Looking for an honest Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comparison in 2026? We scored both smartphones on the same six-dimension framework — performance, battery, display, camera, design and value — using identical methodology, so the numbers below are directly comparable. In our overall scoring the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes out ahead 57/100 to 66/100 — a 9-point gap. The widest gap is in display, where the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra pulls noticeably ahead. On price the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max undercuts the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra by 29% ($699 vs $899), which materially changes the value calculus for budget-conscious buyers.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra edges out the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max in the smartphones category, especially in display quality (1750 nits vs 1000 nits), scoring 66 vs 57. If you want the better overall smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the recommended choice.
Picking Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra over Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max means trading these off.
$699
Scores are relative within the smartphonescategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
| Spec | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraW |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7" | 6.8"✓ |
| Display Type | OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | — | 3088 x 1440 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness | 1000nits | 1750nits✓ |
| HDR | — | HDR10+ |
| Protection | — | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| CPU | — | Octa-core (3.36 GHz + 2.80 GHz + 2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | — | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 740 |
| RAM | 6GB | 12GB✓ |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB✓ |
| Storage Options | — | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Main Camera | 12MP | 200MP✓ |
| Aperture | — | f/1.8 |
| OIS | — | Yes |
| Zoom | — | 10x optical |
| Video | — | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 4352mAh | 5000mAh✓ |
| Charging | 27W | 45W✓ |
| Wireless Charging | — | 15W |
| OS | iOS 18 | Android 13 |
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | — | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Biometrics | — | Under-display fingerprint |
| Dimensions | — | 162.3 x 78 x 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 238g | 234g✓ |
| Colors | — | Phantom Black, Phantom White, Phantom Green, Phantom Burgundy |
| Price | 699$ | 899$ |
Buy Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if…
Choose the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if…
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra edges out the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max in the smartphones category, especially in display quality (1750 nits vs 1000 nits), scoring 66 vs 57. If you want the better overall smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the recommended choice.
No, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra scores higher (66 vs 82).
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is cheaper at $699 vs $899 for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Choose the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a larger battery (5,000mAh vs 4,352mAh for the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max), which generally means longer use between charges.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a higher-resolution main camera (200MP vs 12MP). Note that megapixels are one factor — sensor quality and processing also matter.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has more RAM (12GB vs 6GB), which helps with multitasking.
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: May 21, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.