Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Updated: Jan 27, 2023 4:53 pm
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max – how do these premium smartphones compare?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra release date is just around the corner, and although there aren’t any official specs available for this upcoming device, we’ve got a good idea of its capabilities thanks to reputable leaks from commentators such as Ice Universe, Ross Young, Ming-Chi Kuo, and Yogesh Brar. It’s the perfect time to clash the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max was released in October last year, and the S23 Ultra will be revealed on February 1st at the Galaxy Unpacked event. Both are respective companies’ top flagship devices, and it is time to see which one comes out on top.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra cameras vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max cameras
In terms of camera hardware, it would seem that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will have a substantial lead over the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
This year, Samsung’s biggest upgrade is the addition of the new 200MP ISOCELL HP2 primary camera sensor with 0.6-micron pixels to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The company specially designed this custom sensor for the Ultra model.
The new sensor on the Samsung S23 Ultra takes great low-light photos. The pixel size goes up to 1.12 microns, allowing users to snap 50MP images with increased light sensitivity. Samsung improved the night-light images by introducing a 2.4-micron virtual pixel by combining 16 pixels into one, resulting in photos taken at 12.5MP. According to Samsung, this new method allows users to take sharp photos when light exposure is low.
Apple has also made some changes this year. The company has finally dropped the 12MP camera and replaced it with a 48MP sensor. It is a significant upgrade for the iPhones but no match to what Samsung offers.
The final nail in the coffin for the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the Ultra Stabilization video recording mode. According to Samsung, it is on par with Apple’s Action Camera Mode, new Ultra Stabilization video recording mode, and more.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max processor
When it comes to processing power, it seems Samsung will struggle to win against Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max’s A16 Bionic chip.
Apple’s latest Bionic chip provides impressive performance, way ahead of what Android is currently offering, including Samsung. Samsung officially hasn’t confirmed which chipset they will use in the S23’s Ultra variant, but speculation suggests they can go one of two ways. Samsung can either use Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2300 chipset. Previously, Samsung used Qualcomm chips for the U.S. and Asia variants and Exynos for the Europe variants. This year, Samsung could change this; as the latest rumor suggests, Samsung could stop producing the Exynos variants of its flagship smartphones.
In terms of Geekbench scores, the A16 Bionic just flattens the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 reference model in Single-Core performance. Apple also takes home the win for Multi-Core results, but the difference is minor.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a giant leap forward for Android devices, but its performance is faded in front of the A16 Bionic. There’s a rumor that Samsung is customizing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to improve it more than these tests might suggest, but it’s unclear how much impact this could have.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max storage & memory
The iPhone Pro Max features four storage variants: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Rumors suggest the S23 Ultra will also have similar storage variants. So, it’s a draw.
But the S23 Ultra beats the 14 Pro Max in terms of memory. iPhone 14 Pro Max only has a single 6GB variant, while the S23 Ultra is rumored to come with two different memory variants: 8GB and 12GB.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra screen vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max screen
The iPhone 14 Pro Max uses the same 6.7-inch AMOLED display as its previous generation. It also has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and Super Retina XDR resolution. It is an impressive display, bright and with accurate colors.
According to rumors, Samsung will also keep the display the same as the S22 Ultra with a 6.8-inch, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and QHD resolution. But Samsung is rumored to improve this display by using the new Ultra Dynamic Range or UDR panel, which can reach up to 2,000 nits of brightness.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max battery life & charging
The Galaxy S series smartphones are great in many ways, but battery life is not one of them. If Samsung wants to beat Apple, the company needs to do better this year with the battery life of its flagship line-up.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max comes with a 4,323 mAh battery with 20W fast wired charging. Apple also provides 15W MagSafe wireless charging. According to rumors, the galaxy S23 Ultra could come with a 5,000 mAh battery and at least 25W wired charging. But Samsung could keep the 45W wired charging capability for the S23 Ultra, which was introduced with last year’s S22 Ultra.
If we look at the battery life, iPhone 14 Pro Max does a decent job, leaving the S22 Ultra fast behind, beating by at least 5 hours with adaptive refresh rates enabled. To beat this result, Samsung has to do much better with the S23 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra price vs iPhone 14 Pro Max price
Apple has kept the price of the iPhone the same as last year’s. So, the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099 (128GB).
Samsung was rumored to follow the same direction, but a recent tip suggests the opposite. Samsung may keep the same price for the Galaxy S23 Ultra in the United States, but the price in the Europe region could be increased up to €150.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max : Final Word
We hope this Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max article has helped inform you about the differences between these two devices. We’ll be updating this page as more information comes out on the upcoming Galaxy S23 Ultra.
