Apple iPhone XS Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23+ outperforms Apple iPhone XS Max across nearly every dimension despite a lower price point. Display quality favors Samsung with a 120Hz AMOLED panel delivering 1750 nits versus iPhone's 60Hz OLED at 725 nits, resulting in noticeably smoother scrolling and superior brightness. Camera capabilities strongly favor Samsung: its 50MP main sensor with Dual Pixel PDAF and 8K video recording substantially exceed iPhone's 12MP setup with 4K@60fps. Battery capacity (4700 mAh vs 3174 mAh) and charging speed (45W vs 18W) give Samsung a decisive advantage in endurance. Performance is comparable with modern flagship processors, though Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has a generational edge. Connectivity features Samsung Galaxy S23+ with 5G, WiFi 6E, and USB-C modernize the experience versus iPhone's older standards. iPhone XS Max offers refined iOS experience and premium build quality, but Samsung Galaxy S23+ delivers superior value, technology, and capability for $100 less. Galaxy S23+ is the clear choice for most users.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XS Max if…
- →Largest iPhone display at the time (6.5 inches)
- →Dual SIM with eSIM support introduced
- →Gorgeous Super Retina OLED display
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 XS Max
Pros
- Largest iPhone display at the time (6.5 inches)
- Dual SIM with eSIM support introduced
- Gorgeous Super Retina OLED display
- A12 Bionic with first 7nm mobile chip
- Stereo speakers with wide sound
Cons
- No ultrawide camera
- 5W charger in the box
- Very expensive starting at $1099
- No Night mode in camera
- No Wi-Fi 6 support
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 XS Max | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 208 g | 195 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 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 | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3174 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2688 x 1242 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 725 | 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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