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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26

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 S26
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26

4.7(224)

₹87,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is priced lower at ₹84,999, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹3,000.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra features a — display. Samsung Galaxy S26 offers 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz. Samsung Galaxy S26 has a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Performance

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra runs the —. Samsung Galaxy S26 is powered by the Samsung Exynos 2600 (2nm). Different chipsets mean benchmark scores and power efficiency will vary; check independent reviews for real-world impact.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 has 50MP + 12MP + 10MP. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy S26 uses 4300 mAh, 25W. Samsung Galaxy S26 has a larger 4300 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra runs —. Samsung Galaxy S26 ships with Android 16, One UI 8.5. 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 S26

89%

Very Good

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 S26

₹87,999

Pros

  • Most compact Samsung flagship
  • Exynos 2600 (2nm) for efficiency and performance
  • IP68 water resistance
  • 7-year update guarantee
  • Galaxy AI features

Cons

  • Only 25W charging — S26+ gets 45W
  • FHD+ not QHD+ like S26+
  • Smaller 4300 mAh battery
  • ₹87,999 is not inexpensive
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26
Starting Price
₹84,999
Lower price
₹87,999
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
March 2026
User Rating
—
4.7/5 (224 ratings)
Higher rating
Available colours
2 options
Sky Blue, Black
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26
Screen Size
6.8 inches
—
Resolution
3088 × 1440 px QHD+
2340 × 1080 (FHD+)
Panel Type
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
—
Refresh Rate
1–120Hz LTPO
1–120Hz (adaptive)
Brightness
2200 nits peak
2600 nits peak
Size
—
6.3 inches
Type
—
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Protection
—
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26
Processor
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm)
Samsung Exynos 2600
CPU Cores
Octa-core (1× 3.36GHz + 2× 2.8GHz + 2× 2.8GHz + 3× 2.0GHz)
—
GPU
Adreno 740
—
RAM
12GB LPDDR5
12 GB LPDDR5X
Storage
256GB / 512GB UFS 4.0
256 GB / 512 GB UFS 4.0
Architecture
—
2nm TSMC
AnTuTu Score
—
~3,100,000
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26
Main Camera
200MP f/1.7 OIS
—
Periscope Telephoto
10MP f/4.9 OIS (10× optical)
—
Telephoto
10MP f/2.4 OIS (3× optical)
10 MP, f/2.4, 3× optical zoom, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera
12MP f/2.2
—
Front Camera
12MP f/2.2
12 MP, f/2.2
Video Recording
8K @ 30fps
—
Main
—
50 MP, f/1.8, OIS, Dual Pixel AF
Ultra-wide
—
12 MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV
Video
—
8K @30fps, 4K @60fps
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
—
Charging Speed
45W wired
—
Wireless Charging
15W (Qi)
15W wireless
Reverse Wireless
4.5W
4.5W
Capacity
—
4300 mAh
Wired Charging
—
25W fast charging
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
6.0
USB
USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
NFC
Yes
Yes
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26
Body Material
Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back
—
IP Rating
IP68
—
S Pen
Built-in S Pen, 2.8ms latency
—
Dimensions
163.3 × 78.1 × 8.9 mm
71.7 × 149.6 × 7.2 mm
Weight
234g
167 g
Fingerprint Sensor
Under-display (ultrasonic)
—
Build
—
Armour Aluminium, Gorilla Armor 2
Water Resistance
—
IP68 (1.5m/30 min)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26
OS at Launch
Android 13
—
UI
One UI 5.1
One UI 8.5
AI Features
Galaxy AI via software update (One UI 6.1)
Galaxy AI (Now Assist, Call Screen, Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Privacy Alerts)
Update Promise
4 years OS, 5 years security
—
OS
—
Android 16
Updates
—
7 years OS + security
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

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

Samsung Galaxy S26

12GB RAM / 256GB· Sky Blue
₹87,999
12GB RAM / 512GB· Black
₹1,07,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S26 target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 and offers 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz with Samsung Exynos 2600 (2nm). 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 S26?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹3,000. 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 S26?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 provides 50MP + 12MP + 10MP. 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 S26?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy S26 includes 4300 mAh, 25W. 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.
Is Samsung Galaxy S26 available on Amazon India?
Yes. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is available on Amazon India in 12GB/256GB (₹87,999) and 12GB/512GB (₹1,07,999) configurations in Sky Blue, Black, White and Cobalt Violet. It is also available on Samsung Shop and Flipkart.
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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.