12 vs Galaxy S23 Ultra
It depends
Too close to call outright
These two are within 4 points overall — it genuinely depends on price on the day. The 12 edges both longevity and performance, so prefer it when prices are close.
Value Score: 12 72 · Galaxy S23 Ultra 76 — methodology
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
The 12's screen is the better one — 6.82-inch ltpo amoled proxdr, qhd+ (3168×1440), 1–120hz, up to 4500 nits peak.
The 12's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is simply the faster chip.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has the stronger camera system (4 real rear lenses vs 3).
5,400mAh vs 5,000mAh — the 12 lasts longer between charges.
The 12 is supported until Jan 2029 — 11 months longer than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Overall value goes to the Galaxy S23 Ultra at $16.98 per month of safe use.
Full spec table
| Spec | 12 | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $500 | $339 |
| Display | 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED ProXDR, QHD+ (3168×1440), 1–120Hz, up to 4500 nits peak | 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, LTPO 1–120Hz, 1750 nits peak |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB | 8GB/12GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Battery | 5,400 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Charging | 80W SUPERVOOC wired (50W in North America), 50W wireless | 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 64MP periscope 3x | 200MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto 3x, 10MP periscope 10x |
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 75.8 × 9.2 mm | 163.4 × 78.1 × 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 220 g | 234 g |
| Water resistance | IP65 | IP68 |
| Supported until | Jan 2029 | Feb 2028 |
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.