Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
SAMSUNG
Galaxy S23 Ultra is the flagship smartphone of the Korean company Samsung, which offers the highest camera resolution among competitors – 200 megapixels. The device also features a 6.8 inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 1440×3088 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a peak brightness of 1750 nits.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by an overclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (3.36 GHz instead of 3.2 GHz), the highest performance chipset among Android device solutions.
The smartphone has 8 to 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB to 1 TB internal storage versions are available.
In addition to the 200-megapixel main camera, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra also has additional flagship sensors: a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module, a 10-megapixel periscope camera with 10x optical zoom and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. On the front of the smartphone is a 12MP selfie camera.
The smartphone packs a 5000mAh battery with support for 45W fast wired charging and 15W wireless. Among other features, one can note a built-in S Pen stylus, an NFC module for contactless payment and protection against water and dust according to the IP68 standard.
In Russia, the Samsung Galaxy S23 series is not officially sold, and the imported 12/256 GB version with parallel import is offered at retail for an average of 110 thousand rubles. On the gray market, the same version will cost an average of 80 thousand rubles. If you choose a trusted vendor, there will be no difference between the “parallel” and “gray” device. In case of encountering a dishonest store, it may not offer compliance with the warranty.
Samsung Galaxy S23
SAMSUNG
The Samsung Galaxy S23 differs from the older model in many ways, including size and hardware. The smartphone offers one of the most compact displays among all new products in 2023 – a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 1080×2340 and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. At the same time, the maximum brightness of the S23 Ultra is 1750 nits.
The same overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is responsible for the performance in the base S23, but here the memory configurations are different – 8 GB of RAM and 128, 256 or 512 GB of storage. When choosing here, it is necessary to consider that the 128 GB version receives UFS 3.1 memory, while the other versions offer a more modern and faster type of UFS 4.0.
The Galaxy S23 has three cameras: a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens that shoots at 3x optical zoom. There is a 12-megapixel selfie camera on the front.
Due to its small size, the Galaxy S23 received a modest 3900 mAh battery that supports wired and wireless charging at 25 and 15 watts, respectively. The smartphone received an NFC chip and protection against water and dust according to the IP68 standard.
128 GB Galaxy S23 imported through parallel import in Russian retail is offered for 72 thousand rubles. But in this case, it is better to consider a version with at least 256 GB of memory, which will cost 80 thousand rubles. On the gray market, this version costs 60-63 thousand rubles.
iPhone 14 Pro
Apple
Apple’s flagship device in 2022 and the first half of 2023 is the iPhone 14 Pro. This model, like the iPhone 14 Pro Max, is the company’s most advanced smartphone to date. The iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 1179×2556 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Until recently, the smartphone offered the brightest display on the market, peaking at 2,000 nits.
The iPhone 14 Pro is powered by the Apple A16 Bionic processor and has 6GB of RAM and 128GB to 1TB of internal storage.
The flagship iPhone 14 Pro also has excellent cameras using Apple’s own algorithms and technologies. On the back, there is a triple camera setup consisting of a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 12MP 3x optical zoom telephoto lens. Next to the cameras is a LiDAR scanner, which allows photos and videos to be better focused in low light and is also used to recognize surrounding objects for augmented reality. On the front, there is a 12MP selfie camera.
The smartphone packs a 3200mAh battery that supports 27W fast charging and 15W MagSafe wireless charging. At the same time, the smartphone is protected from water and dust according to the IP68 standard.
The iPhone 14 Pro differs from the Pro Max version with a smaller screen and battery. But the older model isn’t for everyone due to its dimensions and weight of 240 grams versus the 206 on the iPhone 14 Pro. Otherwise, these are the same devices in terms of hardware, so it’s not worth overpaying for a more expensive and not very affordable version.
You can buy the 128 GB iPhone 14 Pro imported through parallel import in Russia for an average of 110 thousand rubles. However, this model can be found in “gray” sellers much cheaper – 85 thousand rubles. But here it is worth considering that American models, which are often sold cheaper than other versions, only support eSIM, which is not always convenient.
iPhone 14 Plus
Apple
The base iPhone 14 is not much different from the iPhone 13, which was introduced in September 2021. However, the iPhone 14 Plus model was the first licensed version to get a 6.7-inch screen. Also, unlike the Pro Max model, this model offers a Super Retina XDR OLED matrix with a resolution of 1284×2778 and a lower maximum brightness of 1200 nits. The downside is the lack of 120Hz refresh rate feature which causes the picture to not look as smooth as in the Pro versions.
The Apple A15 Bionic chip, which is also used in the 2021 series, is responsible for the performance on the iPhone 14 Plus. The device has 128 to 512 GB of internal memory, and RAM – 6 GB.
Despite the different hardware, the smartphone is no different from the old models in daily use.
The iPhone 14 Plus uses the same cameras as the base iPhone 14 — each with a primary sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor. The front camera is also represented by a sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels.
The 4323mAh battery supports 27W wired charging and 15W MagSafe wireless charging. Like all other models in the series, the iPhone 14 Plus received protection against water and dust according to the IP68 standard.
In retail, the 128 GB iPhone 14 Plus costs from 80 to 90 thousand rubles. At the same time, gray sellers can find it much cheaper, and a 256 GB model will cost 70 thousand rubles. But you should choose this model only if you do not need to buy an iPhone 14 Pro Max, but need a “big” iPhone. Otherwise, it is better to look at the basic version of the iPhone 13 with a 6.1-inch screen, which is not much different from the 14 Plus in hardware, but less expensive.
Xiaomi 13 pro
Xiaomi
Xiaomi’s flagship smartphone, introduced at the end of 2022, was officially presented in Russia not so long ago. Xiaomi 13 Pro offers a high-quality 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440×3200 and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The highest screen brightness reaches 1900 nits.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is responsible for the performance on the device, backed by 8 or 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB to 512 GB of storage. Moreover, the younger version of 128 GB received UFS 3.1 memory, as in the Galaxy S23. Older versions offer UFS 4.0.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro is one of the most exciting photography flagships on the market, thanks to the three 50-megapixel camera systems that Leica is involved in development: a main, ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lens with 3.2x optical zoom. The selfie camera has a resolution of 32 megapixels.
The 4820 mAh battery is charged via a wire with a power of 120 W, as well as via wireless charging with a power of 50 W. Also, this is one of the few Xiaomi smartphones with IP68 water and dust resistance.
Xiaomi 13 Pro can be purchased officially in Russia: a 12/512 GB version is available, which is sold for 99 thousand rubles. Gray sellers offer the same version for an average of 90 thousand rubles.
Tecno Phantom V Fold
Techno Mobile
Another flagship smartphone officially available in Russia is the Tecno Phantom V Fold. Unlike its competitors on this list, this is a foldable smartphone in the form of a book. The smartphone received two LTPO AMOLED displays with a frequency of 120 Hz and a brightness of up to 1100 nits – external 6.4 inches and internal 7.9.
The smartphone is based on the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chip, which performs at the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 level. It also has 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
In total, Tecno Phantom V Fold has five cameras – three on the back: 50 MP main sensor, 50 MP telephoto lens and 13 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, as well as two selfie cameras: 32 MP on the outer screen and 16 MP on the inner screen.
The smartphone is interesting primarily because it is sold in Russia at an official price of 110 thousand rubles, which is very democratic for a folding device. At the same time, at the beginning of sales, the company reduced the price tag to 80 thousand rubles, as a result of which an unusual novelty was introduced in the price of “ordinary” monoblocks.
What makes this offering special is that it’s a 512GB version and the Phantom V Fold comes with an official 13-month manufacturer’s warranty.
Among the shortcomings of the smartphone can be distinguished the lack of wireless charging and protection against water and dust, which will not interfere with such a device.
Realme GT3
real me
One of the most innovative smartphones of 2023 is the Realme GT3, also known as GT Neo5 in the Chinese market. The smartphone is interesting primarily for its unusual design with a transparent panel and backlight, as well as a 240 W charge, during which the battery is recharged in less than 10 minutes.
Realme GT3 has a 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1240×2772 pixels and a frequency of 144Hz. The peak brightness of the panel reaches 1400 nits.
The flagship chip of the second half of 2023, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, is responsible for the performance in the new product. Realme GT3 offers 8 to 16 GB of RAM and 128 GB to 1 TB of storage.
The smartphone does not have the most advanced cameras – this is a 50 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 2 MP microscope. There is a 16MP selfie camera on the front.
The 4600mAh battery charges in 9.5 minutes with the included 240W charger, a record for devices on the market. However, the Realme GT3 does not offer wireless charging, which puts it far behind many of its competitors.
In Russia, the Realme GT3 has not yet been officially presented – according to rumors, this will be in the near future. However, you can already buy the Chinese version of the device called Realme GT Neo5. It is not so easy to find in Russia, but there are new 16/256 GB models for 42 thousand rubles, for example, on Avito. You can also get a version with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of permanent memory for the same money on AliExpress.
Source: Gazeta
Jackson Ruhl is a tech and sci-fi expert, who writes for “Social Bites”. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of technology and science fiction.