Apple iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy S23+ significantly outpaces Apple's iPhone 11 across nearly every dimension. Display quality stands out with a 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel reaching 1750 nits versus the iPhone 11's 60Hz IPS LCD at 625 nits, delivering superior brightness and smoothness. Camera performance heavily favors Samsung: its 50MP main sensor with Dual Pixel PDAF, 8K video, and telephoto zoom vastly outclass the iPhone 11's dual 12MP setup. Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 8GB RAM comfortably exceed the A13 Bionic with 4GB RAM. Battery life advantages go to Samsung with 4700mAh capacity plus 45W fast charging against 3110mAh with slower 18W charging. Samsung includes 5G, USB-C, and modern connectivity features absent from the iPhone 11. However, iOS 13 remains user-friendly for those in Apple's ecosystem, and the iPhone 11 offers exceptional value at its $699 price point for budget-conscious users prioritizing software simplicity. For performance and features, Samsung's Galaxy S23+ is the clear winner despite its higher $999 cost.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 11 if…
- →Excellent value with A13 Bionic chip
- →Night mode on main camera
- →Dual camera system with ultrawide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 11
Pros
- Excellent value with A13 Bionic chip
- Night mode on main camera
- Dual camera system with ultrawide
- Great battery life for the price
- Wide range of color options
Cons
- LCD display instead of OLED
- 720p-class resolution on 6.1-inch screen
- No telephoto camera
- 5W charger in the box (no fast charger)
- No 5G connectivity
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 194 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 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 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3110 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1792 x 828 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| 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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