{"id":2855,"date":"2023-03-07T09:57:53","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T09:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mozillion.com\/public\/resources\/?p=2855"},"modified":"2026-06-26T09:43:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T09:43:29","slug":"samsung-galaxy-s23-vs-s23-ultra-which-should-you-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mozillion.com\/resources\/samsung-galaxy-s23-vs-s23-ultra-which-should-you-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung Galaxy S23 vs S23 Ultra | Which Should You Choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Holly, Mozillion Team<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup is finally here with Samsung releasing the S23<\/a>, S23 plus<\/a> and S23 Ultra<\/a> for us Android fans to get stuck into. The S23 Ultra is the largest, most powerful model of the three devices and some of you will be trying to decide which one to go for? In this article, we're going to be comparing the base S23 model with the flagship S23 Ultra to help you with this very important decision.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Camera Setup | S23 vs S23 Ultra<\/p>\n

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On the back of the devices, you notice straight away that the S23 Ultra has a quad camera which features laser autofocus. On the standard S23 there is just the triple camera setup. The differences between the two are that on the S23 Ultra, we get a 200 megapixel main camera which is pixel binning (improves the quality of images taken in low-light environments).<\/p>\n

There is also a 10x periscope lens on there for that extra zoom. On the S23 we get a 50 megapixel main camera, a 12 megapixel ultra wide angle camera and a 10 megapixel telephoto lens which also deliver pro-level results.<\/p>\n

Both models feature the Nightography improvements for taking low light photos, but if you want to be taking those impressive close up shots of the moon you see on Instagram, then you\u2019ll want the S23 Ultra\u2019s extra camera power.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Design | S23 vs S23 Ultra
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They're both obviously different in size with the S23 being the smallest of the bunch. Another difference is, if we look at the bottom of the devices, you notice that you get the S Pen on the S23 Ultra whereas you won't get that on the standard S23. So if that's something that matters to you in terms of signing documents, writing notes, drawing on the go with the S Pen then do consider the S23 Ultra. <\/p>\n

The advantage of the S23 is that it is so compact while still offering a superb display and camera. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Display | S23 vs S23 Ultra
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Moving onto the display, there is a noticeable expansion in screen size from the S23 to the S23 Ultra.<\/p>\n

On the S23, we have a 6.1 inch dynamic AMOLED display and on the S23 Ultra, we have a bigger 6.8 inch dynamic AMOLED display. We get full HD Plus - in terms of resolution - at 425 PPI (so pixel per inch) on the S23 and we have a Quad HD Plus display on the S23 Ultra at 550 pixels per inch. This is notable when you go into settings as you get that 'screen resolution' setting on the S23 Ultra.<\/p>\n

What this means is that images and icons will look sharper on the S23 Ultra.<\/p>\n

Regardless of which one you go for though, you do get that brilliant adaptive display (up to 120 hertz display on both devices). So when it comes to gaming, browsing the web and scrolling in general, you're still going to get the same smooth experience.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Storage | S23 vs S23 Ultra
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When it comes to storage they're both different again. The S23 Ultra will give you up to 1 terabyte of internal storage whereas the standard S23 will give you up to 256 gigabytes. So if having a lot of storage is important to you, you should consider the S23 Ultra.<\/p>\n

Neither device gives you a Micro SD card expansion slot so once you've chosen your storage size - that's all you're going to be getting.<\/p>\n

The RAM capacity is different as well. The S23 Ultra will give you up to 12 gigabytes of Random Access Memory (RAM) whereas the S23 will give you up to 8 gigabytes of RAM. All that means for you is, when running multiple applications, you start to notice the difference in terms of being able to handle them at the same time. So for speed etc, and intensive gaming applications you might notice the difference. If that really matters to you and you're going to be running loads of applications side by side then the S23 Ultra is probably the device for you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Processor | S23 vs S23 Ultra
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An excellent point to note about Samsung's Galaxy S23 lineup this year is that all the smartphones get the same bespoke processor. Whichever device you choose, we're all going to get that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. This means you get better processing performance, better battery life and the smartphones are a lot more efficient overall. Last year we got the Exynos processor on this side of the world (UK) so this year, the fact that we're getting the improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a result. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Battery | S23 vs S23 Ultra<\/p>\n

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The difference in the size of the smartphones in the series also means you get a smaller battery in the S23 model. <\/p>\n

The S23 Ultra gives you a 5000 mAh battery whereas with the S23 you get a 3900 mAh battery. <\/p>\n

Simply means your battery won't last as long if you purchase the S23. However, don\u2019t be too alarmed as the new, mega efficient processor mentioned above gives you an all-day battery life regardless of which model you choose. When it comes to charging, there are different charging speeds so the S23 will charge at 25 watts wired.<\/p>\n

You also have a wireless charging option (which is slower) and wireless power sharing so you can share power with other devices e.g. earbuds on both devices. By contrast, the S23 Ultra will give you 45 watts of superfast charge so it will charge faster than the S23. This is worth bearing in mind if fast charging is something that's important to you as well. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Security | S23 vs S23 Ultra
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There is the same level of security on both devices which are face unlock, fingerprint sensor or pin code.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Conclusion | S23 vs S23 Ultra<\/p>\n

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Going back to our original question of 'which one should you get out of the two\u2019 - it boils down to whether you want a bigger, more powerful device or a smaller, more compact device<\/p>\n

If you want that 200 megapixel camera and the best camera possible, you go for the S23 Ultra over the standard S23. If you want a longer lasting battery, you\u2019d go for the bigger option as well. So overall, the bigger the smartphone in the series - the more features, power and storage. But if all that is not as important to you and you want an excellent, more compact device and have no requirement of the S pen, you should go for the standard S23 because you still get the same processing performance, a huge 50 megapixel camera and an all round quality piece of kit. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>