Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max commands a premium at $1099 with its Super Retina XDR OLED display hitting 1200 nits and the powerful A13 Bionic chip, but it lacks 5G and uses the dated Lightning connector. Samsung's Galaxy S23 FE undercuts the price substantially at $599 while delivering superior specs: a 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display, larger 4500mAh battery with faster 25W charging, 5G connectivity, USB-C, and a more capable 50MP main camera. Performance remains strong with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, though storage starts at 128GB versus iPhone's 64GB minimum. For users prioritizing raw value, modern connectivity standards, and camera versatility, the S23 FE offers exceptional bang for buck. The iPhone justifies its price only for those deeply invested in Apple's ecosystem and who value iOS's polish despite the technological disadvantages.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max if…
- →Outstanding battery life — best iPhone at the time
- →Triple camera system with Night mode
- →Gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED display
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Pros
- Outstanding battery life — best iPhone at the time
- Triple camera system with Night mode
- Gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED display
- 18W fast charger included in the box
- Excellent build quality with matte glass back
Cons
- No 5G connectivity
- 60Hz display refresh rate
- Heavy at 226 g
- Wide notch design
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 209 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, textured matte glass | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.0, 2x optical zoom | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3969 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2688 x 1242 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Samsung Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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