Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra scores 7.8 in our rating, and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max scores 7.3. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra leads in camera and software support, while the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is ahead in performance. At launch in the US, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max cost $100.99 less ($1,099 vs $1,199.99). The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the newer phone, announced Feb 1, 2023.
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Key differences
Why choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Bigger battery 5,000 mAh vs 4,323 mAh
- Bigger screen 6.8 inches vs 6.7 inches
- Longer optical zoom 10× vs 3×
- Newer model Feb 1, 2023 vs Sep 7, 2022
- More RAM 8 GB / 12 GB vs 6 GB
- Lighter 234 g vs 240 g
Why choose the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Brighter screen 2,000 nits vs 1,750 nits
- Lower launch price $1,099 vs $1,199.99
- Thinner 7.85 mm vs 8.9 mm
- Satellite messaging
- Secure 3D face unlock
PhoneRanked scores
Calculated from specs, relative to phones from the same year and price range. How we rate phones
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Overall
7.8
7.3
Display
8.1
8.2
Performance
6.8
7.1
Camera
8.7
7.8
Battery
5.9
5.8
Design
8.3
8.4
Software support
6.9
3.5
Value for money
4.4
4.3
Display
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Size
6.8 inches
6.7 inches
Type
OLED, Dynamic AMOLED 2X
OLED, Super Retina XDR
Resolution
1440 × 3088 px
1290 × 2796 px
Pixel density
500 ppi
460 ppi
Refresh rate
120 Hz
120 Hz
Adaptive refresh
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Peak brightness
1,750 nits
2,000 nits
HDR
HDR10+
HDR10, Dolby Vision
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Ceramic Shield
Performance
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Process
4 nm
4 nm
Max CPU clock
3.36 GHz
3.46 GHz
GPU
Adreno 740
Apple GPU (5-core)
RAM
8 GB / 12 GB
6 GB
Storage
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
Storage type
UFS 4.0
—
microSD slot
✕ No
✕ No
Cameras
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Main camera
200 MP, f/1.7
48 MP, f/1.78
Optical stabilization
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Ultrawide
12 MP
12 MP
Telephoto
10 MP, 10× optical, periscope
12 MP, 3× optical
Optical zoom
10×
3×
Rear cameras
4
3
Rear video
8K@30
4K@60
Front camera
12 MP
12 MP
Front video
4K@60
4K@60
Battery and charging
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Capacity
5,000 mAh
4,323 mAh
Battery type
Li-Ion
Li-Ion
Wired charging
45 W
—
Wireless charging
15 W
15 W
Reverse wireless
✓ Yes
✕ No
Charger in box
✕ No
✕ No
Design and build
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Dimensions
163.4 × 78.1 × 8.9 mm
160.7 × 77.6 × 7.85 mm
Thickness
8.9 mm
7.85 mm
Weight
234 g
240 g
Form factor
Bar
Bar
Frame
Aluminum
Stainless steel
Back
Glass
Glass
Water resistance
IP68
IP68
Fingerprint
Under-display ultrasonic
None
3D face unlock
✕ No
✓ Yes
SIM
Dual Nano-SIM + eSIM
eSIM only
Colors
Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime, Sky Blue, Red
Deep Purple, Gold, Silver, Space Black
Connectivity and features
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
5G
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth
5.3
5.3
USB
USB-C 3.x
Lightning
NFC
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
3.5 mm jack
✕ No
✕ No
Stereo speakers
✓ Yes
—
Satellite
✕ No
✓ Yes
IR blaster
✕ No
✕ No
Software
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
OS at launch
Android 13
iOS 16
Interface
One UI 5.1
—
OS updates
4 years
—
Security updates
5 years
—
Launch and price
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraApple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Announced
Feb 1, 2023
Sep 7, 2022
Released
Feb 17, 2023
Sep 16, 2022
Status
Discontinued
Discontinued
US launch price
$1,199.99
$1,099
Green marks the stronger value in a row. Specs come from official manufacturer data, cross-checked with established tech media; each phone page lists its sources. Report an error
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