Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung's Galaxy S23+ represent different flagship philosophies. Samsung's advantage lies in raw specs: the 50MP main camera with dual pixel autofocus outperforms Apple's 12MP sensor on paper, while the 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 1750 nits brightness significantly exceeds the iPhone's 60Hz Super Retina XDR at 1200 nits. Battery capacity favors Samsung at 4700mAh versus 3687mAh, and 45W wired charging doubles Apple's 20W speed. The Galaxy S23+ also weighs 31 grams less and includes USB-C for better universal compatibility. However, the iPhone 12 Pro Max delivers superior computational photography, video stabilization through sensor-shift OIS, and Dolby Vision HDR recording. Apple's A14 Bionic chipset remains remarkably efficient despite lower clock speeds. Performance in everyday use feels snappier on iPhone, while gaming and video editing favor Samsung's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Software updates matter here: Apple guarantees 5-6 years of iOS updates versus Samsung's 3-4 years. At $100 less, Samsung offers more features and better value on specifications alone. Apple buyers pay for optimization, longevity, and ecosystem integration. Choose Samsung for specification-driven performance and faster charging, iPhone for refined software experience and longer support.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if…
- →Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
- →Sensor-shift OIS exclusive to Pro Max
- →Excellent battery life for an iPhone
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 12 Pro Max
Pros
- Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
- Sensor-shift OIS exclusive to Pro Max
- Excellent battery life for an iPhone
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording
- 5G support across sub-6 and mmWave
Cons
- No 120Hz ProMotion display
- Heavy at 226 g
- 60Hz refresh rate felt dated in 2020
- Lightning port
- No charger included in the box
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 12 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 226 g | 195 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, sensor-shift 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, Dolby Vision HDR | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.2, 2.5x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3687 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 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 A14 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 |
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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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