The iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are two of the most advanced smartphones in the market, as well as the most advanced ones ever released by Apple and Samsung, respectively. Both devices are packed with high-end specifications and innovative features that set them apart from the competition. But which one is the best? Here, we will compare the two devices based on their design, display, specs and software, camera, battery life, and price to help you decide which one is right for you. If you need to know which one suits your needs, the most, then go ahead with this comparison between the main specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
| Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm, 240 g |
163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm, 234 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.7 inches, 1290 x 2796 pixels (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.8 inches, 1440 x 3088p (Quad HD+), Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A16 Bionic hexa-core 3.46 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, octa-core 3.36 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 512 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 6 GB RAM, 1 TB | 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – 12 GB RAM, 1 TB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 16 | Android 13, One UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 48 + 12 + 12 + 12 MP + TOF 3D LiDAR scanner, f/1.8 + f/2.8 + f/2.2 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/1.9 front camera |
Quad 200 + 10 + 10 + 12 MP, f/1.7 + f/4.9 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 Single 12 MP f/2.2 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4323 mAh, fast charging 29W and Qi wireless charging 7.5W | 5000 mAh, Fast Charging 45W, Qi wireless charging 15W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | 5G, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, MagSafe 15W, IP68 waterproof | 5G, dual SIM, reverse wired charging, IP68 waterproof |
Design
The iPhone 14 Pro Max features a sleek and stylish design with a glass back and a stainless steel frame. It has a Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped punch hole placed at the center of the upper part of the display, that not only contains the hardware sensors for the front camera and 3D facial recognition but also acts as a secondary screen to display basic information. The device is IP68 certified, making it waterproof and dustproof up to 6 meters in depth. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a premium glass design and a metal frame. It has a curved screen with very narrow bezels and is also IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. Its minimalistic glass back makes it very elegant, but not as iconic as the iPhone. Which one would you prefer?
Display
The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 6.7-inch diagonal, a resolution of 1290 x 2796 pixels, a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10 certification, Dolby Vision support, and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The device also has Face ID technology for 3D facial recognition instead of an in-display fingerprint reader. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 6.8-inch diagonal, a Quad HD+ resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels, a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ certification, and a peak brightness of 1,800 nits. The device has an in-display fingerprint reader for authentication. Note that the S23 Ultra is the only one supporting a pen.
Specs & Software
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is powered by the hexa-core Apple A16 Bionic chipset running at a max frequency of 3.46 GHz, with 6 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of native storage. It runs on iOS 16, known for its smooth performance and user-friendly interface. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform running at a max frequency of 3.36 GHz, with 8 GB to 12 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of native storage. The device runs on Android 13 with Samsung’s custom One UI. The operating system makes the difference as the iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts higher performance thanks to the better optimization of iOS. However, not everyone may be familiar with iOS, so make your choice considering your personal needs too.
Camera
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a quad-camera setup consisting of a 48 MP main camera, a 12 MP telephoto lens, a 12 MP ultrawide camera, and a TOF 3D LiDAR scanner. It also has a dual 12 MP + SL 3D front camera including sensors for 3D facial recognition. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a quad-camera setup consisting of a 200 MP main camera, a 10 MP telephoto lens, a 10 MP ultrawide camera, and a 12 MP periscope camera. It also has a single 12 MP front camera. Both are outstanding camera phones: which one is the best? It mostly depends on the scenario and it is definitely a tough fight.
Battery
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 4323 mAh battery with fast charging of 29W and Qi wireless charging of 7.5W. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery with fast charging of 45W and Qi wireless charging of 15W. Despite the higher capacity of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the iPhone 14 Pro Max should last longer on a single charge thanks to the low energy consumption of iOS.
Price
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at $1100 or €1400, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,100/€1,043 (prices vary depending on the market). Which one would you pick?
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: PRO and CONS
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
PRO
- Periscope sensor
- S Pen
- Faster charging
- Fingerprint reader
CONS
- Price
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
PRO
- Iconic design
- Stainless steel profile
- Better water resistance
- Face ID
- MagSafe
CONS
- Price
