OnePlus 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Verdict
OnePlus 13 delivers significantly better value at $300 less, pairing Snapdragon 8 Elite processing with a superior 6000mAh battery, 120Hz adaptive display reaching 4500 nits, and faster 100W charging. Camera capabilities favor Samsung's 200MP main sensor and dual telephoto system, though OnePlus's 50MP triple setup with larger 1/1.3-inch main sensor performs admirably in real-world conditions. Software maturity tilts toward Samsung's One UI, while OnePlus prioritizes performance and responsiveness. Battery life clearly advantages OnePlus with 6000mAh capacity versus 5000mAh, coupled with superior charging speeds (100W vs 45W wired, 50W vs 15W wireless). Display brightness advantage goes decisively to OnePlus at 4500 nits peak versus 2200 nits. Unless you specifically need Samsung's zoom prowess and refined software experience, OnePlus 13 offers compelling flagship performance and endurance at a significantly lower price point.
Who Should Buy
Buy the OnePlus 13 if…
- →Massive 6000 mAh silicon-carbon battery
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers class-leading performance
- →100W wired and 50W wireless fast charging
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
OnePlus 13
Pros
- Massive 6000 mAh silicon-carbon battery
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers class-leading performance
- 100W wired and 50W wireless fast charging
- Hasselblad-tuned triple Sony camera system
- IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance
Cons
- Only 4 years of OS updates (vs 7 from Google/Samsung)
- Telephoto is just 3x (no periscope)
- OxygenOS 15 has more bloat than past versions
- Curved display still polarizing for some users
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 | OnePlus 13 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 (OxygenOS 15) | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 210 g | 234 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 7i | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68/IP69 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS (Sony LYT-808) | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60/120fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 50 MP, f/2.6, 3x optical zoom (Sony LYT-600) | 10 MP 10x periscope + 10 MP 3x optical |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.0, 120-degree | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 6000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 100W SuperVOOC wired (80W in US) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 50W AirVOOC | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.82 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 3168 x 1440 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 1-120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 4500 | 2200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L & 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | 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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