Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: which is the best?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup is here to compete with the iPhone 14. Of all the models in the Samsung lineup, the entry-level Galaxy S23 is the one that rivals the regular iPhone 14. Both are compact phones at affordable prices, powerful internals, and capable cameras.

If you want a new phone, which should you choose: Galaxy S23 or iPhone 14? Find out in our comparison below.

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• Samsung Galaxy S23: 5.76 x 2.79 x 0.3 inch | 5.93 oz
• iPhones 14: 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inch | 6.07 oz

Samsung and Apple’s offerings follow the same design language as their predecessors with a few minor tweaks. The iPhone 14 looks like the iPhone 13, but the front notch is reduced by 30%. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 looks like the S22 but now uses the more durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.

Unlike the iPhone 14, the S23 doesn’t have a notch on the front. Instead, there is a punch hole for the selfie camera. Phones rely on an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication, whereas iPhones use Face ID. Both phones are dust and water resistant to the IP68 standard.

You can get the Galaxy S23 in Phantom Black, Cream, Green, or Lavender. Apple offers the iPhone 14 in five colors: Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red. Check out our guide on which iPhone 14 color is best for you if Apple’s choices have left you stumped.

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• Samsung Galaxy S236.1 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 48-120Hz dynamic refresh rate, 425ppi, 1750 nits peak brightness, HDR10, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
• iPhones 14: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (1170×2532) OLED display, 60Hz, 460ppi, 1200nits peak brightness, HDR10, ceramic display

The Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 feature the same screen size. However, the S23’s display is better in almost every way: it supports dynamic refresh rates up to 120Hz and has a higher peak brightness. Thanks to this higher refresh rate, Samsung’s offerings will be smoother every day.

Despite those differences, both phones offer great screens, and you can’t go wrong with either. They get more than brilliant in direct sunlight, are protected by a durable cover glass, and support HDR.

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• Samsung Galaxy S23: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 “For Galaxy”, 8GB RAM, 128 or 256GB storage.
• iPhones 14: A15 Bionic, 6GB RAM, 128/256/512GB storage

Samsung is using a special version of Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip in the Galaxy S23. This 4nm chip promises a 30% increase in CPU performance and a 40% increase in GPU performance, while being more energy efficient. The iPhone 14 uses the 6-core GPU variant of the A15 Bionic, which Apple first used on the iPhone 13 Pro 2021. ‘The A15 Bionic can last up to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Samsung and Apple phones are very fast, and you won’t experience any kind of performance issues. Note that Samsung uses the slower UFS 3.1 NAND on the 128GB variant of the Galaxy S23. So consider upgrading to the 256GB model for better performance.

The iPhone 14 has an emergency SOS via satellite, which some users may find useful. The Galaxy S23 doesn’t offer a similar feature.

Camera

• Samsung Galaxy S23: Primary: 50MP f/1.8, OIS; Ultra wide: 12MP f/2.2; Telephoto: 10MP f/2.4; Night mode, director view, shoot video.
• iPhones 14: Main: 12MP f/1.5, sensor-shift OIS, 100% focus pixels; Ultra-wide: 12MP f/2.4; sapphire crystal lens, photon engine, cinematic mode, night mode, photography style

Samsung’s offering has a more versatile camera setup. The Galaxy S23 has a 50MP f/1.8 main camera with OIS, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, and a 10MP f/2.4 camera with 3x optical zoom. In comparison, the iPhone 14 has two rear cameras, including a 12MP f/1.5 with OIS and another 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide.

Thanks to the 3x optical zoom sensor, the S23 will perform better when taking photos at 3x zoom or more. This versatility will also help creativity flow more freely. Samsung has provided the Galaxy S23 with a 12MP f/2.2 selfie camera, while the iPhone 14 has a 12MP f/1.9 front camera in the notch. Both selfie cameras support autofocus for greater sharpness and clarity.

As for video recording, the Galaxy S23 can record 8K video at 30fps from the main camera. The rest of the cameras, including the selfie camera, can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. While the iPhone 14 excels at 4K, it can record (and edit) video in Dolby Vision for stunning quality.

Battery life and charging speed

• Samsung Galaxy S23: 3900mAh, USB-C port, 25W charging speed, 15W wireless charging.
• iPhones 14: 3,279 mAh, Lightning port, 20W charging speed, 15W MagSafe wireless charging

Despite being similar in size, the Galaxy S23 has a larger 3,900 mAh battery. It has more power hungry components, including a high refresh rate display. Even so, the entry-level S23 should last longer than the iPhone 14. The difference won’t be that significant as Apple is known to optimize its products to deliver the best possible battery life. Both phones can last all day with moderate use.

The Galaxy S23 can charge at 25W faster compared to 20W for the iPhone 14. You can fully charge the Galaxy in about 70 minutes, but the iPhone 14 will take longer despite having a smaller battery. Both phones also support wireless charging at 15W, with the S23 being able to charge other devices at 4.5W in the reverse direction.

Samsung and Apple don’t ship power adapters with their phones, so consider buying one of the best USB-C chargers if you’re in the market.

Price

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• Samsung Galaxy S23L Starting at $799.
• iPhones 14: From $799

The Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 start at the same price in the US, making them direct competitors. Given their similar prices, it’s not easy to decide between the two phones. You can get the S23 for less if you take advantage of your carrier’s trade-in offer or order it directly from the Samsung website.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: Which one should you buy?

The answers to the questions above are more complex than you might think. More than price and specifications, it depends on which operating system you prefer: Android or iOS. If you’ve been a longtime iPhone user, you might not like the One UI experience. In that case, consider sticking with the iPhone 14.

If you’re frustrated with iOS and want to explore Android, the Galaxy S23 might be your ideal first device. And if you already use an Android phone, you won’t regret upgrading to the S23.