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

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro – which one should you go for?
Rory Greig Updated on by

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We’re having a look at the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro to see how these formidable flagships shape up against one another.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was released on February 17th, and, put simply, it is one of the most powerful smartphones on the market. It’s got breath-taking stats across the board, including 12GB RAM, up to 1TB of storage and a 200MP main camera. This easily makes it one of the best phones for gaming, as well as for other uses such as graphic design.

The Pixel 7 Pro has also been impressing people since its release a few months ago. It too boasts one of the most impressive cameras on the market, helped by a processing chip that is capable of some remarkable automatic photo editing. Elsewhere its specs are lower than the S23 Ultra on the whole though and so too is its price.

This makes separating the two into a clear winner and loser a fool’s errand. Instead, we are going to point out and describe their differences, explaining where the strengths and weaknesses lie in each device. Specifically, we’ll be talking about specs, features, design and value for money.

By the end of this, you should have a sense of which phone makes more sense for you and your smartphone needs. So, let’s get into it. Here are the main differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs the Google Pixel 7 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro – Specs

SpecS23 UltraPixel 7 Pro
Size6.8-inch6.7-inch
DisplayAMOLEDOLED
Resolution1080 x 30881,440 x 3,120
ProcessorSnapdragon 8 Gen 2Google Tensor G2
Battery5,000 mAh5,000 mAh
Charger45W30W
Refresh Rate120Hz120Hz
Storage256GB, 512GB, 1TB128GB, 256GB, 512GB
RAM8GB, 12GB12GB
Main Camera200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (3x zoom)50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto
Selfie Lens12MP10.8MP

If we are talking sheer performance benchmarks the Galaxy S23 Ultra comes out on top. As both phones have the same maximum RAM, this is a result of their CPUs.

Google has made several improvements to their Tensor chip with the G2. It excels at AI and deep learning-based, which give the phone some great features as we will discuss shortly. However, in terms of sheer power, it doesn’t stand up to the first generation of Snapdragon 8 chips, let alone the Gen 2 that comes in the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The specs of the cameras on the Galaxy S23 Ultra are similarly superior. With a 200MP main camera as well as a 12MP ultrawide sensor, paired with two telephoto lenses capable of 3x zoom and 10x zoom respectively.

These numbers are far higher than the megapixel count of the Pixel and without a doubt, the S23 Ultra will take far better photos, especially when zoomed in. What remains to be seen, however, is just how the S23 Ultra handles colour, as the high megapixel count won’t help here.

The S23 Ultra also comes with the option of far larger storage, up to 1TB in fact, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a maximum storage size of 512GB, though the average smartphone user won’t need more than that.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro – Features

Thanks to the Tensor G2’s neural core the chip excels at machine learning to offer some incredibly useful and unique features for the Pixel 7 Pro. Magic eraser, real-time translation, Photo Unblur and voice optimization for calling all come included and this goes some way to mitigating the far superior specs of the S23 Ultra.

The S23 Ultra does have one great feature, which is totally lacking from the Pixel 7 Pro. Included with the phone itself is an S Pen stylus. Once you’ve gotten used to using this for jotting down notes or digital drawing it can be hard to go back, and the Pixel 7 Pro would force just that, as it lacks integration with any stylus.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

S23 Ultra also places its fingerprint scanner under the display, unlike the dedicated scanner that comes on the Pixel 7 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro – Design

Both these phones have a classy and sleek design to them, though the details and overall profile of each are different.

There is an ever so slightly larger display on the S23 Ultra. Overall its looks are not too dissimilar to the S22 Ultra, with the cameras on the rear individually embedded in the left corner of the device, rather than clumped together in a cutout. Its corners are sharper and rectangular which makes for a striking look.

The Pixel 7 goes for the more traditional smooth rounded edges. As well as this there is a punch-hole to house the front camera beneath the display. there’s also the protruding camera housing bar across the rear of the phone we have gotten used to on pixel phones, though this time round it is metal.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro – Value for money

The Pixel 7 Pro would set you back $899 on release day, though this has been cut to $799 since then, with the prospect of further reductions a possibility.

Both these prices are significantly lower than the $1199.00 price tag of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, this does not make it necessarily have less value for money. Remember that for this higher price tag, you get a superior camera, markedly better battery life and faster overall performance.

The Pixel 7 Pro is by no means low spec though, it is simply lower than the S23 Ultra and this is reflected in the price. This means that the one with better value for money is the one that suits your needs more.

Check price: Google Pixel 7 Pro 256GB at Best Buy

Buy Now: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at Samsung.com

Which one should you go for

As we have already touched on, the most important factor in picking whether to go for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or the Google Pixel 7 Pro is your own preferences and requirements.

If you can make use of the incredible power and prowess of the Galaxy S23 Ultra it makes it a reasonable investment, despite its eye-watering price. In return you get one of the most powerful phones on the market today, housed in a sturdy and stylish body.

If you still want a top-end smartphone, one with Ai powered features, an incredible camera and impressive all-round specs but are more budget conscious, the Google Pixel 7 is a great phone to go for. Considering just how powerful it is, it’s amazing how low this phone is being sold for, and you still get everything most people will want from a high-end flagship.

Read More: Best Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra alternatives