When you think of Android, chances are that you picture a Google or Samsung smartphone before anything else. Indeed, the two companies offer some of the best hardware and software combinations money can buy. Now that both companies have officially revealed their flagship smartphones for 2023, we can finally pit them against each other. In this comparison, we’ll take a closer look at how the Google Pixel 8 Pro differs from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and help decide which smartphone you should buy.
- The Pixel 8 Pro is significantly cheaper than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
- The Galaxy S23 Ultra is slightly larger and heavier than Google’s Pixel 8 Pro.
- Even though both Android phones share similar dimensions, Samsung has managed to fit an entire stylus within the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
- Google’s in-house Tensor G3 chip found in the Pixel 8 Pro is the company’s fastest yet. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC should run faster and cooler.
- The Galaxy S23 Ultra ships with double the internal storage compared to the base model Pixel 8 Pro. It also relies on faster UFS 4.0 tech for faster transfer speeds.
- The S23 Ultra houses Samsung’s S Pen, while you get a temperature sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro.
- Samsung has given the S23 Ultra a new 200MP sensor, which will likely capture more detail than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 50MP shooter.
- While both smartphones have a periscope lens, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers 10x optical zoom vs. the Pixel 8 Pro’s 5x.
- The Samsung flagship offers an additional 3x zoom sensor.
- The Pixel 8 Pro relies on a slower optical fingerprint reader compared to the S23 Ultra’s ultrasonic technology.
- The S23 Ultra can charge at up to 45W, which is significantly faster than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W maximum.
- Google promises to deliver seven years’ worth of software updates to the Pixel 8 Pro. That’s three years longer than Samsung’s four year OS update commitment.
Pixel 8 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Specs
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch Super Actua OLED 20:9 aspect ratio 2,992 x 1,344 1-120Hz dynamic Smooth Display Gorilla Glass Victus 2 HDR support 1,600 nits brightness for HDR, 2,400 nits peak brightness |
6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED Edge display (curved) 19.3:9 aspect ratio QHD+ resolution (3,088 x 1,440) 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1Hz to 120Hz) Gorilla Glass Victus 2 HDR support |
| Processor | Google Tensor G3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 12 GB | 8GB or 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB. Optional 1TB (US-only) No expandable storage |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB No expandable storage |
| Power | 5,050mAh (typical) 30W wired charging 23W wireless charging (w/Pixel Stand 2nd gen) 12W Qi wireless charging Battery Share |
5,000mAh battery 45W wired charging 15W Qi wireless charging No charger in box |
| Cameras | Rear: – 50MP main 1.2 μm, f/1.68, 82-degree FoV 1/1.31-inch sensor 2x “optical quality” zoom OIS and EIS – 48MP ultra-wide – 48MP telephoto Front: |
Rear: – 200MP main f/1.7, 1/1.3-inch sensor, OIS and EIS – 12MP ultra-wide – 10MP Telephoto, 10x Optical Zoom and 100x Space Zoom – 10MP Telephoto, 3x Optical Zoom Front |
| Audio | Stereo speakers Triple mics Spatial audio Bluetooth 5.3 No 3.5mm port |
Stereo speakers Triple mics Spatial audio Bluetooth 5.3 No 3.5mm port |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Others | Object thermometer Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyrometer Magnetometer Barometer |
Integrated S Pen Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyrometer Magnetometer Barometer |
| Biometrics and security | Face Unlock (highest Android biometric class) Optical Fingerprint Sensor (under-display) Titan M2 security chip |
Face Unlock Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor (under-display) |
| Software | Android 14 Pixel UI 7 years of OS upgrades 7 years of security updates |
Android 13 One UI 5.1 4 years of software OS upgrades 5 years of security updates |
| Dimensions and weight | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm 213g |
163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm 233g |
You won’t have to look at either phone’s spec sheet for long to realize that they pack some of the highest-end specifications in the smartphone market. The Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra both include OLED displays, the latest in processing hardware, large batteries, and capable camera setups. However, the devil’s in the details, and you’ll find plenty of differences if you peel back the layers.