Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) vs Pixel 9 Pro XL (Unlocked): 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 XL (Unlocked)
Google · 2024
$1,219–$1,463
Overall 83/100
Editorial estimateFull Pixel 9 Pro XL (Unlocked) 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 XL (Unlocked)
69
Depends on your priorities
$1,219–$1,463
→ Dead heat for these settings—either could work.
Full comparison
| Spec | Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) | Pixel 9 Pro XL (Unlocked) |
|---|---|---|
| Price band (US MSRP) | $1,199–$1,499 | $1,219–$1,463 |
| Release year | 2023 | 2024 |
| Camera | 10/10 | 9/10 |
| Battery | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Performance | 10/10 | 9/10 |
| Display | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Value | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Overall score | 87/100 | 83/100 |
Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) — pros
- • Flagship-class performance
- • Excellent camera system for stills and video
- • Premium display and build quality
Pixel 9 Pro XL (Unlocked) — pros
- • Flagship-class performance
- • Excellent camera system for stills and video
- • Premium display and build quality
Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) — cons
- • Price is high, so value depends heavily on budget and priorities
Pixel 9 Pro XL (Unlocked) — cons
- • Price is high, so value depends heavily on budget and priorities
Galaxy S23 Ultra (Unlocked) — best for
- • Photography
- • Gaming
- • Power users
Pixel 9 Pro XL (Unlocked) — best for
- • Photography
- • Gaming
- • Power users
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