Samsung Galaxy S23 vs OnePlus 11: The Samsung Galaxy S23 is about $100 more expensive that the OnePlus 11. After using both smartphones for some days, I came to the conclusion that the Galaxy S23 is the better smartphone. The main reason for my conclusion above is that the Galaxy S23 has all the markings of a flagship phone.
There are lots of reasons why I like the Galaxy S23 more than the OnePlus 11 even though I’m a huge fan of the slightly curved screen of the latter. In this Samsung Galaxy S23 vs OnePlus 11 comparison, I’ll share with you the various reasons why I think the Galaxy S23 is better than the OnePlus 11.
See Also: Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7: Which is better
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs OnePlus 11
| Specs | Galaxy S23 | OnePlus 11 |
| Display | 6.1-inches, 120Hz | 6.7-inches, 120Hz |
| Display Features | AMOLED, HDR10+ | AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| RAM | 8GB | up to 1GB |
| Storage | up to 256GB | up to 512GB |
| MicroSD Card | NO | NO |
| Back Camera | 50MP + 10MP + 12MP | 50MP + 32MP + 48MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 16MP |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Software | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Battery | 3,900mAh (25W) | 5,000mAh (100W) |
| Water & DustProof | YES(IP68) | YES(IP64) |
| eSIM | YES | YES |
Samsung Galaxy S23 has a better design and is more durable
The OnePlus 11 looks good but the design of the Samsung Galaxy S23 is simpler and looks better when you hold both phones side-by-side. You can throw in a protective case to give the OnePlus 11 a good look but the design of the Galaxy S23 is neater and cleaner. Another area where the Galaxy S23 is better than the OnePlus 11 is durability.
The structure of the Galaxy S23 is stronger than that of the OnePlus 11. The Galaxy S23 features an Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance. I tried bending the Galaxy S23 but it held firm unlike the OnePlus 11 which could not hold its own when I was bending it. The Galaxy S23 is also IP68 water and dustproof which is better protection than the IP64 resistance of the OnePlus 11.
- See Also: Best Case for Samsung Galaxy S23: Top 5 Picks for You
- See Also: 5 Best OnePlus 11 Case: Top Picks for You to buy
OnePlus 11 has more RAM and Storage options
The OnePlus 11 has more RAM and storage options than the Galaxy S23. I was able to lay my hands on the 16GB + 256GB model of the OnePlus 11 and the 8GB + 128GB model of the Galaxy S23. The extra storage and RAM are definitely an advantage to the OnePlus 11, especially with both phones not having a microSD card slot.
The extra RAM in the OnePlus 11 makes it perform a little faster while I was using it even though both phones are equipped with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. And there was space for me to save more files thanks to the bigger internal storage. The storage option of the OnePlus 11 goes all the way up to 512GB but the Galaxy S23 has 256GB storage max.
See Also: OnePlus 11R vs Realme GT 3: Which Should You Buy?
Samsung Galaxy S23 has a better Audio system
While I was using both phones, I noticed that the Samsung Galaxy S23 produces better sound quality. Both smartphones are equipped with stereo speakers but the sound from the Galaxy S23 has more base and sounds better than that of the OnePlus 11.
Even when playing games, the sound quality from the Galaxy S23 is just better. This is because the Galaxy S23 has 32-bit/384kHz audio that is Tuned by AKG while the OnePlus 11 has 24-bit/192kHz audio. None of the phones have space for a 3.5mm headphone jack.
See Also: Realme GT Neo 5 vs OnePlus ACE 2: Which is Better?
Samsung Galaxy S23 has a better camera system
The camera systems on both smartphones are really good. It’s hard to pick one over the other as the quality of photos and videos from the cameras on both phones is really good. Both smartphones have a 50MP main camera that takes really good photos even in low light conditions.
There is also a telephoto camera on both phones but the 10MP telephoto camera of the Galaxy S23 can take clearer photos of objects from a distance when compared to the 32MP telephoto of the OnePlus 11. During my time with both phones, I preferred using the telephoto camera of the Galaxy S23.
For selfies, the Galaxy S23 is better and you can shoot steady 4K videos with its 12MP front camera and it also supports the Dual Video Call feature. The camera features on both phones are relatively the same but OnePlus is equipped with Hasselblad Color Calibration which improves the colors of photos taken with its camera. I still recommend the Galaxy S23 as a better camera photo because it has a better camera system overall.
See Also: OnePlus 11 vs Motorola Moto X40: Which is better
Samsung Galaxy S23 has a brighter display
OnePlus 11 has a bigger and curved display but its display is not as bright as the display of the Galaxy S23. The display of the Samsung Galaxy S23 is compact, flat, and brighter. For those who like big and/or curved screens, the 6.7-inch display of the OnePlus 11 will fit your need. But for people who need something compact and flat, the 6.1-inch display of the Galaxy S23 will fit your need.
The display of both smartphones is an AMOLED panel that supports 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+. However, the display of the OnePlus 11 has 1300 nits which are not bad but not as bright as the 1750 nits display of the Samsung Galaxy S23.
See Also: OnePlus 11 vs iQOO 11 Pro: Which is better
OnePlus 11 has a bigger battery & faster charging
The battery inside the OnePlus 11 is 5,000mAh which is bigger than the 3,900mAh battery inside the Samsung Galaxy S23. The OnePlus 11 is also equipped with 100W wired fast charging (80W for those in the US) which is faster charging than the 25W of the Galaxy S23.
The Galaxy S23 gave me about 8 hours of screen time which is decent but not as good as the more than 9 hours of screen time the OnePlus 11 gave me. From my experience, the battery of the OnePlus 11 lasts longer and it’s faster to charge.
Samsung Galaxy S23 has Wireless charging
The Galaxy S23 supports wireless and reverse wireless charging but the OnePlus 11 does not. This is one very convenient feature that is not available in the OnePlus 11. Wireless charging is a premium feature that should not have been left out of the OnePlus 11 and not having it made me enjoy using the Galaxy S23 more.
See Also: OnePlus 11 vs Xiaomi 13 Pro: Which is better
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7: Software
The Samsung Galaxy S23 boots One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 out of the box and will get five years of software updates while the OnePlus 11 boots OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13 out of the box and will get three years of software updates. The user experience and navigation on both smartphones are different and both phones give users room for customization.
Samsung Galaxy S23 vs OnePlus 11: Price
The price of the Samsung Galaxy S23 (8 + 128GB) is $799 while the price of the OnePlus 11 (8 + 128GB) is $699. The OnePlus 11 with the same RAM and storage option is about $100 cheaper than the Galaxy S23. But should you buy the OnePlus 11 instead of the Galaxy S23? See the verdict of this Samsung Galaxy S23 vs OnePlus 11 below.
Buy Galaxy S23 and OnePlus 11
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | Price |
| Buy on Amazon | $799.99 |
| Buy on Amazon(EUR) | €949.00 |
| Buy on Amazon(UK) | £849.99 |
| OnePlus 11 | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $699.00 |
| Buy on Amazon | $699.99 |
| Buy on Amazon(UK) | £729.00 |
Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S23 vs OnePlus 11
Using the Samsung Galaxy S23 and OnePlus 11 showed me that the Galaxy S23 is the real flagship phone among these two phones. Yes, the OnePlus 11 have a bigger battery, faster charging, more RAM options, and is cheaper, but it’s not a premium flagship phone.
If you want to get a true flagship experience, then you should buy the Samsung Galaxy S23. Its camera system is better, has a brighter display, wireless charging, better audio, arguably better design, and is more durable. The performance of both phones is similar but the OnePlus seems better because it has a bigger RAM.
