Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Both phones deliver flagship performance at the same price point, but with different strengths. iPhone 16 Pro edges ahead with its superior display brightness (2000 nits vs 1750 nits), faster A18 Pro chip, and refined 120fps Dolby Vision video recording. Samsung Galaxy S23+ counters with a larger 6.6-inch screen, substantially larger 4700 mAh battery (versus 3582 mAh), and faster 45W wired charging. Camera performance is competitive: iPhone excels with its 5x telephoto and computational photography, while Samsung offers 8K video and proven real-world versatility. Design favors Samsung slightly with its lighter frame and slimmer profile. For most users prioritizing display quality and performance, iPhone 16 Pro wins; however, those valuing battery life and charging speed should choose Galaxy S23+.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Pro if…
- →Compact Pro form factor with larger 6.3-inch display
- →Same A18 Pro chip as Pro Max
- →5x telephoto now on smaller Pro model
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 16 Pro
Pros
- Compact Pro form factor with larger 6.3-inch display
- Same A18 Pro chip as Pro Max
- 5x telephoto now on smaller Pro model
- Excellent video recording capabilities
- Premium titanium design
Cons
- Shorter battery life than Pro Max
- Expensive
- Charging speeds trail Android rivals
- Base 128 GB storage feels limiting
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 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 195 g |
| Material | Titanium frame | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 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@120fps Dolby Vision | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 5x | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3582 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.3 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2622 x 1206 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 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 (6-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 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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