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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the OnePlus 9 provides solid performance with a good display and fast charging at a significantly lower price than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a more premium experience with a larger and more vivid screen, better camera capabilities including a 10x optical zoom telephoto lens, and a longer battery life. It also has an integrated stylus and a newer chip for improved performance. If you prioritize camera quality and display, the S23 Ultra is superior, but it also comes at a higher cost. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the OnePlus 9
- The OnePlus 9 has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Best in class for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Excellent performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.0
9.2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has excellent overall camera quality, while the OnePlus 9 has good overall camera quality.
The OnePlus 9 has fair performance across various photography and video aspects including dynamic range and low light, with a good selfie camera. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra excels with very good scores in these areas plus has a higher megapixel selfie camera, indicating superior selfie photo quality.
Photo Quality
6.7
9.5
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes best in class photos, while the OnePlus 9 takes only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes excellent photos due to its very good photo software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, as well as the best selfie and camera versatility performance. In comparison, the OnePlus 9's photo capabilities are considered fair, with good software experience but only fair scores in dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, although it does provide good selfie quality.
Video Quality
5.9
8.0
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes very good videos, while the OnePlus 9 takes poor videos.
The OnePlus 9's video capabilities are modest with good resolution and framerate, fair software experience, and stabilization, but it struggles in dynamic range and low light conditions, and has only satisfactory microphone quality. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra excels in video resolution and framerate, offers a very good software experience and stabilization, superb dynamic range, outstanding low light performance, and excellent microphone quality, making it superior for video recording.
Battery
6.9 Hours
10.4 Hours
The OnePlus 9 has 6.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has 10.4 hours of battery life.
Cost
$399
$1,200
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The OnePlus 9 has a price of $399 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The OnePlus 9 has a screen size of 6.55 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the OnePlus 9 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| OnePlus 9 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$399 | $1,200 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | OnePlus | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 26, 2021 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.55" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3088 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 402 | 501 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD888 | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.9/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels | 200 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.9 Hours | 10.4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.29" x 2.92" | 6.43" x 3.07" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.77 oz | 8.25 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 270 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Astral Black, Arctic Sky, Winter Mist | Green, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Graphite | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
OnePlus 9
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
David Lumb | April 2021
"If you’re hunting for the best Android camera phone at this price, and one that doesn’t skimp on specs the OnePlus 9 is worth considering. Courtesy of a partnership with Hasselblad, the cameras offer better color correction, and both regular and ultra-wide photos look great. The OnePlus 9’s battery fully charges in under 30 minutes over a cable, and in 45 minutes using wireless charging. If you hate waiting for hours to charge your phone, you'll love the OnePlus 9."
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
Ryan Haines | March 2023
"The Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t just want a place at the top right now; it expects to stay there. Samsung’s excellent update commitment and connectivity standards will keep its flagship feeling fresh for years to come, and the high-end materials will put up with more than their share of wear and tear. It might be more than most users need in terms of size, power, and cost, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a glaring weakness."
Get a great deal on the OnePlus 9 or the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
About OnePlus
OnePlus, established in 2013, is a smartphone brand that first became known for providing flagship-like devices, at a fraction of the cost compared to more expensive Android competitors. OnePlus focuses on creating smartphones with powerful hardware at reasonable prices. They also bring hardware features normally not seen in other Android phones sold in the US, such as their ultra-fast “Warp Charge” and the beloved “Alert Slider”.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
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Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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