Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: New vs Three-Gen-Old Ultra 2026

Samsung Galaxy S26 is Samsung's premium flagship at $649-999, while Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is Samsung's 2023 Ultra flagship at ~$349 used with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 200MP quad camera, and 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz display with S Pen.

Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S26 wins on titanium build, charging speed, software, and security. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins on ~$349 used price, still has 200MP + S Pen, and is still a capable flagship. Three generations old but SD8 Gen 2 still strong.

Quick Comparison

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Design | Premium (titanium) | Large (aluminum) | | Camera | Excellent (200MP+5x) | Excellent (200MP+10x) | | Price | $649-999 | ~$349 used | | Battery | Excellent (5000mAh) | Excellent (5000mAh) | | Performance | Excellent (SD8 Gen 4) | Very good (SD8 Gen 2) | | Charging | Fast (45W) | Moderate (25W) | | Software | Android (One UI 7) | Android (One UI 5→6) | | Display | QHD+ AMOLED 120Hz | QHD+ AMOLED 120Hz | | Water resistance | IP67/IP68 | IP68 | | S Pen | No | Yes |

8-Dimension Deep Dive

1. Design

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 — titanium. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra large aluminum, three-gen old but still premium.

2. Camera

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — both 200MP but Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has 10x optical vs 5x!

3. Price

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — ~$349 used vs $649-999.

4. Battery Life

Winner: Tie — both 5000mAh.

5. Performance

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 — SD8 Gen 4 faster than SD8 Gen 2.

6. Charging

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 — 45W vs 25W.

7. Software

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 — One UI 7 vs One UI 5/6, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra still supported.

8. Value

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — $349 200MP+S Pen Ultra.

Final Recommendation

| If You Want... | Choose | Why | |----------------|--------|-----| | Best overall | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Titanium, newer | | Budget Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | $349 + 200MP + S Pen + 10x | | Best zoom | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | 200MP + 10x optical! | | Same battery | Tie | Both 5000mAh | | S Pen user | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Built-in S Pen | | Best charging | Samsung Galaxy S26 | 45W vs 25W |

Detailed Specifications

| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |------|-----------|-----------| | Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | | RAM | 8-12GB | 8/12GB | | Storage | 128GB-512GB | 256/512GB/1TB | | Display | 6.7-6.8 inch QHD+ | 6.8 inch QHD+ | | Battery | 4700-5000mAh | 5000mAh | | Water resistance | IP67/IP68 | IP68 | | Charging | 25-45W | 25W | | S Pen | No | Yes |

Camera Deep Dive

| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |---------|-----------|-----------| | Main sensor | 50MP | 200MP | | Ultra-wide | 12MP | 12MP | | Telephoto | 3x/5x optical | 10MP 3x + 10MP 10x | | Video | 4K@60-8K@30fps | 8K@30fps | | Front camera | 12MP | 12MP | | Night mode | Excellent | Excellent |

Display Comparison

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | | Size | 6.7-6.8 inch | 6.8 inch | | Resolution | QHD+ 1440p | QHD+ 1440p | | Refresh rate | 120Hz adaptive | 120Hz adaptive | | Brightness | 2600 nits | 1750 nits |

Gaming Performance

| Game | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |------|-----------|--------| | Genshin Impact | 55-60fps | 50-58fps | | Call of Duty | 55-60fps | 55-60fps |

Software Support

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Latest OS | One UI 7 | One UI 5→6 | | Update duration | 4-5 years | Still supported |

Charging Speed

| Metric | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Max wired | 25-45W | 25W | | Max wireless | 15W | 15W | | 0-50% | 20-25min | 45-50min | | 0-100% | 50-55min | 100-110min |

Battery Details

| Metric | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Capacity | 4700-5000mAh | 5000mAh | | Screen-on time | 10-12h | 9-11h |

Build Quality

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Frame | Titanium | Aluminum | | Back | Gorilla Glass Armor | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | | Weight | 190-232g | 234g | | Water resistance | IP67/IP68 | IP68 | | S Pen | No | Yes (built-in) |

Common Questions

| Question | Answer | |----------|--------| | Is S23 Ultra still good? | Yes — SD8 Gen 2 strong, 200MP, S Pen, still supported | | Which has better camera? | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — both 200MP but 10x optical! | | Same battery? | Yes — both 5000mAh | | Which has S Pen? | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra only | | Which is better value? | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — $349 Ultra-class |

Price Analysis

| Scenario | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |----------|-----------|-----------| | New retail | $649-999 | Discontinued | | Used/refurb | $500-800 | $250-349 | | Monthly installment | $27-42/mo | $12/mo |

Value Proposition

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Performance/price | High | Very high | | Camera/price | High | Very high (200MP+10x!) | | Display/price | Very high | High | | Battery/price | High | Very high (5000mAh!) | | Overall value | Very good | Excellent (budget Ultra) |

Feature Comparison

| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |---------|-----------|-----------| | Fingerprint | Ultrasonic in-display | Ultrasonic in-display | | Face unlock | 2D | 2D | | Samsung DeX | Yes | Yes | | NFC | Yes | Yes | | S Pen | No | Yes |

Performance Benchmarks

| Benchmark | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |-----------|-----------|-----------| | AnTuTu | 2.1M+ | 1.5M+ | | Geekbench 6 SC | 3000+ | 2000+ | | Geekbench 6 MC | 9500+ | 5500+ |

Camera Analysis

| Scenario | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |----------|-----------|-----------| | Daylight | Excellent | Excellent | | Indoor | Very good | Very good | | Night | Excellent | Excellent | | Portrait | Excellent | Excellent | | Video | 4K@60-8K@30 | 8K@30 | | Zoom | 5x optical | 10x optical |

Gaming Details

| Game | Settings | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |------|----------|-----------|-----------| | Genshin | Medium | 60fps | 55-58fps | | Genshin | High | 55-60fps | 48-52fps | | COD Mobile | Medium | 60fps | 60fps |

User Reviews

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 Rating | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Rating | |--------|------------------|------------------| | Overall | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 | | Camera | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 | | Battery | 4.4/5 | 4.2/5 | | Value | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |

Extended Comparison

| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |---------|-----------|-----------| | SIM | Nano + eSIM | Nano + eSIM | | Storage expansion | No | No | | 3.5mm jack | No | No | | USB | Type-C 3.2 | Type-C 3.2 | | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E/7 | Wi-Fi 6E | | Bluetooth | 5.3/5.4 | 5.3 |

Best Use Cases

| Use Case | Best Choice | Why | |----------|-------------|-----| | Premium buyer | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Titanium, newer | | Budget Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | $349 + 200MP + 10x + S Pen | | Best zoom | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | 200MP + 10x optical | | Same battery | Tie | Both 5000mAh | | S Pen user | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Only option with S Pen | | Best charging | Samsung Galaxy S26 | 45W vs 25W |

S Pen Comparison

| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |---------|-----------|-----------| | S Pen | Not supported | Built-in | | Handwriting | No | Yes | | Air gestures | No | Yes | | Drawing | No | Full S Pen |

Three-Gen Ultra Gap

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 (2026) | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023) | |--------|-----------------|-----------------| | Year | 2026 | 2023 | | Chip | SD8 Gen 4 | SD8 Gen 2 | | Camera | 200MP+5x | 200MP+10x | | Charging | 45W | 25W | | Battery | 5000mAh | 5000mAh (same!) | | Display | QHD+ 6.7" 2600nits | QHD+ 6.8" 1750nits | | Build | Titanium | Aluminum | | Price | $649-999 | ~$349 used | | S Pen | No | Yes | | Software | One UI 7 | One UI 5→6 | | Zoom | 5x optical | 10x optical |

Price Comparison

Software Ecosystem

| Feature | Both Samsung | |---------|-------------| | App store | Galaxy + Play Store | | Cloud | Samsung + Google | | SmartThings | Full support | | Samsung Health | Full support | | Samsung Pay | Full support | | Samsung DeX | Full support |

Ecosystem Value

| Device | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | SmartWatch | Full | Full | | Earbuds | Full | Full | | Tablet | Full | Full | | Laptop | Full | Full | | Smart home | Full | Full |

Software Features

| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |---------|-----------|-----------| | Samsung Knox | Yes | Yes | | Secure Folder | Yes | Yes | | Galaxy AI | Full | Partial | | S Pen | No | Yes | | Samsung DeX | Yes | Yes |

Size Comparison

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Height | 158mm | 163mm | | Width | 77mm | 76mm | | Thickness | 8mm | 8.9mm | | Weight | 190-232g | 234g | | Screen size | 6.7-6.8" | 6.8" |

Long-term Ownership

| Factor | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Update support | 4-5 years | Still supported | | Battery degradation | Minimal | Moderate (3yr) | | Performance longevity | Excellent | Very good | | Resale after 1yr | 65% | 40-50% |

Connectivity

| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |---------|-----------|-----------| | 5G | Sub-6 + mmWave | Sub-6 + mmWave | | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E/7 | Wi-Fi 6E | | Bluetooth | 5.3/5.4 | 5.3 | | NFC | Yes | Yes | | USB | Type-C 3.2 | Type-C 3.2 |

AI Features

| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |---------|-----------|-----------| | Photo editing | AI eraser v2 | AI eraser | | Translation | Live Translate | Live Translate | | Search | Circle to Search | Circle to Search | | Note assist | Full | Partial |

Durability

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Screen protection | Gorilla Glass Armor | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | | Frame | Titanium | Aluminum | | Water resistance | IP67/IP68 | IP68 | | Drop resistance | Excellent | Very good |

Resale Value

| Timeframe | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |-----------|-----------|--------| | After 1 year | 65-70% | 40-50% | | After 2 years | 50-55% | 25-30% |

Security Updates

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Security patches | Monthly | Monthly (still) | | Banking apps | Safe | Safe |

S Pen Advantage

User Demographics

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 Buyer | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Buyer | |--------|----------------|----------------| | Income | Upper middle | Middle | | Priority | Best experience | Budget Ultra | | S Pen need | No | Yes |

Three-Gen Ultra Comparison

| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy S26 (2026) | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023) | |--------|-----------------|-----------------| | Year | 2026 | 2023 | | Chip | SD8 Gen 4 | SD8 Gen 2 | | Camera | 200MP+5x | 200MP+10x (better zoom!) | | Charging | 45W | 25W | | Battery | 5000mAh | 5000mAh (same!) | | Display | QHD+ 6.7" 2600nits | QHD+ 6.8" 1750nits | | Build | Titanium | Aluminum | | Price | $649-999 | ~$349 used | | S Pen | No | Yes | | Software | One UI 7 | One UI 5→6 | | Zoom | 5x optical | 10x optical |