Samsung Galaxy S23+ vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra commands a significant premium over the S23+, delivering meaningful upgrades across several key areas. Display quality jumps dramatically with a 6.9-inch QHD+ panel reaching 2600 nits versus the S23+'s 6.6-inch FHD+ at 1750 nits, resulting in sharper, brighter content. Camera capabilities expand substantially: the Ultra's 200MP main sensor with f/1.7 aperture, dual 5x and 3x telephoto lenses, and 50MP ultrawide eclipse the S23+'s setup. Performance improvements include the Snapdragon 8 Elite with faster CPU cores (4.47 GHz vs 3.36 GHz) and superior Adreno 830 GPU. Battery capacity increases modestly to 5000mAh, while both charge at 45W. The S23+ offers solid value for mainstream users prioritizing performance and dependable cameras, but the S25 Ultra justifies its $300 premium for photography enthusiasts and power users needing exceptional display quality, advanced zoom capabilities, and cutting-edge processing power. Choose the S23+ for balanced performance; select the S25 Ultra for flagship camera and display excellence.
Who Should Buy
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
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if…
- →Class-leading 200 MP main camera with 5x periscope zoom
- →Built-in S Pen for note-taking and productivity
- →Bright 2600-nit display with Gorilla Glass Armor 2
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
- Class-leading 200 MP main camera with 5x periscope zoom
- Built-in S Pen for note-taking and productivity
- Bright 2600-nit display with Gorilla Glass Armor 2
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- 7 years of OS and security updates
Cons
- Very expensive at $1299 starting price
- S Pen lost Bluetooth remote features
- Charging speed still capped at 45W
- Large and heavy for one-handed use
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S23+ | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) | Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 195 g | 218 g |
| Material | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps |
| Telephoto | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 50 MP 5x periscope + 10 MP 3x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/1.9 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4700 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W, Wireless PowerShare | 15W Qi2 |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.6 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3120 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1750 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
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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