The Galaxy S23 is here, but how does Samsung’s latest entry-level flagship compare with Apple’s more established iPhone 14?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is an extremely capable smartphone, and with it comes the inevitable comparisons between Samsung’s new 2023 handset and the now-established iPhone 14 that Apple launched last fall. Simply put, they’re two of the best phones available today.
Both the Galaxy S23 and the iPhone 14 are the best smartphone for most folks within their respective ecosystems, so it’s a pretty straightforward choice if you’re already invested in Android or iOS. On the other hand, if you’ve been on the fence about which platform to go with, or you’re considering a change, then it may be helpful to know how they stack up against each other.Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: specsGalaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: design and display
Unlike Apple, which generally reserves its best displays for its “Pro” models, Samsung puts its leading-edge AMOLED technology into its entire lineup. That means that while the iPhone 14 display lags behind the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 has the same gorgeous screen technology as the premium Galaxy S23 Ultra.
While it’s a bit smaller, the Galaxy S23 is still a 6.1-inch AMOLED 2X Infinity-O with FHD+ resolution and a density of 425 pixels per inch. While that’s roughly on par with the 6.1-inch OLED display in the iPhone 14 in terms of raw resolution, the Galaxy S23 display pulls well ahead by offering an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, 1,750 nits of peak outdoor brightness, and always-on technology — all things that Apple only provides on its pricier iPhone 14 Pro.
Instead, the display on the iPhone 14 is barely an upgrade from its 2021 predecessor. It still only runs at a fixed 60Hz and hits 800 nits to 1,200 nits of peak brightness, depending on whether you’re using HDR or not. There’s also no always-on technology here. While it’s still a solid OLED display, it doesn’t hold a candle to what the Galaxy S23 offers you for basically the same price.
Beyond the display, the iPhone 14 and Galaxy S23 are pretty evenly matched in the design and durability departments. Both feature IP68 water and dust resistance with durable glass — Apple’s Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 14 and Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the Galaxy S23. The newer Gorilla Glass is theoretically more durable against drops, but that’s something that’s pretty hard to measure. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S23 edges out the iPhone 14 by offering Gorilla Glass on the back of the phone as well. It may not matter so much if you’re going to slap one of the best Galaxy S23 cases on it anyway, but it’s a nice bonus either way.
Winner: Galaxy S23Galaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: performance and battery
It’s hard to get a true measure of performance when comparing the iPhone 14 to the Galaxy S23, since not only is the hardware fundamentally different, but they also use entirely different operating systems. As with nearly every iPhone ever released, the iPhone 14 uses Apple’s own custom-made silicon, while Samsung uses a (mostly) off-the-shelf Qualcomm Snapdragon chip for the Galaxy S23.
However, a couple of interesting things have happened this year that should put the Galaxy S23 well ahead of the phone from Apple. First, Apple has given itself a competitive disadvantage by using the older A15 chip in the iPhone 14, setting it even further apart from the iPhone 14 Pro, which uses the latest A16 Bionic.
