Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S23 tie on the OH Rank at a score of 67. Apple iPhone Air wins on Performance and Video; Samsung Galaxy S23 wins on Battery and Desktop Replacement. Apple iPhone Air is 3.8mm wider than Samsung Galaxy S23. Apple iPhone Air is the more recent release, from Sep 2025.
EDITORIAL: Like Samsung, Apple has introduced a slim phone this year. And just like Samsungâs, Appleâs new entry replaces the bigger non-Pro model that wasnât selling too well. 17 Air is the only iPhone this year to keep the Titanium build and the only one to come with just 2 lenses: one on the front and just one in the back. Other then being 5.6mm thin, 17 Air offers the same screen with anti-reflection coating and the same new âCenter Stageâ selfie camera as this yearâs Proâs. Itâs A19 Pro chip has 1 core less and a noticably slower performance when compared to 17 Pro Max. Night mode photos are painfully slow to take. The still and video imaging is very good but remember: you wonât have access to any meaningful zooming or ultrawide action. At least, Airâs battery life is better then Samsung Edgeâs. We wish it more luck then iPhone Plus had.
EDITORIAL: Samsungâs top of the line contact in 2023 is still a good flagship. Great build, fast SnapDragon 8 Gen 2 performance (iPhone 15 Pro Max level) with more years of One UI updates and regular security patches make it a relevant smartphone while many of itâs peers are being retired. Excellent selfie too.
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.