From powerful processors to cameras that capture every minor detail, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max sit right on top of the flagship smartphone market.
So, if you’re considering upgrading your phone and can’t decide which one to buy, we’ll help you choose the best smartphone for your needs.
Design and Display
Both devices follow a similar design as their predecessors, with a few minor improvements. While the Galaxy S23 Ultra still has an aluminum frame, the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a lighter fine-brushed titanium frame, replacing the stainless steel in its predecessor. This switch makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max about 8% lighter than the 14 Pro Max.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, thinner bezels, anda Dynamic Island that expands when you receive alerts. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display. Fancy brand terms aside, both models sport OLED panels with adaptive refresh rate technology that can go all the way up to 120Hz.
The S23 Ultra can deliver up to 1,750 nits of peak brightness, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s display can go up to 2,000 nits, making the latter a slightly better option if you spend most of your time outdoors.
Samsung has perfected the S23 Ultra by minimizing the curved sides and making them flatter. Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the S23 Ultra features a much smaller hole-punch cutout, helping the device achieve a cleaner display that doesn’t interrupt your viewing experience.
Camera Configuration
Undoubtedly, the camera’s hardware influences most smartphone buying decisions significantly. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the first Samsung phone with a 200 MP main camera. It boasts images with immaculate detail, better low-light performance, and an improved dynamic range. If you’d like to enhance your photography, check out theSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera settings you need to change.
Although the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s primary camera remains the same as its predecessor, Apple has introduced numerous features for capturing images with phenomenal detail. You now have the option to personalize the default focal length of your main camera, with choices including 24mm, 28mm, or 35mm.
Both phones can shoot incredible videos, but the iPhone has a slight edge in optical image stabilization, resulting in smoother video recording. The S23 Ultra offers two telephoto lenses with optical zoom capabilities (3x and 10x). This provides versatility for different shooting scenarios, particularly for zoomed-in shots. Similarly, the iPhone has a periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom.
If you value high megapixels and versatile zoom options, the S23 Ultra might be a better choice. However, if you prefer cooler and more vivid colors and optical image stabilization, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be perfect for you!
Internal Hardware and Performance
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the first smartphone to use a 3nm chip, and Apple claims the A17 Pro is up to 10% faster than its predecessor. It promises substantial performance improvements, including a 20% faster GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and a two-fold increase in neural engine speed.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra also features an efficient and powerful Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. According to Samsung’s claims, the 4nm chip offers a 30% boost in CPU performance and a 40% improvement in GPU performance, all while delivering better power efficiency than its predecessors.
The base version of the Galaxy S22 Ultra starts with 8GB of RAM with an optional 12GB variant available, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with 8GB of RAM, according toMacRumor’s claims. It’s worth mentioning that previous iPhone models had 6GB of RAM. Nevertheless, when it comes to multitasking, both devices deliver uncompromised performance.
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max is certainly a better choice for gamers, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter any performance issues with either device in typical everyday usage.
Battery Life and Charging
Fortunately, battery life shouldn’t be an issue on both the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro Max reportedly packs a bigger battery than its predecessor. However, Apple claims it can handle up to 29 hours of video playback, which is the same as the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
When it comes to charging speeds, the S23 Ultra has the edge due to 45W wired charging support. Unfortunately, Apple still limits fast charging to 20W on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
And unlike the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the S23 Ultra supports Wireless PowerShare, meaning it can reverse wireless charge another phone, a Galaxy Watch, or Galaxy Buds.
One of the most noteworthy upgrades in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is itsswitch from the Lighting port to USB-C. Thanks to the USB-C upgrade, you can now charge your Apple Watch or AirPods with your iPhone.
Pricing and Storage Options
Both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max come with a base storage of 256GB. Although 256GB tends to be more than enough for an average user, ask yourselfhow much storage you need on your smartphonebefore opting for 512GB or 1TB.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at $1,199 for the base version and goes up to $1,619. The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for the base version and goes up to $1,599. Since both manufacturers provide a trade-in offer, you can save quite a lot when purchasing your new device.
Which Flagship Will You Choose?
The choice between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S23 Ultra ultimately boils down to personal preference and individual needs. Both devices have raised the bar with their exceptional features, powerful performance, and high-resolution cameras.
If you’ve been a part of the Apple ecosystem for years and think it’s time for an upgrade, you won’t regret purchasing the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, if you think it’s time to dip your toes in a different platform, we recommend getting the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
