A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a larger screen and a more robust camera system, the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers a 6.7-inch display and superior camera quality, but at a premium price. On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 provides a smaller 6.1-inch display with a slightly lower camera quality but at an upper midrange price. Despite this, the Galaxy S23 still offers excellent camera performance. The iPhone has a slightly longer battery life, while the Galaxy S23 falls a bit short in this aspect. Each runs a different operating system, iOS for the iPhone and Android for the Galaxy, which may influence your app selection and user experience. Choose the iPhone for the best camera and larger display experience if cost is less of a concern, or the Galaxy for a more budget-friendly option with still high-quality features. 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 14 Pro Max
- Excellent for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23
- The Samsung Galaxy S23 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
9.2
8.3
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has excellent overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 has very good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max offers an excellent selfie camera experience, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 provides a very good one; both phones deliver very good overall photo and video capabilities including resolution, dynamic range, and low light performance, with the iPhone having a slight edge in versatility and selfie quality.
Photo Quality
9.1
8.3
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max takes excellent photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has an "excellent" selfie quality, likely due to a combination of high photo software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S23 also offers solid selfie performance, noted as "very good," but slightly trails behind the iPhone in terms of the overall selfie experience.
Video Quality
9.5
7.8
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max takes best in class videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max delivers top-notch video recording quality, with the highest scores in video resolution/framerate, video software experience, video stabilization, video dynamic range, and video low light performance, coupled with excellent microphone quality. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S23 also provides exceptional video quality, though slightly lower across these categories, but it competes closely with the iPhone 14 Pro Max particularly in video software experience and microphone quality.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has 10 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$1,000
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has a price of $1,000 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Phone
Find your new phone
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $700 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 16, 2022 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 422 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A16 | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 9.5/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4323 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 3.06" | 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 | 5.3 | 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 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 | Deep Purple, Gold, Silver, Space Black | 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 14 Pro Max
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Pocket-lint
Britta O'Boyle | March 2023
"The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is not just big in form, it's big in character. There's a refreshed design that's really striking, especially in this larger format, coupled with performance enhancements, battery improvements, camera improvements, the Always-On Display and the Dynamic Island feature. It will be too big for some, but if you're looking for the best iPhone Apple has made to date in the biggest possible format, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is definitely the one - it is excellent."
Samsung Galaxy S23
See more
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 14 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Phone guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S23+
VS
Compare Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S24+
VS
Compare Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro
VS
Compare Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Asus Zenfone 10
VS
Compare Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Asus Zenfone 9
VS
Compare Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 7
VS
FAQs
FAQs about phones
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
152,100
Recommendations made
86,190
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.
Featured in
