Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
Verdict
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23+ tie on the OH Rank at a score of 68. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max wins on Screen and Video; Samsung Galaxy S23+ wins on Battery and Desktop Replacement. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is 1.4mm wider than Samsung Galaxy S23+. Samsung Galaxy S23+ is the more recent release, from Feb 17, 2023.
Score Breakdown
Performance /15
Battery /15
Screen /15
IP Protection /15
Main Camera /15
Selfie /5
Video /5
SD Memory /5
Software /5
Desktop Replacement /5
TOTAL
68
68
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
77.6mm (3.06in) · Sep 16, 2022 · Rank #104
7+9+13+12+12+5+5+0+5+0 = 68
* BEST phone Fall Winter 2022* TOP Software* TOP Video Recording* TOP Selfie
EDITORIAL: The best 2022 Apple phone still holds it's ground - it was a great phone to begin with but with Apple's (very) incremental annual improvements, it's successors didn't get that much better. A great option even in 2025, especially if you're stuck in Apple ecosystem.
PROs
flagship build, fast A16 Bionic with NVMe performance, >30hrs battery life, >1500nits bright 450ppi LTPO screen with Dolby Vision, IP68 (submersible down to 6m), excellent 48MP 24mm OIS main + 12MP 77mm OIS tele + 12MP 13mm ultrawide (all with PDAF) back camera, excellent 12MP 23mm PDAF OIS selfie, the best video recording Apple is known for, Apple's long OS upgrade support for stabile and feature rich iOS
CONs
big and 240gr heavy, 150min super-slow 20W (15W wireless) charging, lack of expandable storage, lack of desktop replacement functionality
Samsung Galaxy S23+
76.2mm (3in) · Feb 17, 2023 · Rank #103
7+10+8+12+12+5+4+0+5+5 = 68
* TOP Selfie* TOP Software* TOP Desktop Replacement
EDITORIAL: Wider then S22+, S23+ brings minimal improvments as we're beginning to expect from Samsung. The chip is updated, there is just 200mAh added to the lithium battery, the screen is slightly brighter (still below 400ppi) and there is a new 12MP dual pixel PDAF selfie. It is no wonder the + tier of S series always sells the least, it is a good phone but just "good enough".
PROs
flagship build, fast SD 8 Gen 2 with UFS 4.0 performance, >30hr endurance from a 4700mAh lithium battery with >60min 25W (15W wireless) charging, IP68 protection, reliable 50MP 24mm main + 10MP 70mm tele + 12MP 13mm ultrawide setup, excellent 12MP 26mm dual pixel PDAF selfie, very good video recording, up to 4 OS updates, desktop replacement functionality (DeX) and a great fast USB-C 3.2 port with video out and OTG
CONs
sub-flagship >1100 nits sub-400ppi Dynamic AMOLED screen with HDR10+, no more SD memory option, Samsung seems to be building a higher wall around it's ecosystem encouraging users to buy other Samsung products
Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.
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