We pit the new OnePlus 11 against Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra in an epic battle of the 2023 Android flagships to find out! Those are all unique features, but the Galaxy S23 Ultra is without a doubt the more versatile phone: it has more features and longer software support, it has cool and versatile zoom cameras, it has an S Pen, it has a brand new 200MP camera that is now more capable in challenging conditions, and it’s the most refined this phone has ever been.
The OnePlus 11 has a few aces up its sleeve: super fast charging that eliminates the need for overnight top-ups, fast and smooth performance, and a new Hasselblad-branded camera system with a focus on capturing high-quality portrait photos.Those are all unique features, but the Galaxy S23 Ultra is without a doubt the more versatile phone: it has more features and longer software support, it has cool and versatile zoom cameras, it has an S Pen, it has a brand new 200MP camera that is now more capable in challenging conditions, and it’s the most refined this phone has ever been.So which one should you go for? Build quality feels premium on both of them, both have an aluminum frame, toughened glass on the front and the back, and a slightly curved screen, but all of those premium features are something we kind of expect out of a flagship phone these days.
We should also mention that the OnePlus comes in a larger box that includes the zippy 100W fast charger coupled with a signature red OnePlus cable (with standard USB-A to USB-C connections), and you even get a simply but useful case in the box. We should also mention that the OnePlus comes in a larger box that includes the zippy 100W fast charger coupled with a signature red OnePlus cable (with standard USB-A to USB-C connections), and you even get a simply but useful case in the box.
Let us be clear: neither of these is a “bad” screen, but the Galaxy gets noticeably brighter outdoors and has slightly better characteristics. It’s more powerful, does not overheat as easily as previous Snapdragon chips and shapes up to be a huge success. We should also say that the Galaxy comes with a promise of four major software updates, which is a huge win in the Android space where you typically only get three years of support, so it is the more future-proof device. While we tested the Chinese version of the OnePlus 11, we’re yet to do that with the international one that was just unveiled, so differences in the camera experience are expected.
The OnePlus camera app is a copy of the iPhone one, down to the rotating dial that pops up when you zoom in and out. The viewfinder quality is high resolution, unlike say the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so that is good news.
You often get burned out highlights in the viewfinder, but then when you take the photo you will see that after the processing is done the picture brings back the color in the skies and dynamic range is very good. You often get burned out highlights in the viewfinder, but then when you take the photo you will see that after the processing is done the picture brings back the color in the skies and dynamic range is very good. During the day, the OnePlus takes photos that have lively, saturated and warm colors, but not as extreme as on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Dynamic range is excellent, as highlights are never overblown in the final images and shadows have a nice depth to them.
Detail is sharp, but not extremely oversharpened, which is a typical problem on the latest flagships like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is good to see. Colors are mostly consistent with the main camera, which is to say they are rich with a good amount of saturation, but not too extreme.
Samsung used to have the best front camera in the industry for a couple of years, but it seems that it has taken a step back with the Galaxy S23 series. With much rougher detail that doesn’t sit well with human faces, we prefer the softer look out of the OnePlus which does look a bit more flattering.
While both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the OnePlus 11 support 8K video recording, we think most people should still stick with 4K as the file sizes are more reasonable.
This phone has very pleasing vibration feedback, it kicks in gently when you type to alert you of your every keystroke.
OnePlus has also improved the camera quality and that new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip just roars, plus we really appreciate the convenience of the fast charging. The Galaxy S23 Ultra lacks the fast charging and is bulkier, but it is also the technologically superior phone.
The S Pen is a nice convenience that still has no alternative among Android flagships, the performance is excellent, the camera system is the more versatile out there, especially for those who value video recording. Ultimately, if you don’t mind the bulky build and want the most versatile phone on the market, go for the Galaxy, but if you appreciate pure speed with a clean UI and incredibly fast charging, the OnePlus 11 is a surprisingly good option this year. OnePlus has also improved the camera quality and that new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip just roars, plus we really appreciate the convenience of the fast charging.
And all of that comes at a reasonable sub-$1,000 price.The Galaxy S23 Ultra lacks the fast charging and is bulkier, but it is also the technologically superior phone.
The S Pen is a nice convenience that still has no alternative among Android flagships, the performance is excellent, the camera system is the more versatile out there, especially for those who value video recording.Both phones will get 4 years of major Android updates, so neither slacks behind the other in terms of longevity.Ultimately, if you don’t mind the bulky build and want the most versatile phone on the market, go for the Galaxy, but if you appreciate pure speed with a clean UI and incredibly fast charging, the OnePlus 11 is a surprisingly good option this year.
OnePlus 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: What is the difference?
has Mail Privacy Protection ✖ OnePlus 11 ✖ Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Mail Privacy Protection is a feature built into the default email app that blocks senders from using “tracking pixels” to see when you’ve read an email. blocks cross-site tracking ✖ OnePlus 11 ✖ Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra This setting (in the default browser) allows you to block cross-site tracking cookies and data to help protect your privacy.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs OnePlus 11 – can affordable beat Ultra?
If you take more portraits and food photos than zoom shots, you won’t miss the extra cameras. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the OnePlus 11, the first two Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones on the market, represent opposite ends of the Android flagship spectrum. The Galaxy S23 Ultra managed to stay the same price as last year’s… oh, wait, that’s just in the US market. The OnePlus 11 goes on sale the day before the Galaxy S3 Ultra, but it will be considerably harder to buy. That means you won’t be able to pick one up with a huge discount when you sign a carrier contract agreement. If I stopped the story now, you’d pack up your things and go buy a OnePlus 11 with a generous 16GB of RAM for hundreds less than a Galaxy S23 Ultra with half the memory.
No matter how impressive the Galaxy S23 Ultra may be, it’s hard to ignore the price difference. It feels polished, as Samsung hasn’t changed its design language much in the past half-decade.
That leads me to my biggest concern with the OnePlus 11, and the main reason I recommend the Galaxy S23 first.
Water resistance isn’t just a feature, it’s a design element that keeps your phone alive longer. If you want to be sure your phone will last two to three years, removing the risk of water damage is a basic requirement. Otherwise, the design advantages are slight, except that the Galaxy S23 Ultra manages to hide a freaking pen inside the phone.
Galaxy S23 Ultra with center punch hole (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) Both phones are fast, with refresh rates up to 120Hz, and both use OLED technology for infinite contrast and superb colors. I’m not a big fan of curving anymore, as I find it gets in the way and causes accidental touches on some games. OnePlus 11 with punch hole on the top left (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) Dolby Vision is used by every major streaming platform, while only a few, including Amazon Prime and Paramount Plus, use HDR10+. This isn’t a huge advantage, but it’s a strange omission by Samsung to forgo the Dolby licensing.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has many lenses (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, you can take photos of your dog that will capture the fine detail in every bristle of fur.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra from the side (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) On the popular Geekbench software, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has managed to crack a score of 1600 on single-core processing performance.
On multi-core tests that tax the entire CPU, the OnePlus 11 and the Galaxy S23 Ultra scored within 100 points of each other, both just over 4900. I got 90 fps playing Call of Duty Mobile on the OnePlus 11 in multiplayer mode, and it looks every bit as good as it does on a Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Apple’s more natural color palette does not enhance gameplay the way the vivid displays on the Android phones make my games pop. Both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the OnePlus 11 use the same battery size, a 5,000 mAh cell, but that’s not the whole story. I could get the OnePlus to last through a day of use if I didn’t tax the gaming or camera features too hard, but I usually charged it mid-day just to be safe. You can even use the S23 Ultra to wireless charge another device, like your earbuds or a friend’s drained iPhone.
Samsung and OnePlus both build interface software on top of Google’s Android 13, and both One UI and Oxygen OS, respectively, are chocked full of features. Some of these you may find totally useful, like the DeX software that turns your Galaxy S23 Ultra into a full-fledged desktop computer.
Some you may find useless, like the strange floating ball on the OnePlus that replaces the Back and Home buttons. The S Pen uses the same electromagnetic resonance (EMR) tech found on Wacom professional drawing tablets.
It can hover for more advanced features, and Samsung has spent years adding interesting S Pen software concepts.
OnePlus fans love the alert slider (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne) This isn’t unusual, for companies to release Wi-Fi products based on an upcoming standard that is 99% complete. The Galaxy S23 Ultra includes invaluable ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology that the OnePlus 11 does not have.
This is the tech that makes Apple AirTags and similar accessories so easy to find with your phone. Whether it’s using UWB to find your luggage, or the S Pen to fill out a mortgage application, the Galaxy S23 Ultra can do more than you thought a phone could do. If you want to save money, get the OnePlus 11 and you’ll find a great phone, but be careful and heed my warnings.
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