Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra VS Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: How Samsung Beating Its Own Flagship?
Why released almost a year ago, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was considered one of the powerful android phones in the market, until a few days of course. It had a greater camera compared to other devices around it, while a bigger display and smoother UI made the Galaxy S23 Ultra perfect for android users.
Well, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is here now, released just a week ago, and already making quite a new hype due to its upgraded processors inside, an inclusion of better camera megapixels and new magic AI features.
So now this brings to today’s comparison review, can Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra beat their own flagship from last year.
To find out we will be going through quite a few major specifications like design changes, display upgrades, camera and overall newer features that makes them apart while giving a verdict about which one is for for who. Without further ado, let’s jump right into today’s Galaxy S23 Ultra Vs Galaxy S24 comparison.
Table of Contents
1. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Key Differences
| Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
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Check latest Price of Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra
2. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Design & Build
- Aluminum | Titanium
- Curve | Flat
As for the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s design & build features, you get top-notch specs as last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra. There’s outstanding build quality with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 making it stronger against sudden scratches and bumps. Despite all that, the primary design features include 8.9mm thickness and 234 grams weight that made Galaxy S23 ultra was a bit lighter and solid at the same time.
You also get water resistance for IP68 of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes of timeline. Most notable feature to include in this comparison is the slight curve on both the side of the device and the framing material, which was “Aluminum Frame”, that was changed this year.
In comparison, the Galaxy S24 Ultra from Samsung this year brought newer shape and size, while including the newer framing material, that’s “Titanium”. Now Samsung claims that the titanium framing now makes the S24 Ultra a bit more durable than last year’s model, by adding a durable shield of titanium built right into the frame and with the upgraded front and back glass from Gorilla Glass Armor makes the device more durable than ever.
Although there is no major change in weight, as weighing just 232 grams or so. You do get similar water resistance features like IP68, which is nothing new here, but you do get slimmer design like 8.6mm thickness, making it around 3% slimmer than last year’s model.
And one of the major changes from last year’s Galaxy S23 ultra would be the flat design. Now you don’t get those slight curves on the display, which is now totally flat, so controlling scroll wheels on apps is a bit easier now.
3. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Display
- 1750 nits | 2600 nits Peak Brightness
- 89.9% | 88.5% Screen to Body ratio
Moving on to the display section, you get similar qualities except just one section, which is the peak brightness.
As for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, you had a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a faster 120Hz refresh rate, now this display was smooth as butter just like last year’s model. Now this display came with 1750 nits peak which was quite bright as per last year’s model. Didn’t seem like it was less bright compared to this year’s upgraded brightness level. There was also HDR10+ that made you enjoy quality content while watching Netflix and Amazon.
In contrast, on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the typical flagship display qualities are present, like the Dynamic AMOLED 2X with LTPO technology, 120Hz refresh is there for smoother operation and HDR10+ is there to enjoy better content.
There is though different brightness level compared to last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra, now you get 2600 nits of peak brightness, making it brighter and more gorgeous in direct sunlight.
You do get a minimized screen-to-body ratio compared to S23 Ultra, from 89.9% to 88.5% making it around 1.5% smaller display. So you do get a shrinked display compared to last year’s device.
4. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Camera
- 10MP | 50MP (Periscope Telephoto)
Let’s talk about camera features of both the Ultra’s, for the last year’s Galaxy S23 you had quad cameras, and which was considered one of the best cameras in the android community after Google’s Pixel series.
There is one 200MP wide angle lens, 10MP periscope telephoto lens, 10MP regular telephoto for capturing up to 3x optical zoomed photos and a 12MP Ultrawide lens. Recording is just similar to S24 Ultra which is 8K and 4K capability.
As for the S24 Ultra’s camera modules, all the quad camera features are right there, like the wide angle lens with 200MP, 10 MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide and lastly you get a 50MP periscope telephoto lens which is a big jump from last year’s 10MP camera. Now as for the picture quality all the sensors produce similar color depth and higher contrast. Front facing camera is similar to newer S24 Ultra which is 12MP with 4K recording.
But, as the periscope camera is now changed to a bigger lens along with smaller aperture with f/3.4, that’s why you get slightly better photos in 5x optical zoom. And yes, the periscope camera’s optical zoom got shorter this year from last year’s 10x optical zoom to this year’s 5x optical zoom.
Although the recording capabilities are the same as last year’s model which is up to 8K at 30fps. As for the front camera, you get similar as last year’s model, which 12MP wide angle lens along with 4K shooting at 30 or 60fps.
5. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Android 13 | Android 14
- Galaxy AI with S24 Ultra
Moving on from camera portion, in the performance section, you get bigger specs right here, from better chipset to upgraded software features along with better gaming power.
As for the Galaxy S23 Ultra from Samsung, you will get impressed with a robust performance driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) chipset. Its octa-core processor, clocked up to 3.36 GHz, ensures smooth multitasking and responsiveness.
For graphics power, have Adreno 740 GPU enhances gaming experiences, offering high frame rates for popular titles like PUBG MOBILE and Fortnite. UFS 4.0 storage technology further elevates the overall speed, ensuring swift data access and seamless operation. You also had similar pen feature to give you smoother productivity in note taking and do creative work with it.
On the other hand, Galaxy S24 Ultra takes performance to the next level, featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 which has similar chipset design like 4 nanometer. With an octa-core processor clocked up to 3.39 GHz, this is just a slight 0.89% increase in processing power, contributing to faster overall performance.
As for the graphics section, the Adreno 750 GPU ensures smoother gameplay, with games like Fortnite and Asphalt 9 exhibiting enhanced graphics. UFS 4.0 storage technology remains a key feature for rapid data access, so no change there.
Notably, the S24 Ultra introduces an improved cooling system with a vapor chamber, addressing potential overheating concerns during extended usage. The performance enhancements, coupled with innovative features like
Galaxy AI is a newer feature for the S24 Ultra which S23 Ultra doesn’t has, this feature let’s you have “Circle to Search” feature for circling and searching object or product, “Chat assist” and Live translator to help you translate and search faster. You also get “Note Assist” for briefly taking notes, in other words making your daily productive works much easier.
6. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: UI & OS
- Android 13 | Android 14
- OneUI 6 | OneUI 6.1 & Galaxy AI
- 4 Years Software updates | 7 Year’s Software Updates
Up next, let’s look at both the device’s software features, as Samsung has been providing One UI experience for their flagship models along with Android features.
As for the older Galaxy S23 Ultra, you had Android 13 & ONE UI 6.0. Users benefit from quick access to brightness control, a refined layout for notifications, the ability to sort notifications by time, repositioning of the clock, simplified icon labels, and the convenience of keeping pop-up windows open.
There’s also “Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX” which is for further productivity with your other devices that’s also available on the S24 Ultra. Now, when talking about future software updates, S23 Ultra promises a commendable software support with 4 years of updates, ensuring users receive the latest features and security patches.
In contrast, the Galaxy S24 Ultra showcases Android 14 along with ONE UI 6.1, featuring striking visual changes, particularly in the lock screen and Always On Display. And, the newer UI 6.1 introduces attractive visuals, including improvements in animations on the Always On Display, making it a little better to look at. Most notably, S24 Ultra promises an impressive 7 years of updates, providing users with an extended period of access to the latest software enhancements and security updates.
Additionally, the S24 Ultra integrates advanced Galaxy AI features, including Android Auto, Generative Edit, AI Live Translate Call, Circle to Search, Summarize, and Transcriptions, adding an extra layer of intelligence and functionality to the device.
These photo editing functions and assistive AI features for note taking and searching gives you better productivity compared to last year’s S23 Ultra, now this gives you a plus point to choose the newer Galaxy S24 Ultra over S23 Ultra.
7. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Battery
- No Change
Lastly, let’s talk about the totally unchanged feature of this year’s Ultra series from Samsung, which is the battery specs. As both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra share identical battery specifications, both are equipped with a Li-Ion 5000 mAh non-removable battery.
Charging capabilities remain consistent with both models supporting 45W wired charging, PD3.0, enabling a commendable 65% charge in just 30 minutes. Additionally, they both support 15W wireless Qi-certified adapters and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, providing users with versatile charging options.
Although it’s worth mentioning that you might get a little bit better battery life as now you have an LTPO display which can adjust refresh rate depending on your usage. There’s also an upgraded chipset with the S24 Ultra, as it leverages its faster processor and improved cooling system, featuring a vapor chamber.
This enhances the overall charging experience by keeping the device cooler during charging sessions and optimizing power delivery. While the battery capacity remains the same, the S24 Ultra’s technological refinements contribute to a more efficient and user-friendly charging process, setting it apart from its predecessor.
8. Overall Specs
Here is both the device’s technical information for a better overview of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra specification against the S24 Ultra’s specs-
| Specs | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
| Display | 6.8-inch | 1440 x 3088 pixels | 500 ppi | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 120Hz | HDR10+ | 1750 nits Peak Brightness | 6.8‑inch, 1440 x 3120 pixels, 505 PPI, Dynamic LTPO SUPER AMOLED 2x, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits, Always-On Display |
| Protection | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) | Glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) | Aluminum frame | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | Corning Gorilla Glass Armor | Titanium Frame | IP68 Dust Or Water Resistant (Up To 1.5 Meters For 30 Minutes) |
| Camera | Main: 200MP, f/1.7 (Wide) | Laser Autofocus, OIS
10MP, f/4.9 (Periscope Telephoto) | 10x Optical Zoom 10 MP, f/2.0 (Telephoto) | 3.0x Optical Zoom 12MP, f/2.2 ( Ultrawide) | Super Steady Video Features: Night mode, Auto-HDR, Panorama Video: 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps Front Camera: 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide) Features: Dual Video Calling, Auto-HDR, HDR10+ Video: 4K @30fps/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
Main: 200MP, f/1.7 (Wide) | Laser Autofocus, OIS 50MP, f/3.4 (Periscope Telephoto) | 5x Optical Zoom
10 MP, f/2.0 (Telephoto) | 3.0x Optical Zoom 12MP, f/2.2 ( Ultrawide) | Super Steady VideoFeatures: Night mode, Auto-HDR, Panorama, Photo Assist by Galaxy AI Video: 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps Front Camera: 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide) |
| Platform | OS: Android 13 | One UI 6.0
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) | (Up to 3.36GHz) GPU: Adreno 740 |
OS: Android 14, One UI 6.1
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Up to 3.39GHz) GPU: Adreno 750 |
| Ram-ROM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM | UFS 4.0 | 256GB+12GB RAM, 512GB+12GB RAM, 1TB+12GB RAM UFS 4.0 |
| Audio | Loud Stereo Speakers | Tuned by AKG | No 3.5 Headphone Jack | Stereo Speaker | Tuned by AKG | HDR10+ Video Supports |
| Battery | 5,000, 45W Wired, 15W Qi Wireless, 4.5W reverse Wireless | 5000mAh, 45W Wired, 15W Wireless (Qi Certified) , 4.5W Reverse Wireless |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display | Ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, Tri-Band, 5G, LTE, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Features | 4 years of OS and security updates | wireless PowerShare to charge other devices | Integrated S Pen | 7 years of OS and security updates | wireless PowerShare to charge other devices | Integrated S Pen | Galaxy AI |
9. Verdict
At last the question arises, how Samsung really beats their own Ultra series? Frankly, it really really brought a newer device with upgraded build quality like titanium framing, slimmer design and flat display gives you better control with your applications. Although both devices have their own super powers.
If you are someone who liked the previous curved display along with the aluminum build that felt solid, and last year’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was quite good in this budget. That makes the Galaxy S23 Ultra an ideal choice for a budget flagship.
Do remember, the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with an upgraded chipset and better camera megapixels for capturing better telephoto shots. Which provides further productivity and functionality for your everyday lifestyle.
You also get newer Galaxy AI features that gives you magical features like easy photo editing, assisting note taking, translator and more. So, if you need all the AI features, upgraded chip, better periscope camera megapixels, then the S24 is an ideal option.
Get the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, if:
> You are satisfied with last year’s Qualcomm processor;
> You require a curved display of the Galaxy S23 Ultra;
> You need an aluminum build display.
Get the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, if:
> You want a upgraded processor from Qualcomm;
> You need the newer flat design and titanium build;
> You require a brighter display like the 2600 peak brightness.
Mohammad Shariful Islam is the CEO and MD of Apple Gadgets, a leading e-commerce and retail chain for gadgets in Bangladesh. He has a passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and holds a decade of experience in gadget E-Commerce. He’s committed to providing the best possible shopping experience for customers by delivering the latest and trendy gadgets.
