Galaxy S21 Ultra to Galaxy S23 Ultra: Is It Worth Upgrading?
A plain-English look at what actually changes, 2 years apart.
Yes — the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a worthwhile upgrade
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is 2 years newer than the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and both phones land on almost the same BeastScore (87.8 vs 87.8). The biggest improvements: newer snapdragon 8 gen 2 chipset (replaces snapdragon 888), 20w faster wired charging, 700 nits brighter peak display. Trade-offs to know: 6 g heavier.
What you gain with the Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset (replaces Snapdragon 888)
- 20W faster wired charging
- 700 nits brighter peak display
- Higher-resolution main camera (+92 MP)
What you give up
- 6 g heavier
Head-to-head
| Spec | Galaxy S21 Ultra | Galaxy S23 Ultra | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 87.8 | 87.8 | No real change |
| Performance score | 90 | 90 | No real change |
| Camera score | 100 | 100 | No real change |
| Battery score | 86 | 86 | No real change |
| Display score | 88 | 88 | No real change |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | New generation chip |
| Battery capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh | No real change |
| Wired charging | 25W | 45W | +20W (80%) |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 15W | No real change |
| Screen size | 6.8" | 6.8" | No real change |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | No real change |
| Peak brightness | 1,500 nits | 2,200 nits | +700 nits (47%) |
| Main camera | 108 MP | 200 MP | +92 MP (85%) |
| Optical zoom | 10x | 10x | No real change |
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB | No real change |
| Weight | 228 g | 234 g | +6 g (3%) |
| Launch price | $1,199 | $1,199 | No real change |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- Photo quality is a priority for you
- You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features
- You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen
Galaxy S21 Ultra to Galaxy S23 Ultra: Common Questions
Is it worth upgrading from the Galaxy S21 Ultra to the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Yes — the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a worthwhile upgrade. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is 2 years newer than the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and both phones land on almost the same BeastScore (87.8 vs 87.8). The biggest improvements: newer snapdragon 8 gen 2 chipset (replaces snapdragon 888), 20w faster wired charging, 700 nits brighter peak display. Trade-offs to know: 6 g heavier.
What is the biggest difference between the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset (replaces Snapdragon 888): Snapdragon 888 on the Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Does the Galaxy S23 Ultra have a bigger battery than the Galaxy S21 Ultra?
No — both have about the same battery capacity (5,000 mAh vs 5,000 mAh).
Who should upgrade to the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; Photo quality is a priority for you; You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features; You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen.