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Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) vs Pixel 9 Pro: Which one is worth it?

Side-by-side US MSRP bands, editorial scores, and strengths—then tune budget and priority to see which model fits your purchase.

S

Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked)

Samsung · 2023

$1,199–$1,499

Overall 87/100

Official anchorFull Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) guide →
G

Pixel 9 Pro

Google · 2024

$999–$1,624

Overall 83/100

Official anchorFull Pixel 9 Pro guide →

Quick verdicts (our rubric)

  • Best for camera

    Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked)

  • Best for battery

    Tie

  • Best for performance

    Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked)

  • Best value score

    Tie

  • Best overall rubric / for most people

    Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked)

Which fits you?

Set budget and top priority—we score each phone with the same personalization rules as product pages.

Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked)

69

Depends on your priorities

$1,199–$1,499

Pixel 9 Pro

69

Depends on your priorities

$999–$1,624

→ Dead heat for these settings—either could work.

Full comparison

SpecGalaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked)Pixel 9 Pro
Price band (US MSRP)$1,199–$1,499$999–$1,624
Release year20232024
Camera10/109/10
Battery8/108/10
Performance10/109/10
Display9/109/10
Value6/106/10
Overall score87/10083/100

Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) — pros

  • Flagship-class performance
  • Excellent camera system for stills and video
  • Premium display and build quality

Pixel 9 Pro — pros

  • Balanced mix of performance and battery
  • Very capable camera system for most users
  • Good value compared with pricier flagships

Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) — cons

  • Price is high, so value depends heavily on budget and priorities

Pixel 9 Pro — cons

  • Some premium materials, telephoto, or advanced features may be reserved for top-tier models

Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) — best for

  • Photography
  • Gaming
  • Power users

Pixel 9 Pro — best for

  • Power users
  • Photography
  • Everyday flagship buyers

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