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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For photography enthusiasts, the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers superior still photo and video quality, making it a good choice if capturing high-quality images and videos is a priority. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S23 provides slightly higher screen quality and is a more recent model, which may appeal to those looking for the latest technology. iPhone 13 Pro Max will last slightly longer on a full charge than the Galaxy S23. The Samsung is lighter and has a smaller screen if portability and one-handed use are important. The Galaxy S23 supports reverse wireless charging, useful if you want to charge other devices wirelessly. Operating systems differ, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max running iOS and the Galaxy S23 running Android, which could influence your decision based on ecosystem preference. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Best in class display quality
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
Key differences
Video Quality
8.6
7.8
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max provides a powerful video experience with excellent stabilization and dynamic range, and a very good score in low light performance and microphone quality. The Samsung Galaxy S23, while also capturing excellent videos, edges out with a slightly better video software experience and low light performance, which might be worth considering if these aspects are particularly important to you.
Battery
9.6 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has 9.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$639
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a price of $639 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max both have very good overall cameras quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max offers excellent selfie camera quality which is great for portrait shots, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 also provides very good selfie camera performance but with an overall edge in photos software experience for refining images. Both phones are equipped with features that enhance camera versatility and ensure good dynamic range and low light performance in photos, essential for capturing details across various lighting conditions.
Photo Quality
7.8
8.3
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung Galaxy S23 to have very good photos, while the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes good photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes excellent photos with its selfie camera, which is rated higher than the very good selfie camera of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max. Alongside the higher selfie camera rating, the Galaxy S23 also boasts of a combination of features such as resolution, software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility which, when taken together, edge out those of the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$639 | $700 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 458 | 422 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.9/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4352 mAh | 3900 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.33" x 3.07" | 5.76" x 2.79" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.47 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Alpine Green, Graphite, Sierra Blue, Gold, Silver | Pink Gold, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Green, Lime, Graphite | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | March 2023
"The iPhone 13 Pro Max is that rare phone that gets a 5-star rating from us. You get blistering performance and a very responsive 120Hz display. Plus, the battery life is among the best we’ve seen from a 5G flagship. Some may simply prefer the iPhone 13 Pro because it’s smaller and lighter, as there are no other functional differences between the two handsets. But if you prefer a bigger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the closest thing to perfect you can get in a phone."
Samsung Galaxy S23
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | February 2023
"The 6.1-inch S23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the US, partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it’s also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset responsible for some of that battery performance improvement is slightly different — and slightly faster — than the 8 Gen 2 in other Android flagships."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S23
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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