Apple iPhone 13 mini vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 13 mini delivers premium performance in a remarkably compact 5.4-inch form factor with excellent iOS optimization, while Samsung's Galaxy S23+ offers significantly more value through larger proportions, higher refresh rate display at 120Hz, and superior camera hardware with a 50MP main sensor plus telephoto lens. Battery capacity favors Samsung dramatically at 4700mAh versus 2406mAh, and the S23+ charges faster at 45W. Display brightness reaches 1750 nits on the Samsung compared to 1200 nits on Apple. Performance remains competitive between A15 Bionic and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chips. Camera versatility leans toward Samsung with dedicated telephoto zoom, though both excel at computational photography. Price difference of $300 gives Samsung substantial advantage for users wanting flagship features. iPhone 13 mini suits those prioritizing portability and iOS ecosystem, but Galaxy S23+ provides better all-around value and practical upgrades.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 13 mini if…
- →Ultra-compact one-hand-friendly design at 140 g
- →Same A15 Bionic chip as the Pro models
- →Cinematic mode video recording
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 13 mini
Pros
- Ultra-compact one-hand-friendly design at 140 g
- Same A15 Bionic chip as the Pro models
- Cinematic mode video recording
- Excellent build quality with Ceramic Shield
- Attractive $699 starting price
Cons
- Small 2406 mAh battery limits screen-on time
- No ProMotion 120Hz display
- No telephoto camera
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- Last mini model Apple ever made
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 13 mini | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 140 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS with sensor-shift | 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, Cinematic mode | 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 | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2406 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.4 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz + 4x1.82 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 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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