Apple iPhone 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 8 delivers the premium iOS ecosystem with reliable performance through its A11 Bionic chip and clean software experience, but it feels dated with its 4.7-inch 60Hz LCD display, modest 2GB RAM, and aging design. Samsung's Galaxy S23 FE substantially outperforms it across nearly every dimension: a vibrant 6.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with 8GB RAM, superior quad-camera setup featuring 50MP main and 3x optical zoom, larger 4500mAh battery with faster 25W charging, and 5G connectivity. While the iPhone 8 maintains better software optimization and slightly more compact form factor, the S23 FE's $100 lower price point combined with superior specs and modern features makes it the clear choice for most users seeking contemporary smartphone capabilities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 8 if…
- →Compact and lightweight at 148 g
- →Wireless charging support
- →Powerful A11 Bionic chip
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 8
Pros
- Compact and lightweight at 148 g
- Wireless charging support
- Powerful A11 Bionic chip
- True Tone display
- Reliable Touch ID fingerprint sensor
Cons
- Very small 1821 mAh battery
- Dated home button design with large bezels
- Single rear camera only
- 750p resolution on 4.7-inch display
- Only 2 GB RAM
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 8 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 11 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 148 g | 209 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 2 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 1821 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 4.7 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.39 GHz + 4x1.7 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (3-core) | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A11 Bionic | Samsung Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | 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.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 8 or the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.