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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A26

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

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

₹84,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy A26
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A26

₹21,999

View details →
Expert verdict

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

Performance

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

Camera

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

Battery

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

Software & Ecosystem

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

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy A26

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

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)

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
Full specifications

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

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

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

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

Samsung Galaxy A26

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

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

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy A26?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy A26 target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at ₹21,999 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 S23 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy A26?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 and the Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at ₹21,999 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 S23 Ultra have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy A26?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy A26 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 S23 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy A26?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy A26 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.
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.
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.
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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.