Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Updated Jul 2026 · Scored by the Let’s Compare Data Engine · How we score

For most buyers the Samsung Galaxy S26 is the better pick — it scores 73/100 to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's 69, leading on Chip and Memory. Choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra instead if display and rear camera matter most to you, where it comes out ahead.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are closely matched

Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Where Samsung Galaxy S26 stands out

Storage capacity: 512 GB (100% more)
Benchmark Geekbench multi-core score: 10,824 (113% more)
Benchmark Antutu score: 2,441,481 (97% more)

Where Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra stands out

Rear camera (megapixels): 200 MP (300% more)
Rear Camera Optical zoom: 10 (233% more)
Display Resolution: 1440 × 3088 px

Winner by category for Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Category	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra	Winner
Chip	84	78	Samsung Galaxy S26
Memory	74	60	Samsung Galaxy S26
Storage	63	42	Samsung Galaxy S26
Display	61	76	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Rear Camera	63	84	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Front Camera	61	61	Tie
Cellular	84	84	Tie
Connectivity	75	66	Samsung Galaxy S26
Sensors	85	85	Tie
Design & Weight	74	38	Samsung Galaxy S26
Power & Battery	67	76	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Benchmark	89	51	Samsung Galaxy S26
Miscellaneous	63	68	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Security	85	85	Tie

In-depth analysisAI

AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Jul 2026.

Samsung Galaxy S26

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is a premium, compact smartphone running Android 16 with One UI 8.5, tailored for users who prefer a smaller form factor. Depending on the region, it is powered by either the 3nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or the 2nm Samsung Exynos 2600 processor. It features a remarkably slim 7.2mm profile, a 167-gram lightweight body, and a 4300 mAh battery.

Best for Gamers who want top-tier processing power in a smaller, highly portable sizeBest for Buyers looking for an ultra-slim, lightweight flagship phone that easily fits…

Pros

Extremely thin and lightweight design measuring 7.2 mm in depth and weighing 167 grams
Excellent processing and gaming performance powered by next-generation chipsets
Equipped with modern Wi-Fi 7 support for fast wireless connectivity

Cons

Subpar battery endurance that struggles to survive a full day of regular use
Wired charging speeds are limited to a relatively slow 25W
Unchanged camera hardware that can struggle when photographing moving subjects

Official

Official product page

Review

Review videos (1 reviewer)Provided real-world testing feedback concerning battery life limitations, camera performance on living subjects, and gaming capabilities.

Source

Generated Jul 4, 2026

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an S-Series flagship smartphone from Samsung Electronics, released in February 2023. It features improvements over previous models and includes support for a bundled stylus (1).

Best for photographyBest for productivityBest for flagship users

Pros

Features a high-resolution main camera of 200 megapixels, which allows for better low-light photos and cropping without loss of resolution (4).
Supports pressure sensitive stylus use, and the stylus tucks into the phone (2).
Has an IP68 rating for water and dust protection (2).
Includes multiple telephoto lenses: 3x, ultra-wide, and a 10x optical telephoto lens (4).

Cons

The camera array design has visible rings that may collect dust (3).
The performance of the 10x zoom varies, and close-up images or videos might not be as sharp as anticipated (4).

Value for Money

Which is the better deal for the price

Pre-filled with launch prices where known — enter today's price for an up-to-date check. Use the same currency for both.

Samsung Galaxy S26

Check Price on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Check Price on Amazon

Performance

Higher benchmark score = faster

Samsung Galaxy S262,441,481

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra1,241,531

See the raw benchmark values →

Benchmark score — a measured indicator of raw performance, not a guarantee of real-world speed.

Battery capacity

Larger cell — a hardware spec, not battery life

Samsung Galaxy S264,300 mAh

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra5,000 mAh

Capacity is the raw battery size. Real-world battery life depends just as much on the processor, software and display.

Physical Comparison

Weigh them up, then compare real dimensions in 3D

Samsung Galaxy S26Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is 67 g (40%) heavier than Samsung Galaxy S26.

Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Detailed Specifications

The full spec sheet, side by side

Chip

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Model

Memory

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
RAM capacity	12 GB50% more	8 GB
Memory technology

Storage

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Storage capacity	512 GB100% more	256 GB
Is expandable	No	No

Display

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Size	6.3 in	6.8 in8% more
Resolution	1080 × 2340 px	1440 × 3088 px
Pixel density	411 PPI	500 PPI22% more
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Display technology
Protection
Has pen support	No	Yes
Screen-to-body ratio	91%	90%

Rear Camera

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Rear camera (megapixels)	50 MP	200 MP300% more
Rear camera aperture	1.8	1.76% less
Optical zoom	3	10233% more
Has High Dynamic Range (HDR)	Yes	Yes
Has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)	Yes	Yes
Number of cameras	3	4
Other cameras	10 MP telephoto f/2.4, 12 MP ultrawide f/2.2	10 MP telephoto f/2.4, 10 MP f/4.9, 12 MP ultrawide f/2.2

Front Camera

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Front camera (megapixels)	12 MP	12 MP
Front camera aperture	2.2	2.2

Cellular

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Cellular technology
SIM type
Has dual-sim support	Yes	Yes

Connectivity

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Bluetooth technology
Wi-Fi technology
Connector
Has a headphone jack	No	No

Sensors

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Has a NFC sensor	Yes	Yes
Has an accelerometer sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a gyroscope sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a magnetic field sensor	Yes	Yes
Has an atmospheric pressure sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a GPS sensor	Yes	Yes

Design & Weight

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Color	N/A	N/A
Dimensions	7.17 × 14.96 × 0.72 cm	7.81 × 16.34 × 0.89 cm
Weight	167 g29% less	234 g

Power & Battery

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Battery capacity	4,300 mAh	5,000 mAh16% more
Has wireless charging support	Yes	Yes
Has fast charging support	Yes	Yes

Benchmark

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Antutu score	2,441,48197% more	1,241,531
Geekbench single-core score	2,99557% more	1,913
Geekbench multi-core score	10,824113% more	5,077

Miscellaneous

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Release date	March 6, 2026	February 17, 2023
SAR (Head)	1.19 W/kg	1.12 W/kg6% less
SAR (Body)	1.2 W/kg	0.92 W/kg23% less
Dust & Water resistance
Operating system

Security

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Has a fingerprint scanner	Yes	Yes
Has an advanced face scanner	No	No

Specification Note

Specifications are compiled from official manufacturer data and other reliable internet sources. Some features may vary by region or model configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comparison

Based on our overall comparison score, Samsung Galaxy S26 rates higher at 81/100 versus 77/100 for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — a 4-point lead. Samsung Galaxy S26 is the stronger overall pick, though the right choice still depends on which specs matter most to you; the full spec table above breaks down every difference.

Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are compared side by side above across every spec in the smartphones category — including performance, features and design — each scored 0–100 so you can see exactly where one leads the other. Our overall scores are 81/100 for Samsung Galaxy S26 and 77/100 for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

At launch, Samsung Galaxy S26 was the more affordable option ($860) versus Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra ($1199). Weigh that against the overall scores (81/100 vs 77/100) and the value-for-money meter above to judge whether the higher-rated model justifies its price for your needs. Current retail prices vary — check the retailer.

If you want the higher-rated smartphones option overall, Samsung Galaxy S26 (81/100) edges out Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (77/100). But if Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is cheaper or stronger on the specific specs you care about, it can still be the better buy — use the spec table and strengths profile above to decide.