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Samsung Galaxy A26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Side-by-side comparison of specifications, price, camera, battery and performance in India

Samsung Galaxy A26
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A26

₹21,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

₹84,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy A26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy A26 is priced lower at ₹21,999, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹63,000.

Samsung Galaxy A26 wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy A26 features a — display. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers —. Both offer the same refresh rate.

Performance

Samsung Galaxy A26 runs the —. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by the —. Both phones share the same chipset, so raw performance will be near-identical.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy A26 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has —. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy A26 packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra uses —. Both phones have the same battery capacity.

Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy A26 runs —. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra ships with —. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy A26

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy A26

₹21,999

Pros

  • 6-year update guarantee is industry-leading at the ₹22K price — most rivals offer 2–3 years
  • Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search bring flagship-level intelligence to mid-range
  • 120Hz AMOLED delivers smooth, vivid display performance
  • Under-display fingerprint sensor looks cleaner than side-mounted alternatives

Cons

  • Exynos 1380 lags behind Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 on raw benchmarks and sustained gaming
  • No NFC — contactless payment options are absent
  • 25W charging is slower than competing phones at this price
  • Mono speaker — no stereo output

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

₹84,999

Pros

  • 10× periscope optical zoom is unique and unmatched in this price range after discounts — delivers Space Zoom up to 100×
  • S Pen with low latency makes note-taking, sketching, and document signing natural and responsive
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 still delivers top-tier gaming and AI performance 2 years after launch
  • At its 2025 discounted price, the S23 Ultra offers better zoom capability than phones double its price

Cons

  • 4-year OS update promise (not the 7 years introduced with S24 series) — it will stop receiving updates sooner
  • At 234g it is heavy — the heaviest phone in this list
  • No anti-reflective coating on the display (introduced with S24 Ultra)
  • Wi-Fi 6E (not Wi-Fi 7 as in S24 Ultra and S25)
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy A26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Starting Price
₹21,999
Lower price
₹84,999
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
—
User Rating
—
—
Available colours
2 options
2 options
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Screen Size
6.7 inches
6.8 inches
Resolution
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
3088 × 1440 px QHD+
Panel Type
Super AMOLED
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Refresh Rate
120Hz
1–120Hz LTPO
Brightness
800 nits typical
2200 nits peak
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Processor
Samsung Exynos 1380 (5nm)
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm)
CPU Cores
Octa-core (4× 2.4GHz + 4× 2.0GHz)
Octa-core (1× 3.36GHz + 2× 2.8GHz + 2× 2.8GHz + 3× 2.0GHz)
RAM
8GB LPDDR4X + 8GB RAM Plus
12GB LPDDR5
Storage
128GB / 256GB UFS 2.2
256GB / 512GB UFS 4.0
Expandable Storage
Up to 1TB via microSD
—
GPU
—
Adreno 740
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Main Camera
50MP f/1.8
200MP f/1.7 OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera
8MP f/2.2
12MP f/2.2
Macro Camera
2MP f/2.4
—
Front Camera
13MP f/2.2
12MP f/2.2
Video Recording
4K @ 30fps
8K @ 30fps
Periscope Telephoto
—
10MP f/4.9 OIS (10× optical)
Telephoto
—
10MP f/2.4 OIS (3× optical)
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
5000 mAh
Charging Speed
25W wired
45W wired
Wireless Charging
No
15W (Qi)
Reverse Wireless
—
4.5W
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
NFC
No
Yes
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Body Material
Plastic frame and back
Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back
Dimensions
162.9 × 77.5 × 7.7 mm
163.3 × 78.1 × 8.9 mm
Weight
192g
234g
Water Resistance
IP54 splash resistant
—
Fingerprint Sensor
Under-display (optical)
Under-display (ultrasonic)
SIM
Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)
—
IP Rating
—
IP68
S Pen
—
Built-in S Pen, 2.8ms latency
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy A26
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
OS at Launch
Android 15
Android 13
UI
One UI 7
One UI 5.1
AI Features
Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Chat Assist, Photo Remaster)
Galaxy AI via software update (One UI 6.1)
Update Promise
6 years OS, 6 years security
4 years OS, 5 years security
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy A26

8GB RAM / 128GB
₹21,999
8GB RAM / 256GB
₹24,999

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

12GB RAM / 256GB
₹84,999
12GB RAM / 512GB
₹99,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy A26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy A26 or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy A26 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at ₹21,999 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 and offers — with —. If battery life is the priority, compare their mAh capacities. If display quality matters, compare refresh rates and panel types. Neither has a universal advantage — the choice depends on your use case and ecosystem preference.
What is the price difference between Samsung Galaxy A26 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at ₹21,999 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹63,000. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy A26 have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy A26 offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra provides —. Camera quality depends on factors beyond megapixels — including sensor size, aperture, OIS, and computational photography. For the most accurate comparison, refer to independent review sites that run controlled camera tests in the same conditions.
Which phone has longer battery life: Samsung Galaxy A26 or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy A26 comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra includes —. Battery life also depends on the display resolution, refresh rate, and software optimisation. A larger mAh does not guarantee proportionally longer life if the display or processor is more power-hungry.
How many years of updates does Samsung Galaxy A26 get?
Samsung guarantees 6 years of Android OS updates and 6 years of monthly security patches for the Galaxy A26. It launched on Android 15 and is committed to receive updates through Android 21. This is one of the longest software support windows available in the ₹20,000–25,000 bracket.
Is Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra still a good phone in 2025?
Yes, particularly at its discounted price of around ₹84,999. The 200MP camera, 10× optical zoom, S Pen, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and IP68 rating remain class-leading features. The key limitation is the 4-year OS update promise (ending around 2027) versus the S24/S25 series' 7-year commitment. If long-term software support is a priority, choose S24 Ultra.
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Editorial note

Specifications on Gadzela are sourced from official brand announcements and cross-referenced against published datasheets. Prices shown reflect India launch prices and may vary by retailer or over time. Always verify before purchasing. This page does not contain sponsored placements.