Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: which one is best?

As a diehard Android fan, I compare the latest flagships every device refresh cycle in my search for the ideal mobile powerhouse. The new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra competes with the Google Pixel 8 Pro for serious smartphone dominance. On paper, these two massive gadgets have next-gen silicon, computational photographic brilliance, cinema-quality visuals, AI-enhanced experiences, and unbelievable all-day endurance.

However, important distinctions in One UI customisation, S Pen integration, low-light photography, and software support remain. Consider stylus use versus Android compatibility. As much as I like Samsung pushing the premium market, I like Google’s simplicity and creativity. Can the Pixel 8 Pro’s smooth hardware and Pixel experience ultimately convince me to ditch Samsung’s overstuffed features?

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Pricing

When compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which has a more steep initial price of $1199, the Pixel 8 Pro has a more affordable starting price of $1049. For that additional expense, you will receive a camera that is more versatile, with a lens that can zoom 10 times, as well as the ability to use the S Pen as a stylus. It’s a premium feature trade-off: pure photo prowess and clean software vs zoom adaptability and S Pen efficiency, and it all happens inside a price difference of $150. Use your discretion!

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Comparison Table

The S23 Ultra isn’t the ‘greatest Android phone’ for nothing. Direct use will likely determine my pick between these flagship leviathans. The hunt continues!

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Design

The Pixel 8 Pro, which was just released, is about the same size as its predecessor. This is different from the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which is a bit bigger. The second one, which is slightly taller and wider, feels much bigger because it is made of more blocks. It’s clear that the handle is different since it weighs 21g more. The Victus 2 phones both have Gorilla Glass fronts and backs, frosted glass on the backs, and aluminium frames.

However, there are differences in how they work. For example, the Pixel’s visual fingerprint reader is a little slower than the Galaxy’s ultrasonic one, which works perfectly in the dark. The Pixel 8 Pro comes in three nice colours, while the Galaxy has an impressive eight colour range. The S23 Ultra’s best feature is the S Pen that comes with it; you won’t find this on other top phones, not even the Pixel series.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Display

Significant developments have been made in the displays of this year’s Pixels, which are notably noteworthy. An impressive manual brightness measurement of 954 nits was achieved by the Pixel 8 Pro, which had the amazing Super Actua display. This result was significantly higher than the 831 nits achieved by the Galaxy S23 Ultra. With the auto brightness mode, the Pixel reached a brightness of 1,600 nits, which was higher than the Samsung’s 1,274 nits when exposed to bright light.

Additionally, the Pixel displays adaptive refresh rate behaviour, frequently idling at 1Hz. This is a transparent feature that the Galaxy does not communicate as effectively as it does. While both versions support HDR10 and HDR10+, they do not support Dolby Vision. Both models have excellent colour calibration, making them suitable for color-sensitive work.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Performance and Battery

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is a flagship smartphone that is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip that is slightly overclocked and is exclusive to the device. Additionally, it has 12 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM) and up to one terabyte of storage space that is not extensible. Featuring an improved vapour chamber cooling mechanism that allows for effective heat dissipation, the S23 Ultra offers exceptional performance and a phenomenal battery life that lasts for two days.

Additionally, it is capable of supporting cable charging of up to 45 watts. It is worth noting that Google’s Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with a Tensor G3 processor that was created just for it, along with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage space. Although it offers performance that is comparable to that of its competitors, the Pixel 8 Pro is slightly behind in terms of battery capacity and wired charging speed.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Cameras

The Pixel 8 Pro, which is Google’s flagship smartphone, has a strong camera configuration that includes a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens with a 5-times optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel primary lens. The front-facing camera with 10.5 megapixels is particularly good at taking selfies.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, on the other hand, is a remarkable device that boasts a massive 200-megapixel primary camera, two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses with a 3x and periscope 10-times optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. It is a close fight between Samsung and Google’s Pixel 8 Pro because Google’s Pixel 8 Pro excels in AI-powered features such as Night Sight for video and Best Take for group images. Samsung’s zoom capabilities are particularly impressive.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: which one should you buy?

Which one you choose between the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra depends on your tastes. Realistic colour tones, AI-powered features, and great post-processing are all things that the Pixel 8 Pro does very well. On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 Ultra stands out thanks to its huge 200MP main camera and great zoom features. The choice depends on how important style and features are to the person.

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