Samsung Galaxy S23 UltravsSony Xperia 1 VI
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — camera is its standout. At USD 849, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Performance — led by ram (12 GB).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Display — led by pixel density (501 ppi).
- Too close to call between Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Sony Xperia 1 VI.
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Battery — led by charging speed (45 W).
- 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 6.5 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 501 ppi vs 396 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,750 nits vs 1,300 nits.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a better camera — 145 pts vs 143 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 30 W.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a lower price — 849 USD vs 1,299 USD.
Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want…
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,000,000 pts vs 1,600,000 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want better video quality — 95 pts vs 94 pts.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Sony Xperia 1 VI
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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 camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 849, the lowest price in this group.
Sony Xperia 1 VI
Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if camera matters most. It costs USD 1,299.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 200 MP camera
- 10x optical zoom
- S Pen built in
- Heavy
- 45 W charging
- Aging chipset
Sony Xperia 1 VI
- Continuous optical zoom
- Headphone jack
- Creator tools
- Expensive
- 30 W charging
- Only 3 OS updates