Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VII

Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Sony Xperia 1 VII tie on the OH Rank at a score of 72. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins on Screen and Selfie; Sony Xperia 1 VII wins on Performance and Battery. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is 4.1mm wider than Sony Xperia 1 VII. Sony Xperia 1 VII is the more recent release, from Jun 2025.

Score Breakdown

Category

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

78.1mm (3.07in) · Feb 2023 · Rank #79

Sony Xperia 1 VII

74mm (2.91in) · Jun 2025 · Rank #75
Performance /15
7
9
Battery /15
8
10
Screen /15
13
8
IP Protection /15
12
12
Main Camera /15
12
14
Selfie /5
5
3
Video /5
5
3
SD Memory /5
0
5
Software /5
5
5
Desktop Replacement /5
5
3
TOTAL
72
72
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
78.1mm (3.07in) · Feb 2023 · Rank #79
7+8+13+12+12+5+5+0+5+5 = 72
* BEST phone Spring Summer 2023

EDITORIAL: A fantastic value considering that it differs from S24 Ultra by a small, incremental downgrade in processing speed, screen reflection and minor photo deficiencies. And it is smaller (easier to use) than the S24 Ultra. Samsung still promises 4 more years of OS updates making this one of the best options if you don’t want to spend much.

PROs
fast SD 8 Gen 2 with UFS4.0 performance, 500ppi screen, great cameras: 200MP main + 2 x 10MP tele + 12MP ultrawide all with PDAF and a 12MP selfie with PDAF too!, Samsung’s mature and feature rich software and a full-blown best-on-the-market desktop replacement functionality
CONs
big 234gr phone, less than 24-hour battery life, no memory expansion and Samsung’s persistent effort to lock you into their ecosystem (updated Apr 13, 2025)
Sony Xperia 1 VII
74mm (2.91in) · Jun 2025 · Rank #75
9+10+8+12+14+3+3+5+5+3 = 72
FLY* TOP Software* TOP Memory Expansion* TOP Camera

EDITORIAL: Sony seems unsure about the direction of it's mobile business. This year's Xperia announcement didn't introduce Xperia 10 VII“- their midrange phone. Xperia 5 V from 2023 was the last compact flagship Sony put out and now they seem to have slimmed their model range from 3 to just 1. The 1 VII is still a great phone. It's hardware is unique and more functional then any other flagship phone. Great grip and a bright screen, forward facing stereo speakers, hi quality headphone jack, SDmemory - this phone offers so much value. The battery life is still a great affair, cameras are as good as ever (tho selfie lacks AF) and software is simple, elegant and bloatware-free.

PROs
excellent build and grip, relatively narrow (easier to use one hand) body, headphone/microphone jack, tool-less SD card slot for quick memory expansion, dedicated two-step camera button, fast SnapDragon 8 Elite chip with UFS4.0 performance, >30hr endurance from a 5000mAh battery, >1500nits bright LTPO OLED screen, IP68 protection, great photos from the 48MP OIS main + 12MP OIS continuous optical zoom + 48MP ultrawide (all 3 have PDAF), a tried and true Sony skin Android with 4 years of OS updates, limited Android 17 desktop replacement functionality
CONs
expensive, lack of innovation, heavy throttling under load, 90min slow charging 5000mAh Lithium battery, sub400ppi non-HDR10+ screen, no-AF selfie, mediocre videos

Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.

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