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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

85 out of 100
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
VS
84 out of 100
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy) that was released on February 1, 2023, against the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is powered by Google Tensor G4 and came out 1 year and 7 months after. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery life
  6. Camera
  7. Comments (1)

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone
Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
  • The rear camera has a 10x optical zoom
  • Shows 19% longer battery life (26:01 vs 21:55 hours)
  • Slow-motion recording at 960FPS
  • 19% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (1541K versus 1292K)
  • Faster storage type - UFS 4.0 versus UFS 3.1
  • Supports Dolby Atmos sound technology
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
  • Delivers 86% higher peak brightness (2383 against 1279 nits)
  • Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
  • Has 33% more RAM: 16GB versus 12GB
  • The phone is 1 year and 7 months newer
  • Compatible with the latest Wi-Fi 7 wireless networks
  • More recent OS version: Android 15 versus 14

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL crucial features
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Performance
CPU and memory performance (apps, system)
Gaming
Capabilities for playing modern games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
NanoReview Score
Final comparison evaluation
Choose the importance of each parameter to more accurately identify the smartphone that best meets your particular needs.

Tests and specifications

Comparison table of technical specifications and tests
Phone:
Galaxy S23 Ultra
vs
Pixel 9 Pro XL

Display

TypeDynamic AMOLEDOLED
Size6.8 inches6.8 inches
Resolution1440 x 3088 pixels1344 x 2992 pixels
Aspect ratio19.3:920:9
PPI500 ppi486 ppi
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rateYes (1-120 Hz)Yes (1-120 Hz)
Max rated brightness850 nits3000 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR1750 nits2000 nits
HDR supportYes, HDR10+Yes, HDR10+
Touch sampling rate240 Hz -
Screen protectionGorilla Glass Victus 2Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Screen-to-body ratio89.5%89.5%
Display features - DCI-P3
- Always-On Display		 - DCI-P3
- Always-On Display
Display tests
RGB color space96.9%99%
PWM240 Hz240 Hz
Response time2 ms2 ms
Contrast∞ Infinity∞ Infinity
Peak brightness test (auto)
Galaxy S23 Ultra
1279 nits
Pixel 9 Pro XL+86%
2383 nits

Design and build

Height163.4 mm (6.43 inches)162.8 mm (6.41 inches)
Width78.1 mm (3.07 inches)76.6 mm (3.02 inches)
Thickness8.9 mm (0.35 inches)8.5 mm (0.33 inches)
Weight233 g (8.22 oz)221 g (7.8 oz)
WaterproofIP68IP68
Advanced coolingVapor chamberVapor chamber
Rear materialGlassGlass
Frame materialMetalMetal
ColorsWhite, Black, Gray, Blue, Green, Red, PurpleWhite, Black, Gray, Pink
Fingerprint scannerYes, in-displayYes, in-display
Screen-to-body ratio

Performance

Tests of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL in the benchmarks
SoC
ChipsetSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for GalaxyGoogle Tensor G4
Max clock3360 MHz3100 MHz
CPU cores8 (1 + 2 + 2 + 3)8 (1 + 3 + 4)
Architecture- 3 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A510
- 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-A710
- 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-A715
- 1 core at 3.2 GHz: Cortex-X3		- 4 cores at 1.92 GHz: Cortex-A520
- 3 cores at 2.6 GHz: Cortex-A720
- 1 core at 3.1 GHz: Cortex-X4
L3 cache8 MB -
ManufacturingTSMCSamsung
Lithography process4 nanometers4 nanometers
Neural processor (NPU)HexagonYes
GraphicsAdreno 740Mali-G715 MP7
GPU shading units1536896
GPU clock719 MHz940 MHz
FLOPS~2089 GFLOPS~1792 GFLOPS

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 10
CPU371084395641
GPU600732448762
Memory299004213528
UX270462235197
Total score15412461292858
Samples[29 tests][2 tests]
3DMark Wild Life Performance
Max surface temperature34.8 °C46.1 °C
Stability64% -
Graphics test72 FPS -
Graphics score12159 -
PCMark 3.0
Web score16012 -
Video editing7809 -
Photo editing33775 -
Data manipulation13104 -
Writing score19811 -

Memory

RAM
RAM size8, 12 GB16 GB
Memory typeLPDDR5XLPDDR5
Memory clock4200 MHz -
Channels44
Storage
Storage size256, 512, 1024 GB128, 256, 512, 1024 GB
Storage typeUFS 4.0UFS 3.1
Memory cardNoNo

Software

Operating systemAndroid 13 (Can be upgraded to Android 14)Android 14 (Can be upgraded to Android 15)
ROMOne UI 6.1Stock Android
OS size39.9 GB -

Battery

Capacity5000 mAh5060 mAh
Max charge power45 W37 W
Battery typeLi-IonLi-Po
ReplaceableNoNo
Wireless chargingYes (15 W)Yes (12 W)
Reverse chargingYes, (wireless)Yes, (wireless)
Fast chargingYes (68% in 30 min)Yes (67% in 30 min)
Full charging time0:59 hr1:18 hr
Battery life tests
Web browsing09:57 hr11:42 hr
Watching video15:38 hr10:46 hr
Gaming06:22 hr05:57 hr
Standby130 hr92 hr
General battery life
Galaxy S23 Ultra+19%
26:01 hr
Pixel 9 Pro XL
21:55 hr

Main camera

Matrix200 megapixels50 megapixels
Image resolution16320 x 122408160 x 6144
ZoomOptical, 10xOptical, 5x
FlashLEDDual LED
StabilizationOpticalOptical
8K video recordingUp to 30FPSUp to 30FPS
4K video recordingUp to 60FPSUp to 60FPS
1080p video recordingUp to 120FPSUp to 60FPS
Slow motion960 FPS (1080p)240 FPS (1080p)
Angle of widest lens120°123°
Lenses1) Standard: 200 MP
2) Telephoto: 10 MP
3) Telephoto: 10 MP
4) Ultrawide: 12 MP
1) Standard: 50 MP
2) Telephoto: 48 MP
3) Ultrawide: 48 MP
Camera features - Bokeh mode
- Pro mode
- RAW support		 - Bokeh mode
- Pro mode
- RAW support
Standard lens
Image resolution200 MP50 MP
Aperturef/1.7f/1.7
Focal length23 mm25 mm
SensorSamsung ISOCELL HP2Samsung GN1
Sensor size1/1.3"1/1.31"
Pixel size0.64 micron1.2 micron
AutofocusLaser autofocusLaser autofocus
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Telephoto lens
Image resolution10 MP48 MP
Aperturef/4.9f/2.8
Focal length230 mm113 mm
SensorSony IMX754Samsung S5KGM5
Sensor size1/3.52"1/2.55"
Pixel size1.12 micron0.7 micron
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Ultra-wide lens
Image resolution12 MP48 MP
Aperturef/2.2f/1.7
Focal length13 mm -
SensorSony IMX564Samsung S5KGM5
Sensor size1/2.55"1/2.55"
Pixel size1.4 micron0.7 micron
StabilizationDigitalDigital

DxOMark main camera tests

Photo quality
Video quality
Generic main camera score
Bokeh7075
Preview7386
Zoom141155
SamplesPhoto samples of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra from DxOMarkPhoto samples of Google Pixel 9 Pro XL from DxOMark

Selfie camera

Megapixels12 megapixels42 megapixels
Image resolution4000 x 30003648 x 2736
Aperturef/2.2f/2.2
Focal length26 mm17 mm
SensorSamsung S5K3LU -
Sensor size1/3.24"1/2.51"
Pixel size1.12 micron -
AutofocusPhase autofocusPhase autofocus
StabilizationDigitalDigital
Video resolution2160p (4K) at 60 FPS2160p (4K) at 60 FPS
Depth sensor (TOF 3D)NoNo
DxOMark front camera
Photo139 -
Video145 -

Connectivity

Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display		 - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version5.35.3
Bluetooth featuresLELE
USB typeUSB Type-CUSB Type-C
USB version3.23.2
USB features - Charging
- USB-Storage mode
- OTG		 - Charging
- USB-Storage mode
- OTG
DisplayPortYes, DP 1.2Yes
GPSGPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, Galileo
NFC*YesYes
Infrared portNoNo
Network
Number of SIM*11
Type of SIM cardNanoNano
Multi SIM modeStandby -
eSIM support*YesYes
Hybrid slotNoNo
LTE Cat*20 -
5G supportYesYes

Sound

SpeakersStereoStereo
Headphone audio jackNoNo
FM radioNoNo
Dolby AtmosYesNo
Speakers test
Max loudness

Other

CategoryFlagshipFlagship
AnnouncedFebruary 2023August 2024
Release dateFebruary 2023August 2024
Launch price$1199$1099
SAR (head)0.96 W/kg0.99 W/kg
SAR (body)1.4 W/kg1.4 W/kg
Sensors - Hall-effect sensor
- Barometer
- Proximity sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient light sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint		 - Barometer
- Proximity sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient light sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint
Bundled chargerNot includedNot included
*Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
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