Samsung Galaxy S23 UltravsOnePlus 12R
TOO CLOSEUpdated September 8, 2026
Your call
Verdict
Too close to call — it comes down to your priorities
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and OnePlus 12R trade category wins — Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in Camera; OnePlus 12R in Display. Decide by the category you actually use most, then check the price.
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Performance — led by storage (256 GB).
- OnePlus 12R takes Display — led by peak brightness (4,500 nits).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Too close to call between Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and OnePlus 12R.
- OnePlus 12R takes Price — led by price (499 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 more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- 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 450 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want better video quality — 94 pts vs 92 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a better camera — 145 pts vs 128 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose OnePlus 12R if you want…
- Choose OnePlus 12R if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 4,500 nits vs 1,750 nits.
- Choose OnePlus 12R if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose OnePlus 12R if you want longer battery life — 5,500 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose OnePlus 12R if you want faster charging — 100 W vs 45 W.
- Choose OnePlus 12R if you want a lower price — 499 USD vs 849 USD.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- OnePlus 12R
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
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 camera matters most. It costs USD 849.
OnePlus 12R
Choose OnePlus 12R if display matters most. It costs USD 499, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 200 MP camera
- 10x optical zoom
- S Pen built in
- Heavy
- 45 W charging
- Aging chipset
OnePlus 12R
- Fast chipset
- 100 W charging
- 5,500 mAh battery
- Average cameras
- No wireless charging
- Curved screen