Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VII
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, while the Sony Xperia 1 VII (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite; launch prices were $1199 and $1295. By overall MobileRank rating, the Sony Xperia 1 VII leads — 71/100 vs 70/100 (a 1-point difference). Key differences: the main camera is 200 MP vs 48 MP; the Sony Xperia 1 VII is faster in AnTuTu (2,994,112 vs 1,684,869); the Sony Xperia 1 VII is noticeably lighter (197g vs 234g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Sony Xperia 1 VII
What makes Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra better?
- Faster charging: 45W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- Cheaper at launch: $1199 vs $1295
- Better camera (73/100 vs 54/100)
- Longer battery life (56/100 vs 53/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 80/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 1 VII better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 2994112 vs 1684869
- Better Geekbench Single: 3094 vs 2004
- Better Geekbench Multi: 9293 vs 5311
- Lighter: 197g vs 234g
- Higher performance (91/100 vs 75/100)
- Better portability (58/100 vs 29/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs the Sony Xperia 1 VII, the Sony Xperia 1 VII scores 1 points higher (71/100 vs 70/100). In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VII leads (91/100 vs 75/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra leads (73/100 vs 54/100). Value score: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — 50/100, Sony Xperia 1 VII — 52/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VII notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (91/100 vs 75/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a bit better (88/100 vs 80/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 VII (73/100 vs 54/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 VII are nearly equal (56/100 vs 53/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VII notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (58/100 vs 29/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Sony Xperia 1 VII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | |
| AnTuTu | 1684869 | 2994112 | |
| Geekbench Single | 2004 | 3094 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 5311 | 9293 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.5" OLED | |
| Resolution | 1440x3088 | 2340x1080 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 45W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 15W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 140 | — | |
| Main camera | 200 MP | 48 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MP | |
| Telephoto | 10 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB | |
| OS | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 | Android 15 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 1750 nits | 800 nits | |
| NFC | yes | — | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 163.4×78.1×8.9 mm | 157.0×72.0×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 234 g | 197 g | |
| Launch price | $1199 | $1295 |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 10MP
- Front: 12MP
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- Main: 48MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3088
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- 6.5" OLED
- Resolution: 2340x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- Wireless: 15W
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 15W
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Sony Xperia 1 VII, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Sony Xperia 1 VII leads Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra by 43.7% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $96. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was $96 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VII notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (91/100 vs 75/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a bit better (88/100 vs 80/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 VII (73/100 vs 54/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 VII are nearly equal (56/100 vs 53/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VII notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (58/100 vs 29/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VII edges out the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra by just 1 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 70/100, the Sony Xperia 1 VII — 71/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra leads on camera score (73/100 vs 54/100).
Which is more powerful: the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VII leads on performance (91/100 vs 75/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra over the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a better fit for active users. The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a better fit for gamers and power users.