Aka Ekene, PBA Journalism MenteeSamsung has recently announced its new Galaxy S23 series, and the flagships have some impressive specs. All devices in the series come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, but Samsung has overclocked the processor to make it even better. The company claims that it outperforms the Apple A16, even when under high pressure from gaming, like Genshin Impact, while still staying cool.
The main comparison is between the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Both are top-of-the-line smartphones, but Samsung’s offering has a few extra features and specs that give it an edge over the iPhone. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 200MP main camera sensor, compared to the iPhone’s 48MP sensor, and it also has 10x optical zoom, compared to the iPhone’s 3x zoom. It can also shoot 8K video at 30 frames per second and has support for the S Pen stylus, which the iPhone lacks. Additionally, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a faster charging speed of 45W, compared to the iPhone’s 27W charging speed.
Let’s take a closer look at the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It has some great features, like exceptional performance, fun and useful dynamic Island design, very good battery life, and superb video recording quality. The display is bright and beautiful, with Mas-On functionality, and it has a premium, posh design. However, there are some drawbacks to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, like its relatively slow charging speed, and the fact that it only has small evolutionary improvements compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the lack of a physical SIM feels like an inconvenience for some users.
Design And Display
When it comes to design and display, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a boxier shape than the previous S22 Ultra, while the regular S23 and the Plus model have dropped the camera island plateau on the back and adopted individual protruding lenses from the Ultra. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has the same design as its predecessor, with only a few new colours added. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a curved screen and an S Pen stylus silo, making it more comfortable and ergonomic to use, while the iPhone is blocky and heavy. The S23 Ultra also has a steeper curvature radius of the side frame, which makes it easier to hold and operate with one hand.
Both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Galaxy S23 Ultra have bright OLED displays, but the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 1440p 6.8″ panel of Samsung’s 12th-gen OLED display generation, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a bright OLED panel of the latest generation. Samsung has a record peak brightness of 2000 nits, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a peak brightness of 2000 nits in isolated scenarios. Both companies have proven that they can make well-calibrated panels with excellent colour presentation. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a dynamic refresh rate advantage, with a range of 1Hz-120Hz, compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s previous range of 10Hz.
For display protection, both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Galaxy S23 Ultra use Corning’s newest generation of reinforced glass, the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the S22 Ultra, and Apple’s proprietary Ceramic Shield for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It remains to be seen which one is tougher.
Pricing
In terms of price, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 1TB model costs $1,619, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB model costs $1599.
READ ALSO: iPhone 15: Latest Rumors on Design, Specs, Features Analysis
Performance And Software
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip in the Galaxy S23 Ultra is giving the iPhone 14’s A15 processor a run for its money. According to benchmarks, it’s on par with the A15 and even beats the A16 in gaming performance. Plus, Samsung has given the S23 Ultra a custom version of the chip clocked higher than the stock version from Qualcomm.
When it comes to software, the S23 Ultra runs on Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max runs on iOS 16. It’s all about personal preference between the two operating systems.
Battery Life And charging
Battery life is looking good for both phones, but the S23 Ultra gets a 20% bump with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and LTPO OLED panel. The iPhone 14 pro max has a 4323mah battery with 27W charging speed while the s23 Ultra has 5000mah with a 45W charging speed
Overall, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a tempting choice for even the most dedicated Apple fans. It offers an ergonomic design with the S Pen stylus, a larger camera sensor, and a faster 5G modem. And don’t even get us started on its optical zoom capabilities and fast charging speeds. But, once you’re in the Apple ecosystem, it’s hard to break away. So, let’s see if the slightly pricier Galaxy S23 Ultra will make a dent in the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s market share.
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A very interesting read I must say. Engaging.