iPhone 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S23
The iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S23 sit in the same flagship smartphone class, but Apple and Samsung don’t always agree on what matters most. Count the areas and a pattern appears. The Galaxy S23 is ahead in 1 of 5, led by a clear margin in camera.
At a glance
- Display Trade-off
- Performance Tie
- Memory & Storage Tie
- Camera Galaxy S23 wins
- Battery & Charging Tie
- Price iPhone 15 wins
- Display2.6
- Camera1.7
- Display5.4
- Camera2.4
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
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The Galaxy S23 has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
The iPhone 15 lists 60 Hz; the Galaxy S23 comes in at 120 Hz. That’s not a rounding error. Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power.
-
The Galaxy S23 has an extra rear camera
At 3 versus 2, this is a decisive lead for the Galaxy S23, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the Galaxy S23 gives you more lenses to choose from.
-
The iPhone 15 has 14% higher peak brightness
The iPhone 15 has a modest edge on peak brightness: 2,000 nits against 1,750 nits for the Galaxy S23. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility.
-
The Galaxy S23 has
For cpu cores, the figures are 8 for the Galaxy S23 and 6 for the iPhone 15. Treat it as a question of preference, not quality. Phone chips mix large and small cores, so a different count mostly reflects a different design rather than a clear speed gap.
-
The iPhone 15 has 8.2% sharper pixel density
It’s a small lead (460 ppi versus 425 ppi), but it’s real, and it goes to the iPhone 15. Higher pixel density keeps text and fine detail crisper, although the benefit shrinks once both panels are already sharp at normal viewing distance.
Design & Size
- iPhone 15 5.81 in × 2.82 in × 0.31 in
- Galaxy S23 5.76 in × 2.79 in × 0.30 in
Expect the same physical presence from both; their dimensions are very close. Heft is not where these two differ.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.81 in | 5.76 in |
| Width | 2.82 in | 2.79 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in | 0.30 in |
| Weight | 6.03 oz | 5.93 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Armor Aluminum |
Display
Trade-off
Give the iPhone 15 credit for 14% higher peak brightness, and the Galaxy S23 credit for a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. For display, there’s no wrong answer, only a different emphasis.
Refresh rate
iPhone 15: 60 Hz Galaxy S23: 120 Hz A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, animations and games look smoother. Once you’re used to it, a lower-rate screen can feel sluggish by comparison.
Peak brightness
iPhone 15: 2,000 nits Galaxy S23: 1,750 nits Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
Performance
Too close to call
You can skip ahead if performance was your deciding factor: the two are evenly matched here. Net result on performance: level.
CPU cores
iPhone 15: 6 Galaxy S23: 8 Treat the core count as background information; the chipset name tells you far more about real performance.
Memory & Storage
Too close to call
The memory & storage section is even. Any gaps here are within the range you’d never notice. If memory & storage was going to be your tiebreaker, you’ll need a different one.
Camera
Galaxy S23 leads
If you’re keeping score, the camera point goes narrowly to the Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S23 makes its case with an extra rear camera. More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the Galaxy S23’s extra lens adds. Anyone shopping mainly on camera should start with the Galaxy S23.
Rear cameras
iPhone 15: 2 Galaxy S23: 3 An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Battery & Charging
Too close to call
Neither the iPhone 15 nor the Galaxy S23 has a real advantage in the battery & charging category. The takeaway: battery & charging is not where these two differ.
Software & Updates
For software & updates, the spec sheet lists components and formats rather than figures we can rank. The table shows what the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S23 each bring.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 6.1 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Super Retina XDR) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi (winner) | 425 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (winner) |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits (winner) | 1,750 nits |
| Always-on display | No | Yes (winner) |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A16 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| CPU cores | 6 | 8 |
| Process node | 4 nm | 4 nm |
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 8 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max storage | 512 GB | N/A (not specified) |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 10 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 3× |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3 (winner) |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | 8K30 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | N/A (not specified) | 3,900 mAh |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 20 h | N/A (not specified) |
| Wired charging | N/A (not specified) | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.81 in | 5.76 in |
| Width | 2.82 in | 2.79 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in | 0.30 in |
| Weight | 6.03 oz | 5.93 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Armor Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 | $800 |
“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
At launch, the difference was a modest $1, with the iPhone 15 slightly more affordable. The iPhone 15 saves $1, but the Galaxy S23 answers with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and an extra rear camera.
These are US launch prices, recorded September 2023; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 15 if…
- you want the screen that stays readable on sunny days (2,000 nits vs 1,750 nits)
- you want the sharper screen (460 ppi vs 425 ppi)
- you’re working to a firm budget and $1 matters
Choose the Galaxy S23 if…
- you want smoother scrolling (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you like switching between focal lengths (3 vs 2 cameras)
- you like checking the time and alerts without waking the phone
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPhone 15 or the Galaxy S23?
We’d point most buyers to the Galaxy S23. The main exception is if what you want most is 14% higher peak brightness.
Which is larger, the iPhone 15 or the Galaxy S23?
Size is essentially a tie. The official dimensions of the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S23 differ only marginally.
Does the iPhone 15 have a stronger camera setup than the Galaxy S23?
Going by the hardware, the Galaxy S23 comes out ahead: an extra rear camera.
Which costs less, the iPhone 15 or the Galaxy S23?
The Galaxy S23 launched at $1 more than the iPhone 15, based on prices as of September 2023.
Is the iPhone 15 lighter than the Galaxy S23?
The difference between the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S23 is too small to notice, so call it a tie.
Executive Summary
The iPhone 15 versus the Galaxy S23 is a matchup I find genuinely interesting, because Apple and Samsung made different bets. In daily life, I think the first difference you’d notice is a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz, and that goes to the Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S23 also scores with an extra rear camera. That said, the iPhone 15 answers with 14% higher peak brightness, which some people will value more.
I think of the iPhone 15 as the one for screen brightness and the Galaxy S23 as the one for camera.
My pick: the Galaxy S23; the one scenario where I’d reach for the iPhone 15 is if you specifically want 14% higher peak brightness, where the iPhone 15 has the edge.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.