Looking for an honest Apple iPhone 17 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 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max comes out ahead 78/100 to 66/100 — a 12-point gap. The widest gap is in performance, where the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max pulls noticeably ahead. On price the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra undercuts the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max by 33% ($899 vs $1,199), which materially changes the value calculus for budget-conscious buyers.
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max edges out the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in the smartphones category, especially in performance (benchmark 210 vs 150), scoring 78 vs 66. If you want the better overall smartphones, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the recommended choice.
Picking Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max over Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra means trading these off.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 Pro MaxW | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9"✓ | 6.8" |
| Display Type | OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | — | 3088 x 1440 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness | 2000nits✓ | 1750nits |
| HDR |
Buy Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if…
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max edges out the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in the smartphones category, especially in performance (benchmark 210 vs 150), scoring 78 vs 66. If you want the better overall smartphones, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the recommended choice.
Yes, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max scores higher overall (78 vs 66).
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is cheaper at $899 vs $1199 for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a larger battery (5,000mAh vs 4,685mAh for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max), which generally means longer use between charges.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the larger display (6.9" vs 6.8").
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: May 10, 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.
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.
✗ Cons
| — |
| HDR10+ |
| Protection | — | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| CPU | — | Octa-core (3.36 GHz + 2.80 GHz + 2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | — | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 740 |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB✓ |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Storage Options | — | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Main Camera | 48MP | 200MP✓ |
| Aperture | — | f/1.8 |
| OIS | — | Yes |
| Zoom | — | 10x optical |
| Video | — | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Front Camera | 24MP✓ | 12MP |
| Battery | 4685mAh | 5000mAh✓ |
| Charging | 30W | 45W✓ |
| Wireless Charging | — | 15W |
| OS | iOS 19 | 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 | 228g✓ | 234g |
| Colors | — | Phantom Black, Phantom White, Phantom Green, Phantom Burgundy |
| Price | 1199$ | 899$ |
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a higher-resolution main camera (200MP vs 48MP). Note that megapixels are one factor — sensor quality and processing also matter.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is lighter at 228g vs 234g.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has more RAM (12GB vs 8GB), which helps with multitasking.