iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S23 Ultra: My Thoughts As An Ex-Android Lover

This story is a part of Samsung Occasion, ClassyBuzz’s assortment of stories, ideas and recommendation round Samsung’s hottest merchandise.

5 months in the past, I went from being a die-hard Samsung Galaxy fan to a sellout iPhone proprietor. Since then, I’ve absolutely tailored to the world of Apple and have been basking within the perks of options like AirDrop and iMessage (principally to the delight of my pals, who had been sick of my inexperienced texts). 

However I nonetheless have a comfortable spot for Galaxy telephones, and when Samsung unveiled the S23 lineup in February, I used to be desperate to see how the top-of-the-line S23 Extremely would evaluate to my iPhone 14 Pro. So I obtained my fingers on one and started utilizing the telephones aspect by aspect to match all the things from the cameras to battery life to total design — and to see whether or not I would have any regrets about switching to the “darkish aspect.” This is what I discovered.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s show vs. Apple’s Tremendous Retina display screen

First issues first: I’ve an iPhone 14 Pro, and never a Pro Max, so the Extremely’s large display screen positively stands out compared. I by no means really feel like I would like a much bigger display screen than what I get on my 14 Pro, nevertheless it positively would not harm to have that bigger show after I’m watching a YouTube video or streaming a present — or spending an excessive amount of time on TikTok. 

The trade-off to having that bigger display screen is attempting to suit it in my pocket and having to hold one thing a bit bulkier. Nonetheless, it is a fairly modern cellphone for all that actual property.  

The show high quality on each telephones is stellar, and I do not see a lot of a top quality distinction between the 2. Proper out of the field, the S23 Extremely has a pleasant vibrant show, which you’ll be able to obtain on the iPhone by turning off True Tone (a function that adjusts the colour and depth of your show relying in your atmosphere). If the brightness on the Extremely is an excessive amount of, you’ll be able to inversely mimic the results of True Tone by going into Show settings and both toggling on Eye consolation defend or going to Display screen mode and choosing Pure. You can too play with the White steadiness scale. Photos on the iPhone look barely sharper, however colours pop a bit extra on the S23 Extremely. General, although, there’s actually not a lot of a distinction between the telephones.

The keyboard on the Galaxy S23 Extremely (proper) locations numbers above letters, so you do not have to hop between the 2.

John Kim/ClassyBuzz

There’s one facet to having an iPhone that I have never fairly made peace with but, and it is the keyboard. I am glad Apple added Slide to Kind with iOS 13 a couple of years in the past, adopted by haptic suggestions on the keyboard with iOS 16 (lastly), as a result of these are options I cherished on Android. However I nonetheless get annoyed that I’ve to modify between numbers and letters after I’m typing on the iPhone. In the meantime, on the Galaxy, the numbers sit simply above the letters, so you’ll be able to choose them extra shortly, the way in which you’d on a laptop computer keyboard. You may obtain completely different keyboards on the iPhone like Gboard, nevertheless it’s not the identical. I will admit that is a minor criticism, however I do assume the consumer expertise would profit from Apple taking a web page from Android’s ebook — , like they’ve executed many instances earlier than. Shifting on….

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s battery life is subsequent stage

I’ve had my iPhone for a couple of months now and fortunately have not seen any noticeable drops in battery life but. My cellphone nonetheless lasts a full day of heavy use, however I all the time have to cost on the finish of the day.

The Extremely’s battery is subsequent stage. I can go a full day of use and nonetheless have some juice left over. That is not stunning, given the S23 Extremely has a 5,000-mAh battery. Apple would not share battery capability for its telephones, however says the 14 Pro has as much as 23 hours of video playback. An iFixit teardown discovered the iPhone 14 Pro has a 3,200-mAh battery. 

The battery that retains going.

James Martin/ClassyBuzz

Regardless that the Extremely has a much bigger battery, Apple is definitely in a position to crank out extra effectivity from its batteries because of iOS and its personal A-series chips. In the meantime, Android has to work with quite a lot of gadgets working completely different processors, so it turns into extra essential to have that larger battery.

Specs and logistics apart, I am amazed by the Extremely’s battery life, as was ClassyBuzz’s cell reporter Lisa Eadicicco when she reviewed the Extremely.

The S23 Extremely’s 200-megapixel digital camera

Digital camera high quality is an important facet of any cellphone for me. I take a whole lot of footage and movies for work and social media, together with for my very area of interest tea account on Instagram. The digital camera on the Galaxy telephones stored me within the Samsung household for a decade, so I used to be keen to match the S23 Extremely’s cameras to the iPhone 14 Pro’s. 

What I seen instantly is how rather more saturated images on the Extremely are. Generally, that saturation provides a pleasant colour enhance to pictures and makes them stand out extra. Footage of my colourful teacups look much more vibrant on the Extremely. Typically, that saturation is usually a bit overwhelming and makes images look unnatural, as if there is a filter on them. However different instances, it makes colours and topics stand out, in a great way.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s 200-megapixel sensor brings out particulars and colour on this ornamental teacup.

Abrar Al-Heeti/ClassyBuzz

The 200-megapixel sensor on the Extremely punches up colour and element much more. An image I took of an ornamental teacup emphasizes the intricate floral design and gold trim and one other picture of a Klay Thompson mural exhibits vivid blues and yellows. 

Not all moments are made for a 200-megapixel sensor, although. In one other picture taken open air, the sensor eliminated a couple of too many highlights, so it was more durable to see element and make sense of what is going on on. 

General, I admire the softness and brightness of images on the Extremely. Shadows on the iPhone are sometimes a bit too harsh and provides some photos a darker overtone. An picture of the sky on the Extremely will look good and vibrant, whereas on the iPhone, there could be distracting shadows beneath clouds. The Extremely’s softness and brightness additionally make for extra flattering selfies. You may modify the iPhone’s digital camera settings and mess around with issues like distinction, tone and colour temperature, and even mimic images types on the Galaxy (and vice versa), however I do want the iPhone simply routinely adjusted for issues like shadows just a little higher. 

The digital camera function that stunned me most was Portrait mode. I consider Portrait mode on the iPhone because the gold customary. The topic is often in good focus, the background is easily blurred and the colours are extra pure wanting. However I seen there’s one thing the Extremely did higher than my iPhone. I took an image of my buddy whereas she had sun shades on high of her head, and the iPhone struggled to maintain the bridge and sides of the glasses in focus, whereas the Extremely did not. It is that small element that exhibits how far Portrait mode has come on Galaxy telephones. I nonetheless desire the look of iPhone portraits due to the decrease saturation, and you’ll catch a bit extra element within the background, which is sweet.  

The image on the left was taken with Portrait mode on the iPhone 14 Pro, whereas the one on the precise was taken with the Galaxy S23 Extremely. If you happen to look intently, you will good the iPhone blurs the bridge and sides of the glasses, whereas the Extremely would not.

Abrar Al-Heeti/ClassyBuzz

Does the Galaxy S23 Extremely beat the iPhone at video?

Given the recognition of TikTok and Instagram Reels proper now, video is a large focus for each Apple and Samsung — and likewise essential for people like me who take a whole lot of movies. Since switching to the iPhone, I’ve seen an uptick within the high quality of my movies. The colours are extra pure and the pictures sharper. Cinematic mode makes topics pop and lends a extra skilled look to my content material. Samsung has its personal Cinematic mode equal, referred to as Portrait video. It additionally does an ideal job of blurring the background, however objects and other people look rather less outlined than they do on iPhone.  

One space the place the Extremely is a transparent winner is with video stabilization. Even strolling down the steps, the footage is extremely clean, as if you happen to’re utilizing a gimbal. With the iPhone, you’ll be able to nonetheless sense every step being taken, and there is much more motion. 

The S23 Extremely’s design vs. iPhone 14 Pro 

Let’s be sincere: the iPhone’s digital camera bumps are ridiculous. The Extremely is a breath of contemporary air as a result of the cameras do not stick out as a lot, so it wobbles much less if you set it down. 

The S Pen on the Extremely is a enjoyable additional, although I by no means discovered myself reaching for it. There’s not a lot I need to write by hand, and I can simply faucet the display screen for just about all capabilities. Nonetheless, I am glad the legacy of the retired Galaxy Notice sequence lives on. 

The S Pen returns on the Galaxy S23 Extremely.

James Martin/ClassyBuzz

The in-screen fingerprint reader was a favourite function of mine on my Galaxy telephones, and it is good to have that choice once more whereas utilizing the Extremely. I missed it after I first switched to the iPhone, however Face ID is stable sufficient that I shortly obtained over it. Unlocking each telephones has been seamless.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s value is similar because the iPhone

The S23 Ultra is $1,200 for 256 GB of storage and is priced equally to the iPhone 14 Pro Max with the identical quantity of storage. The smaller iPhone 14 Pro is $1,100 for 256GB. Whether or not you are a Galaxy fan or an iPhone lover, $1,200 is lots. However on this case, you get what you pay for.

Galaxy S23 Extremely vs. iPhone 14 Pro ultimate ideas 

These digital camera bumps on the iPhone 14 Pro really feel just a little extreme.

John Kim/ClassyBuzz

It has been enjoyable to revisit a world I’ve deserted and evaluate the iPhone I’ve now to the one I might’ve had if I would stayed within the Galaxy household. Whereas there are features to the S23 Extremely that I admire, like brighter and extra colourful photos, higher video stabilization and unimaginable battery life, there are benefits to having an iPhone that transcend specs that’ll doubtless hold me within the Apple ecosystem for some time. Options like Airdrop and iMessage have made the consumer expertise extra seamless. And I do not know if I might surrender the iPhone’s video high quality for the rest.  

Nonetheless, I do know that if I need to take an image that makes folks’s jaws drop, I will doubtless attain for the S23 Extremely. Then I will look forward to the look of shock after I inform them it wasn’t taken with an iPhone.

Try the video above to see extra of my expertise attempting out these two telephones, together with some side-by-side examples of images and movies taken on every. 

Galaxy S23 Extremely: Take a Nearer Take a look at Samsung’s Large New Cellphone

See all images