iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has been released and with all the hype, it sure seems like the best phone right now. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is still out there. Both the S23 Ultra and 15 Pro Max are two very expensive phones.
And while there might be a debate as to if either phone is worth the price, we won’t focus on that in this article. In this article, I’ll share with you the similarities and differences between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra.
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iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Similarities
| Features | iPhone 15 Pro Max | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Display Size | 6.7-inches | 6.8-inches |
| Display Panel | LTPO OLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Display Features | 120Hz, HDR10+ | 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| microSD Card | NO | NO |
| 3.5mm Jack | NO | NO |
| Wireless Charging | YES | YES |
| Waterproof | YES – IP68 | YES – IP68 |
The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra have similar display sizes. Both phones also have similar display panels and features. In fact, Apple bought some of the displays for the Phone 15 Pro Max from Samsung. Both phones have the same LTPO OLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, etc.
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Another similarity between both phones is that both now feature a USB type-C charging port. Both phones are also certified to be IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min).
Built quality is another area where both phones are similar. Both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra are made of back and front glass. Both phones also have the Always-on display feature.
Other Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max similarities are NFC, 5G network, eSIM support, no microSD card slot, no 3.5mm headphone jack, etc.
See Also: iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro: Is there any Difference?
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Differences
| Features | iPhone 15 Pro Max | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Screen | Flat | Curved |
| Chipset | Apple A17 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| GPU | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) | Adreno 740 |
| Software | Apple iOS 17 | Android 13 |
| Rear Camera | 48 + 12 + 12MP | 200 + 10 + 10 + 12MP |
| Battery | 4350mAh | 5000mAh |
| Stylus Support | NO | YES |
| Satellite Comm | Emergency SOS via satellite | Unavailable |
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra share some similarities, this does not in any way mean they’re the same phone (not even close). Both smartphones are very different.
See Also: iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Should You Get The New iPhone?
For example, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a curved screen while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a flat screen. So, you have to know which screen you prefer to make a decision here. Some users like curved screens while others like flat screens (I prefer phones with curved screens).
Looking past the screens, both phones also have different performance. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro features the new Apple A17 Pro chipset while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Both chipsets are 5G chipsets but the chipset in the iPhone 15 Pro is more powerful.
See Also: iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro: Should You Upgrade?
The Apple A17 Pro chipset is more power efficient and has a more powerful GPU than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset in the S23 Ultra. So, when it comes to performance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is better than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Software is another area where both phones are different. iPhone 15 Pro Max runs Apple iOS 17 while the Galaxy S23 Ultra runs Android 13 software. The UI and UX on both phones are different but the Android software allows room for more customization which some users might really like. But overall, the software is based on user preference.
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Now let’s talk about the camera system on both phones. The camera sensors and features on both phones are different. The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a 48MP primary camera while the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 200MP primary camera.
Although both phones have a 12MP ultra-wide camera, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has two 10MP telephoto cameras while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 10MP telephoto camera. So, you get an extra camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra and more zooming capability.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has stylus support with a built-in S-PEN but the iPhone 15 Pro Max does not. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro Max supports Emergency SOS via satellite but the Galaxy S23 Ultra does not.
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iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Price
The price of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at $1199 for the 256GB storage. The price for the 512GB model of both phones goes as high as $1399.
Buy Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | Price | Storage |
| Buy on BestBuy | $1,199 | 256GB |
| Buy on Amazon(UK) | £1,199 | 256GB |
| Buy on Amazon(EUR) | €1,199 | 256GB |
Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | Price |
| Buy on Amazon | $1,199.99 |
| Buy on Amazon(EUR) | €1,399.00 |
| Buy on Amazon(UK) | £1,249.99 |
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max when it comes to productivity and offers more camera sensors. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is better than the Galaxy S23 Ultra when it comes to performance and power efficiency.
So, depending on why you need a smartphone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra will fit your needs. If you are about brand and performance, buy the iPhone 15 Pro ax. However, if you care about productivity and a camera, then buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
