iPhone 15 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra
Apple brings the iPhone 15 Pro; Samsung answers with the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Both play in the flagship smartphone class. The iPhone 15 Pro is up against it here: the Galaxy S23 Ultra wins 2 of the 5 areas on our scorecard, with camera as its standout. That $201 launch price gap between the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro will shape the verdict as much as any spec.
At a glance
- Display Trade-off
- Performance iPhone 15 Pro wins
- Memory & Storage Galaxy S23 Ultra wins
- Camera Galaxy S23 Ultra wins
- Battery & Charging Tie
- Price iPhone 15 Pro wins
- Display6.0
- Memory & Storage2.8
- Camera1.4
- Display6.3
- Memory & Storage4.5
- Camera6.1
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has 10× optical zoom versus 3×
The iPhone 15 Pro lists 3×; the Galaxy S23 Ultra comes in at 10×. That’s not a rounding error. Higher optical zoom lets you frame distant subjects tightly without losing detail to digital cropping.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro has a 1.66 oz lighter build
At 6.60 oz versus 8.25 oz, this is a decisive lead for the iPhone 15 Pro, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. Weight shows up every time you hold the phone above your face in bed or type one-handed for a long stretch.
-
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
If base storage is one of your priorities, this settles it: the Galaxy S23 Ultra leads clearly with 256 GB to the iPhone 15 Pro’s 128 GB. The Galaxy S23 Ultra starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
-
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera
The numbers aren’t close. The Galaxy S23 Ultra lists 200 MP for main camera, while the iPhone 15 Pro lists 48 MP. The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer.
-
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has an extra rear camera
A clear win for the Galaxy S23 Ultra: 4 against 3. Few specs in this matchup are as one-sided. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Design & Size
- iPhone 15 Pro 5.77 in × 2.78 in × 0.32 in
- Galaxy S23 Ultra 6.43 in × 3.07 in × 0.35 in
Want the smaller footprint? That’s the iPhone 15 Pro. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the larger of the two. The Galaxy S23 Ultra carries an extra 1.66 oz. There’s 0.03 in of extra thickness on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.77 in | 6.43 in |
| Width | 2.78 in | 3.07 in |
| Thickness | 0.32 in (winner) | 0.35 in |
| Weight | 6.60 oz (winner) | 8.25 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Titanium | Armor Aluminum |
Display
Trade-off
The display round is shared. The iPhone 15 Pro has 14% higher peak brightness, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra has 8.7% sharper pixel density. For display, there’s no wrong answer, only a different emphasis.
Screen size
iPhone 15 Pro: 6.1 in Galaxy S23 Ultra: 6.8 in Screen size is personal. If you watch a lot on your phone, the extra area pays off; if you text one-handed on the go, compact is kinder.
Peak brightness
iPhone 15 Pro: 2,000 nits Galaxy S23 Ultra: 1,750 nits Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
Performance
iPhone 15 Pro leads
The iPhone 15 Pro takes performance by a nose. Point to the iPhone 15 Pro for a newer 3 nm chip process. A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life. Prioritize performance, and the iPhone 15 Pro is where you should land.
Process node
iPhone 15 Pro: 3 nm Galaxy S23 Ultra: 4 nm The iPhone 15 Pro’s chip is built on a more advanced process. That usually points to efficiency gains, though chip design matters just as much.
CPU cores
iPhone 15 Pro: 6 Galaxy S23 Ultra: 8 Treat the core count as background information; the chipset name tells you far more about real performance.
Memory & Storage
Galaxy S23 Ultra leads
Here the Galaxy S23 Ultra opens up one of its biggest leads in the comparison. The Galaxy S23 Ultra wins here with 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value. So if memory & storage tops your list, lean toward the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Base storage
iPhone 15 Pro: 128 GB Galaxy S23 Ultra: 256 GB If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years.
Camera
Galaxy S23 Ultra leads
On camera, the gap between these two is wide, and it favors the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Galaxy S23 Ultra gives you 10× optical zoom versus 3×. The Galaxy S23 Ultra reaches further with real optics, which pays off for wildlife, stages and sports from the stands. Here the iPhone 15 Pro offers a dedicated 12 MP telephoto camera. On camera alone, the Galaxy S23 Ultra gets the nod.
Optical zoom
iPhone 15 Pro: 3× Galaxy S23 Ultra: 10× Digital zoom can fake reach, but optical zoom is where the detail actually comes from.
Main camera
iPhone 15 Pro: 48 MP Galaxy S23 Ultra: 200 MP Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos.
Battery & Charging
Too close to call
This area ends level; whatever separates these two, it isn’t battery & charging. In short, battery & charging is a draw; the decision lies elsewhere.
Software & Updates
We don’t score this area directly, because the software & updates specs are labels rather than measurements. The table shows what each lists.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 6.8 in |
| Panel type | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 500 ppi (winner) |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits (winner) | 1,750 nits |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A17 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| CPU cores | 6 | 8 |
| Process node | 3 nm (winner) | 4 nm |
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 8 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 256 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 1 TB | 1 TB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 200 MP (winner) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | 12 MP (winner) | 10 MP |
| Optical zoom | 3× | 10× (winner) Longest zoom in class |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 4 (winner) |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | 8K30 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | N/A (not specified) | 5,000 mAh |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 23 h | N/A (not specified) |
| Wired charging | N/A (not specified) | 45 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 3, 10 Gb/s) | USB-C |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 17 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | N/A (not specified) | 4 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.77 in | 6.43 in |
| Width | 2.78 in | 3.07 in |
| Thickness | 0.32 in (winner) | 0.35 in |
| Weight | 6.60 oz (winner) | 8.25 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Titanium | Armor Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $999 (winner) | $1,200 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
The iPhone 15 Pro undercut the Galaxy S23 Ultra by $201 at launch, which works out to 20%. That $201 gap does buy something tangible: 10× optical zoom versus 3× and 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB.
Prices shown are US launch prices as of September 2023. Retail prices change often, so it’s worth checking current offers.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro if…
- you notice every gram in your pocket (6.60 oz vs 8.25 oz)
- you care about efficiency under the hood (3 nm vs 4 nm process node)
- you take lots of portraits and zoomed shots (12 MP vs 10 MP telephoto)
- you use your phone outdoors a lot (2,000 nits vs 1,750 nits peak brightness)
- you’re working to a firm budget and $201 matters
Choose the Galaxy S23 Ultra if…
- you shoot concerts, sports or wildlife from a distance (10× vs 3× optical zoom)
- you want more storage without paying for an upgrade (256 GB vs 128 GB)
- you like to crop into your photos (200 MP vs 48 MP main camera)
- you like switching between focal lengths (4 vs 3 cameras)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
For most people, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the stronger choice, unless you’d rather have a 1.66 oz lighter build on the iPhone 15 Pro.
Which is larger, the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The Galaxy S23 Ultra takes that one. With dimensions of 6.43 × 3.07 × 0.35 in, it is larger than the iPhone 15 Pro (5.77 × 2.78 × 0.32 in).
Which is faster, the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The iPhone 15 Pro has the edge in performance thanks to a newer 3 nm chip process.
Does the iPhone 15 Pro have a stronger camera setup than the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has the edge for photography, offering 10× optical zoom versus 3× and a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera.
Which costs less, the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
The iPhone 15 Pro is the cheaper option, launching at $201 less than the Galaxy S23 Ultra (launch prices as of September 2023).
Is the iPhone 15 Pro lighter than the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Going by the official figures, the iPhone 15 Pro weighs 1.66 oz less than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Executive Summary
The iPhone 15 Pro and the Galaxy S23 Ultra are aimed at each other, and I think the gaps between them are more interesting than the headlines. Start with the headline difference (the Galaxy S23 Ultra has 10× optical zoom versus 3×), and a lot of the decision falls into place. A second reason: the Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. To be fair, the iPhone 15 Pro has a 1.66 oz lighter build, and that’s not nothing.
Match the strength to your habits (performance for the iPhone 15 Pro, memory & storage for the Galaxy S23 Ultra), and you won’t go far wrong.
My pick: I think most people will be happier with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, unless you specifically want a 1.66 oz lighter build, where the iPhone 15 Pro has the edge.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.