With a bigger show, battery, and reminiscence capability than the iPhone 14 Pro, the Galaxy S23 Plus has a number of upsides regardless of not being the “flagship” of Samsung’s lineup. Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 revamping its efficiency, mixed with Samsung’s trusted One UI software program assist, the Galaxy S23+ ought to final you for years to return. 

ForLarger, unblemished show with fingerprint sensorVictus 2 fall protectionBetter graphical performanceExcellent selfie photosLong-lasting batteryAgainstOnly FHD displayAverage digicam qualityExpensive for non-flagship

The uncommon one-handed flagship that is comfy to carry with out compromising on specs, the iPhone 14 Pro nonetheless beats any Android cellphone in sheer velocity on the again of its A16 Bionic chip. Apple added new options like Always-On Display, crash detection, satellite tv for pc SOS, and Dynamic Island this era that make it extra thrilling than ever — however battery life is its Achilles’ heel. 

ForTop-class CPU performanceBeautifully vibrant OLED showDynamic Island > notchEmergency SOSLong software program supportAgainstMiddling battery lifeStill ready for USB-CNo SIM tray

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro tops many “best phone” lists on numerous tech blogs because of its traditional cutting-edge efficiency paired with upgrades to the design, show, and cameras over earlier years. It is not an ideal cellphone, however its recognition is not ill-founded. But is it ok to tempt Android followers?While the Pro is Apple’s top-tier cellphone — its solely downgrade from the Pro Max is its smaller show, which many customers choose — the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is a second-tier cellphone behind the Galaxy S23 Ultra in a number of areas. Although the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S23+ value the identical, Apple’s flagship has fewer handicaps. That being stated, the Galaxy S23+ would not routinely lose by comparability. Samsung has some methods up its sleeve with its latest Galaxy telephones, and Apple has its traditional quirks and drawbacks that many individuals will not recognize, particularly Android customers. On that word, let’s examine the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Pro.Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Design and displayWhy you’ll be able to belief Android Central

Our knowledgeable reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you’ll be able to select the most effective for you. Find out extra about how we check.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The 6.6-inch Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus show is way nearer in measurement to the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max than the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro. Whether you like a one-handed or large-screened cellphone will range from individual to individual. Samsung provides you a bigger cellphone with out paying $100 further for a Max-sized show, however Apple provides you the flexibleness of top-tier efficiency in a smaller cellphone if that is what you like.Whichever measurement you select, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max have pixel-dense shows with 460 pixels per inch (PPI), barely beneath the QHD decision of the S23 Ultra however nicely above the Galaxy S23 Plus’ FHD decision at 393 PPI.In addition, Apple advertises a max brightness of two,000 nits for outside use or 1,600 nits for HDR content material, in comparison with 1,750 and 1,200 for the S23+, respectively. Our dad or mum firm’s Future Labs could not check the outside scores however discovered the iPhone 14 Pro hits about 200 nits greater at 100% HDR than the Plus. Both telephones rating about the identical for coloration gamut vary in each sRGB and DCI-P3. Our iPhone 14 Pro reviewer famous its “excellent contrast and color accuracy” because of True Tone tech that adjusts the colours primarily based on the ambient lighting within the room. (Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Both telephones hit a easy 120Hz refresh fee, however solely the iPhone 14 Pro advantages from an LTPO show that may dip all the way down to 1Hz for battery preservation (in comparison with 48Hz on the S23+). While this undoubtedly helps Apple protect battery when utilizing the always-on show perform, the impression is not sufficient to shut the battery hole between the 2 telephones (as we’ll focus on beneath).Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro added the LTPO performance and eliminated the notch in favor of the brand new pill-shaped Dynamic Island. Several Android OEMs like Realme and Xiaomi have since copied the characteristic, which places an icon of your background app in a small window on the prime of the display to utilize the empty area there. Most Apple customers recognize the change, whereas some most popular the notch. As for Android customers used to the standard hole-punch look of recent telephones, they will choose the extra seamless look of the Galaxy S23+ show. Apple depends on its selfie digicam for Face ID as the first methodology for unlocking your cellphone. It has but to implement a fingerprint sensor for any of its telephones, whereas Samsung makes use of an in-display sensor on the Galaxy S23+ that is instantly responsive. (Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Otherwise, Apple has the clear edge for show tech and provides shoppers extra flexibility in sizing, although the Samsung Galaxy S23 exists as a extra reasonably priced 6.1-inch possibility. But once we strictly examine the Galaxy S23+ and iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung’s cellphone does have a few design upsides. Despite its a lot smaller show, the iPhone 14 Pro is a quarter-millimeter thicker and weighs 10g (0.35oz) greater than the Galaxy S23+. Samsung’s cellphone is way wider, after all, which nonetheless means Apple’s is less complicated to carry until you select the Max. But the iPhone 14 Pro is actually boxier, even though the Galaxy S23+ mirrors the standard iPhone look with its flat glass again and flat, angular edges.Another important upside to the Galaxy S23 sequence, typically, is its Gorilla Glass Victus 2 assist, which is considerably extra immune to cracks and scratches than earlier than. While we do not have many direct comparisons between Victus 2 and the older Ceramic Shield commonplace, this PhoneBuff drop check (opens in new tab) exhibits the S23 sequence popping out on prime for sturdiness. You ought to nonetheless purchase a Galaxy S23+ case since no glass is absolutely shatter-proof. But you could possibly get away with a extra fashionable case as an alternative of a heavy-duty mannequin, whereas the iPhone 14 Pro wants all of the safety it may possibly get.Lastly, the U.S. variant of the iPhone 14 Pro eliminated a bodily SIM card tray, forcing customers to depend on eSIM when transferring telephones. My colleagues have written about how Apple jumped the gun on eSIM, and about half of our readers choose that telephones hold the bodily SIM slot. When it involves switching carriers or touring overseas with out incurring roaming charges, having the choice to pop in a brand new card at will is one thing within the Galaxy S23 Plus’ favor. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Performance and battery life(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)The Apple Bionic A16 chip, like virtually each Bionic chip that got here earlier than it, has no friends for uncooked CPU efficiency. It’s up to now forward of the pack that Apple selected to provide the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus 2021’s A15 Bionic chip, which is about on par with what most 2023 Android telephones supply in efficiency. The hole was once wider for earlier generations, however the Galaxy S23+ closes the hole considerably because of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Qualcomm’s wonderful follow-up to the thermally-challenged Gen 1 chip final yr. Samsung nonetheless falls brief in CPU efficiency, however because of the additional RAM, it is truly the higher possibility for graphically-demanding duties (like gaming). Either cellphone will provide you with speedy day-to-day efficiency. But if you happen to want specifics, the Future Labs benchmarks beneath present these two telephones’ variations:Swipe to scroll horizontallyBenchmarkSamsung Galaxy S23+Apple iPhone 14 ProGeekbench 5 (Single-Core)15241891Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)46425469Adobe Premiere Rush0:390:263DMark Wild Life Original Limitless14509124133DMark Wild Life Extreme Limitless37303217The different good thing about the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is that it is far more environment friendly than earlier generations, giving the Galaxy S23+ a battery life enhance. Future Labs estimates that the S23+ lasts about two hours longer than the iPhone 14 Pro, and one of many largest knocks in opposition to the Pro is that it will barely final a full day of use regardless of having a bigger battery than the 13 Pro. You’ll want to purchase the 14 Pro Max for extra reliable longevity if you happen to’re a extra energetic consumer; in any other case, you will need to hold a transportable energy financial institution readily available simply in case. Plus, the utmost 20W charging velocity means you will solely hit about 50% cost in 30 minutes in comparison with 70% on the S23+ regardless of its a lot bigger capability. Only Apple helps MagSafe wi-fi charging, whereas Samsung depends on the much less well-liked Qi charging commonplace. But solely Samsung telephones have a reverse wi-fi charging possibility that allows you to recharge different gadgets on prime of your cellphone. Swipe to scroll horizontallySpecGalaxy S23 PlusiPhone 14 ProChipsetSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy GadgetsApple A16 BionicDisplayFlat 6.6-inch AMOLED (Up to 1,750 nits)6.1-inch XDR OLED (Up to 2,000 nitsResolution2340 x 1080 (393ppi)2556 x 1179 (460 ppi)Refresh fee120Hz (48-120)120Hz (1-120)Memory8GB6GBStorage256GB/512GB UFS 4.0128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB NVMeMain rear digicam50MP (OIS), ƒ/1.848MP ƒ/1.8, 1.22um pixels, sensor-shift OISTelephoto digicam10MP (OIS), f2.4, 3x optical zoom12MP ƒ/2.8, OIS, 3x optical zoomUltra-wide angle digicam12MP, ƒ/2.212MP ƒ/2.2 wide-angle, 1.4um pixelsFront Digital camera12MP, ƒ/2.212 MP ƒ/1.9 AFBattery4,800mAh, 45W USB-C Fast Charging, 15W Wireless Charging, 5W reverse wi-fi charging3200mAh battery, 20W wired charging, 15W MagSafeUpdatesUp to Android 17 (4 updates), safety by early 2028Up to iOS 21 or 22 (5 – 6 updates); safety by late 2028SafetyUltrasonic in-screen fingerprint sensorFace IDConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, sub-6 and mmWave 5G, UWB, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3Global 5G bands, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, UWB, Emergency SOS (NA)Dimensions157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm147.5 x 71.5 x 7.85mmWeight196g206gColorsPhantom Black, Cream, Violet, GreenSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep PurpleProtection IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 IP68, Ceramic ShieldEvaluating different specs between the Galaxy S23 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro, each ought to hit the identical 5G bands and have the most recent Bluetooth commonplace and Ultra Wideband assist. Samsung added the newer Wi-Fi 6E commonplace, which primarily issues if you happen to personal a appropriate router; chances are you’ll not have one now, however each telephones have years of promised software program assist, so you will recognize this future-proofing. Apple added the brand new satellite-based Emergency SOS characteristic, letting you utilize your iPhone 14 Pro to name for assist if you happen to’re someplace with out mobile service. It’s a implausible characteristic, one which Samsung is engaged on however did not convey to the Galaxy S23 sequence regardless of rumors on the contrary. Just remember the fact that Emergency SOS is just obtainable in some international locations just like the U.S.; worldwide iPhone 14 Pro house owners might not have the ability to use it initially. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Cameras(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Both of those telephones have fairly related sensor {hardware} throughout their three rear digicam sensors and selfie cameras. The S23+ and 14 Pro most important cameras have almost the identical megapixel measurement, similar apertures, and optical picture stabilization (OIS), whereas the telephoto lenses share a 3X optical zoom. Cameras are one space the place the Galaxy S23 Ultra wins over the 14 Pro, however the extra commonplace {hardware} on the S23+ signifies that the variations between it and the Pro come primarily all the way down to software program. While we’ve not reviewed the S23+ but, the Galaxy S23 (which we now have examined) makes use of the identical cameras, so we are able to examine their high quality.Our reviewer wasn’t particularly impressed with the Galaxy S23 (and S23+, by extension) cameras, noting that Samsung is “often very aggressive in its processing, punching up the colors and contrast way more than they need to be.” He additionally famous that Samsung’s notoriously sluggish shutter velocity could be the cellphone’s “downfall” for capturing fast-moving topics. On the constructive facet, he praised the standard of Night Mode pictures and famous that there is not a top quality drop-off when switching between lenses. And we praised the brand new selfie digicam, which makes use of improved AI to “separate the subject from the background and making the artificial bokeh more natural.” But we now have to hope that Samsung’s subsequent software program updates enhance the standard of pictures. (Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)As for the iPhone 14 Pro, our reviewer raved about it, noting that the “higher-res sensor delivers incredible shots in daylight situations, with excellent color accuracy and high levels of contrast,” whereas noting that it “also does an incredible job in low-light situations.” But not everybody agrees with that evaluation. Plenty of iPhone 14 Pro customers have complained about Apple overprocessing their images, making the colours look washed out and the general look synthetic. It’s actually a point-and-click cellphone able to taking nice images, however not almost on the identical stage because the Pixel 7 Pro.In different phrases, each of those telephones’ postprocessing software program have some points that Samsung and Apple should handle earlier than their digicam {hardware} lives as much as their potential. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Which do you have to purchase?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)As with most of those comparisons, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Pro dialogue is usually tutorial, since most iPhone and Android customers keep on with their respective camps or fandoms. iPhones have their traditional strengths and weaknesses in comparison with the most effective Android telephones, and also you already know which one you like. Both telephones ought to final you no less than 5 years, although Apple telephones are inclined to have barely higher trade-in worth over time. Their processors are each fairly highly effective in comparison with previous generations, so that they should not really feel out of date for fairly a while. You can select the iPhone 14 Pro (or Pro Max) for the most effective visible expertise, however some individuals would sacrifice the additional pixels and nits of brightness to take away the Dynamic Island in favor of a hole-punch digicam. Really, the one important flaws to fret about with the iPhone 14 Pro are its mediocre battery life — you’ll be able to at all times flip off AOD or purchase the Max to assist with that — and its eSIM restriction. Frequent vacationers or those that need extra provider flexibility would possibly go along with the Galaxy S23+ for that purpose. Whichever cellphone you select, relaxation assured that you simply’re getting probably the greatest 2023 telephones obtainable. 

Choose the Galaxy S23+ to prioritize sturdy efficiency that does not sacrifice battery life, engaging selfie pictures, and the standard Android software program perks. Downgrade to the Galaxy S23 for a one-handed expertise or improve to the Ultra for the absolute best Samsung specs. 

Choose the iPhone 14 Pro for all of Apple’s traditional perks together with some important upgrades to the show, cameras, and security options. Don’t select the iPhone 14 Pro if you’d like a dependable all-day cellphone, or improve to the Pro Max if you’d like a show measurement on par with the S23+.