Galaxy S23 vs iPhone 14: Compare Samsung and Apple Phones

Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 are the current main lines of Samsung and Apple. The former hit the market in early February as one of the main competitors to Apple’s smartphone – announced in September 2022. The devices have similarities, such as high processing power, 5G internet, and wireless charging. Some features, however, are different – such as screen, camera, and storage.

The Galaxy S23 is on sale in four color options: cream, black, green, and violet. The colors offered by the Apple model are blue, star, midnight, purple, and red. Check, in the lines below, the similarities and differences between the high-end phones.

iPhone 14 vs Galaxy S23

SpecificationsApple iPhone 14Samsung Galaxy S23
LaunchSeptember 2022February 2023
Price$799$799
Screen6.1 inches6.1 inches
Screen resolutionFull HD+ (2532 x 1170 pixels)Full HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels)
ProcessorApple A15 BionicQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
RAM6 GB (unofficial estimate)8GB
Storage128, 256, or 512 GB128, 256, or 512 GB
Memory cardno supportno support
Main cameraDual: 12 and 12 MPtriple: 50 MP, 10 MP, and 12 MP
Front Camera12 MP12 MP
Operating systemiOS 16Android 13
Battery3279 mAh (unofficial estimate)3,900 mAh
Dimensions and weight146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm; 172 grams146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm; 168 grams
ColorsBlue, purple, black, white, and redCream, black, green, and violet
Source: Apple, GSMArena, and Samsung

Screen and design

The difference between the two products starts in the visuals. On the front, the iPhone 14 has the famous notch on the screen to house the selfie camera and some sensors such as Face ID – for facial unlocking. On the other hand, the Galaxy S23’s front camera is housed in a small hole at the top center of the display. Both Samsung’s and Apple’s devices are equipped with a 6.1-inch panel, but the technology employed in them changes 2X Dynamic AMOLED for the Galaxy and Super Retina XDR OLED for the iPhone.

Although the resolution of the panels is almost the same on both devices, the S23 comes out ahead when it comes to refresh rate. This is because the South Korean supports up to 120 Hz, while the iPhone 14 maintains the classic 60 Hz. The S23 should therefore be able to display system animations more fluidly than the iPhone 14, which may give the impression that Apple’s model is less fast compared to the Galaxy.

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Regarding the build, both smartphones stand out for their high level of workmanship and the promise of durability. The Galaxy S23 debuted Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Corning’s new generation of glass. The coating features technology that better withstands impacts against rough surfaces (such as asphalt or sidewalk concrete, for example), even in drops of up to 2 m. The iPhone 14’s glass is Ceramic Shield, highly praised by the specialized press.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that both models are water resistant, with IP68 certification – which allows the devices to be submerged to 1.5 m for up to 30 minutes in fresh water.

Cameras

iPhone 14

While the iPhone 14 houses a dual set of cameras on the rear, the Galaxy S23 bets on boldness with three lenses, one of them being telephoto, to take pictures of distant objects or landscapes with 3x optical zoom.

The camera set of the Galaxy S23 is as follows:

  • 50 MP main (f/1.8)
  • 12 MP Ultra Wide (f/2.2)
  • 10 MP telephoto lens (f/2.4)
  • 12 MP front camera (f/2.2)

The iPhone 14’s camera suite, on the other hand, looks like this:

  • 12 MP main (f/1.5)
  • 12 MP Ultra Wide (f/2.4)
  • 12 MP front camera (f/1.9)

The Galaxy S23’s main camera offers 50 MP resolution, compared to the iPhone 14’s 12 MP. However, the quantity of megapixels is not synonymous with more quality. Apple’s model can be just as competent as its rival in this regard. What it does not have is the telephoto lens, which in the S23 is responsible for offering the user a 3x optical zoom.

Each smartphone has features to win over the consumer. The iPhone 14, for example, comes with Action Mode – which can leave stabilized videos, even if the user shakes the phone a lot during recording. The Galaxy S23 comes with a new technology that combines up to 16 pixels into one so that the final record is sharper, even in low-light situations.

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When it comes to videos, the Galaxy S23 supports recording in up to 8K resolution on the rear camera, compared to 4K on the iPhone 14. The slow motion mode on Samsung’s model is also smoother, as the device supports up to 960 frames per second – well above the 240 frames per second of Apple’s rival. Overall, the devices should deliver quality photos.

Performance and Storage

Both the S23 nor the iPhone 14 are not the most advanced variants of their lines. Still, the products are highlighted by high processing power. The Galaxy S23 has received improvements over the last generation. The Samsung phone ships with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, an enhanced version of Qualcomm’s most powerful processor. This means that the smartphone will have superior speed compared to rival Android devices that deliver the same component. Apple, on the other hand, has decided to equip the iPhone 14 with the same processor as the iPhone 13, the Apple A15 Bionic.

In practical use, both devices should be fast even when it comes to heavy gaming, which is great news for those who want to stay with their phone for a few years without worrying about crashing in the future. For multitasking, the Galaxy S23 has 8 GB of RAM versus the iPhone’s (estimated) 6 GB. Despite the difference, it is important to remember that the operating system of Apple’s model requires fewer hardware resources to run.

Regarding internal storage, the Galaxy S23 and the iPhone 14 have three variants (128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB). Neither of the two devices has a memory card slot.

Battery

Apple does not usually disclose the nominal battery capacity of the brand’s smartphones. However, benchmark apps estimate that the iPhone 14 has a 3,279 mAh component. According to Apple, this is enough for about 20 hours of video playback. The Galaxy S23’s battery has 3,900 mAh, and Samsung claims that it is capable of supporting up to 22 hours of video playback.

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Both smartphones support 25W fast charging. Both manufacturers claim that the devices charge from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes. Both accept wireless charging of up to 15W. Finally, it is worth mentioning the fact that the Galaxy S23 offers support for reverse charging, which passes power from one phone to the other.

Operating System

ios 16

Each device is equipped with the latest version of its respective ecosystems. The Galaxy S23 already comes standard with One UI 5.1, a custom interface based on Google’s Android 13. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 runs iOS 16, which has brought improvements in the privacy fields, as well as more customization options for the user.

The preference for a smartphone’s operating system can vary according to the needs of each user, and each has its positive and negative points. iOS, for example, is more stable and tends to receive security updates for a longer time than its competitors. On the other hand, it is considered more closed than Google’s software.

Android 13 is more suitable for those who like to have more control over folders and files on the device and has more customization options. However, it may stop being supported before Apple’s model.

Additional Features

5G connectivity

The iPhone 14 has two main features that are not present on the Galaxy S23. The first of these is the Accident Detection mode, which detects collisions and triggers emergencies automatically. The second tool is the camera’s Action Mode, which combines the use of the ultra-wide lens with software processing to deliver well-stabilized videos, even if the user is running around with the phone in hand during video recording.

The Galaxy S23 is equipped with the unique Samsung DeX, a feature that allows the user to connect the smartphone to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to use it as a PC. In addition, the Galaxy S23 supports the installation of themes (via the Galaxy Themes app) that change the design of the system icons and color palette.

The iPhone and the Galaxy have similar connections, such as Bluetooth 5.3, 5G internet, Wi-Fi 802.11 (a/b/g/n/ac/6), and NFC for proximity payment. The difference lies in the type of biometrics offered to the user. While Apple’s phone relies on facial unlocking via Face ID, the Samsung device is equipped with an ultrasonic fingerprint reader under the screen.

Prices and Availability

The 128 GB internal storage version of the Galaxy S23 has a price of $799, while the 256 GB model costs $869. The iPhone 14 was announced for $799 (128 GB), but can already be found on Amazon for about $729.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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