If you prioritize a significantly better camera system and longer battery life and don't mind the higher cost, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a great choice. It has a more advanced camera setup, including a higher megapixel count and additional features, and it offers longer battery life compared to the Galaxy S23+. Conversely, if you're looking to save money and still want a quality phone with a good camera and decent battery life, the Galaxy S23+ will serve you well. Both phones have a glass body, OLED display, are 5G capable, and have no headphone jack. The S23 Ultra also includes a stylus and has a slightly larger screen with curved edges, which might enhance your viewing experience if that's important to you. 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 Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ 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
8.3/10
9.2/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has excellent overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S23+ has very good overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ and the S23 Ultra both have excellent cameras; the S23+ is praised for its superior selfie quality and offers a very good overall photo and video experience. The S23 Ultra, on the other hand, adds to this with a highly versatile camera system and exceptional low light performance, making it a standout choice for photography enthusiasts, despite a higher price.
Photo Quality
8.3/10
9.5/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes best in class photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S23+ takes very good photos.
Both the Samsung Galaxy S23+ and S23 Ultra are praised for their excellent photo-taking abilities because they offer a very satisfying software experience, vibrant dynamic range, and solid low-light performance. The S23 Ultra takes it a step further with its superior camera versatility and superior selfie quality, justifying its position as a more premium option.
Battery
8.7 Hours
10.4 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ has 8.7 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has 10.4 hours of battery life.
Cost
$1,000
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ has a price of $1,000 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra costs $1,200.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to have very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S23+ takes good videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ has a very good video resolution and framerate, with strong stabilization and dynamic range, which results in high-quality videos even in different lighting conditions, including low light. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra not only matches these capabilities but also provides the best mic quality and an additional edge in stabilization, making its video capture experience exceptionally smooth and audio clearer, especially important for professional-grade recordings or content creation.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ has a screen size of 6.6 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S23+ and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra compare to other phones
"Despite not boasting the same camera credentials as its pricier sibling, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus will remain a top-tier handset for several years thanks to its industry-leading processor and magnificent display. It may prove an attractive proposition for Galaxy newcomers in the market for a big-screen all-rounder."
"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 Samsung Galaxy S23+ or the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
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.
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
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
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.