Apple iPhone XR vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone XR offers solid performance with its A12 Bionic chip and clean iOS experience, but it feels dated by 2024 standards with its 60Hz IPS LCD display, single 12MP camera, and modest 3GB RAM. Samsung's Galaxy S23+ delivers significantly superior specifications: a vibrant 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, 50MP main camera with dual pixel autofocus, 3x telephoto lens, 8GB RAM, and substantially larger 4700 mAh battery with 45W charging. The Galaxy S23+ supports 5G and USB-C, while the iPhone XR is limited to 4G and Lightning. For photography, the S23+ offers notably better versatility with multiple lenses and higher resolution. Battery life heavily favors Samsung thanks to its nearly 60% larger capacity. Performance is comparable on their respective platforms, though Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 edges A12 Bionic. At $749 versus $999, iPhone XR represents better value for budget-conscious buyers seeking simplicity, but Galaxy S23+ is the superior overall smartphone for those wanting flagship features and future-proof technology.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XR if…
- →Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- →Great battery life for the era
- →Six vibrant color options
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 XR
Pros
- Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- Great battery life for the era
- Six vibrant color options
- Same A12 Bionic as the XS models
- More affordable entry into Face ID iPhones
Cons
- LCD display instead of OLED
- 720p-class resolution
- Single rear camera only
- Thicker bezels than XS
- Only 3 GB RAM
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 XR | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 194 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 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 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2942 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1792 x 828 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| 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.
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