Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Comparison

Comparison of features, performance, design, battery, camera and connectivity between the following smartphones: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. The complete information of specifications to decide which to buy.

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Technical data sheets

Basics

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Global · 8GB · 256GB · SM-S918B
View datasheet
vs
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Global · 12GB · 256GB
View datasheet
vs

Score

Ki Cost-effective
Score
8.7 Ki Cost-effective
Score
9.2 Ki Cost-effective
Score
Design and Screen score 8.0Design & Materials 8.3Design & Materials
Performance and Hardware score 7.8Performance & Hardware 9.0Performance & Hardware
Camera score 8.5Camera 9.0Camera
Connectivity score 8.6 Connectivity 8.9 Connectivity
Battery score 7.2 Battery 7.2 Battery

User reviews

User score
9.4
176 reviews
9.0
43 reviews

Technical specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Specs stores to buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Global · 8GB · 256GB · SM-S918B
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra price compare Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Global · 12GB · 256GB
Inches 6.8" 6.9"
Resolution WQHD+ WQHD+
Usable surface 89% useful 91% useful
Aspect Ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
Dimensions 78.1 mm
163.4 mm
8.9 mm
78.1 mm
163.6 mm
7.9 mm
Weight 233 g 214 g
Micro SnapD. 8 Gen2
Octa-Core
SnapD. 8 Elite G5
Octa-Core
RAM 8 GB RAM 12 GB RAM
Storage 256 GB 256 GB
AnTuTu 1.521.862
v10
4.027.702
v11
Battery 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
Main Camera 1
200 Mpx · ƒ/1.7
ISOCELL HP2
2 3 4
1
200 Mpx · ƒ/1.4
ISOCELL HP2
2 3 4
Selfie Camera SELF 12 Mpx · ƒ/2.2 SELF 12 Mpx · ƒ/2.2
Bands
OS Android 16 Android 16

About this comparison

In the world of smartphones, Samsung has always been a dominant force, known for producing high-quality devices that push the boundaries of technology. In this article, we will compare two of Samsung's most premium offerings - the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

First up, let's take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Released in February 2023, this high-end smartphone comes packed with top-of-the-line features that are sure to impress even the most demanding users. The design of the S23 Ultra is sleek and stylish, with a large 6.80-inch Super AMOLED display that boasts a resolution of 1440x3088 (WQHD+). The screen has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, making for smooth and fluid visuals, and a maximum brightness of 1200 cd/m² ensures crisp and vibrant colors. The phone also features a Dual Edge display and HDR10+ support for an enhanced viewing experience.

In terms of materials, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is built to last, with a combination of aluminium and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 providing durability and protection. The phone has a usable surface area of 89.1%, giving you plenty of screen real estate to work with. On the audio front, the S23 Ultra features stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio support, and a noise cancellation microphone for crystal-clear sound quality.

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen2 processor, clocked at 3.36 GHz and built on a 4nm process. The phone is available in 8GB or 12GB of RAM options, and storage capacities of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB ensure that you have plenty of space for all your files and apps. The AnTuTu benchmark score for the S23 Ultra is an impressive 1521862, indicating smooth and efficient performance. Security is taken care of with a Fingerprint Display sensor for quick and secure unlocking.

When it comes to camera capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra does not disappoint. The phone features a quadruple camera setup, with a main 200.0Mpx sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, a wide-angle lens, a telephoto + portrait lens, and a dedicated telephoto lens. The selfie camera is a 12.0Mpx sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. Optical stabilization, 4K and 8K video recording, and zoom capabilities of up to 100x ensure that you can capture stunning photos and videos in any situation.

Connectivity options on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra include Bluetooth 5.3, Dual SIM support, NFC, WiFi 6, GPS, and eSIM for added convenience. The phone is equipped with a 5000mAh battery that supports 45.0W fast charging and wireless charging, ensuring that you can stay powered up throughout the day.

Now, let's turn our attention to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, released in February 2026. Building upon the success of its predecessor, the S26 Ultra takes things to the next level with even more cutting-edge features and improvements. The design of the S26 Ultra is similar to the S23 Ultra, with a 6.90-inch AMOLED display that boasts a resolution of 1440x3088 (WQHD+) and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The peak brightness of 2600 cd/m² and HDR10+ support guarantee a stunning visual experience, while Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 provides protection against scratches and drops.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, built on a 3nm process for enhanced efficiency and performance. The phone comes with 12GB or 16GB of RAM options, and storage capacities of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB ensure that you have ample space for all your files and media. The AnTuTu benchmark score for the S26 Ultra is an impressive 4027702, indicating top-tier performance that can handle even the most demanding tasks. A Fingerprint Display sensor provides secure biometric authentication.

In the camera department, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra once again raises the bar with a quadruple camera setup that includes a main 200.0Mpx sensor with an f/1.4 aperture, a wide-angle lens, and two telephoto lenses for versatile shooting options. The selfie camera is a 12.0Mpx sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. Optical stabilization, 4K and 8K video recording, and advanced zoom capabilities ensure that you can capture stunning photos and videos with ease.

Connectivity options on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra include Bluetooth 6.0, Dual SIM support, NFC, WiFi 6, GPS, and eSIM, providing you with all the connectivity you need for a seamless user experience. The phone is equipped with a 5000mAh battery that supports 60.0W fast charging, wireless charging, and even reverse charging, allowing you to share power with other devices on the go.

In conclusion, both the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are top-of-the-line smartphones that offer a rich set of features and capabilities. While the S23 Ultra is an excellent choice for users looking for a high-end device with impressive camera capabilities and performance, the S26 Ultra takes things even further with a more powerful processor, improved camera system, and faster charging speeds. Whether you choose the S23 Ultra or the S26 Ultra, you can rest assured that you are getting a premium smartphone experience from one of the leading brands in the industry.

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Brand

Brand Samsung Samsung
Aliases SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS SM-S948B

Release Date

Release date February 2023,
3 years ago
February 2026,
6 months ago
State On Sale On Sale
Market Global Global

Design & Materials

Structure

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Size
78.1 mm 163.4 mm 8.9 mm
Print 3D Model
78.1 mm 163.6 mm 7.9 mm
Print 3D Model
Weight 233 g 214 g
Usable surface 89 % 91 %
Materials Glass, Aluminium, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 Aluminium, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resistance IP68 IP68
Colors
Black
White
Green
Violet
Beige
Black
White
Gold
Gray
Violet
Cyan
Rose Gold

Screen

Diagonal 6.8" 6.9"
Type Super AMOLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X AMOLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X +
Aspect Ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
Resolution WQHD+
1440 x 3088 px
WQHD+
1440 x 3088 px
Density 500 Pixels per inch 494 Pixels per inch

Others

Others
  • Hole-punch Notch
  • 1-120 Hz refresh rate
  • Refresh rate 120 Hz
  • Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
  • Touch sampling rate 240 Hz
  • Peak brightness - 1750 cd/m²
  • Max brightness HBM - 1200 cd/m²
  • 3000000:1 contrast ratio
  • Always-On Display
  • HDR10+
  • DCI-P3
  • Scratch resistant
  • Dual Edge display
  • Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
  • S-Pen
  • Capacitive
  • Multi-touch
  • Frameless
  • LTPO (Low Temperature PolySilicon oxide)
  • Hole-punch Notch
  • 1-120 Hz refresh rate
  • DisplayPort 1.4
  • Refresh rate 120 Hz
  • Peak brightness - 2600 cd/m²
  • HDR10+
  • DCI-P3
  • DC dimming
  • 10 Bits panel
  • Scratch resistant
  • Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
  • S-Pen
  • Capacitive
  • Multi-touch
  • Frameless
  • LTPO (Low Temperature PolySilicon oxide)

User reviews

Is it a drop-resistant and scratch-resistant smartphone?
8.7
8.9
Do you think it's a nice phone?
9.6
9.2
Is it comfortable?
8.5
8.9
Can you see it well in the sunlight?
9.3
9.3
Number of reviews
176 reviews
43 reviews

Performance & Hardware

Processor

Model Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen2 ( 3,36 GHz) Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
CPU 1x3.36GHz Cortex-X3 + 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 + 3x2.02 GHz Cortex-A510 2x4.61 GHz ARM + 6x3.63 GHz ARM
Type Octa-Core Octa-Core
Manufacturing 4 nm 3 nm
64 Bits Yes Yes

Graphics

GPU Qualcomm Adreno 740 Adreno 840 1.2 GHz

RAM

RAM 8 GB 12 GB
Type RAM LPDDR5X RAM LPDDR5X

Antutu

Score
1.521.862
Antutu v10
Overall performance better than 89% of devices
4.027.702
Antutu v11
Overall performance better than 99% of devices

Storage

Capacity 256 GB 256 GB
Type UFS Storage 4.0 UFS Storage 4.1
SD Slot No No

Security

Fingerprint Yes, in screen Yes, in screen

Sensors

Sensors
  • Fingerprint
  • Proximity
  • Light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Compass
  • Gyroscope
  • Barometer
  • Gravity
  • Hall
  • Geomagnetic
  • Fingerprint
  • Proximity
  • Light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Compass
  • Gyroscope
  • Barometer
  • Hall
  • Geomagnetic
  • Vibration Motor

Audio

Audio
  • Hi-Res Audio
  • Noise cancellation microphone
  • Stereo Speakers
  • 2 microphones
  • Hi-Res Audio
  • Noise cancellation microphone
  • Stereo Speakers

Others

Notifications LED -- --
Cooling system No Yes
Gaming buttons No No

User reviews

Does it have good sound?
9.4
9.5
Does it work smoothly in everyday use?
9.6
9.6
What's your experience been with demanding games?
9.4
9.3
Number of reviews
176 reviews
43 reviews

Camera

Main

No. of cameras Quad rear camera Quad rear camera
1
Camera type

Standard

Standard
Resolution 200 Mpx 200 Mpx
Aperture ƒ/ 1.7 ƒ/ 1.4
Optical zoom -- --
View angle -- --
Sensor Samsung ISOCELL HP2 Samsung ISOCELL HP2
Type ISOCELL ISOCELL
ISO -- --
Pixel size 0.60 µm 0.60 µm
Pixel Binning 1-4 (2x2) 1-4 (2x2)
Sensor size 1/1.3" 1/1.3"
2
Camera type

Wide Angle lens

Wide Angle lens
Resolution
12.2 Mpx
50 Mpx
Aperture
ƒ/ 2.2
ƒ/ 1.9
Optical zoom
--
--
View angle
--
--
Sensor
Sony IMX564
Samsung JN3
Type
CMOS
ISOCELL
Pixel size
1.40 µm
0.70 µm
Pixel Binning
--
1-4 (2x2)
Sensor size
1/2.55"
1/2.4"
3
Camera type

Telephoto + portrait

Telephoto lens
Resolution
10 Mpx
10 Mpx
Aperture
ƒ/ 2.4
ƒ/ 2.4
Optical zoom
--
--
View angle
--
--
Sensor
Sony IMX754
Samsung
Type
CMOS BSI
CMOS
Pixel size
1.12 µm
--
Pixel Binning
--
--
Sensor size
1/3.52"
--
4
Camera type

Telephoto lens

Telephoto lens
Resolution
10 Mpx
50 Mpx
Aperture
ƒ/ 4.9
ƒ/ 2.9
Optical zoom
--
--
View angle
--
--
Sensor
Sony IMX754
Sony IMX854
Type
CMOS BSI
CMOS
Pixel size
1.12 µm
0.70 µm
Pixel Binning
--
1-4 (2x2)
Sensor size
1/3.52"
1/2.52"

Features

Flash LED Dual LED
Optical Stabilisation Yes Yes
Slow Motion Video Yes,
480 fps
Yes,
240 fps
Others
  • Tracking AF
  • Flicker sensor
  • Time-Lapse
  • 4K Video
  • 8K Video
  • Digital zoom
  • Optical zoom
  • Quadruple camera
  • Digital image stabilization
  • Optical Stabilization (OIS)
  • Autofocus
  • Touch focus
  • Manual focus
  • Phase detection autofocus (PDAF)
  • Laser autofocus (LAF)
  • Continuous shooting
  • Geotagging
  • Panorama
  • HDR
  • Face detection
  • White balance settings
  • ISO settings
  • Exposure compensation
  • Scene mode
  • Self-timer
  • RAW
  • Night Mode
  • UIS
  • Noise reduction
  • Time-Lapse
  • 4K Video
  • 8K Video
  • Digital zoom
  • Optical zoom
  • Quadruple camera
  • Digital image stabilization
  • Optical Stabilization (OIS)
  • Autofocus
  • Touch focus
  • Manual focus
  • Phase detection autofocus (PDAF)
  • Laser autofocus (LAF)
  • Continuous shooting
  • Geotagging
  • Panorama
  • HDR
  • Face detection
  • White balance settings
  • ISO settings
  • Exposure compensation
  • Scene mode
  • Self-timer
  • RAW
  • Night Mode

Selfie

SELF
Camera type

Dedicated

Dedicated
Resolution 12 Mpx 12 Mpx
Aperture ƒ/ 2.2 ƒ/ 2.2
Optical zoom -- --
View angle -- --
Sensor Samsung S5K3LU Unknown
Type ISOCELL CMOS
Pixel size -- 1.12 µm
Pixel Binning -- --
Sensor size -- --
Others
--
--

DxOMark Score

DxOMark Score
140
Camera
-Photo
-Video
157
Camera
160Photo
153Video
142
Selfie
141Photo
143Video

User reviews

Quality of daytime photos
9.6
9.5
Quality of nighttime photos
9.0
8.8
Quality of selfies
9.2
8.7
Does it have a powerful flash?
9.1
9.0
Number of reviews
176 reviews
43 reviews

Connectivity

Network compatibility

5G
  • n1 (2100)
  • n2 (1900 PCS)
  • n3 (1800)
  • n5 (850)
  • n7 (2600)
  • n8 (900)
  • n12 (700)
  • n20 (800)
  • n25 (1900)
  • n28b (700)
  • n28a (700)
  • n38 (2600)
  • n40 (2300)
  • n41 (2500)
  • n66 (1700)
  • n75 (1500)
  • n77 (3700)
  • n78 (3500)
  • n1 (2100)
  • n2 (1900 PCS)
  • n3 (1800)
  • n5 (850)
  • n7 (2600)
  • n8 (900)
  • n12 (700)
  • n20 (800)
  • n25 (1900)
  • n26 (850)
  • n28b (700)
  • n28a (700)
  • n38 (2600)
  • n40 (2300)
  • n41 (2500)
  • n48 (3500)
  • n66 (1700)
  • n75 (1500)
  • n77 (3700)
  • n78 (3500)
4G LTE
  • B1 (2100)
  • B2 (1900)
  • B3 (1800)
  • B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
  • B5 (850)
  • B7 (2600)
  • B8 (900)
  • B12 (700)
  • B13 (700)
  • B14 (700)
  • B17 (700)
  • B18 (800)
  • B19 (800)
  • B20 (800)
  • B25 (1900+)
  • B26 (850)
  • B28b (700)
  • B28a (700)
  • B32 (1500)
  • B38 (TDD 2600)
  • B39 (TDD 1900)
  • B40 (TDD 2300)
  • B41 (TDD 2500)
  • B66 (1700/2100)
  • B1 (2100)
  • B2 (1900)
  • B3 (1800)
  • B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
  • B5 (850)
  • B7 (2600)
  • B8 (900)
  • B12 (700)
  • B13 (700)
  • B17 (700)
  • B18 (800)
  • B19 (800)
  • B20 (800)
  • B25 (1900+)
  • B26 (850)
  • B28b (700)
  • B28a (700)
  • B32 (1500)
  • B38 (TDD 2600)
  • B39 (TDD 1900)
  • B40 (TDD 2300)
  • B41 (TDD 2500)
  • B66 (1700/2100)
3G
  • B1 (2100)
  • B2 (1900)
  • B4 (1700/2100 AWS A-F)
  • B5 (850)
  • B8 (900)
  • B1 (2100)
  • B2 (1900)
  • B4 (1700/2100 AWS A-F)
  • B5 (850)
  • B8 (900)
2G
  • B2 (1900)
  • B3 (1800)
  • B5 (850)
  • B8 (900)
  • B2 (1900)
  • B3 (1800)
  • B5 (850)
  • B8 (900)
No official network bands

SIM card

Dual SIM Dual Sim Dual Standby Dual Sim Dual Standby
Type
  • Nano SIM
  • Nano SIM / eSIM
  • Nano SIM / eSIM
  • Nano SIM / eSIM

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11n 5GHz
  • 802.11ac
  • WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11n 5GHz
  • 802.11ac
  • WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
  • WiFi 6E
  • WiFi 7 (802.11be)
Others
  • Dual band
  • Wi-Fi Hotspot
  • Wi-Fi Direct
  • Wi-Fi Display
  • Wi-Fi MiMO
  • Dual band
  • Wi-Fi Hotspot
  • Wi-Fi Direct
  • Wi-Fi Display
  • Wi-Fi MiMO

Bluetooth

Version Bluetooth 5.3 LE Low energy consumption Bluetooth 6.0 LE Low energy consumption
Others
  • A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
  • AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile)
  • DIP (Device ID Profile)
  • HFP (Hands-Free Profile)
  • HID (Human Interface Profile)
  • HSP (Headset Profile)
  • LE (Low Energy)
  • MAP (Message Access Profile)
  • PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile)
  • OPP (Object Push Profile)
  • PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile)
  • A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
  • LE (Low Energy)
  • APT-x
  • LDAC
  • SBC
  • AAC

Navigation

Navigation
  • GPS
  • A-GPS
  • GLONASS
  • Beidou
  • QZSS
  • Galileo
  • GPS (L1+L5)
  • GLONASS (L1)
  • BeiDou (B1)
  • Galileo (E1+E5a)
  • QZSS (L1 + L5)
  • GPS
  • A-GPS
  • GLONASS
  • Beidou
  • QZSS
  • Galileo
  • GPS (L1+L5)
  • BeiDou (B1)
  • Galileo (E1+E5a)
  • BeiDou (B2)
  • NavIC System
  • QZSS (L1 + L5)
  • Galileo (E1+E5a+E5b)

USB

USB
  • Charging
  • Mass Storage
  • USB On-The-Go (OTG)
  • USB Type C
  • USB Host 3.1
  • Charging
  • Mass Storage
  • USB On-The-Go (OTG)
  • USB Type C
  • USB Host 3.2

SAR

European measurement

The European Union sets a limit of 2 W/kg averaged over 10 grams of tissue.

-- --
American measurement

The FCC limit is 1.6 W/kg measured in a volume of 1 gram of tissue

-- --

Others

Others
  • NFC
  • Computer sync
  • OTA sync
  • Tethering.
  • VoLTE
  • VoWiFi
  • No official network bands
  • eSIM
  • NFC
  • Computer sync
  • OTA sync
  • Tethering.
  • VoLTE
  • eSIM
  • NFC eSE
  • Ultra-wideband (UWB)
  • Satellite SOS connectivity

User reviews

Does it have good coverage for calls?
9.4
9.5
Quality of the GPS
9.6
9.4
And the WiFi?
9.5
9.6
Number of reviews
176 reviews
43 reviews

Battery

Battery

Capacity
5000 mAh
5000 mAh
Type Li-Polymer Li-Ion
Fast charge Yes,
45.0W
Yes,
60.0W
Others
  • Bypass Charging
  • Wireless charging
  • Non-removable
  • Bypass Charging
  • Wireless charging
  • Reverse charging
  • Non-removable

User reviews

How long does the battery last?
  • 2%
    Less than half day
  • 7%
    Less than a day
  • 30%
    One day
  • 49%
    More than one day
  • 11%
    Two days or more
  • 2%
    Less than half day
  • 7%
    Less than a day
  • 35%
    One day
  • 47%
    More than one day
  • 9%
    Two days or more
Number of reviews
176 reviews
43 reviews

Software

Software

Operating System
  • Android 16
    Android 16 , 1 year ago
  • Android 16
    Android 16 , 1 year ago
Google Services With Google Mobile Services With Google Mobile Services

User reviews

Did it come with preinstalled applications?
  • 8%
    It comes with a clean operating system
  • 87%
    It has preinstalled apps but they don't bother me
  • 5%
    It has preinstalled apps that I can't uninstall
  • 20%
    It comes with a clean operating system
  • 70%
    It has preinstalled apps but they don't bother me
  • 10%
    It has preinstalled apps that I can't uninstall
Do you regularly receive updates?
  • 0%
    Never
  • 1%
    Once a year
  • 29%
    Every six months
  • 71%
    Every two months or less
  • 0%
    Never
  • 0%
    Once a year
  • 40%
    Every six months
  • 60%
    Every two months or less
Number of reviews
176 reviews
43 reviews