Apple iPhone 15vsSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 849 — USD 150 more than the Apple iPhone 15. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Performance — led by storage (256 GB).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes Battery — led by battery (5,000 mAh).
- Apple iPhone 15 takes Price — led by price (699 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,000 nits vs 1,750 nits.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a lower price — 699 USD vs 849 USD.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,600,000 pts vs 1,300,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want more apps open at once — 8 GB vs 6 GB.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a bigger screen — 6.8 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 501 ppi vs 460 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want better video quality — 94 pts vs 93 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a better camera — 145 pts vs 141 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 3,349 mAh.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 20 W.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 15
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Apple iPhone 15
Choose Apple iPhone 15 if price matters most. It costs USD 699, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 849.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 15
- Cheapest modern iPhone
- Dynamic Island + USB-C
- Solid 48 MP camera
- 60 Hz display
- A16 chip is aging
- Slow 20 W charging
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 200 MP camera
- 10x optical zoom
- S Pen built in
- Heavy
- 45 W charging
- Aging chipset