Nothing Phone (4a) vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Nothing Phone (4a)

A capable mid-range chip that handles everyday use and casual gaming well — not a powerhouse, but appropriate for the price.

• Gaming is absolutely possible on this device, with solid everyday performance for the class.
• There's no shortage of substantial hardware upgrades over the 3a, even if the design doesn't stand out as much as the Pro.
• After 24 hours the home screen is extremely customisable and feels massively more functional than iOS, with no responsiveness complaints.
• Gesture-based navigation is fully supported and the overall experience is good thanks to Nothing's optimisations.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (3.36GHz, higher-binned) was the fastest mobile chip of its day, with a much-improved vapor chamber. Three years on it still feels snappy for everyday use, only outclassed by the latest 8 Gen 3/4 silicon.

• Powered by a bespoke 'Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy' — same chip as other 8 Gen 2 devices but clocked higher at 3.36GHz vs the standard 3.2GHz.
• 12GB RAM + 256GB UFS 4.0 base storage, scaling up to 1TB — flagship-tier specs that still hold up in 2026.
• Significantly cooler under sustained load than the S22 Ultra and even the iPhone 14 Pro Max thanks to a larger vapor chamber.
• Still smooth in 2026 for everyday use, app switching and Call of Duty — multitasking remains snappy on 12GB RAM.
• Sustained-load testing showed frame rate improvements over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with much less throttling.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A ~5,080mAh cell with 50W wired charging — reviewers call endurance strong, but a notable group of owners report disappointing screen-on time.

• The Nothing Phone (4a) features a ~5,080mAh cell which delivers very strong endurance in everyday use.
• The battery grew slightly — about 80mAh in most markets but a more meaningful 400mAh in India — with a 50W PD unit recommended on the box.
• Several owners report only 4–6.5 hours of screen-on time with moderate use — worse than other phones with similar ~5,000mAh batteries.
• Battery life on this phone is excellent in everyday use.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

5,000mAh paired with the efficient 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivered the era's best Android battery life — 6-7 hours of screen-on time, still close to 5 hours of mixed heavy use after 2 years. The catch is charging speed: 45W wired (and a special cable is needed to hit it) when rivals offer 80W+.

• 5,000mAh battery + the efficient 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy gives 6-7 hours of screen-on time at full brightness in WQHD with no power-save modes.
• Two-year battery test still delivered ~4h44m of mixed heavy SOT (PUBG, Genshin, 4K video, Spotify) — strong longevity even after 2 years.
• Pure-runtime lab test hit 11h5m vs 8h13m on the S22 Ultra — a major efficiency leap from the Snapdragon chip alone.
• 45W wired charging: 40% in 15 min, 72% in 30 min, 91% in 45 min, full in ~1h3m — but only with a separate 5A cable and 45W brick.
• The included box cable doesn't trigger Super Fast Charging 2.0 — Samsung sells the 5A cable and 45W brick separately, a recurring complaint.
• 15W wireless charging works as advertised: 20% in 20 min, 50% in 50 min, full in 1h58m.
• Versus OnePlus 11's 80W charging (~25 min full): the S23 Ultra's 45W feels noticeably slow — the era's clearest charging gap.

Nothing Phone (4a)

Aggressively priced below the Pixel 10a with a more distinctive design and a real telephoto — the standout budget pick for buyers who want personality.

• It's a good chunk of change cheaper than the $500 Pixel 10a.
• It fits the perfect budget for buyers who can't afford the ~$1,000 needed for an entry-level iPhone 17, with good hardware and excellent battery.
• A very strong mid-range smartphone that stands out with unique design, great display, solid performance and surprisingly capable cameras — definitely worth a closer look.
• Nothing stands out among the crowd with a brand identity strong enough to turn consumers into fans.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Launched at $1,199 in early 2023, the S23 Ultra is now $500-650 used / ~$800 new — one of the best smartphone bargains in 2026, especially with the S25 Ultra delivering only modest gains. The Pixel 8 Pro and OnePlus 11 were its strongest contemporaries.

• Launched at $1,199 with 256GB UFS 4.0 — premium flagship territory then; Samsung's trade-in deals + $200 cashback / Disney+ kept the real cost down.
• Now ~$500-650 used on eBay/Swappa, ~$800 new — an absolute bargain for the spec package in 2026.
• The S25 Ultra disappointed many owners expecting big gains — the S23 Ultra still feels close enough that 'I'd buy this again' is a recurring sentiment in 2026.
• Versus Pixel 7 Pro ($300 less) and OnePlus 11 (much faster charging at lower price) — the S23 Ultra's S Pen and zoom range are the deciding edges.
• Versus iPhone 14 Pro Max — the S23 Ultra wins on zoom and customisation; iPhone wins on video and ecosystem 'just works'.
• If you want the best possible Android phone when it comes to the entire package, the S23 Ultra is probably it right now.