In fact, we can trace much of this latest model’s identity back to the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the first of its name. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is missing a microSD card slot, but you can kit the phone out to a higher 1TB storage option in many regions.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 6.8-inches AMOLED Edge display (curved) Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and back Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender;
The most significant change is the use of the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC in the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
We’ve done our fair share of testing and have found that this Galaxy-specific processor does bring some improvements compared to other phones with a regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. On the older Galaxy S20 Ultra, we have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G SoC in the US and the Exynos 990 in other parts of the world. These were flagship processors back in the day, but they can be squarely classified as mid-range chips now, thanks to impressive leaps in processing capabilities in recent years.
While the size and resolution remain roughly the same, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has an LTPO 3.0 panel with a variable refresh rate range of 1Hz to 120Hz. The new device has a slightly tighter curve, owing to its Galaxy Note ancestry. Speaking of Note ancestry, the Galaxy S23 Ultra also boasts an integrated S Pen. When the S20 series was launched, the Galaxy Note lineup was amid an identity crisis.
Later on, Samsung merged the Note lineup with the S Ultra range, hence the presence of the S Pen on the 2023 flagship. The Galaxy S20 Ultra supported microSD expansion up to 1TB; it was the last S series flagship to do so.
SD cards are slower than internal UFS storage and prone to failure. Regardless, they still came in handy for people who created or consumed a lot of local media. But we’ll be talking about this in greater detail in a dedicated section below, so continue reading! Consequently, the Galaxy S20 Ultra has received Android 13 and One UI 5 updates, as well as regular security patches up until this point. For the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung promises four generations of Android updates and five years of security patches. These Samsung flagships are similar in size, with the S23 Ultra being slightly leaner and taller.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra takes close inspiration from the Note lineup. The S23 Ultra has a boxier design with a flat top and bottom mid-frame, sharp corners, and a tight curvature on its sides. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a clean look with individual islands for its camera sensors. The Galaxy S20 Ultra, on the other hand, has a huge camera island that demands attention.
When it comes to cameras, both of these devices represent a significant jump in hardware for the S series. The Galaxy S20 Ultra was the first S series phone to come with a 108MP primary camera and periscope zoom lens; Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is the first S series phone to come with a 200MP primary camera. On the other hand, the Galaxy S20 Ultra came with three cameras and a Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor for measuring depth data. The result in both cases is impressive photos from the primary camera, with ample light and good detail preservation. Do note that since the S20 Ultra was Samsung’s early attempt at a large MP count camera, it has some trouble maintaining subjects in focus. The Galaxy S20 Ultra opts for a 48MP periscope camera that can output 4x optical zoom. All the magnification ranges in the middle are handled with a combination of optical and digital crops on both devices. The 3x zoom not only adds versatility in how close or far you can be from your subject but also helps out with portrait shots.
Further, Samsung has also made improvements in 30x and 100x digital zoom performance — these shots are unusable on the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Samsung has added plenty of camera features over the years, and it has shared them across previous generation devices, too, through One UI updates. Right off the bat, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has an edge with features like 8K 30fps video recording, improved Nightography (dancy word for night mode), and Ultra Stabilization for shake-free videos. These features are tied to hardware changes, and so the Galaxy S23 Ultra will retain its lead in the coming years as well. In our review, we found the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to have a very powerful and flexible camera system, though. It’s the better bet if you care for camera quality, but the Galaxy S20 Ultra still shoots excellent photos.
The higher MP count on the older device may appear better at a cursory glance. Still, the newer ISP on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Samsung’s processing, and AI magic will give you marginally better results on the Galaxy S23 Ultra in all situations.
During our tests, we’ve found that the 40MP selfie camera won’t be missed too much. Despite the age difference, Samsung has made practically no changes to the battery and charging situation, at least on paper. As mentioned in our review, the Galaxy S20 Ultra lasted through a full day with a couple of hours of juice left in reserve. Regardless, we’ve found in our tests that the more efficient chipset, variable refresh rate feature, and extra screen improvements do wonders.
With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, we managed to get two days on a full charge, with six to eight hours of screen-on time. This means the Galaxy S23 Ultra is obviously the better choice if you care for battery life, adding almost a whole extra day of juice. Battery and charging capabilities haven’t changed much over the years, but improved efficiency gives the S23 an edge. Both phones support 45W Adaptive Fast Charge through a wired connection. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a slight edge on fast charging, though. Remember, the Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t come with a charger in the box.
We made a list of the best Galaxy S23 series chargers available if you need some help. That’s another difference between these devices; the Galaxy S20 Ultra came with a charger in the box, even if it was a slower 25W one.
You could make the price of the Galaxy S23 Ultra more palatable if you purchased it during the pre-order window. If you pre-ordered the device, Samsung gave you a free upgrade to the next storage version. All that said, Samsung continues to offer a $100 instant credit with the purchase of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, though. That’s no shock, but the margin between the two devices is surprisingly not as large as you might expect, especially considering that the Galaxy S20 Ultra was launched three years ago.
That is testimony to the fact that overkill specifications age gracefully because of the extra headroom. Still, if you are out to buy a top-tier flagship, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the obvious and clear choice. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is an excellent chip that will not disappoint with its performance or efficiency. And the fact that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will get up to Android 17 in the future and continue to receive security patches up to 2028 is also a big win when you are about to drop $1,199 on a phone.
While you can pick up the Galaxy S20 Ultra for cheap in a refurbished state, and Samsung will still support your device with security patches (and you may possibly also receive a One UI 5.1 update), the longer-term prospects of the device are not that great. It does not make a lot of sense to buy a Galaxy S20 Ultra right now unless you are getting it for really cheap.
If you need options outside of Samsung, we also have a list of the best Galaxy S23 alternatives, or you can go with one of our favorite budget phones to save money. It has a better processor, an S Pen, overall improved specs, and a better update promise from Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first non-Note to support an S Pen, even if it didn’t come with one.
At launch, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra costed $1,399 at its base configuration.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S23: What is the difference?
has Mail Privacy Protection ✖ Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra ✖ Samsung Galaxy S23 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 ✖ Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra ✖ Samsung Galaxy S23 This setting (in the default browser) allows you to block cross-site tracking cookies and data to help protect your privacy.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: What is the difference?
has Mail Privacy Protection ✖ Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G ✖ 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. Competing services upload the photos and perform this on their servers, which requires the sharing of personal data.
Samsung Galaxy S20 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G
Specification Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G RAM 8 GB 12 GB CPU 2.73 GHz, Octa Core Processor 3.36 GHz, Octa Core Processor OS Android v10.0 Android v13 Display 6.2 inches, 1440 x 3200 pixels, 120 Hz 6.8 inches, 1440 x 3088 pixels, 120 Hz Battery 4000 mAh, Li-Po Battery 5000 mAh, Li-Po Battery Price ₹34,999 ₹99,999
Samsung Galaxy S20 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Comparison
While they are both high-end flagship devices, they have some distinct differences in terms of design, hardware, and features. The Samsung Galaxy S20 has a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 3200 (WQHD+), refresh rate of 120 Hz, peak brightness of 1200 cd/m² and a contrast ratio of 2000000:1.
On the Samsung Galaxy S23, the display is slightly smaller at 6.1-inches and has a FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340, peak brightness of 1200 cd/m² and a contrast ratio of 3000000:1. Both the Samsung Galaxy S20 and S23 share much of the same connectivity options, such as Bluetooth 5.0, dual SIM, NFC and WiFi 6 (802.11ax).
The S23 does have additional features such as USB Host 3.0, GPS (L1+L5), and eSIM. While the S20 has a larger display and slightly better specs, the S23 has a higher AnTuTu v9 score, more storage options and better camera hardware. In terms of battery, both devices have similar capacities and fast charging capabilities.
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