Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max versus Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

introduction

This article is part of a new series in which we’ll try to give you a quick overview of how some of the most popular smartphones compare head-to-head based on our review results. Longtime readers won’t find any new tests here, but it’s still original content that will hopefully bring value to those looking for their next smartphone. We’d appreciate your feedback in the comments on whether articles like these might be useful.

If you’re looking for a big, high-end smartphone in 2023, probably the most popular dilemma would be between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Two large-screen smartphones that have a lot to offer, but also demand a lot with price tags to match.

You can compare the full specsheets or check out our editor’s rating below.

No matter which one you choose, you’ll get the latest and greatest that each company has to offer. So let’s pit them against each other to see if we’ll come up with winners.

Size comparison

The numbers speak for themselves: the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the larger phone of the two. The difference is only a few millimeters, however, giving you some extra screen real estate thanks to the higher screen-to-body ratio and the largest display overall.

You can compare the dimensions of the two phones in the 3D view using the link below.

Admittedly, both phones are quite bulky. They are heavy and large enough to make one-handed operations a challenge.

But they feel very different in the hand. The iPhone’s blocky design and sharp steel edges make up for a more secure, if not the most comfortable, grip. On the other hand, the S23 Ultra is a bit more slippery but more comfortable to hold thanks to its rounded edges.

Display comparison

When it comes to the display hardware, the Samsung phone offers a higher resolution, a larger diagonal and is curved at the sides, allowing for a more comfortable grip and gestures.

The Pro Max boasts significantly higher brightness in both manual and automatic modes. It also surpasses the HDR video standard of the S23 Ultra with Dolby Vision, while the Galaxy “makes do” with HDR10+.

The color accuracy of both screens is excellent if you choose the right color mode.

The vast majority of users will have a similar viewing experience on both phones. Yes, the iPhone might look a little better in direct sunlight as it can go up to 1,760 nits, but even the S23 Ultra’s 1,274 nits is quite respectable. Also, these numbers don’t mean the iPhone will be about 40 percent brighter; that’s not how nits work. The important thing is that in both cases you get a sufficiently bright display that offers an excellent outdoor viewing experience.

Battery life

Even though the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a significantly smaller battery, the phone demonstrates exceptional endurance. Apple achieves this through numerous hardware and software optimizations, squeezing impressive screen runtimes out of the rather small 4,323mAh battery.

Alternatively, the Galaxy S23 Ultra scores slightly better overall thanks to its longer wait times and phone calls. This is mainly due to the larger 5,000mAh cell. However, it is a step behind the 14 Pro Max when it comes to video playback and browsing time.

Charging speed

To be fair, neither phone is particularly fast when it comes to recharging, especially when you consider the vast majority of Android phones that have come out in the last couple of years or so. The Galaxy S23 Ultra can go up to 45W in Power Delivery if you pair it with the appropriate charger, while the 14 Pro Max caps at 27W (unofficial number), but your mileage will vary based on which charger you use.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes out on top with a big lead over its rival, reaching a full charge in just under an hour, while the 14 Pro Max completes its cell in just under two hours. The 30-minute charge test brings them a little closer, with the S23 Ultra recovering 68% of its charge while the Pro Max recovers only 48% of its charge.

Test of the speaker

Both devices sport a pair of stereo speakers each and are pretty close when it comes to overall quality and volume. You are unlikely to find significant differences as the two phones offer a great listening experience and honestly, these are some of the best speakers you can get on a phone.

However, we find the Galaxy S23 Ultra to sound a bit better. Vocals are clearer and tracks sound a little flatter, satisfying people who are more critical of audio setups. The iPhone 14 Pro Max, on the other hand, provides a little more bass but it muffles voices and makes everything sound deeper. Sometimes not necessary, too.

Performance

The two smartphones run on completely different chipsets, even though both are built using an equally energy-efficient 4nm manufacturing node. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 tailored for Galaxy smartphones, while the 14 Pro Max uses Apple’s custom A16 Bionic chip.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has an unusual 1+2+2+3 CPU configuration (1×3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 ) with an Adreno 740 GPU that takes care of the GPU intensive tasks.

The A16 Bionic chipset has a more conventional 2+4 CPU configuration consisting of 2 x 3.46GHz Everest cores + 4 x 2.02GHz Sawtooth cores. A custom Apple GPU with 5 cores is used for graphics rendering.

The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 shows superior GPU performance and even takes the lead in combined scenarios like AnTuTu 9. However, pure CPU-related tests show the superiority of the A16 Bionic, despite its hexa-core configuration. It is measurably faster in single and multi-core workloads.

At the end of the day, however, the two devices are good enough to run pretty much everything you find in their respective app stores smoothly. It will be quite difficult to determine which one is better in standard day-to-day use. Our best guess is that you won’t feel the difference.

There is also the subject of software optimization. Some users may find iOS more streamlined and smoother than Samsung’s Android-based One UI, and we tend to agree, especially a year or two later when storage starts to fill up. But ultimately, not many will notice the difference. It mostly boils down to personal software preferences.

Both manufacturers promise a similar number of major future software updates and have a good track record of delivering on their promises in this regard.

Camera comparison

The camera comparison is multifaceted, so it’s a little complicated depending on your preferences. Both phones take great shots and record really nice videos. Sharpness, detail, dynamic range, contrast, noise – all of these seem to be under control, which is what you’d expect from a modern flagship phone. But Samsung and Apple have different views on photography.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera samples: 0.6x • 1x • 3x • 10x

More samples and a detailed analysis can be found in our Galaxy S23 Ultra review.

Let’s just say that Samsung’s computing style will probably appeal to the majority due to its vibrant aesthetics. Colors are punchier and HDR is a bit more aggressive, lifting even the darkest shadows. Samsung’s images are definitely more social media friendly.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Camera Samples: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x

More samples and a detailed analysis can be found in our iPhone 14 Pro Max review.

The same goes for low-light photos, which, in Samsung’s case, look like they were rendered on a computer due to artificially added sharpening during processing. Don’t get us wrong, it’s not all bad, but some may find it less appealing. In this case, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the more “natural” choice, literally and figuratively speaking.

Apple is a little more cautious in this regard. However, it could be argued that Samsung can do both. The Expert RAW app is for people who like to do their own post-processing and take full advantage of the S23 Ultra’s camera hardware.

Here’s a taste of how the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s main camera compares in terms of image quality to that of the Galaxy S23 Ultra in our image comparison tool.

And here’s how the main camera on the iPhone 14 Pro Max compares in terms of video quality to that of the Galaxy S23 Ultra in our video comparison tool.

Image quality complexities aside, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is objectively the most versatile cameraphone. While the 14 Pro Max has three cameras: a standard, ultrawide, and telephoto with 3x zoom, the S23 Ultra tops that with a 10x periscope camera, so you get extra focal length.

Video recording is where the iPhone 14 Pro Max shines. Overall, video quality is better, although the Galaxy S23 offers a good run for its money when it comes to stabilization.

Verdict

As is usually the case with Android and iOS phones, it all boils down to personal preference. The two phones are neck and neck in most respects, with the S23 Ultra boasting an S Pen, extra zoom camera and faster charging, while the iPhone relies on advanced Face ID for the unlocking (preferred by some), a mature software ecosystem compatible with dozens of other devices, and arguably the best video recording capabilities on a smartphone right now.

If you’re someone looking to switch to Android, the S23 Ultra should definitely be at the top of your list, and vice versa – if you’re keen to try iOS, there’s no better way to experience it on the big 14 Pro Max screen. Both companies have come a long way, and personal preference will be the deciding factor, especially since the price tags are quite close together.