Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the flagship option here, boasting a stunning 6.3-inch display that peaks at 3000 nits. However, if you're after the ultimate camera experience, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's 200MP main camera changes the game completely. In real-world usage, the iPhone's 4252mAh battery provides up to 33 hours of video playback. This means you can easily get through a weekend trip without needing a charge, making the S23 Ultra a reliable pick for heavy users. Key specs: Display: 6.3" vs 6.8" and Battery: 4252 mAh vs 5000 mAh.
Why compare these? Both the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are premium flagship smartphones competing in the same market segment. This makes them direct rivals for buyers looking for premium flagship features and performance in 2026. Understanding their differences helps you choose the right one for your specific needs.
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Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Apple iPhone | Samsung Galaxy |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | ✓4.8★ (108 reviews) | 4.4★ (1,341 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Brightest 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor) | Class-leading 200MP main camera and versatile 10x optical zoom |
| Main Drawback | Charging requires purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately for max speed | Slow charging speed (45W) compared to competitors |
| Market Position | Flagship | Flagship |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
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 Ultra
Android
4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Qualcomm Adreno 740
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 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(108)Best Buy | ★4.4(1,341)Amazon |
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; 5 years of security updates |
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 |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Qualcomm Adreno 740 |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5X |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) |
Display Size | 6.3" (6.27" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display |
Resolution | 2622 x 1206 pixels (460 ppi) | 3088 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 500 ppi |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display | 1–120Hz (Adaptive) |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 1,750 nits (Peak) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.6), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 200MP Wide (f/1.7, 85° FOV), Laser AF, 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 (f/2.2, 120° FOV) |
Telephoto Camera | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, 4x, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) | 10MP Telephoto (3x optical, f/2.4) + 10MP Periscope (10x optical, f/4.9); OIS |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) | 3x, 10x Optical Zoom |
Digital Zoom | Up to 40x | Up to 100x Space Zoom |
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@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps |
Front Camera | 18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 12MP Front (f/2.2, 80° FOV), Dual Pixel AF |
Battery | 4252 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 33 hours video playback (30 hours streamed) | 5,000 mAh (Typical) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher | Up to 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 (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 (15W); Wireless PowerShare |
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 (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 |
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 (Water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
Dimensions | 5.89" x 2.81" x 0.32" (149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm) | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm) |
Weight | 7.27 oz (206 g) | 8.25 oz (234 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor; Face Recognition |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Integrated S Pen (2.8ms latency); Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox |
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro
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 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
- Triple 48MP camera system with new 4x tetraprism telephoto
Cons
- Charging requires purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately for max speed
- No physical SIM tray (eSIM only in US models)
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Android
4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
Qualcomm Adreno 740
8GB / 12GB LPDDR5X
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0)
Pros
- Class-leading 200MP main camera and versatile 10x optical zoom
- Custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy provides top-tier performance
Cons
- Slow charging speed (45W) compared to competitors
- Large and heavy (8.25 oz) form factor is difficult for one-handed use
Which one is better?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the better buy for most people - its 200MP camera crushes the iPhone's 48MP setup. That said, grab the iPhone 17 Pro if you want a more compact device that’s easier to handle at 7.27oz versus 8.25oz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro if: you value a brighter display at 3000 nits, prefer compact devices at 7.27oz, or want seamless iOS integration with 5+ years of updates.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if: you prioritize camera quality with 200MP resolution, need longer battery life with 5000mAh, or want productivity features like the integrated S Pen.
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.8★ vs 4.4★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 1,341 reviews vs 108
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Brightest 6.3-inch display Priority
Brightest 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Class-leading 200MP main Priority
Class-leading 200MP main camera and versatile 10x optical zoom
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Bottom line: The Apple iPhone 17 Pro edges ahead with a 4.8★ rating compared to 4.4★. However, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains a strong contender if its strengths align better with your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Apple iPhone 17 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the better choice if you prioritize brightest 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins if you value class-leading 200mp main camera and versatile 10x optical zoom. 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 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 17 Pro offers brightest 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor), while Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra stands out with class-leading 200mp main camera and versatile 10x optical zoom. Consider that Apple iPhone 17 Pro charging requires purchasing a 40w+ adapter separately for max speed. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra slow charging speed (45w) compared to competitors. 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.
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