Apple took the lead with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which after its fall release, it was rated as the best phone overall. One of the best phones we’ve tested, the iPhone’s new 48MP main camera, Dynamic Island-equipped display, and powerful but efficient A16 Bionic CPU.
As you’ll see in our review of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung ups the ante with a massive 200MP camera, a blistering Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy CPU that delivers scorching graphics performance, and significantly longer battery life.
Let’s have a look at the comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Specifications
Following is a table of specifications of the S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max:
Specifications | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Apple iPhone 14 Pro |
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Rear Camera |
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Selfie Camera |
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Display Screen
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Display
The 6.8-inch Super Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O QHD+ always-on display on the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate. The screen has a resolution of 1440 by 3088 pixels, or 500 pixels per inch (PPI), so even on such a large screen, details are sharp and clear.
It is much easier to use the phone outside in direct sunshine thanks to the max brightness of 1,750 nits when you’re outside. The selfie camera and face recognition sensor are contained in a compact and straightforward hole-punch cutout, and the bezels are quite thin, giving you more screen estate to work with.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Display
The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display on the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a resolution of 2796 x 1290 pixels, or 460 pixels per inch. Together with the iPhone 14 Pro, this is the first iPhone with an always-on display and supports ProMotion with adjustable refresh rates of up to 120Hz. The setup is comparable to that of the Galaxy phone, so you won’t likely notice the lesser PPI.
Result
Although the S23 Ultra may achieve even greater outdoor brightness than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung’s superior Super Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and higher resolution make it more stunning.
Winner: In the Race of Display Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the winner.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Model Design
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Design
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra maintains the same design as the previous model. It features a 6.8-inch display, which is enormous, with flat edges at the top and bottom and curved edges all the way around the frame.
As the S22 Ultra does not employ the camera island like the ordinary S22 and S22 Plus, the quad-camera system remains to be in the floating lens arrangement, and the rear of the phone is matte so it is not a fingerprint magnet. The S Pen and USB-C charging connector are located on the bottom, and the volume buttons are located on the side.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Design
The iPhone 12 was released a few years ago and Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max has essentially the same design. It features fully flat lines along the frame and slightly rounded corners, making it a tried-and-true style. The 6.7-inch display is huge, and the device’s back is covered in frosty matte glass.
The three cameras are positioned in a triangle, and the triple camera array is fairly huge and awkward in terms of the camera bump. At the bottom is a Lightning port for charging. The volume buttons and mute toggle are on the left, while the sleep/wake button is on the right.
Result
Both phones have highly contemporary looks, yet they have different styles. Hence, it truly all depends on the style you choose.
Winner: So it’s Tie between both designs.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Performance
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Performance
The Samsung S23 series, which includes the Galaxy S23 Ultra, comes pre-installed with Android 13 and One UI 5.1. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, an improved version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 designed particularly for Samsung handsets, powers everything. This one not only has a 3.3GHz clock speed but is also tailored for Samsung. The 256GB version comes with 8GB Memory, while the 512GB and 1TB versions include 12GB RAM.
The S23 Ultra was expected to be able to handle whatever you could throw at it, and that prediction has proven to be accurate. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is far more powerful than the majority of its rivals. Though we looked, we couldn’t discover a single chore, application, or game that actually bothered it. The “for Galaxy” title isn’t just a phrase, it’s actually quite unique.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Performance
But it would be wrong to dismiss Apple’s processors out of hand. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is powered by Apple’s own A16 Bionic technology, which boasts a six-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores. Moreover, there is a 16-core Neural Engine, a five-core GPU, and 6GB of Memory.
For the normal individual, all of this may sound like technical jargon, but it basically means that the iPhone 14 Pro Max performs incredibly quickly. Even though it has less RAM than the Samsung S23 Ultra, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is quick, fluid, snappy, and just a delight to use with iOS 16. It is in no way constrained by the fact that it has less RAM. It is yet another really potent device.
Result
The testing company said that the Galaxy S23 Ultra beat the iPhone 14 Pro Max in their performance tests to take first place among premium flagships.
Winner: Therefore, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the winner.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Battery
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Battery
The Samsung S23 Ultra’s 5,000mAh battery is the same as that of the S22 Ultra and hasn’t changed. While having the same capacity as the previous generation, the battery should last longer because it features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy optimization. During our testing, it lasted throughout a full day of use, finishing lengthy and difficult days with more than 20% of the tank remaining full. Not too terrible for such a strong instrument.
Moreover, the S23 Ultra supports Fast Wireless Charging of 2.0 up to 15W, Wireless Power-Share (reverse wireless charging) at roughly 4.5W, and Super-Fast Charging of 2.0 at a maximum charging speed of 45 watts via USB-C.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Battery
With a battery capacity of about 4,323mAh, the iPhone 14 Pro Max almost matches the S23 Ultra’s all-day battery life and performance. It still charges via Lightning, has a maximum fast charge speed of 20W, a 7.5W wireless charging speed, and 15W certified MagSafe charging. You cannot use your iPhone 14 Pro Max to charge other devices like your headphones because there is no reverse wireless charging.
Result
Both of these smartphones have good daylong battery lives and are powerful performers. The S23 Ultra wins this contest, though, because of its quicker charge and reverse wireless charging.
Winner: Samsung S23 Ultra win the contest.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Camera
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Camera
The main lens on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has been significantly improved to 200MP from the S22 Ultra’s 108MP main lens. Moreover, the main lens features laser autofocus and optical image stabilization (OIS) for incredibly sharp images. The quad-camera system also has a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 10MP telephoto lens, and a 10MP periscope telephoto lens in addition to the crazy 100x Space Zoom.
They were offered on the model from a year ago, but thanks to new software from Samsung, the 100x Space Zoom photographs now genuinely look fantastic, much like the 30x mode did last year. The quality of that 30x option has also improved and is now close to matching that of the 10x zoom. That represents a significant quality improvement, although Samsung’s S23 Ultra is still the only phone line to achieve this degree of zoom. The selfie camera of the S23 Ultra was downgraded from 40MP on the S22 Ultra to 12MP, which is the sole peculiar aspect of the device.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Camera
While receiving a significant boost last year, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a bit less spectacular in terms of raw numbers. With a 48MP main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP 2x/3x telephoto lens, your camera system has three lenses. A 12MP selfie camera is located up front.
On the iPhone 14 Pro Max, however, you can only obtain a 6x optical zoom range with a 3x optical zoom in and 2x optical zoom out (and digital zoom up to 15x). Unfortunately, you won’t get anything close to the S23 Ultra’s 100x Space Zoom, at least not until Apple adds a periscope lens to upcoming iPhone models.
Result
There are several reasons to prefer the output of either phone, even if both of these excellent photographers have distinguished backgrounds. Yet, since the image quality of these two smartphones is essentially equal, we’re awarding the victory to Samsung for its superb zoom capability.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Software and Updates
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Software and Updates
As was already noted, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with One UI 5.1 and Android 13. Samsung is also quite good about maintaining support for its flagship products; the S23 Ultra will receive five years’ worth of security patch upgrades in addition to four years’ worth of Android OS updates.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Software and Updates
IOS 16 may be installed on gadgets as old as the iPhone 8, which was released in 2017 and was six years old at the time.
For an iPhone device, we should anticipate at least five years of software updates, however, this may change depending on the hardware. So even after five years, we should continue to see support for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The iPhone 14 Pro Max ships with iOS 16, therefore it will probably receive updates through iOS 21, if not further. Even though there is no set schedule for security updates, Apple does an excellent job of offering security fixes for older devices.
Result
But, when it comes to the durability of the majority of its products, Apple is tough to beat.
Winner: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Price and Availability
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Price and Availability
Right now, carriers, and large box stores like Best Buy, as well as Samsung directly, are all selling the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has available storage upgrades to 512GB and 1TB and has a starting price of $1,200 for the 256GB model. All of the basic colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender are available with the Galaxy S23 Ultra. There are four additional, exclusive colors available when ordering straight from Samsung: Lime, Graphite, Sky Blue, and Red.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Price and Availability
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is currently available directly from Apple, carriers, and big-box retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Amazon. Although Apple normally does not offer discounts on its iPhones, occasionally you might find promotions from your particular carriers, and shops occasionally run offers. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a starting price of $1,099 for 128GB and a maximum price of $1,599 for 1TB. If you want to compare the S23 Ultra’s starting price of $1,199 to the 256GB model that will cost you $1,199. Deep Purple, Space Black, Gold, and Silver are the hues that are offered.
To read the complete and detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, kindly go to Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Complete and Honest Review.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some FAQs related to Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Apple iPhone Ultra Pro Max.
Q – Samsung S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is faster?
Benchmarks indicate that the 14 Pro is far faster than the S23 Ultra, after using both devices, you can notice the differences in performance.
Q – Which one is better Samsung S22 Ultra or iPhone 13 Pro Max?
Despite having a lower 4,352 mAh battery than the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 5,000mAh battery, the iPhone 13 Pro Max generally lasts longer in tests. Both should last you through a second day of moderate use, but the Pro Max looks to perform better if battery life is a top concern for you.
Q – Which is better Samsung S22 Ultra or iPhone 14 Pro Max?
The iPhone and Galaxy have slightly different screen sizes, measuring 6.7″ and 6.8″, respectively. As a result, the S22 Ultra does indeed feature a larger screen surface. In addition, it offers a marginally greater resolution (1440p vs. 1290p on the iPhone), which is still worth highlighting.
Q – Which phone is better iPhone 13 Pro Max or Samsung S22 Ultra?
On various tests, it falls short of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and its A15 Bionic chip. The Galaxy S22 Ultra performs worse than the iPhone 13 Pro Max in both the single-core and multi-core tests on artificial benchmarks like Geekbench 5.
Q – What phone can beat iPhone 14, Pro Max?
In the first lap of the speed test, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was capable of defeating the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Q – Is iPhone 14 Pro Max better than the latest Samsung?
The iPhone 14 edges out the Samsung S22 despite not having an adaptive refresh rate or a dedicated telephoto lens. Its photo-processing software creates better photographs, and its chipset is superior to that of Samsung’s phone. Also, you may anticipate longer software support and it runs longer on a charge.
Q – Why iPhone is better than Samsung?
The durability of iPhones versus Samsung phones is another significant benefit. iPhone may easily last for five to six years, even though Samsung currently provides four years of significant Android updates for its flagship and mid-range phones.
Q – Is Samsung Camera better than iPhone?
Samsung’s videos have a greater dynamic range, while the iPhone’s video appears significantly less grainy, especially at night. But, when you use selfie videos, this disparity becomes less noticeable. Samsung is capable of 8K video, but it’s one of those capabilities you probably won’t ever use.
Q – Is S21 better than iPhone 13 Pro Max?
The S21 Ultra has a zoom advantage, but the iPhone can do more with its primary camera. The iPhone 13 Pro Max may represent a significant improvement in terms of battery life and other capabilities, but it falls short of the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s camera versatility.
Q – Which has a better camera iPhone 14 or Samsung S22?
The camera arrangement of the Galaxy S22 is more adaptable. A 10MP dedicated telephoto lens with 3x optical and up to 30x digital zoom is one of its highlights. The iPhone 14 does not feature a zoom lens, however, its main camera does support 5x digital zoom.
Q – Which phone has a better camera Samsung S22 or iPhone 13 Pro Max?
That the Galaxy S22 Ultra wins any zoom shots at 10x or higher should come as no surprise. In actuality, the Galaxy S22 Ultra can zoom up to 100x whereas the iPhone 13 Pro Max can only zoom up to 15x. Whereas 3x images tend to be clearer, the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 3x zoom lens appears to be superior to Samsung’s.
Q – Does iPhone 14 Pro Max Battery drain fast?
If the wallpaper is turned on for the always-on display, the battery life of the iPhone 14 Pro will decrease by roughly 0.8 percent each hour. When disabled, the battery lost 0.6 percent of its charge every hour.
Q – What is the disadvantage of the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is an always-on display drain battery, this is the big disadvantage of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Q- Are there problems with iPhone 14 Pro Max?
Buyers of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro can now add this issue to a long list of issues that also includes problems with FaceTime and iMessage activation, CarPlay, data migration, iCloud, shaking camera lenses, sporadic restarts, lock screen, Dynamic Island, excessive battery drain, and horizontal lines.
Final Thoughts (Overall Winner)
So here was a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. Although both the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are incredibly powerful smartphones, we’re choosing the S23 Ultra since it is a superior model.
This is because the S23 Ultra boasts a superior display (AMOLED vs. OLED, greater PPI, and resolution), a quick and potent CPU with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Samsung, a 5,000mAh battery, 45W fast charging with USB-C, 15W wireless charging, and reverse charging capability. In addition, the S23 Ultra sports a potent 200MP main camera and 100x Space Zoom capabilities that seem far better than they did in the past.