Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: Which model should you buy? - ZDNet

1 year ago 76
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus connected  the near  and the iPhone 14 Plus connected  the right.
June Wan and Jason Cipriani/ZDNET

It's official. After weeks of anticipation and leaks, Samsung contiguous yet unveiled its latest procreation of Galaxy smartphones during its San Franciso Unpacked event. 

The Galaxy S23 models are precisely what we expect from Samsung: sleek slabs of machinery with beauteous and agleam displays, each wrapped successful an array of pleasing colour palettes. 

More: Everything announced astatine Samsung Unpacked 2023

But you, similar galore different upgrade hunters, whitethorn beryllium wondering however the caller Galaxy S23 bid stacks up against Apple's latest iPhones. Both Samsung and Apple are intelligibly masters of their crafts, but if you're looking for rationale beyond marque loyalty, present are our cardinal reasons wherefore you should opt for 1 exemplary implicit the other.

Specifications


Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus

iPhone 14 and 14 Plus

Display 

6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O FHD+ | 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O FHD+

6.1-inch OLED with 60Hz | 6.7-inch OLED with 60Hz

Weight 

5.93 oz (168 grams) | 6.91 oz (195 grams) 

6.07 oz (172 grams) | 7.16 oz (203 grams)

Processor 

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy 

A15 Bionic 

RAM/Storage 

8GB RAM/128GB/256GB | 8GB RAM 256GB/512GB 

4GB RAM with 128GB/256GB/512GB 

Camera 

50MP (f/1.8) Wide, 12MP (f/2.4) Ultra-wide, 3X Optical and Space Zoom, 12MP (f/2.2) front 

12MP (f/1.5) Wide, 12MP (f/2.4) Ultra-wide, 12MP (f/1.9) front

Software

OneUI 5.1 implicit Android 13

iOS16

Battery 

3,900 mAh | 4,700 mAh

Li-Ion 3,279 mAh | Li-Ion 4,323 mAh

Connectivity 

4G LTE, 5G: sub6/mmW

4G LTE, 5G, eSIM, Satellite

Durability

IP68 

IP68

Colors 

Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender 

Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Product Red

Price 

$799/$999

$799/$899 


You should bargain the Galaxy S23 oregon S23 Plus if… 

A manus  holding the Green Samsung Galaxy S23.
June Wan/ZDNET

1. You privation superior show quality

If you already find your eyes glued to your telephone surface for astir of the day, they whitethorn arsenic good beryllium glued to the Galaxy S23s' beauteous Dynamic AMOLED displays. Not lone tin you expect Samsung's proprietary displays to nutrient greater colour opposition and sharper ocular effects than the iPhone's 14's notched counterparts, but they besides refresh astatine 120Hz, doubling the iPhone 14 models' specified 60Hz. We're talking astir a noticeable quality successful however creaseless animations travel crossed the screens.

Review: Galaxy S22 Plus: Still a worthy flagship 

And with 1,750 nits, compared to the iPhone 14's 800, the Galaxy S23's displays person an elevated brightness that makes it easier to browse adjacent successful brighter environments.

2. Camera prime is your main focus

The Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus models instrumentality a triple camera system, with an further telephoto lens that beats the iPhone 14 series' dual camera system. You'd person to opt for the 14 Pro for that third, telephoto camera, unfortunately. The other lens gives you greater flexibility with shots, producing a much earthy inheritance blur and sharper representation images. And for video buffs, some Galaxy S23 models tin sprout 8K video, a diagnostic we've yet to spot from immoderate iPhone model. 

3. You privation a little restrictive idiosyncratic experience

Something the Galaxy 23 bid offers that iPhone 14 doesn't is flexibility erstwhile it comes to idiosyncratic experience. The iPhone 14's arguable power to an eSIM-only model is intelligibly not for everyone. The Samsung S23 connected the different manus supports some carnal SIM and eSIM, not limiting its users to a circumstantial cellular option. 

More: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro

The Galaxy phones besides complaint via the much cosmopolitan USB-C port, redeeming you from having to transportation a dedicated cablegram conscionable for your mobile handset. And dissimilar the iPhone, Samsung didn't bash distant with the fingerprint sensor; the phones employment some facial and fingerprint recognition. To apical it each off, the Plus exemplary starts astatine 256 GB of memory, not 128GB similar connected the iPhone.

You should bargain the iPhone 14 oregon iPhone 14 Plus if…

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus adjacent  to each   different   connected  a table
Jason Cipriani/ZDNET

1. You privation longer-term bundle support

If bundle longevity is simply a concern, you should support successful caput that the iPhone supports arsenic galore arsenic 5 years of iOS bundle updates, whereas Samsung lone offers a four-year backing. While it whitethorn not look similar that large of a difference, that's 1 to adjacent 2 years of missing retired connected the latest features and information updates. And if you're paying implicit $800 for a phone, you astir apt privation the astir retired of the investment. I cognize I would. 

2. You'd similar artillery beingness to beryllium the slightest of your worries

While you whitethorn person to bargain a dedicated charger for the iPhone, the artillery beingness is undoubtedly reliable. Using the power-efficient A15 Bionic chip, some the modular and Plus iPhone 14 models person proven to present reliable standby clip and run good adjacent successful low-power mode. In fact, Apple claims the iPhone 14 Plus delivers the champion artillery beingness connected immoderate iPhone, which we recovered to beryllium existent successful our afloat review. 

Review: iPhone 14 Plus: The cheapest iPhone with all-day artillery life

On the different hand, the artillery ratio of the caller Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset connected the S23 bid remains to beryllium tested. What we bash cognize is that Apple's A15 Bionic has proven its worthy for the iPhone's endurance, and tin confidently urge it for that reason.

3. You privation the best-performing apps

While apps whitethorn look sharper connected Samsung's displays, the world is that they often execute amended connected iPhones. There are numerous aspects that sway app developers successful favour of Apple's iOS level implicit Android, which is wherefore determination are occasional UI and UX differences crossed operating systems. 

More: iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Plus

The show differences are astir noticeable erstwhile it comes to photo-based apps similar Instagram, Snapchat, oregon TikTok, wherever Android devices are notorious for producing photos and videos of lesser quality. So if you privation much reliable apps, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus is the amended option.

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