iPhone 14 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23+: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S23+ represent the pinnacle of smartphone engineering from their respective ecosystems. While both offer premium designs and feature sets, they diverge significantly in their core philosophies – iOS’s tightly integrated experience versus Android’s open customization. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device delivers the best overall experience for different user needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing battery life and fast charging, the Samsung Galaxy S23+ is the clear winner. Its 111-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses the iPhone 14 Pro’s 86 hours, and its 45W charging is demonstrably quicker. However, the iPhone 14 Pro remains a compelling choice for those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 14 Pro Samsung Galaxy S23+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (Dual SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2890, A28921, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2890, A28921, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE-A (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A28911, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, September 072023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 16Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions147.5 x 71.5 x 7.9 mm (5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 in)157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm (6.21 x 3.00 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)Nano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by)
Weight206 g (7.27 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.7 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.3 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 Always-On displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetApple A16 Bionic (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUApple GPU (5-core graphics)Adreno 740
OSiOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 NVMeUFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)-
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRDual video call, Auto-HDR, HDR10+
Single12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNo-
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBLightning, USB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3200 mAh (12.38 Wh)Li-Ion 4700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep PurplePhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
ModelsA2890, A2650, A2889, A2892, iphone15,2SM-S916B, SM-S916B/DS, SM-S916U, SM-S916U1, SM-S916W, SM-S916N, SM-S9160, SM-S916E, SM-S916E/DS
Price$ 395.67 / C$ 693.35 / £ 403.99 / € 492.99$ 780.00 / C$ 1,399.99 / £ 919.08 / € 1,185.89 / ₹ 94,999
SAR1.15 W/kg (head)     1.15 W/kg (body)0.95 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.98 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)0.77 W/kg (head)     1.45 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 86h Endurance rating 111h
Camera Photo / VideoPhoto / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.2 LUFS (Good) -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 968412 (v9) GeekBench: 5346 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)AnTuTu: 1234077 (v9) GeekBench: 5073 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

  • Industry-leading video recording quality
  • Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
  • High peak display brightness (1791 nits)

  • Lower battery endurance (86h)
  • Slower charging speeds (50% in 30 min)
  • Less customizable operating system

Samsung Galaxy S23+

  • Superior battery life (111h)
  • Faster charging (65% in 30 min)
  • More open and customizable Android OS

  • Image processing can be overly saturated
  • No dedicated telephoto lens
  • Potentially more bloatware

Display Comparison

Both the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S23+ boast 'infinite' contrast ratios, typical of OLED panels. However, the iPhone 14 Pro achieves a measured peak brightness of 1791 nits, exceeding what Samsung advertises for the S23+. While both offer excellent viewing experiences, the iPhone’s higher peak brightness provides better visibility in direct sunlight. Both utilize adaptive refresh rate technology (LTPO) for power efficiency, but Apple’s ProMotion technology is known for its smoother, more responsive feel. The S23+ benefits from a slightly larger display area, potentially offering a more immersive experience for media consumption.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are capable of capturing excellent photos and videos, but their approaches differ. Apple traditionally focuses on natural-looking images with accurate color reproduction, while Samsung often boosts saturation and contrast. The iPhone 14 Pro’s video capabilities are widely regarded as industry-leading. While specific sensor details are not provided, the iPhone 14 Pro’s image processing pipeline is optimized for cinematic-quality video. The S23+’s camera system, while excellent, relies on software enhancements to achieve similar results. The absence of a dedicated telephoto lens on the S23+ (compared to the iPhone 14 Pro) is a notable difference for users prioritizing zoom capabilities.

Performance

The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The iPhone 14 Pro’s Apple A16 Bionic, a 4nm chip with a hexa-core CPU, is renowned for its single-core performance. The Galaxy S23+ counters with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (also 4nm), an octa-core processor. While the A16 excels in single-threaded tasks, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s eight cores provide strong multi-core performance, potentially benefiting demanding applications and multitasking. Both devices utilize LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring fast memory access. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s improved thermal efficiency, inherent in its architecture, may lead to less performance throttling during sustained heavy workloads like gaming.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ decisively wins in battery endurance, achieving a measured 111 hours compared to the iPhone 14 Pro’s 86 hours. This translates to a significant advantage for users who frequently travel or use their phones extensively throughout the day. While both support wireless charging, the S23+ offers 4.5W reverse wireless charging, allowing it to charge accessories. The S23+’s 45W wired charging (PD3.0) is also faster, reaching 65% charge in 30 minutes (advertised), while the iPhone 14 Pro takes 30 minutes to reach 50% with its 20W PD2.0 charging. The S23+ also supports the newer Qi2 standard with iOS 17.2, offering a more efficient wireless charging experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Pro if you need seamless integration with other Apple devices, prioritize video recording quality, and value the iOS ecosystem’s privacy features. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if you prefer a more customizable Android experience, require exceptional battery life, and want faster charging speeds, especially for extended use cases like travel or content creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23+ experience thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is designed with improved thermal efficiency compared to previous generations. While some throttling is inevitable under sustained heavy load, the S23+ generally manages heat better than its predecessors, resulting in more consistent performance during long gaming sessions. The larger vapor chamber cooling system also contributes to this improved thermal management.
❓ Is the 15W wireless charging on the iPhone 14 Pro significantly slower than the 45W wired charging?
Yes, 15W wireless charging is considerably slower than the 20W wired charging. A full charge via wireless charging will take significantly longer – typically over 2 hours. The introduction of Qi2 support with iOS 17.2 aims to improve wireless charging efficiency, but it still won't match the speed of wired charging.
❓ How does the image processing differ between the iPhone 14 Pro and the Galaxy S23+ in low-light conditions?
The iPhone 14 Pro tends to prioritize preserving natural colors and details in low light, often resulting in slightly darker images. The Galaxy S23+, on the other hand, typically brightens low-light photos and applies more aggressive noise reduction, which can sometimes lead to a loss of fine detail. Both phones perform well, but the aesthetic preference is subjective.
❓ What is the real-world benefit of the reverse wireless charging feature on the Galaxy S23+?
The 4.5W reverse wireless charging allows you to top up accessories like earbuds or smartwatches using the S23+ as a power source. While not a fast charging solution, it's convenient for emergency situations or when you don't have access to a traditional charger. It's also useful for charging smaller devices that support wireless charging.