iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23: Which Reigns Supreme?

Apple and Samsung have butt heads against each other for years now. You will often hear consumers say that what Apple does, Samsung does better and vice versa. Now that the brands have recently launched their latest flagship smartphones, the people are divided and a bit confused about which option to choose and which one to push to the side.

The new iPhone 15 has surely turned heads with its unique pastel line-up and the USB-C charging port inclusion but so has the Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup with its superior camera settings, build quality and advanced features.

However, the question remains as it is, “Which of the two is the better choice?” Whether you’re a dedicated Apple aficionado or a loyal Samsung supporter, we aim to give you a fair, unbiased, and thorough comparison, so you can select the smartphone that perfectly aligns with your lifestyle and needs.

Let us dive deeper into the review and comparison to find out which one will emerge as the reigning champion in the world of mobile innovation.

iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23 – The Spec Sheet

iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23 – Pros and Cons

iPhone 15

Samsung Galaxy S23

Now that you have a pretty great overview of the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S23 series, let us get into the in-depth review and analysis.

iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23 – Affordability and Accessibility

If you are confused between iPhone 15 and Galaxy S23, wondering which one you should buy, chances are that you’d first want to check the pricing and accessibility.

How much is it for?

Where can you buy it from?

Well, let us start with the iPhone 15, which is currently available in three different storage variants, which primarily influence the price. The base or starting price of the model is $799, which is for the 128GB variant. The 256GB and 512GB variant cost $899 and $1,099 respectively.

On the flip side, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is available in two storage variants and the starting price is $799.99 for the 128GB variant and $859.99 for the 256GB variant.

So, if we had to compare, the Samsung Galaxy S23 does win in terms of affordability, even though its not by a lot.

As for the accessibility, both the smartphones are available online on their official websites and other registered online and offline retailers. This means that accessibility won’t be an issue in either case.

iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23 – Build, Design and Display

Before we elaborate, here’s a shorter version of the verdict. If you are a pro gamer and want to invest in a smartphone with higher refresh rate for a snappier gameplay experience, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is the one.

Both of these smartphones feature a 6.1” display but they do differ in the quality and specifications of the display. The iPhone 15 features its staple Super Retina XDR display with higher resolution of 2556‑by‑1179-pixel resolution at 460 ppi.

Samsung Galaxy S23, on the other hand, features an AMOLED display with 1080 x 2340-pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, which is the winning streak in this case.

But, you can’t deny the fact that the iPhone 15 features the Dynamic Island feature in their display, which adds to the innovation and versatility that Samsung Galaxy S23 lacks.

In terms of design and build, the Galaxy S23 is slightly lighter and has narrower bezels than the iPhone 15. Also, paired with the aluminum frame and the toughened glass on the back, this smartphone is not here to play.

iPhone 15 doesn’t disappoint on the build quality and the looks as well. The color options is what makes the new iPhone 15 stand out, especially with the new blue and pink variants.

iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23 – The Battle of the Cameras

The next point of comparison is the camera set-up in each of these smartphones. The first noticeable different in the camera set-up is with the number of lenses available.

The Galaxy S23 features a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto lens. The iPhone 15 has a 48MP main and 12MP ultrawide lens, which means it lacks the telephoto lens in the rear-camera set-up.

The lack of the telephoto lens makes it difficult for the iPhone 15 to have a better zoom feature, which the Galaxy S23 excels in.

However, the lack of the telephoto lens in the iPhone 15 is made up well by the other lens because the clarity and stability in the photos and videos is immaculate. Samsung Galaxy S23 doesn’t disappoint either, especially because of the optical zoom features and the image processing is a lot better and more refined.

Both the models feature a 12MP front-facing camera, which doesn’t have too much of a difference and captures clear and high-resolution selfies.

iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23 – Performance Benchmarks

Nothing sets apart a good smartphone than the performance. If you want to invest your money in a new smartphone, it goes without saying that you have to test out the performance and see how it fairs in comparison.

We have previously mentioned that the iPhone 15 is powered by the A16 Bionic chipset while the Galaxy S23 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 8GB RAM.

If you compare the performance simply based on the RAM configuration, it would seem like Samsung would win but let’s reel in a bit. Despite the 6GB memory, we know that Apple devices utilize their RAMs differently than Android devices. So, the 2GB RAM difference doesn’t make too much of a difference in the performance, when you come to think of it.

When it comes to comparing the two processors in terms of benchmarks, the iPhone 15 with its A16 Bionic chip somehow manages to take the cake.

However, the performance in both these smartphones didn’t disappoint. It feels luxurious and high-end without any interruptions in the middle of scrolling, browsing or gaming, which is great.

Another factor we’d like to emphasize on when talking about the performance is the battery life. With a slightly better battery configuration, the Galaxy S23 manages to steal the show with its battery because it lasts for more than a day while the iPhone 15 lasts for about a day.

Which one is better – The Final Verdict

We have compared different aspects of the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S23 to determine which one is the superior. However, the final verdict seems to be a mix of opinions.

Both of these smartphones are stunning, advanced and innovative. Each of them are integrated with unique features that are exclusive to the device, making the a choice of the superior device a little challenging.

That said, if you are a pre-existing iPhone user and don’t want to switch, the iPhone 15 would be a great upgrade. Similarly, if you are a Samsung user already, upgrading to the Galaxy S23 would be a superior choice.

At the end of the day, the choice fizzles down to one, “Do you want to switch sides and try out a new operating system?” If yes, making that switch wouldn’t be a bad decision. However, when it comes to comparison, both the devices pretty much rank the same in terms of build, design, quality, innovation and performance.

So, whichever you end up choosing, you are most likely not going to be disappointed.