Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: which is the best?

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series is here to take on the iPhone 14. Of all the models in Samsung’s lineup, the entry-level Galaxy S23 rivals the regular iPhone 14. Both are affordable compact phones with powerful internals and capable cameras.

If you want a new phone, what should you choose: Galaxy S23 or iPhone 14? Find out in our comparison below.

Design

• Samsung Galaxy S23: 5.76 x 2.79 x 0.3 in | 5.93 oz
• iPhone 14: 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in | 6.07 oz

Both the Samsung and Apple offerings follow the same design language as its predecessor with a few minor tweaks. The iPhone 14 is similar to the iPhone 13, but its front notch has been reduced by 30%. As for the Galaxy S23, it looks similar to the S22, but now uses the more durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.

Unlike the iPhone 14, the S23 does not have a notch on the front. Instead, there is a hole for the selfie camera. The phone uses an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication, while the iPhone uses Face ID. Both phones are IP68 dust and water resistant.

You can get the Galaxy S23 in Phantom Black, Cream, Green or Lavender. Apple is offering the iPhone 14 in five colors: Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight and Harvest Red. If you’re confused by Apple’s options, check out our guide to which iPhone 14 color is best for you.

Screen

• Samsung Galaxy S236.1 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 48-120Hz dynamic refresh rate, 425ppi, 1750 nits peak brightness, HDR10, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
• iPhone 14: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (1170×2532) OLED display, 60Hz, 460ppi, 1200nits peak brightness, HDR10, ceramic display

Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 have the same screen sizes. However, the S23’s screen is better in almost every way: it supports a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz and has a higher peak brightness. Thanks to this high refresh rate, Samsung’s offering will be smoother on a daily basis.

Apart from these differences, both phones offer excellent displays and you can’t go wrong with either of them. They get brighter in direct sunlight, are protected by durable cover glass, and support HDR.

Performance

• Samsung Galaxy S23: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 “For Galaxy”, 8 GB RAM, 128 or 256 GB storage.
• iPhone 14: A15 Bionic, 6 GB RAM, 128/256/512 GB storage

Samsung uses a custom version of Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip in the Galaxy S23. This 4nm chip promises a 30% increase in CPU performance and a 40% increase in GPU performance while saving more power. The iPhone 14 uses a 6-core GPU variant of the A15 Bionic that Apple first used in 2021’s iPhone 13 Pro. ‘A15 Bionic can withstand Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Both Samsung and Apple phones are extremely fast and you won’t face any performance issues. Note that the 128GB variant of the Samsung Galaxy S23 uses slower UFS 3.1 NAND. So, consider upgrading to the 256GB model for better performance.

The iPhone 14 has emergency SOS via satellite, which may be useful for some users. The Galaxy S23 does not offer such a similar feature.

Camera

• Samsung Galaxy S23: Primary: 50MP f/1.8, OIS; Ultra wide: 12MP f/2.2; Telephoto: 10MP f/2.4; Night mode, director’s view, video portrait.
• iPhone 14: Main: 12MP f/1.5, sensor switching OIS, 100% focus pixels; Ultra wide: 12MP f/2.4; sapphire crystal lens, photon engine, movie mode, night mode, photography styles

Samsung’s offering has a more versatile camera setup. The Galaxy S23 has a 50MP f/1.8 primary camera with OIS, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera and a 10MP f/2.4 camera with 3x optical zoom. In comparison, the iPhone 14 has two rear cameras, including a 12MP f/1.5 with OIS and another 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide.

Thanks to the 3x optical zoom sensor, the S23 will perform better when taking photos with 3x or more zoom. This versatility will also help the creative juices flow more freely. Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S23 with a 12MP f/2.2 selfie camera, while the iPhone 14 has a 12MP f/1.9 front camera. Both the selfie cameras support autofocus for better sharpness and clarity.

As for video recording, the Galaxy S23 can shoot 8K video at 30 frames per second from the main camera. Other cameras, including the selfie camera, can record 4K video at 60 frames per second. While the iPhone 14 excels at 4K, it can record (and edit) video in Dolby Vision for stunning quality.

Battery life and charging speed

• Samsung Galaxy S23: 3900mAh, USB-C port, 25W charging speed, 15W wireless charging.
• iPhone 14: 3,279 mAh, Lightning port, 20W charging speed, 15W MagSafe wireless charging

Despite the similar size, the Galaxy S23 has a larger 3,900 mAh battery. It has more power-hungry components, including a higher refresh rate. However, the entry-level S23 should last longer than the iPhone 14. As Apple optimizes its products to provide the best battery life possible, the difference won’t be significant enough. Both phones can last a day with average usage.

The Galaxy S23 can charge at 25W, compared to 20W for the iPhone 14. You can fully charge the Galaxy battery in about 70 minutes, but the iPhone 14 will take longer, despite having a smaller battery. Both phones also support wireless charging at 15W, while the S23 can reverse charge other devices at 4.5W.

Samsung and Apple don’t ship power adapters with their phones, so if you’re in the market, consider getting one of the best USB-C chargers.

Price

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• Samsung Galaxy S23L It starts at $799.
• iPhone 14: From $799

The Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 start at the same price in the US, making them direct competitors. Considering the similar price, it’s not easy to decide between the two phones on your own. You can get the S23 for less if you take advantage of a trade-in offer from your carrier or order it directly from Samsung’s website.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: Which one should you buy?

The answer to the above question is more complicated than you might think. More than the price and specifications, it depends on the operating system you want to use: Android or iOS. If you’re a long-time iPhone user, you might not like the One UI experience. In that case, consider sticking with the iPhone 14.

If you’re tired of iOS and want to explore Android, the Galaxy S23 could be your ideal first device. If you’re already using an Android phone, you won’t regret upgrading to the S23.