which one to choose at a very low price for Christmas and why?

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S23? If you are looking for a high-end smartphone at an affordable price, these two mobiles are solid alternatives. As a bonus, they currently benefit from great discounts at Rakuten and Amazon where you can get them at a knockdown price. There are some real good deals to be had on the older generations of the range.”flagship” from Samsung. Very good, but which one to choose? Find our comparison based on the quality of the offer and the technical characteristics of the smartphone to evaluate the best choice.

We have also written selections of the best smartphones for photography and the most convincing premium smartphones. All models have been tested by Labo Capital experts.

As a reminder, here are the two offers evaluated here:

Galaxy S22 Ultra or Galaxy S23: which smartphone to choose?

Whether at Amazon or Rakuten, the crossed out prices are exaggerated. If 1,359 euros was its launch price, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is no longer worth that much today. Count on 650 or 700 euros, knowing that it has become very difficult to find new. Refurbished, it ranges between 350 and 450 euros. Same thing for the S23: it is no longer worth 900 euros like when it was released. On average, you will find it around 650 euros, depending on the offers in force. The promotion percentages are therefore not as attractive as advertised. Instead of the -61% announced, the S22 Ultra goes to -25%. The S23 goes down from -44% to -22%. The discounts therefore remain quite substantial, but not up to what the merchants display.

A draw here, the two offers are equal in terms of discount and the two smartphones are almost the same price at Rakuten and Amazon.

Marketplace vs sold and fulfilled by Amazon

You won't cut it on Rakuten: the smartphone is shipped and sold by a third-party store. Clearly, this is a professional seller whose store is hosted on the platform. This is the classic operation of a marketplace. The seller in question is well rated (4.6 stars out of 5), has more than 1000 sales to his credit, as well as many positive comments. This is a good sign and a sign of confidence. Everything seems to indicate that you can order without risk. However, this remains less reassuring than an order managed from A to Z by the platform itself.

Conversely, the S23 is shipped and delivered directly by Amazon, without an intermediary. When it comes to warranty and customer service, Amazon sets the bar high. Even if the Rakuten option is viable, going through Amazon is our preference here.

American version vs French version: what's the difference?

There's a reason Rakuten often offers much lower prices than the competition: sellers sell smartphones in international versions. Very often, Samsungs come from the United States, but also from Asia sometimes. Smartphones imported from across the Atlantic by sellers have the particularity (and fortunately) of working with European frequency bands. The mobile is therefore compatible and you should have absolutely no problem receiving reception in France. However, be aware that there is only one SIM slot. Dual SIM is therefore not possible.

The S23 sold by Amazon is the French version of the smartphone. The question of network compatibility therefore obviously does not arise. The two smartphones are compatible, but when choosing, it is better to favor the French model. It's the wisest decision, on paper.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S23: which is the better smartphone?

Here is the match of performances and technical characteristics to help you decide objectively. Let's say it straight away, it's a contrast in style between these two smartphones. Like all Ultra models, the S22 Ultra is an imposing smartphone (6.8 inches) with an S Pen reminiscent of the Galaxy Note. It's quite angular. The S23 is much more compact (6.1 inches) and rounded. This makes it more practical and simple to handle. The choice here will really depend on your personal preferences. The level of finish is equivalent. If it's size that matters to you, get the S22 Ultra, otherwise the S23 is a better choice.

The S22 Ultra runs on the Exynos 2200 chip coupled with 12 GB of RAM. This configuration is very solid for all tasks (gaming, streaming, etc.). The smartphone is very fluid and pleasant to use. On the S23 side, we find the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 8 GB of RAM. It's roughly equivalent in performance, but not better. In addition, the S23 only has 128 GB of storage, compared to 256 for the S22 Ultra.

On the photo side, you will find on the S22 Ultra a quadruple rear sensor with a 108 Mpx main lens, a 12 Mpx ultra wide-angle, a 3x optical zoom of 10 Mpx and a 10x optical zoom of 10 Mpx. In terms of versatility, it is still excellent today. He makes an impression in almost every situation and is worth the money at this level. The Galaxy S23 is equipped with a triple rear sensor with a 50 Mpx main lens, a 12 Mpx ultra wide-angle and a 10 Mpx x3 telephoto lens. Overall, it's also very good, but a little behind in comparison to its competitor.

Finally, the autonomy of the two smartphones is above average. They have enough stamina that it's not bothersome, but they don't excel at it either. S22 Ultra and S23 are fast charging and wireless charging compatible.

Verdict: rather S22 ultra or S23?

Honestly, if you want truly premium, the S22 Ultra is still a safe bet. Even though it is a year older than its rival, it compares very well with the S23. For what ? Because it is the most premium model of the previous generation. However, here you are purchasing an American version offered by a verified third-party seller on Rakuten. Even if the value for money of the S22 Ultra is a little better, the S23 also stands out. It is sold and shipped by Amazon, while costing around ten euros less. If you prefer compact formats, this is also your best option.

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