Samsung‘s premium Galaxy S Ultra line has delivered the ultimate Android flagship experience for the last few years. Now with the brand new Galaxy S23 Ultra arriving in February 2023, fans of these high-end phones have an exciting yet difficult decision to make.
Should you upgrade to the latest S23 Ultra? Or is owning last year‘s S22 Ultra still good enough?
This in-depth Galaxy S23 Ultra vs S22 Ultra comparison highlights the key similarities and differences buyers should know to determine which phone deserves a spot in their pockets.
Brief Background on Samsung Galaxy S Series
As a quick history refresher, Samsung launched its hugely popular Galaxy S line of Android smartphones back in 2010. The "S" stands for Super Smart as these phones represent the pinnacle of Samsung‘s mobile technology each year.
In 2022, Samsung introduced the "Ultra" designation starting with the S22 series. The Galaxy S22 Ultra took design cues from the discontinued Galaxy Note line. This included builtin S Pen support and a larger screen in a bigger body.
The Ultra models also feature upgraded specs to further separate them from the regular and Plus versions of the Galaxy S series. As Samsung‘s most premium flagship phones with all the bells and whistles, they command premium pricing as well.
Overview of the New Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Galaxy S23 Ultra launched globally on February 17th, 2023. As expected, it builds on the foundations of last year‘s impressive S22 Ultra.
Visually, the two phones look nearly indistinguishable. You get the same 6.8-inch curved Dynamic AMOLED display and quad rear camera housing.
However the S23 Ultra packs almost everything buyers want in an Android flagship for 2023:
- Powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip
- Class-leading 200MP main camera
- Bright and vibrant 1440p dynamic display
- Built-in S Pen with lower latency
- Long battery life from 5000mAh cell
- Android 13 software out of the box
On paper, it‘s easy to see why the S23 Ultra will tempt Galaxy fans. But what exactly has changed from the S22 Ultra? Let‘s examine how they compare.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs S22 Ultra: Design & Display
Let‘s kick things off by looking at the hardware and designs. As mentioned earlier, the Galaxy S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra look practically identical at first glance.
Dimensions:
- S23 Ultra: 3.07 x 6.43 x 0.35 inches, 8.25 ounces
- S22 Ultra: 3.07 x 6.43 x 0.35 inches, 8 ounces
You can see above that they share the exact same length and width. The S23 Ultra is ever so slightly heavier likely due to the upgraded internal hardware.
Both phones sport curved displays that spill over the sides along with the metal frame. This helps makes these extra large handsets feel a tiny bit smaller in actual use.
They also share the same display specifications:
- 6.8-inch 1440 x 3088 Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- 120Hz adaptive refresh rate at QHD+
- 240Hz touch sampling rate
- Vision Booster technology for peak brightness up to 1750 nits
- Under display fingerprint reader
As two of the best displays ever put on a smartphone, Samsung didn‘t have to change much here. Expect exceptional image quality whether you‘re watching videos, playing games or scrolling feeds.
Some subtle differences include flatter edges on the S23 Ultra. The S22 Ultra‘s sides curve more dramatically almost like the old Galaxy Note phones.
The S23 Ultra also uses the newest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back. This updated glass composition better resists drops and scratches. The S22 Ultra still has tough Victus Glass, just not the latest generation.
Finally, the S23 Ultra utilizes more recycled materials in its construction. This includes aluminum and glass from discarded smartphones and recyclable plastics. So if environmental impact is important to you, the S23 Ultra pulls ahead here.
Performance and Battery Life
Under the hood is where we see more meaningful changes between models. The Galaxy S23 Ultra runs on the cutting edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform. Even better, it‘s a variant optimized specifically for Samsung Galaxy devices.
Expected benefits include:
- Faster overall system performance
- Lower power draw efficiency
- Enhanced AI capabilities
- Optimizations across camera, display, and security
What does this mean in daily usage? You can expect snappy app loading, fluid multitasking and responsive gameplay thanks to the CPU upgrades. The chipset is built on a 4nm manufacturing process allowing higher power in a smaller footprint.
While not as bleeding edge, the Galaxy S22 Ultra‘s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform is still plenty capable. Most users won‘t complain about its real-world speed for common tasks and 3D games.
Both phones offer quick charging support:
- 45W wired charging (charger sold separately)
- 15W wireless charging
- Wireless PowerShare to charge accessories or other phones wirelessly by placing them on the phone‘s back.
Battery life is strong on both models with their big 5000 mAh batteries. However the efficiency gains from the S23 Ultra‘s newer processor gives it the advantage.
You can expect roughly:
- S23 Ultra: 2 days of use per charge
- S22 Ultra: 1 – 1.5 days per charge
So while the S22 Ultra should still get most owners through a full day without issue, the S23 Ultra has clearly superior battery endurance. That‘s impressive given they use the same capacity battery.
Cameras: Megapixels & Features
Let‘s move onto the camera systems which see a notable change this year. The Galaxy S23 Ultra sports an impressive new main camera:
S23 Ultra Rear Cameras
- 200MP Wide lens, f/1.7, OIS
- 12MP Ultrawide, f/2.2
- Two 10MP Telephoto, f/2.4, f/4.9, OIS
S22 Ultra Rear Cameras
- 108MP Wide, f/1.8, OIS
- 12MP Ultrawide, f/2.2
- Two 10MP Telephoto, f/2.4, f/4.9, OIS
So while three of the four rear cameras remain the same, the upgraded main sensor is a big deal. At 200 megapixels, it offers a level of detail surpassing most mirrorless cameras let alone other smartphones.
This allows users to crop way into a photo and still have a usable shot. The larger pixels also enable improved low light photography through pixel binning technology.
Here Samsung merges up to 16 pixels into one large 2.56μm pixel using AI computational algorithms. This results in dramatically brighter images with less noise in nighttime or indoor conditions.
The 200MP lens also provides 8K video recording at a smoother 30 fps vs 24 fps on the S22 Ultra.
For selfies, the S23 Ultra employs a 12MP front camera, lowered from the 40MP sensor found in its predecessor.
But don‘t let the lowered megapixel count fool you. With AI enhancements, upgraded autofocus and better noise reduction, the S23 Ultra still takes fantastic portrait shots.
Software: Android 13 and One UI 5.1
As you‘d expect from a brand new 2023 flagship phone, the Galaxy S23 series launches with the very latest Android 13 operating system and Samsung‘s custom One UI 5 interface out of the box.
This ensures owners can take advantage of all the newest Android and Samsung software features today without waiting for future updates.
By comparison, the Galaxy S22 Ultra launched with the previous Android 12 and One UI 4 initially. Nonetheless, Samsung has already pushed Android 13 and One UI 5.1 upgrades to S22 Ultra units.
So both phones now run the same core OS and UX. That means minor software differences in the user experience going forward. But the S23 Ultra holds the advantage of having the updates immediately instead of months afterwards.
Storage & Memory Options
With ever improving smartphone cameras and apps, internal storage space remains incredibly important. Don‘t skimp here if you take lots of photos and videos or play storage-intensive games.
Here‘s how the base S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra variants break down:
Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage starting
Galaxy S22 Ultra
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB storage starting
The entry level S23 Ultra doubles the internal storage from 128GB on the base S22 Ultra to 256GB. So you‘re getting significantly more out-of-box capacity to store apps, videos, photos and files before needing expandable storage.
Both models scale up to 12GB of RAM on higher end configurations for incredible multitasking abilities. However the S23 Ultra tops out at 1TB of onboard storage vs the S22 Ultra‘s still impressive 512GB ceiling.
One final note is that neither phone includes a microSD expansion card slot. So make sure to choose your storage wisely as that‘s all the physical capacity you‘ll get.
Pricing and Value Comparison
Considering the upgrades in performance, camera capabilities and baseline storage, you may assume the Galaxy S23 Ultra commands a premium over last year‘s similar offering.
However Samsung has maintained the same $1,199 starting price for these recent Ultra models.
Here‘s a breakdown:
Galaxy S23 Ultra Pricing
- 8GB/256GB: $1,199
- 12GB/512GB: $1,379
- 12GB/1TB: $1,619
Galaxy S22 Ultra Pricing
- 8GB/128GB: $1,199
- 12GB/512GB: $1,399
Of course most buyers aren‘t paying full retail but rather opting for carrier installment plans. But it‘s still rare to see virtually identical launch pricing from Samsung year-over-year.
The S22 Ultra can now be found at discounts of $200 or more from various retailers. So while technically cheaper, it doesn‘t quite match the value proposition of the latest S23 Ultra that will be supported for years to come.
Bottom Line: S23 Ultra Wins for Most Shoppers
When comparing the Galaxy S23 Ultra vs S22 Ultra, this year‘s model takes the crown as the best Samsung phone you can buy right now.
The noticeable camera improvements plus faster performance and double the entry storage make it hard to ignore for new buyers. Consider it the most future proof Samsung flagship that will last for years.
However S22 Ultra owners don‘t necessarily need to upgrade. Your phone still flies through apps and games while taking gorgeous photos. Software upgrades have also kept it feeling relatively fresh and modern.
But if you insist on having the latest and greatest Galaxy S Ultra every year, the S23 model beats its predecessor across the board. The incredible 200MP camera alone may justify the upgrade for avid mobile photographers.
At the end of the day, buyers can‘t go wrong with either of these smartphone heavyweights as the experience will satisfy the most demanding Android fan. But the Galaxy S23 Ultra does stand a notch above thanks to its trailblazing advances.
