I switched from being a devoted Samsung Galaxy lover to an iPhone convert five months ago. Since then, I've successfully assimilated into the Apple universe and have been enjoying the benefits of tools like AirDrop and iMessage (mostly to the delight of my iFriends, who were sick of my green texts).
Although I still have a soft spot for Galaxy phones, I was curious to see how the top-of-the-line S23 Ultra would fare against my iPhone 14 Pro when Samsung revealed the S23 series in February. In order to examine everything from the cameras to the battery life to the overall design — and to determine whether I would regret joining the "dark side" — I obtained one and started using the phones side by side. Here is what I discovered.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra's display vs. Apple's Super Retina screen
First things first: the Ultra's enormous screen clearly jumps out in compared to my iPhone 14 Pro, which is not a Pro Max. I've never felt the need for a larger screen than what my 14 Pro offers, but having that larger display doesn't hurt when I'm watching YouTube videos, streaming shows, or spending too much time on TikTok.
Having a larger screen comes at the cost of trying to put a little heavier object in my pocket. For all that space, the phone is still quite stylish.
Both phones have excellent displays, and I can't really detect much of a difference in quality between them. The S23 Ultra features a very bright display right out of the box, which you can also get on the iPhone by disabling True Tone (a feature that adjusts the colour and intensity of your display depending on your environment). If the Ultra's brightness is too intense, you can reverse the benefits of True Tone by
either turning on the Eye Comfort Shield under Display Settings or selecting Natural under Screen Mode. Altering the White balance scale is another option. Pictures on the iPhone appear a little bit sharper, but the S23 Ultra's colours seem to shine a little bit more. Yet, there isn't much of a difference between the phones overall.
I'm still not completely comfortable with one part of owning an iPhone, and that is the keyboard. While they were features I adored on Android, I'm delighted Apple included Slide to Type with iOS 13 a few years ago, followed by haptic feedback on the keyboard with iOS 16 (eventually). But, the fact that I have to flip between digits and characters when I type on the iPhone still irritates me. On the Galaxy, though, you can choose the numbers because they are placed directly above the letters.
Using a laptop keyboard would allow you to type more swiftly. On the iPhone, you may download a variety of keyboards, including Gboard, but they aren't identical. I'll concede that's a small quibble, but I do believe Apple would improve the user experience if they adopted some of Android's best practises, as they frequently have in the past. I'll move on.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra's battery life is next level
Thankfully, I have had my iPhone for a few months now and have not yet noticed any significant energy life decreases. Although I still use my phone heavily throughout the day, I always need to charge it at night.
The battery in the Ultra is top-notch. I have enough juice to last for an entire day of use. Given that the S23 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery, this is not surprising. Apple doesn't disclose the battery life of its smartphones, but the 14 Pro has up to 23 hours of video playback, according to Apple. The iPhone 14 Pro features a 3,200 mAh battery, according to an iFixit teardown.
Apple is actually able to squeeze out more efficiency from its batteries thanks to iOS and its own A-series CPUs, despite the Ultra having a larger battery. As a result of Android's need to function with a variety of devices with various processors, a larger battery becomes more crucial.
Putting aside specs and logistics, the Ultra's battery life astounds me, as it did CNET mobile reporter Lisa Eadicicco when she reviewed the device.
The S23 Ultra's 200-megapixel camera
For me, a phone's camera quality is the most significant feature. I shoot a lot of photos and films for my job and for social media, including my specialised Instagram account for tea. I stayed with Samsung for ten years because of the Galaxy phones' photos, so I was interested to compare the cameras on the S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro.
I immediately noticed how much more vibrant the photographs are on the Ultra. Most of the time, such saturation gives photographs a good colour boost and enhances their contrast. On the Ultra, images of my vivid teacups appear even more vivid. Sometimes, though, the saturation might be a little overbearing and give photographs a fake, filter-like appearance. Sometimes, though, it does so in a positive way, making colours and subjects shine out.
The Ultra's 200-megapixel sensor enhances colour and detail even further. I photographed a decorative teacup that highlights the exquisite flower pattern and gold trim, and I also captured a mural by Klay Thompson that features vibrant blues and yellows.
But not every moment calls for a 200-megapixel camera. Another shot was captured outside, but the sensor deleted a few too many highlights, making it more difficult to perceive detail and comprehend what was happening.
Overall, I like how soft and vivid the Ultra's photographs are. On the iPhone, shadows are frequently a little too sharp, which gives certain pictures a deeper undertone. On the Ultra, a sky shot will appear bright and pleasant, however on the iPhone, there may be distracting shadows beneath the clouds. Selfies taken with the Ultra are also more attractive due to its brightness and softness. I do wish the iPhone just automatically adjusted for things like shadows a little better, but you can fiddle with the camera settings on the iPhone and experiment with things like contrast, tone, and colour temperature, and even emulate shooting techniques on the Galaxy (and vice versa).
I was most surprised by the Portrait mode on the camera. The iPhone's Portrait mode, in my opinion, is the best. Typically, the background is subtly blurred, the subject is sharp, and the colours look more authentic. Yet, I discovered that the Ultra performed one task superior to my iPhone. I captured my pal in a shot while she
had sunglasses on top of her head, and while the Ultra managed to focus on the bridge and sides of the glasses, the iPhone struggled to do so. That tiny detail demonstrates how far Galaxy phones' Portrait mode has advanced. Due to the lesser saturation, iPhone portraits still appear better in my opinion. You can also see a little more background detail, which is great.
Does the Galaxy S23 Ultra beat the iPhone at video?
Given the current success of TikTok and Instagram Reels, video is a top priority for both Apple and Samsung. It's also crucial for those like me who frequently record videos. My videos have been better ever since I switched to the iPhone. The visuals are clearer and the colours are more realistic. Cinematic mode helps subjects stand out and gives my content a more polished appearance. Samsung features a feature called Portrait video that is similar to Cinematic mode. Although the background is blurred beautifully, objects and individuals appear a little less distinct than they do on an iPhone.
The Ultra excels in video stabilisation, which is one area. The footage is so flawless that it appears as though you are using a gimbal even while you are walking down stairs. With the iPhone, there is a lot more movement and you can still feel each step being taken.
The S23 Ultra's design vs. iPhone 14 Pro
The iPhone's camera bumps are ludicrous, let's face it. The Ultra is a breath of fresh air because it wobbles less when you set it down because the cameras don't poke out as much.
Although it's a nice addition, I never found myself using the S Pen on the Ultra. There isn't much I want to write by hand, and I can pretty much do anything simply tapping the screen. Yet, I'm happy that the Galaxy Note series' heritage has continued.
I used to love having the in-screen fingerprint scanner on my Galaxy phones, so it's good to see it back with the Ultra. When I first switched to the iPhone, I missed it, but Face ID is so reliable that I quickly got used to it. Both phones were easily unlocked.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra's price is the same as the iPhone
Priced at $1,200 for 256 GB of storage, the S23 Ultra is comparable in cost to the iPhone 14 Pro Max for the same amount of storage. For 256GB, the smaller iPhone 14 Pro costs $1,100. Whether you choose the Galaxy or the iPhone, $1,200 is a lot of money. But in this instance, the price was reasonable.
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. iPhone 14 Pro final thoughts
Comparing the iPhone I currently have to the one I could have had if I'd stayed in the Galaxy family has been entertaining as I go back to a world I've left behind. While the S23 Ultra has several features that I like, such as brighter and more vivid images, improved video stabilisation, and an amazing battery life, having an iPhone has additional benefits that will probably keep me in the Apple ecosystem for a while. The user experience has become more smooth thanks to features like Airdrop and iMessage. I'm not sure I could trade the iPhone's video quality for anything else, either.
Yet, I am aware that I will most likely use the S23 Ultra if I want to shoot a photo that will leave people speechless. When I tell them it wasn't taken with an iPhone, I'll watch for their shocked expression.
To learn more about my experience testing these two phones, as well as to see some examples of images and movies taken on both, watch the video up above.
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