Motorola Edge 50 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Both phones command the same $999 price point but take distinctly different approaches. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra prioritizes cutting-edge display technology with its 6.7-inch 144Hz LTPO pOLED screen reaching 2500 nits, paired with the newer Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and superior charging speeds (125W wired, 50W wireless). Its camera system impresses with a larger 1/1.3" main sensor, 50MP front shooter, and 64MP periscope telephoto. Samsung Galaxy S23+ counters with proven Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance, a more compact form factor (7.6mm thin), and practical 8K video recording. However, it lags in display refresh rate (120Hz vs 144Hz), brightness (1750 vs 2500 nits), RAM options (8GB vs 12-16GB), and charging capabilities. For flagship aspirations and multimedia consumption, Edge 50 Ultra's superior display and newer silicon provide better longevity. Galaxy S23+ suits those valuing compactness and software maturity, though its aging chipset and weaker charging feel dated at this price tier.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra if…
- →Versatile triple 50MP+ camera with periscope telephoto
- →Extremely fast 125W wired and 50W wireless charging
- →Bright 144Hz LTPO pOLED display
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
Pros
- Versatile triple 50MP+ camera with periscope telephoto
- Extremely fast 125W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Bright 144Hz LTPO pOLED display
- Premium materials including vegan leather and wood options
- Clean near-stock Android
Cons
- Only 4500 mAh battery (small for a flagship)
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is a step below the 8 Gen 3
- Limited software update commitment vs rivals
- Curved display not for everyone
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
Full Specifications
| Spec | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 197 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, vegan leather or wood back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 72.4 x 8.6 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS, 1/1.3" Omnivision OV50H | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 50 MP, f/1.9 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP 3x periscope, f/2.4, OIS | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.0, 122-degree, autofocus | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 125W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 50W wireless | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | LTPO pOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2712 x 1220 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2500 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 + 4x2.8 GHz A720 + 3x2.0 GHz A520) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 735 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 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.
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