra's features translate into exceptional photography and longer battery life, making it ideal for power users and photographers. However, if you're looking for something more lightweight and budget-friendly, the S23's compact size and powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip still deliver reliable performance for everyday tasks and gaming. Key specs: Display: 6.8" vs 6.1" and Battery: 5000 mAh vs 3900 mAh.
Why compare these? The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (premium flagship) and Samsung Galaxy S23 (mid-range) represent different approaches to smartphones. While they may appeal to different budgets, many buyers consider both options. This 2026 comparison helps you decide if the differences justify the price gap.
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Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy | Samsung Galaxy |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | ✓4.6★ (3,377 reviews) | 4.4★ (101 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Exclusive Corning Gorilla Glass Armor significantly reduces reflections | Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip outperforms standard version |
| Main Drawback | Large and heavy (232 g) with sharp corners that can dig into palms | Base 128GB model uses slower UFS 3.1 storage (256GB+ uses UFS 4.0) |
| Market Position | ✓Flagship | Mid-range |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Android
7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520)
Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
Samsung Galaxy S23
Android
4 generations of OS upgrades (Android 14, 15, 16, 17); 5 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2028)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.36GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8GHz A715, 2x2.8GHz A710, 3x2.0GHz A510)
Adreno 740 (719 MHz)
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23
| Criterion | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.6(3,377)Best Buy | ★4.4(101)Best Buy |
Operating System | Android | Android |
Software Support | 7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031) | 4 generations of OS upgrades (Android 14, 15, 16, 17); 5 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2028) |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.36GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8GHz A715, 2x2.8GHz A710, 3x2.0GHz A510) |
Graphics | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | Adreno 740 (719 MHz) |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8 GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) | 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.0) / 512GB (UFS 4.0) |
Display Size | 6.8" (6.8" full rectangle; 6.8" accounting for rounded corners) | 6.1" (6.1" full rectangle; 5.9" accounting for rounded corners) |
Screen Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X (LTPO) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
Resolution | 3120 x 1440 pixels (QHD+, 505 ppi) | 2340 x 1080 pixels (FHD+, 425 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | Adaptive 1–120 Hz | Adaptive 48–120 Hz |
Peak Brightness | 2600 nits peak (outdoor) | 1200 nits (HBM); 1750 nits peak (outdoor) |
Main Camera | 200MP Wide (24 mm, f/1.7), 1/1.3" sensor, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS | 50MP Wide (24 mm, f/1.8), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° FOV), Dual Pixel PDAF, Super Steady video | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° FOV), Super Steady video |
Telephoto Camera | 50MP Telephoto (111 mm, f/3.4), periscope lens, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom; 10MP Telephoto (67 mm, f/2.4), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom | 10MP Telephoto (70 mm, f/2.4), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom |
Optical Zoom | 3x, 5x optical zoom; 2x, 10x optical-quality zoom (enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor) | 3x optical zoom; 30x Space Zoom |
Digital Zoom | Up to 100x (Space Zoom) | Up to 30x |
Video Recording | 8K video at 24/30 fps; 4K at 30/60/120 fps; Slow motion 1080p at 240 fps | 8K video at 24/30 fps; 4K at 30/60 fps; Slow motion 1080p at 240/960 fps |
Front Camera | 12MP Front (26 mm, f/2.2), Dual Pixel PDAF; 4K video at 30/60 fps | 12MP Front (26 mm, f/2.2), Dual Pixel PDAF; 4K video at 30/60 fps |
Battery | 5000 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 30 hours video playback | 3900 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 22 hours video playback |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 65% in ~30 minutes with 45W adapter and 5A USB-C cable (adapter sold separately) | USB-C; Up to 50% in ~30 minutes with 25W adapter (sold separately) |
Wireless Charging | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (up to 15W); Wireless PowerShare (4.5W) | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (up to 15W); Wireless PowerShare (4.5W) |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (UWB); NFC | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC |
USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gb/s); DisplayPort 1.2 | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gb/s) |
Durability | IP68 (up to 1.5 m freshwater for 30 min); Titanium frame (Grade 2); Gorilla Glass Armor front; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back | IP68 (up to 1.5 m freshwater for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back |
Dimensions | 6.39" x 3.11" x 0.34" (162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6 mm) | 5.76" x 2.79" x 0.30" (146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm) |
Weight | 8.18 oz (232 g) | 5.93 oz (168 g) |
Biometrics | Ultrasonic Fingerprint (under display); Face recognition | Ultrasonic Fingerprint (under display); Face recognition |
Extras | Integrated S Pen (Bluetooth enabled); Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist); Samsung DeX; Stereo speakers tuned by AKG | Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox; Stereo speakers tuned by AKG; Dual eSIM support (varies by carrier) |
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Android
7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520)
Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
12 GB (LPDDR5X)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0)
Pros
- Exclusive Corning Gorilla Glass Armor significantly reduces reflections
- Versatile quad-camera system with high-resolution 50MP 5x zoom
Cons
- Large and heavy (232 g) with sharp corners that can dig into palms
- 45W charging speed has plateaued compared to competitors
Samsung Galaxy S23
Android
4 generations of OS upgrades (Android 14, 15, 16, 17); 5 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2028)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.36GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8GHz A715, 2x2.8GHz A710, 3x2.0GHz A510)
Adreno 740 (719 MHz)
8 GB (LPDDR5X)
128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.0) / 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Pros
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip outperforms standard version
- Compact, lightweight design is easy to use with one hand
Cons
- Base 128GB model uses slower UFS 3.1 storage (256GB+ uses UFS 4.0)
- Charging speed is limited to 25W (significantly slower than competitors)
Which one is better?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the better buy for most people - its 200MP camera crushes the S23's 50MP option.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if: you love photography and want the best camera performance, you need a long-lasting battery for travel, or you want the latest tech features like Wi-Fi 7.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 if: you prefer a compact design for one-handed use, you're on a tighter budget, or you mainly use your phone for texting and casual gaming. (6.1" display, 3900 mAh battery)
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.6★ vs 4.4★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 3,377 reviews vs 101
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Premium Buyers
Higher-tier option with more premium features and build quality
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Value Seekers
Better value proposition for buyers who don't need top-tier features
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra edges ahead with a 4.6★ rating compared to 4.4★. However, Samsung Galaxy S23 remains a strong contender if its strengths align better with your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S23?
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the better choice if you prioritize exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections. Samsung Galaxy S23 wins if you value powerful snapdragon 8 gen 2 for galaxy chip outperforms standard version. Both are rated highly (4.6★ vs 4.4★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S23?
Key differences: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections, while Samsung Galaxy S23 stands out with powerful snapdragon 8 gen 2 for galaxy chip outperforms standard version. Consider that Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra large and heavy (232 g) with sharp corners that can dig into palms. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S23 base 128gb model uses slower ufs 3.1 storage (256gb+ uses ufs 4.0). Check the detailed specs table above for a complete comparison.
+Where can US buyers get the best price?
For US buyers, Amazon typically offers competitive pricing with Prime shipping, easy returns, and reliable warranty support. We recommend comparing prices on both products using our affiliate links above—prices fluctuate regularly, and you may find sales or deals.
+Is this comparison up to date?
Yes, this comparison is current for 2026. We regularly verify specs, ratings, and availability. Last verified: January 27, 2026. PageBen uses affiliate links for monetization, but our recommendations are research-driven and independent.
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