Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Both flagship phones deliver premium experiences but excel in different areas. The iPhone 13 Pro Max features a stunning 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 1000 nits brightness and ProRes video recording, offering superior video capabilities for professionals. Its A15 Bionic chip remains exceptional, paired with iOS 15's polished ecosystem. However, the Galaxy S23+ counters with a brighter 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen hitting 1750 nits, superior main camera specs (50MP with Dual Pixel PDAF versus 12MP), and faster 45W charging versus Apple's 27W. The S23+ weighs 43 grams less at 195g and includes expandable storage options through Samsung's ecosystem. Battery capacity slightly favors Samsung at 4700mAh compared to 4352mAh. The iPhone excels in video production with ProRes and Dolby Vision, while Samsung dominates still photography resolution and brightness performance. Pricing tilts toward Samsung at $999 versus $1099. For videographers and iOS loyalists, the iPhone 13 Pro Max justifies its premium. For photographers prioritizing resolution, brightness, and value, the Galaxy S23+ is the smarter choice. Both handle daily performance flawlessly.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if…
- →ProMotion 120Hz display arrived for first time on iPhone Pro
- →Best-in-class battery life among 2021 iPhones
- →ProRes video recording up to 4K
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 Pro Max
Pros
- ProMotion 120Hz display arrived for first time on iPhone Pro
- Best-in-class battery life among 2021 iPhones
- ProRes video recording up to 4K
- Macro photography with ultrawide camera
- Cinematic mode for shallow depth-of-field video
Cons
- Very heavy at 238 g
- Notch still present despite slimmed-down design
- Lightning connector limiting transfer speeds
- Large size is unwieldy for smaller hands
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 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 238 g | 195 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision ProRes | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 3x | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4352 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-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 |
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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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