Samsung
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Device summary
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2023 | 2025 |
| Starting price | — | $1,199 |
| Display size | — | 6.9-inch |
| Dimensions | 78.1 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.9 mm | 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 234 g | 233 g |
| Front material | — | Ceramic Shield |
| Back material | — | Ceramic Shield |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | — | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | — | 2868 × 1320 |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | — | 2000 nits |
| Protection | — | Ceramic Shield |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | — | Apple A19 Pro |
| RAM | — | 12 GB |
| Storage | — | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB |
| Expandable storage | — | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | — | Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.78 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera | — | Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm |
| Telephoto camera | — | Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 120 mm · 4× optical zoom · OIS |
| Front cameras | — | Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9 |
| Video recording | — | 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Wired charging | — | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | — | 15 W |
| Charging standard | — | MagSafe, Qi2 |
| Video playback (Manufacturer claim) | — | 39 h |
| Battery type | — | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | — | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE |
| Wi‑Fi | — | Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 6 |
| USB | — | USB-C (USB 3) |
| NFC | — | Yes |
| eSIM | — | Yes |
| Satellite | — | Emergency SOS via satellite |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | — | Aluminum unibody |
| Ingress protection | — | IP68 |
Basic information
Release year
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 2023
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2025
Starting price
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- $1,199
Display size
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 6.9-inch
Dimensions
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 78.1 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.9 mm
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm
Weight
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 234 g
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 233 g
Front material
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Back material
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Display
Display technology
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2868 × 1320
Refresh rate
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 120 Hz
Peak brightness
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2000 nits
Protection
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Performance
Chipset
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Apple A19 Pro
RAM
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 12 GB
Storage
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
Expandable storage
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.78 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS
Ultra-wide camera
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm
Telephoto camera
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 120 mm · 4× optical zoom · OIS
Front cameras
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9
Video recording
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps
Battery & charging
Wired charging
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 25 W
Wireless charging
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 15 W
Charging standard
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- MagSafe, Qi2
Video playback (Manufacturer claim)
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 39 h
Battery type
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
Connectivity
Cellular
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE
Wi‑Fi
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Bluetooth 6
USB
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- USB-C (USB 3)
NFC
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Yes
eSIM
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Yes
Satellite
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Emergency SOS via satellite
Build & durability
Frame
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Aluminum unibody
Ingress protection
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- IP68
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Height
Very similar height
Width
Very similar width
Thickness
Very similar thickness
Weight
Very similar weight
Height, width, thickness, and weight are very similar between these devices.
User Experience Summary
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Strengths
- Best-in-lineup battery endurance for real travel and heavy days
- 6.9-inch display transforms media, gaming, and mobile editing
- Full Pro camera system including 4x telephoto
Compromises
- Wide, heavy body limits one-handed and pocket-first use
- Incremental upgrade for recent Pro Max owners
- No camera advantage over the smaller iPhone 17 Pro