Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Compare Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for…

Samsung

Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1,299

13categories won

7 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra proves superior overall against the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the Galaxy S23 Ultra leads with sharper imaging, while battery endurance leans towards the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Galaxy S23 Ultra if its lower retail price better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra takes battery honors offering 5,000 mAh alongside 60W charging.

🎮 GamingGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and 16GB RAM.

📸 CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra

Galaxy S23 Ultra wins photography with 200MP main imaging and 10x dedicated optical zoom.

🏷️ ValueGalaxy S23 Ultra

Galaxy S23 Ultra provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1199 vs $1299.

Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.

Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S23 Ultra	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Screen size	6.8"	6.9"
Resolution	1440 x 3088	1440 x 3120Winner
Pixel density	501 ppi	498 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	1750 nits	2400 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S23 Ultra	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Process node	4 nm	3 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	1,520,000	2,400,000Winner
Geekbench multi	5340	8900Winner
Maximum RAM	12 GB	16 GBWinner
Maximum storage	1TB	1TB

Camera

Camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S23 Ultra	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Main sensor	200 MP	200 MP
Rear cameras	4	4
Optical zoom	10xWinner	5x
Ultrawide	12 MP	50 MPWinner
Selfie camera	12 MP	12 MP
Max video	8K at 30fps / 4K at 60fps	8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S23 Ultra	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Capacity	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh
Wired charging	45 W	60 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S23 Ultra	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Weight	234 g	214 gWinner
Thickness	8.9 mm	7.9 mmWinner
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Armor Aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S23 Ultra	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Operating system	Android 13	Android 16
OS updates	4 years	7 yearsWinner
Security updates	5 years	7 yearsWinner

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S23 Ultra	Galaxy S26 Ultra
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$1,199Winner	$1,299