Samsung Galaxy S23 UltravsXiaomi 14
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Xiaomi 14 wins
Verdict
Xiaomi 14 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Xiaomi 14 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — camera is its standout. At USD 799, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Xiaomi 14 takes Performance — led by ram (12 GB).
- Too close to call between Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Xiaomi 14.
- Xiaomi 14 takes Camera — led by selfie camera (32 MP).
- Xiaomi 14 takes Battery — led by charging speed (90 W).
- Xiaomi 14 takes Price — led by price (799 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 6.36 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 501 ppi vs 460 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 4,610 mAh.
Choose Xiaomi 14 if you want…
- Choose Xiaomi 14 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,000,000 pts vs 1,600,000 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 3,000 nits vs 1,750 nits.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 if you want better video quality — 95 pts vs 94 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 if you want faster charging — 90 W vs 45 W.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 if you want a lower price — 799 USD vs 849 USD.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Xiaomi 14
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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 display matters most. It costs USD 849.
Xiaomi 14
Choose Xiaomi 14 if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 799, 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 14
- Elite chipset
- Leica cameras
- 90 W charging
- Software bloat
- No charger in box
- Limited availability