Samsung presented on February 1 the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the new jewel in the crown of the South Korean company. Samsung’s new top of the range now becomes the direct rival of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple‘s best terminal at present.
Both are presented as the best in their respective ecosystems, iOS and Android. Today, we’ll take an in-depth look at what’s best about each and their biggest differences. Whether you prefer one or the other, we’ll help you make the best possible buying decision.
Specifications of the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|
| Display | 6.7 inches – FHD+ resolution | -6.8 inches – WQHD + resolution |
| Dimensions | 160,7 x 77,6 x 7,85 millimeters | 163.3 x 78.1 x 8.9 millimeters |
| Processor | A16 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Adreno 740 |
| Battery | 4323 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Main camera | -48 Mpx -f/1,78 -Sensor IMX803 | -200 Mpx -f/1,7 -Sensor ISOCELL HP2 |
| Front camera | -12 Mpx -f/1,9 | -12 Mpx -f/2,2 |
| Operating System | iOS 16 | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Presentation | September 2022 | February 2023 |
Design with little change
Samsung has always been known for innovating between generations and bringing a different face with each top of the range. However, this year we have a much more conservative Samsung than usual. In terms of looks, it’s pretty much the same as its predecessor, the S22 Ultra. It has left the curves behind and embraces a straighter design that will make it more comfortable in hand, although make no mistake: it is still a gigantic mobile, just like the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The latter also features a design with hardly any apparent changes (except for the Dynamic Island and the new larger camera module), but that’s something Apple is more than used to. Although no brand was particularly creative this year, they are very recognizable designs and feel premium in our hands.
The screens, as spectacular as ever
Let’s start with one of the sections that we will use most of both phones, the screen. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch OLED technology screen with FHD + resolution. On the other hand, Samsung mounts a Dynamic AMOLED 2 screen with QHD + resolution. The technology of both are similar, although the AMOLEDs are a slightly more advanced version and therefore improve battery performance by consuming less. The iPhone also debuts this year the always-on screen function, something that will not be a novelty for Samsung users.
As for brightness, the iPhone 14 Pro Max can reach 2,000 nits of brightness, but only on special occasions, such as outdoors. Samsung stays at 1,750 nits, but even so, both will look spectacular even in bright light. The iPhone debuted in this generation the Dynamic Island, a kind of “pill” on the screen that replaces the much loved and hated notch. The Dynamic Island offers new interactions and displays content in a different way. Finally, both offer 120 Hz on-screen refresh rate, which will make them feel very fluid.
Processors at breakneck speed
This time, Samsung uses in all S23 the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, one of the best we can find in Android today. However, this Samsung has a special edition with more clock frequency. This overclock version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is not something you will notice in your day-to-day life, unless you are a more advanced user or play demanding video games like League of Legends: Wild Rift or Genshin Impact.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has the A16 Bionic, Apple’s first processor built in a 4 nanometer process. Its performance is spectacular and makes you go with ease throughout the phone without it hardly suffers. In terms of graphics power, it is more than enough: image retouching, games, demanding applications… the iPhone can do it all.
To sum up in a few words, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and the A16 Bionic are two beasts with more than enough power to cope with our daily lives. If you want to get pickier, some benchmarks have shown that the A16 Bionic outperformed the Snapdragon chip by up to 20%.
The ultimate camera battle
The cameras are undoubtedly the main protagonists of these terminals. The main sensor of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra reaches 200 megapixels this year and a phase detection autofocus. We also have a 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle and two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses. The camera’s auto mode will take 12-megapixel photos by default, but we’ve already warned you that it looks amazing. The processing is much less aggressive than previous handsets and has taken a qualitative leap compared to last year’s S22 Ultra.
Thanks to the 200 megapixels, we can take much more detailed photos and with a color closer to reality. If you are also a photography enthusiast, you can make the most of it thanks to its modes and the possibility of shooting in RAW and ExpertRAW.
In the iPhone, we find a sensor that allows us to capture photos up to 48 megapixels. Apple terminals have always stood out for taking very good pictures and here is no exception. The Photonic Engine in the iPhone will give us spectacular results in all situations. However, as with the S23 Ultra, the iPhone will take photos in 12 megapixel format by default, although you can also configure it to shoot in Apple ProRAW.
In terms of video, both have automatic image stabilization and 4K recording. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra also adds the ability to record in 8K, which is twice the resolution. In practice, these 8K won’t be too noticeable compared to 4K, but it manages to outperform its competition by far.
Which one do I choose?
We are faced with the million dollar question: which is the better of the two? The truth is that the answer is not easy. We are faced with two totally different ecosystems that can be liked more or less. In terms of price, there are hardly any variations. Both exceed the price of 1,400 euros but it is more likely that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will drop in price over time, which probably will not happen with the iPhone 14 Pro Max (at least in the short term). In view of the above, the final decision is up to you: which system suits you best?
