Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Pixel 7 Pro: Which One Reigns Supreme

With the advent of the new year, Samsung has launched its latest flagship, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The smartphone is being touted as one of the best phones of the year compared to one of the best flagship phones of 2022, the Pixel 7 Pro.

The comparison between these two smartphones is not only due to their top-of-the-line features but also because our readers voted the Pixel 7 Pro as the “Phone of the Year 2022”. In this article, we’ll be taking a detailed look at how the Galaxy S23 Ultra stacks up against the Pixel 7 Pro in terms of hardware, software, battery, and camera capabilities.

Hardware

Samsung has again raised the bar with the Galaxy S23 Ultra in terms of premium hardware. The phone exudes a sense of luxury from the materials used to the fit and finish. The company has successfully combined the Galaxy Note and S lines to create a smartphone that is a triumph in most regards. However, the removal of the micro SD card support and the ability to make MST payments with Samsung Pay has caused frustration for some users.

Regarding design, the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro have a large, bold form factor. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is slightly larger and heavier than the Pixel 7 Pro (8.25oz/233g vs 7.48oz/212g). The Galaxy S23 Ultra features a boxy design with room for extras, such as the S Pen, making it an impressive device. On the other hand, the Pixel 7 Pro is lighter and has a different design aesthetic, with a more rounded form factor.

The displays on both smartphones are exceptional, with both featuring QHD+ displays. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a higher maximum brightness and smaller bezels, making it a note-takers dream screen. The S Pen is also a bonus, making it even more appealing for users who need to take notes frequently. The Pixel 7 Pro display is great in its own right, but it can’t quite match the gorgeous panel of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Performance and Internals.

Regarding performance and internals, the Galaxy S23 Ultra stands head and shoulders above the Pixel 7 Pro. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8/12GB RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage. On the other hand, the Pixel 7 Pro may not be as powerful, but it relies heavily on AI-powered tasks to gain an edge.

Software

The Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro are preinstalled with Android 13. The difference between One UI and Google’s version of Android for the Pixel series is quite noticeable, with the Pixel 7 Pro providing a better Android experience. The Pixel 7 Pro is laden with features and functionality unavailable on other smartphones. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has slowly added similar AI-powered functionality that utilizes the Bixby voice assistant.

Regarding software support, Samsung offers a more comprehensive support window for its devices. The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with four full operating system version updates and regular monthly patches for up to five years. On the other hand, Google still only offers three Android version upgrades but has recently improved the monthly patch promise to five years. This means that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will likely get Android 17 at some point, while the Pixel 7 Pro will get Android 16.

Battery

The Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro have large battery capacities, designed to last all day with heavy usage. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 5000mAh battery, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a 4600mAh battery. Both phones support fast charging, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra able to charge up to 25W and the Pixel 7 Pro able to charge up to 30W.

In addition to fast charging, both phones also support wireless charging, becoming increasingly popular as a convenient way to charge your phone without needing cables. The Galaxy S23 Ultra supports wireless charging of up to 15W, while the Pixel 7 Pro supports wireless charging of up to 11W. One of the biggest benefits of a large battery capacity is using your phone for extended periods without worrying about running out of power. The Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro are designed to last all day with heavy usage, so you won’t have to worry about running out of juice during the day.

In terms of battery life, the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro perform well, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra generally lasting a little longer due to its larger battery capacity. However, the Pixel 7 Pro has a more efficient processor, which helps to extend battery life. Additionally, the Pixel 7 Pro has a feature called Adaptive Battery, which helps to optimize battery usage by learning which apps you use the most and prioritizing battery usage for those apps.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro also have a battery-saver mode, which helps extend battery life when you’re running low on juice. This mode turns off background app refresh and other power-hungry features to help extend battery life.Finally, both phones also support reverse wireless charging, which allows you to charge other devices wirelessly using your phone as a power bank. This is a handy feature for charging another device, such as a pair of wireless earbuds, but it doesn’t have a power source nearby.

Overall, the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro offer great battery life and charging capabilities, making them ideal for those who need their phone to last all day. Whether you choose the Galaxy S23 Ultra or the Pixel 7 Pro, you’ll enjoy extended battery life and fast charging capabilities, giving you the peace of mind that your phone will always be ready when you need it.

Camera

The raw camera specifications of the Galaxy S23 Ultra put it right at the top of the totem pole regarding Android smartphone camera systems. It isn’t the most cutting-edge, as some of last year’s sensors have been utilized. The 200-megapixel main wide camera is undoubtedly the show’s star here, though. This is double the resolution of the previous generation and should provide a substantial step up in all lighting conditions.

We all know that Google prefers to rely less on raw camera hardware horsepower and utilize computational tuning. Moving to a 50-megapixel main sensor has done wonders for the Pixel camera system. Does it compare? Well, it’s hard to determine at this stage. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a substantial set of cameras among the best in the business. Although the front-facing camera has taken a step down in maximum resolution, it should offer great-quality selfies.

The enhanced 100x “Space” zoom is also improved with better colour processing. The Pixel can compete up to about 10x, at least in our brief testing. Go above and beyond this zoom range, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best zoom camera we’ve tested. It’s not just in hardware where the Galaxy S23 Ultra bests the Pixel 7 Pro camera system.

If you want camera functions, it’s another no-contest. From a dedicated Pro mode to improved video recording resolutions, the S23 Ultra could be a verifiable content-creation machine. In contrast, the Pixel 7 Pro is exceptional in processing and AI-powered functionality. From Real Tone 2.0 to Guided Frame, it’s a basic but stupendous point-and-shoot smartphone camera system.

Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Pixel 7 Pro: Which is your best choice?

1. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the finest Android packages ever sold, providing a lot in every area.
2. Despite having a lower price point, the Pixel 7 Pro still competes with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
3. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will likely return to the top of flagship Android phones.
4. The Pixel 7 Pro is a best choice if you cannot afford the high price of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
5. Despite having less processing power, the Pixel 7 Pro performs well thanks to special software tuning.
6. If your budget allows, the Galaxy S23 Ultra could be a top contender for the best Android flagship throughout 2023.

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