As we get closer to Samsung’s next big launch, our Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra preview will help you see what the biggest upgrades are expected for the company’s upcoming flagship.
At least based on the Galaxy S23 Ultra rumors and leaks so far, this phone could look almost identical to the premium Galaxy S22 Ultra, which starts at $1,199.. But there could be major improvements on the way, especially on the cameras, which could make the S23 A serious contender for our best phones list.
So what are the main differences between the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the S22 Ultra? Let’s analyze everything we know so far.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: Design
The regular Samsung Galaxy S23 tends to have a redesign on the back, turning the camera into three separate lenses that are more integrated into the design. But the Galaxy S22 Ultra already had that look and it doesn’t seem to change much for the S23 Ultra. This does not mean that we are complaining.
You should expect the built-in S Pen again for taking notes, drawing, and more. And we’ve seen one rumor that the S23 Ultra will be slightly taller and wider than the S22 Ultra (Opens in a new tab)which could accommodate the rumored larger camera sensor.
Regardless, the leaker Ice world (Opens in a new tab) He says, “The size of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is almost unchanged from that of the S22 Ultra, with only 0.1~0.2mm increase, 5000mAh, 8.9mm, and 6.8 inch 3088 x 1440 screen.”
Based on some of the leaked S23 Ultra renders, it appears that the new phone could have more squared edges, which could make the phone less slippery in pregnancy.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: Display
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra already has one of the best screens ever in a phone with an ultra-bright 6.8-inch AMOLED panel and a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate.
With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, leaker Ice Universe says the display is changing but hasn’t gone into any details yet.
Samsung is likely to make some upgrades to the S23 Ultra’s always-on display function to combat the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s more advanced AOD features. But we hope Samsung keeps things simple in terms of display while also offering more customization options.
We can also see an increase in brightness on the S23 Ultra panel, as the iPhone 14 Pro Max now has the brightest screen when viewing HDR content.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: Cameras
At this point, we all know that resolution isn’t everything when it comes to the best camera phones. But it’s still exciting to hear that the Galaxy S23 Ultra could have a 200MP main sensor. This will be a major upgrade over the S22 Ultra’s 108MP wide camera.
The 200MP camera rumor of the S23 Ultra has been reported by multiple sources. And it could give Samsung a strong contender for the 48MP main camera of the iPhone 14 Pro series.
According to leaker Ice Universe, the 200MP camera is “100% confirmed,” but we’ll have to see what this means for image quality and for shooting in RAW format.
Dual telephoto lenses are expected to make a comeback with 3x and 10x optical zoom, as will the 40MP selfie camera.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: Performance
The Galaxy S23 Ultra should be one of the first phones to ship with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which promises a huge leap in terms of performance.
Weibo’s digital chat station claims that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset could have an “ultrawide” version capable of reaching speeds from 3.4 to 3.5 GHz. The current Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 clocks operate at 3.2GHz.
Additionally, the leaker says the GPU upgrades could outperform the iPhone 14 Pro, but we’ll have to test that claim.
What’s unclear is whether Samsung will offer its own Exynos 2300 chip for the S23 Ultra outside of the US or make this phone a Qualcomm exclusive.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: Software
It’s pretty much a given that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will run Android 13 out of the box and based on our Android 13 review, the upgrades are nice to get but not huge. This release focuses on things like stability, changing permissions and customizing the materials you design, along with improving privacy and security.
There is also an updated media player in Android 13 and the ability to customize the bedtime mode to help your eyes adjust before you go to sleep. Other benefits include spatial audio support for the best headphones.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra should get an upgrade to Android 13 as well, although the timing isn’t quite over yet. It will likely happen before the arrival of the S23 Ultra.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: Battery life and charging
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra tends to use the same 5,000 mAh battery (Opens in a new tab) Like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but that’s supposed to be plenty to get you through the day. We hope that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip will help you increase battery life by increasing efficiency.
The S22 Ultra lasted a decent but not great 10 hours and 18 minutes on Tom’s Guide’s Web browsing battery test. The best phone battery life list contains devices that last 11.5 hours or more when charged.
Samsung will likely once again offer 25W charging for the S23 Ultra out of the box. And we assume you’ll be able to get a faster 45W charger, similar to the S22 Ultra. This charger brought the phone to 67% in 30 minutes, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max was rated only 50% in the same time period.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: Outlook
Judging by the rumors and leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could look almost identical to the S22 Ultra. However, internal upgrades can go a long way towards establishing this flagship as one of the best Android phones money can buy.
However, if Samsung is charging the same $1,199 in a declining economy, some may be wondering if the S23 Ultra is worth the premium. It will come down to how well the new cameras and the new chip performed in our tests.
Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to launch.