If you are looking for a high-end smartphone in 2023, the most popular and arguably the biggest dilemma would be between the Max Pro 14 iPhone and the Ultra S23 Galaxy Samsung. These two big-screen smartphones offer a lot, but they also come with a hefty price tag.
You can compare the complete specifications sheets or review our editor’s evaluation further below.
If we pit ourselves against each other, let’s see if we can find a winner. So, each company has offered to let them choose the greatest and latest. It doesn’t matter which one you choose, you will get it.
Size comparison
In terms of size, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the larger phone between the two – the numerical data supports this fact. However, the variance is minimal, providing users with a slightly larger screen area thanks to the increased screen-to-body ratio and larger display.
You can compare the size of the two phones in a 3D view using the link provided.
Undeniably, both mobile devices are quite cumbersome. They are bulky and large enough to make single-handed tasks difficult.
The Ultra S23 feels slightly more slippery in the hand, but it provides a more secure grip with its sharp steel edges and blocky iPhone design. They do feel quite different in the hand, though.
Display comparison
When it comes to Samsung’s phone, the hardware display offers a higher resolution, allowing for a more comfortable grip and gesture execution with curved sides and a larger diagonal.
Equipped with Dolby Vision, the Pro Max offers significantly enhanced luminosity in both manual and automatic modes, surpassing the HDR video standard of the S23 Ultra. In contrast, the Galaxy “settles” for HDR10+.
The color precision of both displays is excellent as long as you select the appropriate color mode.
The majority of users will have a similar visual experience on either phone. It is important to note that while the iPhone may not have as bright of a display as the Ultra’s S23, it still provides a sufficiently bright and excellent outdoor viewing experience. In fact, the iPhone may even look slightly better in direct sunlight. However, these numbers don’t mean that the iPhone is 40% brighter, they simply indicate that the Ultra’s S23 has a higher brightness level of 1,274 nits.
Battery life
Even though the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a considerably smaller battery, Apple achieves exceptional endurance by squeezing impressive screen-on runtimes out of the 4,323 mAh battery through numerous software and hardware optimizations. The phone demonstrates exceptional battery life compared to its size.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has slightly better overall performance compared to the 14 Pro Max, although video playback and browsing runtimes are not as advanced. This is mainly because of its larger 5,000 mAh battery, which allows for longer standby and phone call runtimes.
Charging speed
When it comes to charging, especially considering the majority of Android phones that have come out in the last two years, neither of the two phones is particularly fast. However, the mileage will vary based on the charger you use. If you pair it with the appropriate charger, the Galaxy Ultra S23 can go up to 45W on Power Delivery, while the Max Pro 14 can go up to 27W unofficially.
The Pro Max managed to regain only 48% of its battery life, whereas the S23 Ultra recovered 68% of its power. During the 30-minute charging test, they both come closer, with the 14 Pro Max fully charging its battery in less than two hours. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra surpasses its competitor by reaching a complete charge in just under an hour, establishing a significant advantage.
Speaker test
On a smartphone, you can obtain the finest speakers from these options – truthfully, and they provide an excellent auditory encounter. Since both devices provide an exceptional auditory experience, it is unlikely that you will discover any notable distinction. In terms of general excellence and volume, both gadgets feature a set of stereo speakers each, and they are quite similar.
We can still find the Galaxy S23 Ultra a bit better-sounding. It caters to people who are more critical of sound setups, providing a flatter sound that makes vocals clearer while muffling the deeper sound and adding an extra bit of bass with the other hand, on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Performance
Constructed with a comparable energy-efficient 4nm fabrication process, the two mobile devices operate on distinct chipsets. The Galaxy S23 Ultra utilizes Apple’s bespoke A16 Bionic chip, whereas the 14 Pro Max is equipped with the Galaxy smartphones-optimized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
The GPU-intensive functions of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 are handled by an Adreno 740 GPU with a unique 1+2+2+3 CPU setup (1×3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510).
The graphics rendering used in the configuration of Apple’s custom A GPU consists of 5 cores, with a CPU configuration of 2×3.46 GHz Everest and 4×2.02 GHz Sawtooth. Additionally, the Bionic A16 chipset has a conventional CPU configuration of 2+4.
Despite its hexa-core configuration, the A16’s Bionic CPU shows superior performance in CPU-bound pure tests, outperforming both multi-core and single-core workloads. Additionally, when combined with scenarios like those in AnTuTu 9, it also takes the lead in performance and exhibits superior GPU performance compared to the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
At the end of the day, it’s going to be pretty hard to determine which is the best guess that won’t make you feel the difference. However, both devices are running pretty smoothly and you can find everything you need on their respective app stores.
Noticeably, there may be many differences when it comes to software preferences, but ultimately, the software’s personalization is what matters the most. Especially when it comes to storage, users tend to agree that Samsung’s Android-based UI is more fluent, optimized, and user-friendly compared to iOS. Additionally, there is also an argument that the software optimization is better on Samsung’s UI.
Both manufacturers promise a fairly good track record of sticking to their promises and providing a similar number of future software updates.
Camera comparison
When it comes to photography, Samsung and Apple have distinct approaches. However, what one would anticipate from a contemporary top-of-the-line smartphone appears to be well-covered – clarity, intricacy, wide range of tones, variation in brightness, and absence of disturbance. Both devices capture impressive photographs and produce exceptionally pleasant videos, but choosing between them can be somewhat challenging. The evaluation of their cameras is multifaceted.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera samples: 0.6x • 1x • 3x • 10x zoom levels.
Additional examples and a comprehensive analysis can be discovered in our review of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Samsung’s social media-friendly pictures are definitely more friendly. Even the darkest shadows are lifted up and there is a slightly more aggressive HDR with punchier colors. Let’s say that the majority is likely to be appealed by Samsung’s style of processing, thanks to its vibrant aesthetics.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max camera samples: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x.
Additional examples and a comprehensive examination can be found in our review of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Both literally and metaphorically, the iPhone 14 Pro Max emerges as the more “authentic” option in this scenario. While it may be perceived as less attractive to some, that is certainly not a negative aspect. The digitally enhanced clarity applied during image processing results in low-light photographs that, in the case of Samsung, appear as if they have been generated using a computer. The same principle applies to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Apple is a bit more conservative in this regard, whereas Samsung’s S23 Ultra’s camera hardware advantage allows people to tailor their own post-processing using the RAW Expert app, which could make it a compelling choice for those who like that.
Here’s a glimpse of how the main camera of the iPhone 14 Pro compares in image quality to the camera in our Ultra S23 Galaxy.
Here’s how the main camera of the iPhone 14 Pro Max compares to the video quality in the Ultra S23 Galaxy.
The Max Pro 14 has three cameras – one standard, one telephoto zoom 3x, and one ultrawide. In addition, the Ultra S23 tops that with a periscope camera that has a 10x optical zoom, making it even more versatile as a cameraphone. Objectively, the Ultra S23 excels in capturing high-quality images, taking into account the intricacies of image quality.
The S23 Galaxy shines when it comes to stabilization, as it gives good money for its run, although the overall quality of video recording is better on the iPhone 14 Max Pro.
Verdict
Preference is personal when it comes to iOS vs. Android phones, but the case is usually the same. Both phones are neck and neck in most aspects, with the iPhone relying on advanced Face ID for unlocking while offering arguably the best video recording capabilities on a smartphone. It also has a mature software ecosystem that is compatible with dozens of other devices.
If you are a user wanting to switch to either iOS or Android, the deciding factor will be personal preference, especially considering how seeing price tags are. Both companies have come a long way in terms of the experience on the big screen of the Max Pro 14, so if you’d like to try out iOS, there’s no better way to do it. Vice versa, if you’d like to try out Android, the Ultra S23 should be on the top of your list.