Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Galaxy A23

76 out of 100

58 out of 100

Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (with Exynos 2100) that was released on January 14, 2021, against the Samsung Galaxy A23, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 and came out 14 months after. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
The rear camera has a 10x optical zoom
2.8x better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (833K versus 302K)
Delivers 120% higher peak brightness (1023 against 465 nits)
Higher display refresh rate – 120 Hz
29% higher pixel density (515 vs 400 PPI)
Handles wireless charging up to 15W
Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
Slow-motion recording at 960FPS
Ability to record video in 4K resolution
Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 2750 MHz
Compatible with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks
Stereo speakers

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy A23

Shows 15% longer battery life (35:52 vs 31:14 hours)
Expandable storage via MicroSD card up to 1024GB
The phone is 1-year and 2-months newer
Weighs 32 grams less
Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy A23 crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	Dynamic AMOLED	PLS TFT
Size	6.8 inches	6.6 inches
Resolution	1440 x 3200 pixels	1080 x 2408 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	20:9
PPI	515 ppi	400 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	90 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	Yes	No
Max rated brightness	1500 nits	460 nits
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	No
Screen protection	Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Screen-to-body ratio	89.8%	83%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	-

Height	165.1 mm (6.5 inches)	164.5 mm (6.48 inches)
Width	75.6 mm (2.98 inches)	76.9 mm (3.03 inches)
Thickness	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)	8.4 mm (0.33 inches)
Weight	227 g (8.01 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)
Waterproof	IP68	No
Rear material	Glass	Plastic
Frame material	Metal	Plastic
Colors	Black, Silver, Gray, Blue	White, Black, Blue, Yellow
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	Yes, in-button

Chipset	Samsung Exynos 2100	Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
Max clock	2840 MHz	2400 MHz
CPU cores	8 (1 + 3 + 4)	8 (4 + 4)
Architecture	- 4 cores at 2.2 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 3 cores at 2.81 GHz: Cortex-A78 - 1 core at 2.91 GHz: Cortex-X1	- 4 cores at 1.9 GHz: Kryo 265 Silver (Cortex-A53) - 4 cores at 2.4 GHz: Kryo 265 Gold (Cortex-A73)
Lithography process	5 nanometers	6 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G78 MP14	Adreno 610
GPU shading units	896	128
GPU clock	854 MHz	1110 MHz
FLOPS	~1530.4 GFLOPS	~284 GFLOPS

CPU	236566	97504
GPU	255535	49417
Memory	157504	87497
UX	183564	65836
Total score	833650	302567

Max surface temperature	40.8 °C	-
Stability	69%	98%
Graphics test	31 FPS	2 FPS
Graphics score	5221	440

Web score	-	6871
Video editing	-	4228
Photo editing	-	13622
Data manipulation	-	5785
Writing score	-	8438

RAM size	12, 16 GB	4, 6, 8 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	2750 MHz	-
Channels	2	2

Storage size	128, 256, 512 GB	32, 64, 128 GB
Storage type	UFS 3.1	eMMC 5.1
Memory card	No	MicroSD
Memory card max size	-	Up to 1024 GB

Operating system	Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)	Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	One UI 5.1	One UI 5.0
OS size	26.4 GB	24 GB

Capacity	5000 mAh	5000 mAh
Max charge power	25 W	25 W
Battery type	Li-Ion	-
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	Yes (15 W)	No
Reverse charging	Yes, (wireless)	No
Fast charging	Yes (54% in 30 min)	Yes (32% in 30 min)
Full charging time	1:11 hr	1:43 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	10:13 hr	13:23 hr
Watching video	15:32 hr	12:41 hr
Gaming	05:26 hr	06:14 hr
Standby	98 hr	127 hr

Main camera
Matrix	108 megapixels	50 megapixels
Image resolution	12000 x 9000	8700 x 5800
Zoom	Optical, 10x	Digital
Flash	Dual LED	LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	Up to 24FPS	No
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	No
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 30FPS
Slow motion	960 FPS (720p)	120 FPS (720p)
Angle of widest lens	120°	-
Lenses	4 (108 MP + 10 MP + 10 MP + 12 MP)	4 (50 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 108 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.33", Samsung S5KHM3 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Laser autofocus - Optical stabilization	- 50 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization
Telephoto lens	- 10 MP - Aperture: f/4.9 - Focal length: 240 mm - Pixel size: 1.22 micron - Sensor: 1/2.65", Samsung S5K3J1 (ISOCELL CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization	-
Ultra-wide lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 13 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX563 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)	- 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/5" (CMOS)
Macro lens	-	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4
Depth lens	-	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode
Samples	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra from DxOMark	-

Selfie camera
Megapixels	40 megapixels	8 megapixels
Image resolution	7864 x 5200	3264 x 2448
Aperture	f/2.2	f/2.2
Focal length	26 mm	-
Pixel size	0.7 microns	-
Sensor type	ISOCELL CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/2.65"	-
Video resolution	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5.2	5
Bluetooth features	LE, A2DP	PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	3.2	2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - USB-Host mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	2	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	Yes	No
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	24	-
5G support	Yes	No

Speakers	Stereo	Mono
Headphone audio jack	No	Yes
FM radio	No	Yes
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes

Category	Flagship	Budget
Announced	January 2021	March 2022
Release date	February 2021	March 2022
SAR (head)	0.71 W/kg	-
SAR (body)	1.58 W/kg	-
Sensors	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Compass - Fingerprint
Bundled charger	-	Yes, 15 W

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Galaxy A23

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Galaxy A23

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

DxOMark camera tests

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion