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OnePlus Nord 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Updated Apr 2026phones
OnePlus Nord 4
OnePlus
OnePlus Nord 4
$499
8.3/10
VS
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
$1,200
8.7/10

The Verdict

OnePlus Nord 4 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra serve vastly different market segments. The Nord 4 delivers impressive flagship performance at half the price, featuring a larger 6.74-inch display with superior 2150-nit brightness, faster 100W charging, and a massive 5500 mAh battery that easily outlasts competitors. Its 50 MP main camera with OIS and Sony LYT-600 sensor handles everyday photography excellently. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra justifies its $1200 premium through a genuinely superior camera system: 200 MP main sensor, dual optical telephoto lenses (3x and 10x), and 8K video recording capability make it unmatched for photography enthusiasts. The S23 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy also edges out the Nord 4's Snapdragon 7+ in sustained performance and gaming. The Galaxy's 3088 x 1440 resolution surpasses Nord 4's 2772 x 1240, though both displays excel. Build quality favors Samsung with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Armor Aluminum, while OnePlus keeps things lighter at 199.5g versus 234g. Battery capacity alone doesn't tell the full story: Nord 4's superior charging speed partially compensates for smaller real-world endurance. For value-conscious buyers wanting flagship features, OnePlus Nord 4 is exceptional. For camera quality and performance requiring no compromises, Galaxy S23 Ultra remains the better choice despite significant cost.

ValueNord 4
CameraS23 Ultra
BatteryNord 4
DisplayS23 Ultra
PerformanceS23 Ultra

Who Should Buy

Buy the OnePlus Nord 4 if…

  • Unique all-metal aluminum unibody design
  • Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 punches above its class
  • Large 5500 mAh battery with 100W 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

OnePlus Nord 4
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Value
9.2
7.0
Camera
8.0
9.2
Battery
9.0
7.8
Display
8.5
9.0
Performance
8.0
8.9

Pros & Cons

OnePlus Nord 4

Pros

  • Unique all-metal aluminum unibody design
  • Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 punches above its class
  • Large 5500 mAh battery with 100W charging
  • Bright 2150-nit LTPO AMOLED display
  • Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 at mid-range price

Cons

  • Weak 8 MP ultrawide camera
  • No wireless charging
  • Only IP65 splash resistance
  • USB-C 2.0 (slow data transfer)
  • Not officially sold in North America

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

SpecOnePlus Nord 4Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
SoftwareAndroid 14 (OxygenOS 14.1)Android 13, One UI 5.1
Body
Weight199.5 g234 g
MaterialAluminum unibodyArmor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
IP ratingIP65IP68
Dimensions162.6 x 75.0 x 8.0 mm163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm
Camera
Main camera50 MP, f/1.8, OIS (Sony LYT-600)200 MP, f/1.7, OIS
Front camera16 MP, f/2.412 MP, f/2.2
Video4K@30fps8K@30fps, 4K@60fps
Ultrawide8 MP, f/2.2, 112-degree12 MP, f/2.2
Telephoto10 MP 10x periscope + 10 MP 3x optical
Memory
RAM12 GB12 GB
Storage options256 GB, 512 GB256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Battery
Capacity5500 mAh5000 mAh
Charging100W SuperVOOC wired45W wired
Wireless chargingNo15W
Display
Size6.74 inches6.8 inches
TypeLTPO AMOLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO
Resolution2772 x 12403088 x 1440
Refresh rate1-120Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)21502200
Processor
CPUOcta-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x1.9 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz)
GPUAdreno 732Adreno 740
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBUSB-C 2.0USB-C 3.2
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth5.45.3

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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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