Samsung Galaxy S23 UltravsAsus ROG Phone 9 Pro
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro wins
Verdict
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — performance is its standout. It costs USD 1,199 — USD 350 more than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Pay the premium if performance is your priority.
- Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro takes Performance — led by ram (16 GB).
- Too close to call between Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
- Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro takes Camera — led by selfie camera (32 MP).
- Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro takes Battery — led by battery (5,800 mAh).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Price — led by price (849 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a bigger screen — 6.8 in vs 6.78 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 501 ppi vs 388 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a better camera — 145 pts vs 138 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a lower price — 849 USD vs 1,199 USD.
Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want…
- Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,400,000 pts vs 1,600,000 pts.
- Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want more apps open at once — 16 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want more room for photos and apps — 512 GB vs 256 GB.
- Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want smoother scrolling — 185 Hz vs 120 Hz.
- Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,500 nits vs 1,750 nits.
- Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want longer battery life — 5,800 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you want faster charging — 65 W vs 45 W.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if price matters most. It costs USD 849, the lowest price in this group.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
Choose Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if performance matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 1,199.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 200 MP camera
- 10x optical zoom
- S Pen built in
- Heavy
- 45 W charging
- Aging chipset
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
- Fastest Android chipset
- 185 Hz display
- 5,800 mAh battery
- Very expensive
- Average cameras
- Bulky