Apple iPhone 8 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Verdict
Comparing a 2017 flagship against a 2023 flagship reveals dramatic technological advancement. iPhone 8 Plus offers reliable iOS performance with dual cameras and solid build quality at an aggressive legacy price point, but suffers from a cramped 1080p LCD display, modest 3GB RAM, and aging A11 Bionic processor. Galaxy S23 Ultra dominates with a stunning 120Hz AMOLED display reaching 2200 nits brightness, superior 200MP main camera with multiple zoom options, 5G connectivity, USB-C, and 12GB RAM powering the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Battery capacity nearly doubles (5000mAh vs 2691mAh), and charging speeds quadruple. While the iPhone 8 Plus remains serviceable for basic tasks, the S23 Ultra's camera system, display quality, processing power, and modern features make it substantially better for demanding users willing to invest in current-generation technology.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 8 Plus if…
- →Wireless charging added to iPhone for the first time
- →Portrait Lighting effects for depth photography
- →Powerful A11 Bionic chipset
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if…
- →200 MP main camera with versatile 3x and 10x telephoto lenses
- →Built-in S Pen with Bluetooth air actions retained
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers class-leading performance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Pros
- Wireless charging added to iPhone for the first time
- Portrait Lighting effects for depth photography
- Powerful A11 Bionic chipset
- True Tone display technology
- Touch ID still preferred by many users
Cons
- Dated thick-bezel home button design
- Large bezels waste screen real estate
- Glass back cracks easily
- No headphone jack
- Overshadowed by iPhone X launch
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Pros
- 200 MP main camera with versatile 3x and 10x telephoto lenses
- Built-in S Pen with Bluetooth air actions retained
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers class-leading performance
- Bright 2200-nit display readable in direct sunlight
- IP68 dust and water resistance
Cons
- Very heavy at 234 g, tiring for extended use
- Thick 8.9 mm body compared to rivals
- 45W charging is slow for a $1199 flagship
- No significant camera hardware upgrade over S22 Ultra main sensor
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 8 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 11 | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 234 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.8, 2x optical zoom | 10 MP 10x periscope + 10 MP 3x optical |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2691 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.5 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 2200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.39 GHz + 4x1.7 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (3-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A11 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 8 Plus or the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Press ? for keyboard shortcuts