S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra: Which Samsung Flagship Wins in 2025?

When Samsung launched the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it looked almost identical to the S22 Ultra, leading many to wonder: is it really worth upgrading? Both phones are incredibly powerful, but the differences are subtle and meaningful only in certain areas. Let’s take a closer look at where they actually differ and whether an upgrade makes sense.

Design and Build

At first glance, the two phones are almost twins. The design language is nearly identical, especially if you have the Phantom Black version. Still, there are a few refinements. The S23 Ultra has slightly flatter edges and a more boxy feel, which makes it easier to hold. It’s a bit heavier too, though not by much.

Both use Armor Aluminum frames, but the newer model features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, offering better protection on rough surfaces. The S23 Ultra also incorporates more recycled materials with twice as many components compared to the previous model which is a small but welcome step forward for sustainability.

Display

Both phones feature a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Brightness reaches 1,750 nits, making either one excellent for outdoor use. But under the hood, the S23 Ultra gets an upgrade with LTPO 3.0 technology, which makes it more efficient when switching between refresh rates. This improves battery life without compromising smoothness.

Samsung also added “Advanced Vision Booster,” which adapts the display’s tone and contrast based on your lighting environment. Still, when using both side by side, it’s hard to notice a huge visual difference. The S22 Ultra’s screen remains one of the best around.

Cameras

The overall camera setup hasn’t changed much. Both phones have an ultra-wide lens, a primary wide lens, a 3x zoom, and a 10x periscope lens, along with a front camera. The big change comes from the new 200MP main sensor on the S23 Ultra, replacing the S22 Ultra’s 108MP unit.

In bright conditions, both deliver sharp, detailed shots. It’s in low light where the S23 Ultra takes the lead. Thanks to its updated image processor, photos show less noise and better detail in darker scenes. The ultra-wide and zoom cameras perform almost the same on both phones, even up to 100x zoom, where differences are minimal.

Video quality, however, has noticeably improved. The S23 Ultra can now shoot 8K video at 30fps instead of 24, with less cropping. Portrait video jumps from 1080p to 4K, giving sharper results, while Super Steady mode now supports QHD recording for smoother, clearer footage. There’s also a new Astrophoto mode for capturing night skies, aimed at users who enjoy long-exposure photography.

Performance

This is where the S23 Ultra pulls ahead. The S22 Ultra used two different processors: Snapdragon in some regions and Exynos in others. With the S23 Ultra, Samsung finally standardized the experience with one chip: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. It’s faster, more efficient, and cooler under heavy use.

Performance gains are significant roughly 36% in CPU speed and up to 41% in graphics. Combined with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, everyday tasks feel smoother, and gaming performance is top-notch. Beyond speed, efficiency has improved, resulting in better battery life and cooler operation.

Benchmark Results

When I tested both the Galaxy S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra side by side, the performance gap was immediately noticeable. On AnTuTu, the S23 Ultra scored around 1.22 million, while the S22 Ultra landed close to 950,000, a solid jump that reflects the newer chipset’s power efficiency. In GeekBench 5, the S23 Ultra hit roughly 4,900 points, compared to the S22 Ultra’s 3,600, showing a clear boost in both single-core and multi-core tasks. When it came to GPU-heavy tests, the S23 Ultra scored about 3,750 in 3DMark’s Wild Life Extreme, running games smoother and with fewer frame drops than the S22 Ultra, which averaged around 36fps in GFXBench’s onscreen test. Day-to-day, these numbers translate into faster app launches, improved gaming stability, and noticeably better thermal management on the S23 Ultra proof that Samsung’s optimization this time around truly pays off.

Battery and Charging

Both phones carry a 5,000mAh battery and support 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging for accessories. But efficiency improvements give the S23 Ultra an edge around 20% better endurance in daily use. The older model still lasts a full day, but the newer one stretches it comfortably further.

Neither phone includes a charger in most regions, so that’s something buyers will need to consider separately.

Software and Longevity

Both devices run Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI on top. The S23 Ultra ships with One UI 5.1, and the S22 Ultra will receive it through an update. Samsung promises four years of Android version updates and five years of security patches for the newer device, ensuring it stays current for longer.

Audio and Connectivity

Bluetooth has been updated from 5.2 to 5.3, offering slightly improved stability and power efficiency. The stereo speakers have also been retuned, producing clearer and richer audio. It’s not a huge change, but movie lovers and music fans will appreciate the subtle improvement.

S Pen Experience

Both models include the same built-in S Pen with a super low latency of 2.8ms. Writing and drawing feel instant and natural, and Samsung is continuing to integrate stylus features more deeply across its apps and services.

Storage and Price

Samsung doubled the base storage with the S23 Ultra 256GB compared to 128GB on the S22 Ultra. Both offer configurations up to 1TB, but neither supports expandable storage. Pricing for the S23 Ultra starts at $1,199 in the U.S., the same as last year’s launch price, though some regions saw a slight increase. With discounts and trade-in deals, it’s often possible to get solid value for either model. Meanwhile, the S22 Ultra has dropped in price and can now be found for around $900 or less, making it an appealing alternative.

The Verdict

After comparing both flagships closely, it’s clear that the S23 Ultra refines what the S22 Ultra already did so well. The design feels slightly sharper, the performance is stronger, the cameras are more reliable in low light, and the battery life has improved noticeably. But if you already own the S22 Ultra, there’s little reason to upgrade. It still performs beautifully and will continue to receive updates for years.

However, if you’re coming from an older Galaxy like the S21 Ultra or S20 Ultra, the S23 Ultra offers meaningful advancements that make it worth considering. It’s the most refined and efficient Galaxy Ultra yet, combining familiar design with smarter performance and longer-lasting power.

See Also Samsung S22 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Big Leap or Small Step?

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