Phone Comparison
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Comparison
A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right phone.
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Verdict
Pros & cons
iPhone 15 Pro Max
A feature-packed phone with a sleek design but still needs extra care due to its delicate exterior.
+
What's good
+
Lighter titanium design
+
Advanced gaming performance
+
Impressive 5x optical zoom
+
Long battery life
+
Clear audio quality
−
What's not
−
Screen easily scratches
−
Slow charging
−
Action Button limitations
−
Heats up during heavy use
−
High price
Galaxy S23 Ultra
A powerhouse phone featuring a versatile triple-camera system and enduring battery life.
+
What's good
+
Impressive 200MP camera
+
Long-lasting battery
+
Built-in S Pen
+
Fast performance
+
Durable design
−
What's not
−
High price point
−
Bulky design
−
Charging not included
−
Slight shutter lag
−
Color saturation issues
iPhone 15 Pro Max
A feature-packed phone with a sleek design but still needs extra care due to its delicate exterior.
+
Good
+
Lighter titanium design
+
Advanced gaming performance
+
Impressive 5x optical zoom
+
Long battery life
+
Clear audio quality
−
Not
−
Screen easily scratches
−
Slow charging
−
Action Button limitations
−
Heats up during heavy use
−
High price
Galaxy S23 Ultra
A powerhouse phone featuring a versatile triple-camera system and enduring battery life.
+
Good
+
Impressive 200MP camera
+
Long-lasting battery
+
Built-in S Pen
+
Fast performance
+
Durable design
−
Not
−
High price point
−
Bulky design
−
Charging not included
−
Slight shutter lag
−
Color saturation issues
Spec data
How they compare
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
$1,199
OS
iOS
Android
Processor
Apple A17 Pro Hexa-core
Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) Octa-core
Camera zoom
—
—
Battery life
12h 58m
GSMArena Active Use
—
Wired charging
—
45W
Wireless charging
15W
10W
Display
Color, 120Hz
2000 nits peak
Color
Software support
—
—
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
—
Weight
221g (7.8 oz)
234g (8.3 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Yes
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
Spec data
How they compare
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
OS
iOS
OS
Android
Processor
Apple A17 Pro Hexa-core
Processor
Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) Octa-core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
—
Battery life
12h 58m
GSMArena Active Use
Battery life
—
Wired charging
—
Wired charging
45W
Wireless charging
15W
Wireless charging
10W
Display
Color, 120Hz
2000 nits peak
Display
Color
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Repairability
—
Weight
221g (7.8 oz)
Weight
234g (8.3 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
Yes
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Third-party data
Testing & benchmarks
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Galaxy S23 Ultra
DxOMark v5
154
photo 153 · video 158
140
photo 139 · video 137
AnTuTu v10
1.42M
—
GSMArena endurance
12h 58m
Active Use
—
iFixit repairability
7/10
—
Third-party data
Testing & benchmarks
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Galaxy S23 Ultra
DxOMark v5
154
photo 153 · video 158
DxOMark v5
140
photo 139 · video 137
AnTuTu v10
1.42M
AnTuTu v10
—
GSMArena endurance
12h 58m
Active Use
GSMArena endurance
—
iFixit repairability
7/10
iFixit repairability
—
Physical comparison
Size & weight
Footprint · to scale
iPhone 15 Pro Max
6.3" × 3"
Galaxy S23 Ultra
6.4" × 3.1"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 15 Pro Max
0.3"
Galaxy S23 Ultra
0.4"
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Height
6.3" (159.9 mm)
6.4" (163.4 mm)
Width
3" (76.7 mm)
3.1" (78.1 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
0.4" (8.9 mm)
Weight
221g (7.8 oz)
234g (8.3 oz)
Screen
6.7"
6.8"
Height
6.3" (159.9 mm)
Height
6.4" (163.4 mm)
Width
3" (76.7 mm)
Width
3.1" (78.1 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
Depth
0.4" (8.9 mm)
Weight
221g (7.8 oz)
Weight
234g (8.3 oz)
Screen
6.7"
Screen
6.8"
Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.
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Common questions
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: FAQ
Which is better, the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Both phones earn identical Compass Scores of 9.0, meaning critics rate them equally overall. The right choice depends entirely on which trade-offs matter more to you. Scroll through the spec-by-spec breakdown above to see where each phone pulls ahead.
Which takes better photos, the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy S23 Ultra?
DxOMark rates the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 153 and the Galaxy S23 Ultra at 139 for still photography. A 14-point gap on DxOMark's scale typically translates to visible differences in dynamic range, noise control, or colour accuracy. Real-world results also depend on computational processing and your shooting habits, so consider browsing sample shots for scenes you care about most.
Should I buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Our critics' take on the iPhone 15 Pro Max: "A feature-packed phone with a sleek design but still needs extra care due to its delicate exterior." On the Galaxy S23 Ultra: "A powerhouse phone featuring a versatile triple-camera system and enduring battery life." Both phones have clear strengths in different areas; scroll through the comparison above to see which trade-offs align with your priorities.
Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →