The Galaxy S23 Ultra continues to be the perfect general cellphone if you’d like a gadget with probably the most variety of options. The cellphone has a elegant 120Hz AMOLED display that’s among the many greatest on Android, the {hardware} is healthier than simply about some other cellphone I’ve used this yr, and I just like the minimalist design. Sure, it would not look too completely different to the S22 Ultra, however the small tweaks that Samsung made to the design make a massive distinction in day by day use, and I do not discover it to be as cumbersome to carry and use as its predecessor. Then there’s the cameras; with a new 200MP lens on the again and versatile auxiliary cameras, the S23 Ultra is a powerhouse on this space.
For
- One of the perfect AMOLED screens out there at present
- Fastest inner {hardware} of any Android cellphone
- Gorgeous design with usability-focused tweaks
- Cameras take gorgeous images and movies
- All the extras you want
- Four assured Android OS updates
Against
- Large and heavy
- Slower charging than Xiaomi 13 Pro
- No charger within the field
I’m not exaggerating after I say that the 13 Pro is Xiaomi’s greatest effort by a lengthy margin. The ceramic design is paying homage to the Mi 11 Ultra, and the cellphone feels fabulous to carry and use — I undoubtedly choose the in-hand really feel to the S23 Ultra regardless that it weighs practically the identical. Xiaomi additionally did a good job with the cameras this yr, and the trio of 50MP cameras on the again together with Leica collaboration permits the 13 Pro to take wonderful images and movies in any state of affairs. MIUI 14 feels a little extra fluid, however you do not get fairly as many options as Samsung, and the 13 Pro will get one fewer Android OS replace. The most irritating factor concerning the 13 Pro is that it is not offered in North America, however when you’re in a nation the place it’s formally out there, it’s a viable various to what Samsung is providing this yr.
For
- Outstanding cameras
- Striking design with wonderful in-hand really feel
- Vibrant AMOLED display with loads of customizability
- Standout {hardware} with IP68 water resistance
- Fast 120W wired and 50W wi-fi charging
Against
- Won’t get as many software program updates as S23 Ultra
- Not offered in North America
- Much extra inexpensive in India/China than different international markets
What are your choices if you wish to purchase the perfect Android cellphone? Samsung is at all times a good wager, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a beautiful design and options one of many strongest {hardware} packages together with versatile cameras that take phenomenal images. Xiaomi additionally has a robust exhibiting this yr within the Xiaomi 13 Pro, providing three 50MP cameras and a new design that is extra in keeping with Ultra variants of years previous. With the Xiaomi 13 Pro now out there in India, the U.Okay., and choose international markets, let’s discover out if it has what it takes to go up in opposition to the S23 Ultra, or when you ought to simply purchase Samsung’s flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: Design
I like Samsung’s design aesthetic with the Galaxy S23 Ultra; not a lot has modified from final yr, however there are delicate tweaks that make holding and utilizing the cellphone a little extra snug. That’s right down to the diminished curvature of the display and the again, and the flatter design means there’s extra alongside the mid-frame to carry on to. Samsung additionally did a nice job with the digicam housing, and the minimalist housing with the rings across the three digicam modules appears to be like elegant.
As for Xiaomi, I by no means fairly know what the model goes to do subsequent. I used all of its flagships during the last 9 years, and there has by no means been design consistency between generations — Xiaomi is perennially altering the design on a yearly foundation, and that is no completely different on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. The cellphone options a ceramic again — just like the Mi 11 Ultra — and has a squarish digicam island on the again that dominates consideration.
The means the island merges with the design is paying homage to the Find X5 Pro, however the impact is not as seamless, and the big housing with sq. traces would not fairly line up with the graceful flowing curves that you’re going to discover in every single place else on the cellphone. Of course, the bigger island means you do not get any wobble when utilizing the 13 Pro on a flat floor — this is not the case on Samsung’s cellphone.
Now, as a lot as I just like the design of the S23 Ultra, this factor is an absolute unit, and is giant and considerably unwieldy. By distinction, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is far more manageable, and at 229g, it’s 5g lighter. On that word, Xiaomi went with aggressive curves at the back and front, so when you’re not a fan of telephones with a dual-curved display, you will not just like the 13 Pro. There continues to be sufficient room on the mid-frame to carry the gadget, but it surely is not a lot; in fact, a case solves this downside.
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The again of the S23 Ultra has a frosted glass end that feels nice in-hand, and whereas I additionally just like the ceramic design of the 13 Pro, it’s a smudge magnet, and I discovered myself having to continually clear it to make sure it appears to be like pristine. Elsewhere, you get dual-SIM connectivity and eSIM as normal on each units, and the 13 Pro has an IR blaster. Both units additionally provide IP68 ingress safety as normal, and with Xiaomi ignoring this function prior to now, it is nice to see the model make amends with the 13 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: Screen
Both Samsung and Xiaomi are identified for providing vibrant AMOLED panels on their telephones, and the S23 Ultra and 13 Pro have two of the perfect screens you may discover at present. The S23 Ultra has a bigger 6.8-inch panel, however the 13 Pro is not far behind with a 6.73-inch display.
Using each units side-by-side, I’ll have to offer a slender edge to the Galaxy S23 Ultra; its display will get marginally brighter open air. That mentioned, the variations between the 2 are minute, and no matter no matter gadget you get, you are assured to love the panel on provide here.
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You get an exhaustive suite of customization choices on each telephones, together with always-on mode, tweaking the colour steadiness, and adjusting the display refresh. Xiaomi continues to be obstinate and limits the display refresh to 60Hz out of the field, and it’s the solely Android model to take action — each different model that has a 120Hz panel has that setting as default out of the field. But on the 13 Pro, you may want to enter the settings to change to the 120Hz mode.
Both units even have stereo sound, and whereas Xiaomi would not have an identical drivers like earlier years, the 13 Pro nonetheless manages to provide stellar sound, and it will get loud and detailed with no distortion at increased volumes. In a related vein, the S23 Ultra’s stereo configuration is greater than sufficient for streaming movies and taking part in video games, and whereas it would not get fairly as loud, it’s detailed.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: Hardware
This has been a good yr for Android {hardware}, and a lot of that’s right down to Qualcomm’s efforts with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The platform has tangible positive factors over final yr — each by way of sustained efficiency and thermal throttling — and is a real powerhouse. As a consequence, the S23 Ultra and Xiaomi 13 Pro are two of the quickest telephones you may discover at present.
Once once more, the S23 Ultra will get a slight edge as Samsung is utilizing a personalized model of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for its units that sees a slight overclock for the Cortex X3 core, bringing it to three.36GHz — the usual 8 Gen 2 on the Xiaomi 13 Pro and different Android flagships goes as much as 3.2GHz. Of course, this doesn’t suggest the S23 Ultra is noticeably sooner than the Xiaomi 13 Pro; we’re infinitesimal modifications here, they usually do not translate to any real-world distinction.
That mentioned, Samsung will get to say that it’s utilizing probably the most highly effective model of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and it’s the solely producer doing so in the meanwhile. Other than that, the S23 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM as normal, and it begins out with 256GB of storage and goes as much as 1TB, with all storage modules based mostly on the newest UFS 4.0 normal.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Xiaomi 13 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| OS | One UI 5.1 based mostly on Android 13 | MIUI 14 based mostly on Android 13 |
| Display | 6.8-inch 120Hz QHD+ (3088 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, HDR10+ | 6.73-inch 120Hz QHD+ (3200×1440) LTPO AMOLED, Gorilla Glass Victus, Dolby Vision |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, 1 x 3.36GHz Cortex X3, 2 x 2.8GHz Cortex A715, 2 x 2.8GHz Cortex A710, 3 x 2.0GHz Cortex A510, Adreno 740, 4nm | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 1 x 3.2GHz Cortex X3, 2 x 2.8GHz Cortex A715, 2 x 2.8GHz Cortex A710, 3 x 2.0GHz Cortex A510, Adreno 740, 4nm |
| RAM | 12GB LPDDR5X | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256GB/512/1TBGB UFS 4.0 | 128GB UFS 3.1, 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 |
| Rear digicam 1 | 200MP 1/1.3-inch f/1.7, 0.6um pixels. OIS, 8K at 24fps, 4K at 60fps | 50MP 1-inch f/1.9 Sony IMX989, 1.6um pixels, OIS, 8K at 24fps, 4K at 60fps, Dolby Vision |
| Rear digicam 2 | 10MP f/4.9, telephoto lens, OIS, 10x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom | 50MP f/2.0, telephoto lens, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom |
| Rear digicam 3 | 10MP f/2.4, telephoto lens, OIS, 3x optical zoom | 50MP f/2.2 wide-angle lens, 115-degree subject of view |
| Rear digicam 4 | 12MP f/2.2 wide-angle lens, 120-degree FoV | None |
| Front digicam | 12MP autofocus | 32MP mounted focus |
| Ingress safety | IP68 mud and water resistance | IP68 mud and water resistance |
| Connectivity | Global Sub-6 5G bands (mmWave in NA), Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, UWB | Global Sub-6 5G bands, Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC |
| Security | In-screen ultrasonic fingerprint module, face unlock | In-screen optical fingerprint module, face unlock |
| Audio | Stereo sound, USB-C, 24-bit/192kHz audio | Stereo sound, USB-C, 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 45W wired charging, 15W wi-fi charging, 4.5W reverse wi-fi charging | 4820mAh, 120W wired charging, 50W wi-fi charging, 10W reverse wi-fi charging |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm, 234g | 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.4mm, 229g |
| Colors | Green, Lime, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, | Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Ceramic Green, Mountain Blue (leather-based) |
Xiaomi, in the meantime, has a 128GB base variant in China that makes use of UFS 3.1, however the international mannequin has 256GB of storage, and there is additionally a 512GB version, with each of those that includes UFS 4.0. While Xiaomi’s base variant has 8GB of RAM, the worldwide fashions provide 12GB of RAM as normal. Elsewhere, you may discover the newest connectivity requirements, with each units providing Sub-6 5G connectivity with international 5G bands, and Samsung has native variants in North America that embody mmWave 5G as effectively.
There’s Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, all of the radios for varied GPS requirements in use globally, and high-res audio codecs. I’d wish to level out that each telephones have a giant vibration motor that delivers wonderful suggestions in day by day use; whether or not that is typically navigation or utilizing the keyboard. I’ll give the sting to Xiaomi here because the x-axis motor it makes use of is pleasant in day by day use, and you’ll tweak the suggestions to a larger extent.
Where Samsung takes an edge is with its cellular funds service, Samsung Pay, and UWB connectivity. Samsung Pay continues to be a good selection for cellular funds on the go, and whereas I’m miffed about the truth that there is not any MST, it nonetheless works over NFC. While it is good to have these added options, I nonetheless do not just like the in-screen fingerprint sensor on the S23 Ultra; the ultrasonic module takes a little longer to authenticate than the optical choice on the 13 Pro.
As for battery life, each units handle to final over a day with ease. This is one other key good thing about Qualcomm’s newest silicon, and having used each the S23 Ultra and 13 Pro extensively over the course of the final two months, I can confidently say that there is not any battery anxiousness in any way on both gadget — no matter utilization.
But in terms of charging tech, Xiaomi has the clear edge; with 120W wired and 50W wi-fi charging, it simply outmatches the 45W wired and 15W wi-fi charging on provide with Samsung’s cellphone. Then there’s the truth that Xiaomi bundles a 120W charger within the field that can be utilized with different units as effectively — it really works over the USB PD 3.0 protocol — and you will want to purchase a charging accent with the S23 Ultra; the one factor included within the field is the cellphone itself and a consumer guide.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: Cameras
Samsung continues to ship a robust digicam bundle with the S23 Ultra, and this yr, the spotlight is the inclusion of a 200MP module that is phenomenal in day by day use. The important digicam has OIS and is joined by a 12MP wide-angle lens, and twin 10MP telephoto lenses with OIS that go as much as 10x optical zoom. Samsung has a host of software-assisted options that allow you to take usable photographs at as much as 30x zoom, and there is additionally 100x zoom — a function that debuted two years in the past.
Xiaomi is doing a lot of fascinating issues on this space as effectively. The 13 Pro is the primary international cellphone from Xiaomi that leverages Leica optics, and it comes with three 50MP cameras on the again, with the primary digicam that includes a gigantic 1-inch lens. Xiaomi allows you to shoot 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR movies from the gadget itself, and it has 8K video at 24fps, with all cameras capable of shoot 4K video at 60fps. For its half, Samsung additionally has 8K at 24fps, and its 4 cameras shoot 4K video at 60fps.
When it involves picture high quality, each the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Xiaomi 13 Pro do an excellent job in all conditions. That’s a given contemplating the caliber of {hardware} on provide and the tuning efforts undertaken by each manufacturers lately. That mentioned, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is ready to dial in on a topic a smidgen sooner than the 13 Pro, and its images have higher vibrancy. The oversaturated look is attribute of Samsung’s telephones, and the resultant photographs look nice whereas sharing on social media.
Xiaomi does a good job as effectively, and the addition of Leica modes means the photographs tackle a distinct tone that wasn’t current in earlier variations of its flagships. You get to decide on between Authentic and Vibrant modes, and I went with the latter. This mode affords saturated colours and a delicate vignette that highlights the general picture a little higher, and the gadget is on par with the S23 Ultra in terms of minimized noise ranges and shade accuracy in conditions with little to no ambient gentle.
Both telephones even have stellar wide-angle lenses, and whereas I like the truth that Xiaomi is doing extra with a zoom lens, the S23 Ultra fares higher when capturing at as much as 10x and past. What’s notably fascinating is the strides each manufacturers made by way of video; the S23 Ultra and Xiaomi 13 Pro have the power to shoot easy footage with out the necessity for a gimbal, and the built-in stabilization works extremely effectively.
Overall, these are two of the perfect digicam packages you may discover on Android, and it comes right down to versatility. I nonetheless suppose Samsung has the sting here, however Xiaomi is not far behind.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: Software
Samsung and Xiaomi did a lot of labor during the last three years to refine their interfaces, and that is evident when utilizing the S23 Ultra and 13 Pro. Let’s begin with Samsung; the S23 Ultra runs One UI 5.1 based mostly on Android 13 out of the field, and it has a fashionable design that feels polished.
Samsung did a nice job integrating all of the options Google launched in Android 13, and there is a lot of customizability out of the field. Of course, you additionally get customized utilities like Good Lock that considerably lengthen the customization choices out there, and if you wish to tweak nearly each aspect of the interface, I extremely suggest giving it a attempt.
As for Xiaomi, I just like the path the model is taking with MIUI. The Xiaomi 13 Pro runs MIUI 14 based mostly on Android 13 out of the field, and whereas the model made a lot of under-the-hood tweaks to make the interface runs smoother — it feels extra fluid than earlier generations — it would not fairly have any main user-facing modifications, and the interface wants a contemporary coat of paint.
To its credit score although, Xiaomi is doing a nice job making certain it would not embody as many pre-installed apps on its telephones, and no matter you may discover on the 13 Pro, you may simply uninstall. This is the place Samsung is on the backfoot; the S23 Ultra has a boatload of bloatware, and whilst you can disable or uninstall most of those providers, it is annoying to see on such a high-end cellphone.
When it involves updates, Samsung continues to set the tone for Android as a entire. My S23 Ultra has acquired month-to-month safety updates on time — Samsung sends it out on the similar time and even sooner than Google for its Pixels — and the cellphone will get 4 assured Android OS updates.
Xiaomi hasn’t finished a lot on this space within the final two years, and the 13 Pro will get three platform updates. I’m not assured in Xiaomi’s capacity to ship these updates on time both; my 12 Pro was the final of the foremost flagships to change to Android 13. And as for safety updates, Xiaomi ensures quarterly updates, and that simply is not sufficient for a flagship — I need to see month-to-month updates like Google and Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: What’s the perfect cellphone for you?
The Xiaomi 13 Pro is without doubt one of the greatest telephones Xiaomi has rolled out thus far, and the cameras alone are well worth the worth of admission. That mentioned, the S23 Ultra additionally has terrific cameras, and Samsung affords extra software program updates and a cleaner interface with extra options.
Ultimately, my suggestion varies based mostly on the area. Considering Xiaomi has no intention to launch its telephones in North America, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the default selection in that area. As for different nations, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is obtainable for ₹79,999 ($976) for the 12GB/256GB mannequin in India, and you will must shell out ₹1,24,999 ($1,526) to get your fingers on the S23 Ultra within the nation. Yes, the S23 Ultra is sweet, but it surely is not ₹45,000 ($550) higher than what Xiaomi is providing, and for my cash, I’d simply get the Xiaomi 13 Pro.
Now, the state of affairs modifications in European markets. In the U.Okay., the Xiaomi 13 Pro is promoting at £1,099 ($1,372) for the 12GB/256GB model, and the S23 Ultra might be had for £1,249 ($1,559). Similarly, the Xiaomi 13 Pro prices €1,299 ($1,435) in Germany, and the S23 Ultra is €1,399 ($1,546). With a distinction of underneath $200, you are higher off with the S23 Ultra; simply the truth that you get yet one more software program replace makes Samsung’s flagship that rather more engaging.
It’s clear that Xiaomi is being aggressive in India and China — two of its largest markets — and in these nations, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is an absolute steal. But in every single place else, you must think about the Galaxy S23 Ultra as a substitute — it’s my favourite all-round cellphone of 2023.
If you need the cellphone with probably the most variety of options, the Galaxy S23 Ultra continues to be the perfect general selection. With a beautiful design, elegant display, the perfect {hardware} at present out there, and versatile cameras that ship excellent images, the S23 Ultra is the plain selection for many customers.
Xiaomi did a magnificent job with the 13 Pro, and the cameras specifically are markedly higher than earlier years. The undeniable fact that the cellphone is offered for significantly decrease than the S23 Ultra in choose international markets makes this a terrific discount.