Since the announcement of the ROG Phone 7, the Taiwanese tech giant ASUS has waged a battle over the already available Android flagship phones. The best available on the market right now is Samsung's S23 Ultra, equipped with a great processor, splendid cameras, and a tremendous fan following. ASUS designed its ultimate device this year, keeping gamers in mind, while the Samsung S23 Ultra is an amazing phone with great reviews all over the internet.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a high-resolution camera system and a sleek design. The ROG Phone 7 is designed for gamers, with features such as a high-refresh-rate display, advanced cooling, and customizable RGB lighting.
This article will compare all the major features of both devices in terms of display, performance, and camera, and might help you choose your next Android flagship phone.
ROG Phone 7 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the ultimate Android flagship battle
Let's look at the overall specs and terms of use that a customer might consider while buying these phones. Are gamers going to win? Let's find out.
Overall specifications
Both devices operate on the latest Android 13, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra might have a more functional UI, the OneUI 5.1, while the ROG Phone 7 flaunts its ZenUI. The pricing of both of these phones varies, and it is for good reasons. Starting from $1199, the S23 Ultra offers a more photography-oriented user experience than the $999 expected ASUS ROG Phone 7.
The ROG Phone 7 is built for intense, long gaming sessions, which explains the price difference. If you are a serious streamer or want to outperform everyone in your games, the ROG Phone 7 is a wonderful choice.
Performance
These beasts are powered by Qualcomm's latest, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 which is more than capable of handling any task you throw at it. It is no wonder that Samsung Galaxy is giving out more than gorgeous photos and videos, and ASUS ROG Phone 7 along with its Aerocool technology, can run any game for a long stretch of time.
Another notable similarity in hardware is the usage of LPDDR5X RAM disks in the devices. The ROG 7 has only one variant device which is 16GB paired with 512GB UFS 4.0 storage.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has several variants of RAM and storage combinations, with the best option being the 12GB RAM and 1TB UFS 4.0 storage. However, most users don't need that much raw power and can go for the other variants, which will be a little more pocket friendly.
Camera
When comparing these phones in terms of the camera only, we have a clear winner which might as well be the best photography phone, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It has more than enough hardware and software features that an average might use for his photography.
The 200MP primary sensor along with the 10 MP telephoto lens is just unbeatable and you can also do astrophotography with long exposure and other specific modes available inside the camera app.
The ROG 7 might not outshine the S23 Ultra, but it takes good quality HDR images and performs well enough for casual photography, thanks to the Sony IMX766 sensor. Most buyers are not intending to do photography with gaming devices, so it is only fair that we don't expect professional-quality images from them.
Display
ASUS' gaming beast has jumped ranks among the best display phones. It has a 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. On the front panel, the game and graphics operate extremely well.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is not a gaming phone. Its stunning, grand 6.8-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display, on the other hand, enables head-on fighting against ROG. Yes, you can play games on the S23 Ultra pretty smoothly, and the display isn't bad at all, but the ROG 7 is superior for long gaming sessions because of its signature Aerocool technology.
Battery
ROG Phone 7 is expected to have a massive battery as a gaming device and it fulfills them with the 6000mAh battery that supports QuickCharge 5.0 and comes with a 65W PD charger in the box. It has two USB Type-C ports, one at the bottom and another at the side to enable streamers to go live seamlessly. The S23 Ultra with a 5000mAh battery capacity only supports 45W fast charging.
Verdict
The choice of the flagship Android depends on the user, their intentions for the device, and what requirements a smartphone accommodates in their daily lives. If you are a passionate gamer looking for the greatest experience and competitive advantage, the ROG Phone 7 is the device for you.
Yes, there is a noticeable price difference between the two smartphones and one can easily get confused as most of the specs are similar. For long sessions of gaming, the S23 Ultra might not be the best device, but it's the ideal option for the overall user and camera experience.
If you don't mind an 8.15-ounce phone bulging out of your pockets, the ROG Phone 7 is not a bad choice.
For more about ROG 7 and how it compares to other phones, check out the following: ROG 7 vs. OnePlus 11, and ROG 7 vs iPhone 14.