Samsung Galaxy S23 UltravsXiaomi 14 Ultra
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Xiaomi 14 Ultra wins
Verdict
Xiaomi 14 Ultra wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 1,099 — USD 250 more than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra takes Performance — led by ram (16 GB).
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra takes Display — led by peak brightness (3,000 nits).
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra takes Camera — led by selfie camera (32 MP).
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra takes Battery — led by charging speed (90 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 6.73 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a lower price — 849 USD vs 1,099 USD.
Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want…
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,000,000 pts vs 1,600,000 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want more apps open at once — 16 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want more room for photos and apps — 512 GB vs 256 GB.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 522 ppi vs 501 ppi.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 3,000 nits vs 1,750 nits.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want better video quality — 96 pts vs 94 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want a better camera — 153 pts vs 145 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you want faster charging — 90 W vs 45 W.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra
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 price matters most. It costs USD 849, the lowest price in this group.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 1,099.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 200 MP camera
- 10x optical zoom
- S Pen built in
- Heavy
- 45 W charging
- Aging chipset
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
- 1-inch main sensor
- 5x periscope zoom
- 90 W charging
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Software bloat