Samsung Galaxy S23 UltravsXiaomi 13T Pro
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Xiaomi 13T Pro wins
Verdict
Xiaomi 13T Pro wins 2 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Xiaomi 13T Pro is the overall winner, 2 / 5 — display is its standout. At USD 599, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Too close to call between Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Xiaomi 13T Pro.
- Xiaomi 13T Pro takes Display — led by refresh rate (144 Hz).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Camera — led by camera score (145 pts).
- Too close to call between Xiaomi 13T Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
- Xiaomi 13T Pro takes Price — led by price (599 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 faster phone for apps and games — 1,600,000 pts vs 1,400,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a bigger screen — 6.8 in vs 6.67 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 501 ppi vs 446 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a better camera — 145 pts vs 137 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose Xiaomi 13T Pro if you want…
- Choose Xiaomi 13T Pro if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Xiaomi 13T Pro if you want smoother scrolling — 144 Hz vs 120 Hz.
- Choose Xiaomi 13T Pro if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,600 nits vs 1,750 nits.
- Choose Xiaomi 13T Pro if you want sharper selfies — 20 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Xiaomi 13T Pro if you want faster charging — 120 W vs 45 W.
- Choose Xiaomi 13T Pro if you want a lower price — 599 USD vs 849 USD.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Xiaomi 13T Pro
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.
Xiaomi 13T Pro
Choose Xiaomi 13T Pro if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 599, 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
Xiaomi 13T Pro
- Dimensity 9200+
- 120 W charging
- Leica cameras
- Software bloat
- No wireless charging
- Heating under load