Samsung S23 Ultra Vs S22 Ultra: Which Reigns Supreme?

So, you're thinking about upgrading your phone, huh? And you've got your eye on the Samsung big boys – the S23 Ultra and the S22 Ultra. Great choice! These are both absolute beasts of smartphones, packing in more features than you can shake a stick at. But which one is the right one for you? That's what we're here to break down today. Let's dive deep and see what makes each of these phones tick, and ultimately, which one comes out on top.

Design and Build Quality

When it comes to design, Samsung usually nails it, and these two phones are no exception. Both the S23 Ultra and the S22 Ultra boast that classic Samsung premium feel, but there are some subtle differences that might sway you one way or the other. The S22 Ultra introduced a bold, angular design with a built-in S Pen silo, a design that was a clear nod to the Galaxy Note series. It felt sturdy, premium, and undeniably eye-catching. The materials used, like Armor Aluminum, gave it a robust feel that could withstand daily wear and tear. Holding the S22 Ultra felt like holding a purpose-built machine, ready for anything you threw at it.

The S23 Ultra refines this design, keeping the overall silhouette but making some key tweaks. The most noticeable change is the flatter display. While the S22 Ultra had curved edges that sloped into the frame, the S23 Ultra features a much flatter screen, which some users find more comfortable for writing and general use. This flatter display also reduces the amount of accidental touches on the sides, something that plagued the S22 Ultra. Samsung has also made the edges of the S23 Ultra slightly less curved, resulting in a more boxy feel. While this is a subtle change, it adds to the overall feeling of improved grip and ergonomics. The camera bump on the rear is also slightly more pronounced on the S23 Ultra, but it's a minor detail that doesn't detract from the overall aesthetic.

Both phones feature IP68 water and dust resistance, meaning they can survive being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes. That said, I don't recommend taking them for a swim! Ultimately, the design comes down to personal preference. Do you prefer the more curved and streamlined look of the S22 Ultra, or the flatter, more functional design of the S23 Ultra? Both are beautifully crafted devices, so you can't really go wrong. Think about which one feels better in your hand and which one you find more visually appealing.

Display: A Visual Feast

Alright, let's talk screens. Because, let's be honest, that's where you'll be spending most of your time. And both the S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra have amazing displays. We're talking big, bright, and beautiful Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with a 120Hz refresh rate. Everything looks smooth, vibrant, and crisp on these displays.

The S22 Ultra sports a 6.8-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels. It gets incredibly bright, making it easily visible even in direct sunlight. The colors are punchy and vibrant, without being overly saturated. Thanks to the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, scrolling and animations are incredibly smooth. The display on the S22 Ultra is simply stunning. Whether you're watching videos, playing games, or just browsing the web, everything looks fantastic.

The S23 Ultra also features a 6.8-inch display with the same 1440 x 3088 resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. However, Samsung has made some improvements to the panel. The S23 Ultra gets even brighter than the S22 Ultra, making it even easier to see in direct sunlight. Colors are also more accurate on the S23 Ultra, offering a more natural and realistic viewing experience. Samsung has also improved the display's color accuracy at different brightness levels. This means that the colors on the S23 Ultra will remain consistent, even when you lower the brightness. While the display is not dramatically better, these subtle improvements make the viewing experience on the S23 Ultra slightly more enjoyable.

Both displays support HDR10+, which means you'll get a wider range of colors and better contrast when watching compatible content. And with their razor-sharp resolution, you won't see any pixelation, even when viewing the display up close. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either of these displays. They are both among the best you can find on a smartphone. But, if you really want the absolute best, the S23 Ultra has a slight edge, thanks to its increased brightness and improved color accuracy.

Performance: Power Under the Hood

Now, let's talk about what's powering these beasts. The S22 Ultra came with either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Exynos 2200, depending on your region. While both chipsets were powerful, they were also known to get quite hot under heavy load, which could lead to thermal throttling. This meant that sustained performance wasn't always consistent, especially during long gaming sessions or when running multiple demanding apps.

The S23 Ultra, on the other hand, comes with a custom-tuned Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Samsung. This chip is significantly more efficient and powerful than the chips found in the S22 Ultra. It offers improved CPU and GPU performance, as well as better power efficiency. This means that the S23 Ultra can handle demanding tasks with ease, without overheating or throttling. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra is a true powerhouse, delivering smooth and responsive performance in everything you do.

The difference in performance is noticeable in real-world use. The S23 Ultra feels snappier and more responsive than the S22 Ultra, especially when multitasking or playing graphically intensive games. The S23 Ultra also stays cooler for longer, allowing you to push it harder without worrying about performance degradation. If you're a power user who demands the best possible performance, the S23 Ultra is the clear winner.

Both phones come with plenty of RAM (8GB or 12GB), so you won't have any issues with multitasking. Storage options range from 128GB to 1TB, so you can choose the option that best suits your needs. However, neither phone has a microSD card slot, so you can't expand the storage later on.

Camera: Capturing the World

Okay, camera time! This is where things get really interesting. Both the S22 Ultra and the S23 Ultra have incredible camera systems, but there are some key differences that make the S23 Ultra a significant upgrade.

The S22 Ultra features a quad-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 108MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, a 10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom, and a 10MP telephoto sensor with 10x optical zoom. This camera system is incredibly versatile, allowing you to capture stunning photos and videos in a wide variety of conditions. The 108MP primary sensor captures incredible detail, while the ultrawide sensor is great for capturing wide landscapes and group shots. The two telephoto sensors offer amazing zoom capabilities, allowing you to get close to the action without sacrificing image quality.

The S23 Ultra also features a quad-camera setup, but it boasts a brand-new 200MP primary sensor. This new sensor captures even more detail than the 108MP sensor on the S22 Ultra. The other sensors remain the same (12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom, and 10MP telephoto with 10x zoom), but Samsung has made improvements to the image processing algorithms.

In practice, the S23 Ultra captures slightly sharper and more detailed photos than the S22 Ultra, especially in bright lighting conditions. The S23 Ultra also performs better in low light, thanks to its larger sensor and improved image processing. The dynamic range is also slightly better on the S23 Ultra, resulting in more balanced photos with better detail in both the highlights and shadows. The Samsung S23 Ultra provides great and better features than the Samsung S22 Ultra.

Both phones can record video at up to 8K resolution, but the S23 Ultra offers improved video stabilization and better low-light performance. The front-facing camera on the S23 Ultra has also been upgraded to a 12MP sensor, resulting in sharper selfies with better dynamic range.

Battery Life: Powering Through the Day

Battery life is crucial for any smartphone, especially one with a big, bright display and a powerful processor. Both the S22 Ultra and the S23 Ultra have a large 5,000mAh battery, which should be enough to get you through a full day of moderate use. However, there are some differences in battery performance between the two phones.

The S22 Ultra, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200 chip, tended to be less efficient than the S23 Ultra. This meant that the S22 Ultra would often struggle to make it through a full day of heavy use, especially if you were doing a lot of gaming or video recording. Users often find their Samsung S22 Ultra needs to be charged more than once a day.

The S23 Ultra, with its custom-tuned Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Samsung, is significantly more efficient. This means that the S23 Ultra can easily last through a full day of even heavy use. You can expect to get several hours of screen-on time with the S23 Ultra, without having to worry about running out of battery. With moderate use, you might even be able to stretch it to two days on a single charge.

Both phones support 45W fast charging, which can charge the battery from 0% to 100% in about an hour. They also support wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge other devices using your phone.

Software: One UI at its Finest

Both the S22 Ultra and the S23 Ultra run on Samsung's One UI, which is based on Android. One UI is a highly customizable and feature-rich operating system that offers a smooth and intuitive user experience. Samsung also provides excellent software support, with regular updates and security patches. The One UI is the same in both phones, but with some modifications and upgrades in the Samsung S23 Ultra compared to the Samsung S22 Ultra.

The S23 Ultra launched with a newer version of One UI, which includes some minor improvements and new features. However, the S22 Ultra has since been updated to the latest version of One UI, so the software experience is now virtually identical on both phones. The newest features are only available on the Samsung S23 Ultra models.

Price and Availability

The S22 Ultra was released in early 2022, while the S23 Ultra was released in early 2023. As a result, the S22 Ultra is now typically available at a lower price than the S23 Ultra. You can often find the S22 Ultra on sale or refurbished, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.

Conclusion: Which One Should You Buy?

So, which phone should you buy? The S23 Ultra is undoubtedly the better phone. It offers better performance, a better camera, and better battery life. However, it also comes at a higher price. If you are on a tight budget, the S22 Ultra is still a great option. It offers flagship-level performance, a fantastic display, and a versatile camera system. Ultimately, the best phone for you depends on your individual needs and budget.

If you want the absolute best and don't mind paying a premium, the S23 Ultra is the way to go. But, if you're looking for a great value and don't need the absolute latest and greatest, the S22 Ultra is still an excellent choice. Consider what features are most important to you and which phone best fits your budget. No matter which one you choose, you're going to end up with a fantastic smartphone.