Galaxy S23 Ultra • Unlocked vs Galaxy S24 FE • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, released in February 2023, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, launched in September 2024, represent different segments within Samsung's smartphone lineup. While the S23 Ultra was a top-tier flagship at its release, the S24 FE aims to deliver a balanced experience with key features from the flagship series. A primary distinction lies in their camera systems and the inclusion of an integrated stylus on the S23 Ultra, alongside differences in their software support timelines.

When considering the practical lifespan of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors. The Galaxy S24 FE, being a newer device, benefits from an extended commitment to software updates.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S23 Ultra was released in February 2023, while the Galaxy S24 FE launched in September 2024. This nearly 1.5-year difference means the S24 FE starts with a more current operating system and hardware.
• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S23 Ultra was promised four years of Android operating system updates and five years of security patches from its release [6]. In contrast, the Galaxy S24 FE ships with Android 14 and is set to receive an impressive seven generations of Android updates and seven years of security patches, extending its software relevance significantly longer [10, 18, 37].
• Durability Features: Both devices feature robust construction. The S23 Ultra includes an Armor Aluminum Frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, along with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance [8, 15]. The S24 FE also boasts an aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front, Gorilla Glass 5 on the back, and an IP68 rating, offering strong protection against everyday elements [9, 23].

Performance is a critical aspect for any smartphone, influencing how smoothly applications run and how effectively the device handles demanding tasks. Both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 FE offer capable performance, though they cater to slightly different expectations.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S23 Ultra is equipped with a processor that was a leading performer at its launch, enabling it to handle intensive applications, complex multitasking, and graphic-heavy games with ease and efficiency [8, 40]. The Galaxy S24 FE features a powerful processor designed to deliver a responsive experience for daily use and moderate gaming, often a slightly optimized version of a recent flagship chip [4, 16, 19, 23].
• Multitasking and Storage: Both models offer various storage configurations, with the S23 Ultra providing options up to 1TB and utilizing faster UFS 4.0 storage for higher capacities, which contributes to quicker app loading and data transfer [1, 8, 12]. The S24 FE typically comes with 128GB or 256GB storage options and is also designed for efficient multitasking with ample RAM [4, 16, 23].
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S23 Ultra houses a 5000 mAh battery, frequently noted by users for its excellent endurance, often lasting up to two days with moderate to heavy usage [20, 32, 35, 40, 43, 44]. The Galaxy S24 FE comes with a 4700 mAh battery, providing reliable power for a full day of typical use, with some users reporting up to 1.5 days of usage [9, 19, 46, 47, 49]. Both support fast wired and wireless charging, allowing for quick power replenishment [9, 40, 41].

The display is the primary interface for smartphone interaction, and both devices offer vibrant and responsive viewing experiences, though with some distinctions in their specifications and design.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S23 Ultra features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a curved edge design, offering an expansive and immersive viewing area [1, 6, 8, 12, 38, 42]. The Galaxy S24 FE comes with a slightly smaller 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which is flat [4, 11, 16, 19, 21, 23, 38].
• Resolution and Clarity: The S23 Ultra provides a higher resolution Quad HD+ display (3088 x 1440 pixels), resulting in a sharper image with approximately 500 pixels per inch [1, 6, 8, 12, 30, 38]. The S24 FE offers a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels), which still delivers clear visuals for most content at around 385 pixels per inch [4, 16, 38].
• Brightness and Smoothness: Both phones feature adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and animations, and both can reach high peak brightness levels for good visibility in various lighting conditions, including bright outdoor environments [1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 16, 19, 21, 23, 30, 38, 42].

The camera systems on the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 FE are designed to capture high-quality images and videos, but the S23 Ultra, as a former flagship, offers a more versatile and advanced setup.

• Main Camera Capabilities: The Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a 200-megapixel main sensor, capable of capturing highly detailed images, especially beneficial for cropping and editing [1, 7, 8, 13, 30]. The Galaxy S24 FE features a capable 50-megapixel main sensor, which delivers strong performance for everyday photography [4, 16, 21, 23]. Both include optical image stabilization (OIS) for clearer shots in various conditions [4, 7, 8, 16, 21, 23, 30].
• Versatility and Zoom: The S23 Ultra stands out with its quad-camera system, including a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens and two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses, offering 3x and 10x optical zoom capabilities, along with advanced digital zoom [1, 7, 8, 13, 30]. The S24 FE provides a triple-camera setup with a 12-megapixel ultrawide and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, offering good flexibility for different perspectives [4, 16, 21, 23].
• Video and Audio: Both devices are capable of recording high-resolution video, with the S23 Ultra supporting 8K video recording, and both offer good microphone quality for calls and recordings [7, 23, 30]. They also feature stereo speakers for an enhanced media consumption experience [2, 9].