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Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

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

Samsung Galaxy S26
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26

4.7(224)

₹87,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

₹84,999

View details →
Expert verdict

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

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Performance

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

Camera

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

Battery

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

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy S26 runs Android 16, One UI 8.5. 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 S26

89%

Very Good

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

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

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 S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — Complete specification table

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

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S26

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

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

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

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

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S26 or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 and runs Android 16, One UI 8.5 with a 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz display and Samsung Exynos 2600 (2nm) 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 S26 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 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 S26 have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy S26 offers a 50MP + 12MP + 10MP 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 S26 or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy S26 comes with a 4300 mAh, 25W 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.
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.
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.