Apple iPhone 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 15 delivers excellent value at $799, pairing a brilliant 6.1-inch OLED display with the powerful A16 Bionic chip and reliable iOS 17. Its 48MP main camera excels in practical scenarios, though the 60Hz refresh rate feels dated compared to competitors. Battery life is solid with 3349mAh capacity and MagSafe wireless charging. Samsung's Galaxy S23+ costs $200 more but justifies it with a larger 6.6-inch display, 120Hz refresh rate, superior 4700mAh battery, and faster 45W charging. The camera system is more capable, featuring a 50MP main sensor with OIS, 8K video, and a 3x telephoto lens for versatility. The S23+ weighs 195g versus the iPhone's 171g, and uses more premium Gorilla Glass Victus 2. For photography enthusiasts and those preferring Android's customization, the S23+ offers tangible advantages. Budget-conscious buyers should pick the iPhone 15, which remains an excellent flagship. Those wanting the latest display tech, faster charging, and zoom photography should go with the S23+.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 if…
- →Dynamic Island brought to base model
- →48 MP main camera upgrade
- →Switched to USB-C port
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 15
Pros
- Dynamic Island brought to base model
- 48 MP main camera upgrade
- Switched to USB-C port
- Strong A16 Bionic performance
- Comfortable lightweight design
Cons
- Stuck at 60Hz refresh rate
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No telephoto camera
- No always-on display
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 15 | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 171 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3349 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 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 A16 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 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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