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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

Side-by-side comparison of specifications, price, camera, battery and performance in India

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

₹84,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

₹79,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 FE: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is priced lower at ₹79,999, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹5,000.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra features a — display. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE offers 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE has a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE wins
Performance

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra runs the —. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is powered by the Samsung Exynos 2400. Different chipsets mean benchmark scores and power efficiency will vary; check independent reviews for real-world impact.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE has 50MP + 12MP + 8MP. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE uses 4900 mAh, 45W. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE has a larger 4900 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE wins
Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra runs —. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE ships with Android 16, One UI 8.5. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

70%

Good

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

₹84,999

Pros

  • 10× periscope optical zoom is unique and unmatched in this price range after discounts — delivers Space Zoom up to 100×
  • S Pen with low latency makes note-taking, sketching, and document signing natural and responsive
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 still delivers top-tier gaming and AI performance 2 years after launch
  • At its 2025 discounted price, the S23 Ultra offers better zoom capability than phones double its price

Cons

  • 4-year OS update promise (not the 7 years introduced with S24 series) — it will stop receiving updates sooner
  • At 234g it is heavy — the heaviest phone in this list
  • No anti-reflective coating on the display (introduced with S24 Ultra)
  • Wi-Fi 6E (not Wi-Fi 7 as in S24 Ultra and S25)

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

₹79,999

Pros

  • Galaxy AI features at ₹69,999
  • IP68 water resistance
  • Long 7-year software support
  • Triple camera with 3× telephoto
  • 45W fast charging

Cons

  • Exynos 2400 is older than Exynos 2600 in S26
  • FHD+ resolution — not QHD like S26+
  • No S Pen support
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 FE — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Starting Price
₹84,999
₹79,999
Lower price
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
September 2026
User Rating
—
—
Available colours
2 options
Mint, Graphite
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Screen Size
6.8 inches
—
Resolution
3088 × 1440 px QHD+
2340 × 1080 (FHD+)
Panel Type
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
—
Refresh Rate
1–120Hz LTPO
1–120Hz (adaptive)
Brightness
2200 nits peak
—
Size
—
6.7 inches
Type
—
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Protection
—
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Processor
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm)
Samsung Exynos 2400
CPU Cores
Octa-core (1× 3.36GHz + 2× 2.8GHz + 2× 2.8GHz + 3× 2.0GHz)
—
GPU
Adreno 740
—
RAM
12GB LPDDR5
8 GB LPDDR5X
Storage
256GB / 512GB UFS 4.0
128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1
Architecture
—
4nm
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Main Camera
200MP f/1.7 OIS
—
Periscope Telephoto
10MP f/4.9 OIS (10× optical)
—
Telephoto
10MP f/2.4 OIS (3× optical)
8 MP, f/2.4, 3× optical zoom
Ultra-Wide Camera
12MP f/2.2
—
Front Camera
12MP f/2.2
12 MP, f/2.2
Video Recording
8K @ 30fps
—
Main
—
50 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Ultra-wide
—
12 MP, f/2.2
Video
—
4K @60fps
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
—
Charging Speed
45W wired
—
Wireless Charging
15W (Qi)
15W wireless
Reverse Wireless
4.5W
—
Capacity
—
4900 mAh
Wired Charging
—
45W super fast charging
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
5.4
USB
USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
USB-C 3.2
NFC
Yes
Yes
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Body Material
Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back
—
IP Rating
IP68
—
S Pen
Built-in S Pen, 2.8ms latency
—
Dimensions
163.3 × 78.1 × 8.9 mm
161.3 × 76.6 × 7.4 mm
Weight
234g
190 g
Fingerprint Sensor
Under-display (ultrasonic)
—
Water Resistance
—
IP68
SIM
—
Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
OS at Launch
Android 13
—
UI
One UI 5.1
One UI 8.5
AI Features
Galaxy AI via software update (One UI 6.1)
Galaxy AI (Now Assist, Photo Assist, Creative Studio)
Update Promise
4 years OS, 5 years security
—
OS
—
Android 16
Updates
—
7 years OS + security
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

12GB RAM / 256GB
₹84,999
12GB RAM / 512GB
₹99,999

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

8GB RAM / 128GB· Mint
₹69,999
8GB RAM / 256GB· Graphite
₹79,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 FE: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S26 FE?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S26 FE target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE starts at ₹79,999 and offers 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz with Samsung Exynos 2400. If battery life is the priority, compare their mAh capacities. If display quality matters, compare refresh rates and panel types. Neither has a universal advantage — the choice depends on your use case and ecosystem preference.
What is the price difference between Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S26 FE?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at ₹84,999 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE starts at ₹79,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹5,000. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S26 FE?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE provides 50MP + 12MP + 8MP. Camera quality depends on factors beyond megapixels — including sensor size, aperture, OIS, and computational photography. For the most accurate comparison, refer to independent review sites that run controlled camera tests in the same conditions.
Which phone has longer battery life: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S26 FE?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE includes 4900 mAh, 45W. Battery life also depends on the display resolution, refresh rate, and software optimisation. A larger mAh does not guarantee proportionally longer life if the display or processor is more power-hungry.
Is Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra still a good phone in 2025?
Yes, particularly at its discounted price of around ₹84,999. The 200MP camera, 10× optical zoom, S Pen, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and IP68 rating remain class-leading features. The key limitation is the 4-year OS update promise (ending around 2027) versus the S24/S25 series' 7-year commitment. If long-term software support is a priority, choose S24 Ultra.
What is the difference between Galaxy S26 FE and Galaxy S26?
The Galaxy S26 FE (₹69,999) uses the Exynos 2400 chip (from the 2025 flagship), while the Galaxy S26 (₹87,999) runs the newer Exynos 2600 (2nm). Both have IP68, 7-year updates and Galaxy AI. The S26 also has a slightly smaller and denser display. For most users, the FE offers 80% of the flagship experience at 20% less cost.
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Editorial note

Specifications on Gadzela are sourced from official brand announcements and cross-referenced against published datasheets. Prices shown reflect India launch prices and may vary by retailer or over time. Always verify before purchasing. This page does not contain sponsored placements.