Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra alternatives – iPhone, Google and OnePlus options

We consider the best Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra alternatives now that the S23 Ultra has released.

Samsung’s S23 Ultra was released on February 17th, and it packs a serious punch.

Featuring an impressive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 12GB of RAM, it’s easily one of the best gaming phones, and there’s also an epic camera designed with low-light shooting in mind, and a new design that looks the business – this is one phone that ticks all the boxes.

That being said, there are other smartphones on the market which could stand up to this powerhouse, or even appeal more when it comes to price, performance or simply design.

We’ve selected five worthy alternatives to the Samsung S23 Ultra, so you can make an informed decision with your next purchase.

Best Samsung S23 Ultra alternatives

1. Google 7 Pixel Pro
2. iPhone 14 Pro Max
3. iPhone 13 Pro
4. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
5. OnePlus 10 Pro

Google Pixel 7 Pro

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is a stunning flagship that excels in almost every category, including price.

Let’s talk about one of the first things you notice on a phone – the display. The Google Pixel 7 Pro features an exclusive QHD+ display that can be enjoyed on a slightly larger 6.7 inch screen. This is higher than the regular Google Pixel 7, combined with a smooth refresh rate of 120Hz. This is a pretty close match to the S23 Ultra, providing minimal motion blur. It also gives the option of switching to FHD+, which acts as a battery saving measure.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro – which one should you go for?

Speaking of battery, the Google Pixel 7 Pro shares the same battery size as the S23 Ultra, at 5000mAh. There are few smartphones out there that can match the performance and battery life of the Google Pixel 7 Pro, so if you’re keen to prioritize these features, then go for the Pixel 7 Pro.

The Pixel 7 Pro also has a good level of impact protection thanks to layers of Gorilla Glass Victus that cover the front and back. Of course, you can maximize that protection with one of our best picks for Google Pixel 7 Pro phone cases.

Overall, the Pixel 7 Pro makes for a brilliant alternative to the S23 Ultra. Though the S23 Ultra’s camera is expected to have the edge, it’s difficult to overlook the value offered by Google’s latest flagship.

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Though some Android users might be tempted to overlook Apple, Samsung, and Apple are increasingly on par with each other, leading us to suggest the iPhone 14 Pro Max as a strong alternative for those looking to match the performance of the S23 Ultra.

Unlike our other chosen alternatives, the iPhone 14 Pro Max uses Apple’s latest A16 Bionic chip. It absolutely trumps Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 G Gen 1 chip found on the Samsung Galaxy S22 generation and is on par with the S23’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max

While the S23 Ultra will have a larger 5,000mAh battery, the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 4323mAh is still impressive and has a number of battery saving settings that make all the difference.

In terms of camera ability, the S23 Ultra definitely has the edge with a custom 200MP main camera sensor with 0.6 micro pixels that are exclusive to the flagship. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 48MP sensor that delivers beautifully detailed photographs, including special features like Apple proRAW, burst mode and Adaptive True Tone flash. While this doesn’t compete with the S23 Ultra, you’ll still be getting an impressive camera with the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro Max makes a great alternative if you’re looking for an elegant flagship phone that matches the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra on performance.

iPhone 13 Pro

The iPhone 13 Pro is a sound alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want to prioritise durability without paying a flagship price.

Since the 13 Pro has been out since 2021, the hype has died down, reducing premium price tag that was attached to the old flagship. We’re now left with a powerful phone that features a 120Hz ProMotion display and Super Retina XDR OLED display. Like the S23 Ultra, it is flexible and extends right into the chassis of each device, giving the phone a sleek and elegant look.

Read More: Google Pixel 6a vs 7

Though its battery life won’t compete with the S23 Ultra, it will last up to 1.5 hours longer than its predecessor, the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This means you can take advantage of a range of features without draining the battery, including photos and recording in Cinematic Mode, ProRes video recording and TrueDepth lenses.

Overall, though the S23 Ultra seriously outperforms the iPhone 13 Pro, though the 13 Pro does a great job of matching Samsung’s powerful FHD+ OLED display to provide vivid colors and brightness.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Samsung’s S22 Ultra makes for an easy alternative to the S23 Ultra on account of its familiar design features and similar battery life. It’s also an attractive choice since Samsung’s latest release generally brings down the price of the previous generation of smartphones.

The S22 Ultra is amongst the last of the Galaxy lineup to use a 10MP main camera. That’s not to say it wasn’t among one of the best phone cameras of 2022. Expect great exposure and color balance that makes it a great all-rounder for taking photos.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs S22 Ultra

It features a marginally lower peak nit brightness at 1,750, though boasts the same battery size and charging speeds. While the S23 Ultra might take the edge thanks to the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the S22 Ultra remains a strong performer over a year since its release.

It also features the same 120Hz refresh rate, and while the S23 Ultra will have a new generation OLED display, the display will generally be quite similar.

OnePlus 10 Pro

The OnePlus 10 Pro is a sound choice for those interested in a premium phone without paying a premium price.

At 6.7 inches, the OnePlus 10 Pro resembles the S23 Plus in size, while matching the 120Hz refresh rate seen across the board for Samsung’s latest S23 lineup. Speaking of responsiveness, the 10 Pro features an in-display optical fingerprint sensor that is fast and responsive like the S23 Ultra’s Qualcomm third-gen ultrasonic fingerprint reader.

Read More: Will the Samsung Galaxy S22 drop in price?

Though the S23 Ultra will have the newer version of the OnePlus 10 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, its battery life is still remarkable despite not having the boost of a more efficient processor. If battery life is important to you, the OnePlus 10 Pro definitely stands out on this list, easily lasting a day of moderate to heavy usage. It also supports fast charging, which isn’t possible with a Samsung or Google phone. So, if you watch video content or game a lot on your phone, this feature especially comes in handy.

OnePlus has also boosted its support policy to provide three major OS updates and four years of security updates for the 10 Pro. While this doesn’t quite make the cut compared to Samsung or Apple devices, it’s still a step in the right direction.

The main area that the OnePlus 10 significantly underperforms in compared to the S23 Ultra is in the camera department. It features a 46MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera that simply cannot compete with Samsung. That being said, the OnePlus 10 Pro still takes good photos, with a notable mention going to the ultrawide camera that is better than most.

Frequently asked questions

What’s so special about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip?

The new processor has new ray tracing abilities and boasts a significant performance increase compared to the 8 Gen 1 processor that was a popular choice for smartphones in 2022.

Is it worth buying the S22 Ultra now?

Yes, with the imminent release of the S23 Ultra, the S22 Ultra is brilliant value in 2023, having been one of the best premium Android phones last year.