Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the flagship option here, and it shines with its 6.9" display offering a peak brightness of 3000 nits, making it unbeatable in outdoor conditions. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S23 packs a punch with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and a compact design that makes it easy to use one-handed, weighing just 5.93oz compared to the iPhone's 8.22oz. In real-world use, the iPhone's 5088mAh battery provides up to 39 hours of video playback, while the Galaxy S23's 3900mAh battery lasts around 22 hours. If you prioritize a large, vibrant display and top-tier camera performance, the iPhone is hard to beat. However, if you want something lighter and easier to handle, the S23 is an impressive choice without breaking the bank. Key specs: Display: 6.9" vs 6.1" and Battery: 5088 mAh vs 3900 mAh.
Why compare these? The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (premium flagship) and Samsung Galaxy S23 (mid-range) represent different approaches to smartphones. While they may appeal to different budgets, many buyers consider both options. This 2026 comparison helps you decide if the differences justify the price gap.
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Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Apple iPhone | Samsung Galaxy |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | ✓4.8★ (126 reviews) | 4.4★ (101 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor) | Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip outperforms standard version |
| Main Drawback | Large and heavy form factor (233 g) | Base 128GB model uses slower UFS 3.1 storage (256GB+ uses UFS 4.0) |
| Market Position | ✓Flagship | Mid-range |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
Samsung Galaxy S23
Android
4 generations of OS upgrades (Android 14, 15, 16, 17); 5 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2028)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.36GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8GHz A715, 2x2.8GHz A710, 3x2.0GHz A510)
Adreno 740 (719 MHz)
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S23
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(126)Best Buy | ★4.4(101)Best Buy |
Operating System | iOS | Android |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | 4 generations of OS upgrades (Android 14, 15, 16, 17); 5 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2028) |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.36GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8GHz A715, 2x2.8GHz A710, 3x2.0GHz A510) |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Adreno 740 (719 MHz) |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8 GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) | 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.0) / 512GB (UFS 4.0) |
Display Size | 6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.1" (6.1" full rectangle; 5.9" accounting for rounded corners) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
Resolution | 2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi) | 2340 x 1080 pixels (FHD+, 425 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz) | Adaptive 48–120 Hz |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 1200 nits (HBM); 1750 nits peak (outdoor) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for 24MP and 48MP super-high-resolution photos | 50MP Wide (24 mm, f/1.8), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° FOV), Super Steady video |
Telephoto Camera | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) | 10MP Telephoto (70 mm, f/2.4), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) | 3x optical zoom; 30x Space Zoom |
Digital Zoom | Up to 40x | Up to 30x |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 8K video at 24/30 fps; 4K at 30/60 fps; Slow motion 1080p at 240/960 fps |
Front Camera | 18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 12MP Front (26 mm, f/2.2), Dual Pixel PDAF; 4K video at 30/60 fps |
Battery | 5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed) | 3900 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 22 hours video playback |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher | USB-C; Up to 50% in ~30 minutes with 25W adapter (sold separately) |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (up to 15W); Wireless PowerShare (4.5W) |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gb/s) |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber) | IP68 (up to 1.5 m freshwater for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back |
Dimensions | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm) | 5.76" x 2.79" x 0.30" (146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm) |
Weight | 8.22 oz (233 g) | 5.93 oz (168 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Ultrasonic Fingerprint (under display); Face recognition |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Always-On display; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox; Stereo speakers tuned by AKG; Dual eSIM support (varies by carrier) |
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
12 GB (LPDDR5X)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe)
Pros
- Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
- Triple 48MP camera system with 8x optical-quality zoom
Cons
- Large and heavy form factor (233 g)
- Fastest charging speeds require purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately
Samsung Galaxy S23
Android
4 generations of OS upgrades (Android 14, 15, 16, 17); 5 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2028)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.36GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8GHz A715, 2x2.8GHz A710, 3x2.0GHz A510)
Adreno 740 (719 MHz)
8 GB (LPDDR5X)
128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.0) / 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Pros
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip outperforms standard version
- Compact, lightweight design is easy to use with one hand
Cons
- Base 128GB model uses slower UFS 3.1 storage (256GB+ uses UFS 4.0)
- Charging speed is limited to 25W (significantly slower than competitors)
Which one is better?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better buy for most people - its 5088mAh battery crushes the Samsung Galaxy S23's 3900mAh.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if: you need a massive 6.9" display for media consumption, you shoot a lot of high-quality photos with its 48MP triple camera, or you want the longest battery life at 39 hours.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 if: you prefer a compact design for one-handed use, you want a powerful phone for gaming with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, or you’re looking to save money without sacrificing performance.
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.8★ vs 4.4★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Premium Buyers
Higher-tier option with more premium features and build quality
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Value Seekers
Better value proposition for buyers who don't need top-tier features
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Brightest iPhone display Priority
Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.
Bottom line: The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max edges ahead with a 4.8★ rating compared to 4.4★. However, Samsung Galaxy S23 remains a strong contender if its strengths align better with your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S23?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better choice if you prioritize brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). Samsung Galaxy S23 wins if you value powerful snapdragon 8 gen 2 for galaxy chip outperforms standard version. Both are rated highly (4.8★ vs 4.4★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max offers brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor), while Samsung Galaxy S23 stands out with powerful snapdragon 8 gen 2 for galaxy chip outperforms standard version. Consider that Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max large and heavy form factor (233 g). Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S23 base 128gb model uses slower ufs 3.1 storage (256gb+ uses ufs 4.0). Check the detailed specs table above for a complete comparison.
+Where can US buyers get the best price?
For US buyers, Amazon typically offers competitive pricing with Prime shipping, easy returns, and reliable warranty support. We recommend comparing prices on both products using our affiliate links above—prices fluctuate regularly, and you may find sales or deals.
+Is this comparison up to date?
Yes, this comparison is current for 2026. We regularly verify specs, ratings, and availability. Last verified: January 27, 2026. PageBen uses affiliate links for monetization, but our recommendations are research-driven and independent.
Affiliate disclosure
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