The world of smartphones has always been something of a battleground, especially when it comes to photography. In 2023, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max ranked among the absolute top models from Samsung and Apple. In this article, we compare the two smartphones, focusing on their photography and video capabilities.
Camera system
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has four rear cameras: a 200 MP main camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and two 10 MP telephoto cameras with 3x and 10x optical zoom, respectively. This gives the Samsung a remarkably broad zoom range and plenty of flexibility for a wide variety of shooting situations.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has three rear cameras: a 48 MP main camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12 MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The iPhone also has a LiDAR scanner, which Apple uses for features including night mode portraits.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra therefore has one more rear camera and, above all, an advantage in telephoto reach: in addition to 3x, it has a 10x optical telephoto camera. For astrophotography, Samsung also offers Astrophoto through Expert RAW, giving you more extensive options for capturing the night sky.
Low light and night mode
In low light, the Galaxy S23 Ultra uses its 200 MP Adaptive Pixel sensor in combination with pixel binning, which merges multiple pixels. Samsung combines this with its Nightography image processing to capture as much detail and color as possible in low light while limiting noise.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max also has a night mode and uses technologies including Apple's Photonic Engine and Deep Fusion to improve detail and color in low light. Which of the two produces the more appealing result depends greatly on the situation and on your preference for how color, contrast, and brightness are processed.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra offers many options for night photography and can produce very bright nighttime images. Without testing both smartphones side by side under exactly the same conditions, however, it is difficult to name a clear winner.
Portrait mode and depth perception
Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max uses its LiDAR scanner to create more accurate depth maps for portrait mode, producing beautifully blurred backgrounds and sharp focus on the subject. Its edge detection and bokeh effect are generally superior to what most smartphone cameras offer. The TrueDepth camera therefore lets you create beautiful, professional-looking portraits with background blur.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra also has a comprehensive portrait mode. It further distinguishes itself with 100x Space Zoom. This uses the 10x optical telephoto camera and digital zoom with image processing to zoom in even farther. At such extreme magnifications, however, image quality can deteriorate noticeably.
Video recording
This is where the two devices differ significantly. The Galaxy S23 Ultra can record video at up to 8K at 30 frames per second. The iPhone 14 Pro Max does not support 8K, but records at up to 4K at 60 frames per second and offers features including Dolby Vision HDR and ProRes.
For those who value maximum resolution, Samsung has an advantage with 8K. The iPhone instead focuses heavily on high-quality 4K video, HDR, and ProRes. The best smartphone for video therefore depends primarily on what you plan to do with the footage.
Software and ease of use
The camera app on the iPhone 14 Pro Max continues Apple's tradition of simplicity and intuitive operation, making it easy for anyone to take great photos with minimal effort. It also integrates seamlessly with the iOS ecosystem.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers extensive manual control through features including Pro mode and Expert RAW, allowing photography enthusiasts to adjust a range of settings to their liking. However, this can also make the interface seem somewhat more complicated to beginners.
The choice here is between the iPhone for its simplicity and ease of use, or the Samsung for its advanced controls.
Conclusion
Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro Max depends primarily on your photography needs. The Galaxy S23 Ultra stands out with its extensive zoom range, 200 MP main camera, and comprehensive manual controls.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max, by contrast, offers a highly accessible camera experience and extensive options for portrait photography and video. The two smartphones emphasize different strengths, so the best choice mainly depends on how you take photos and shoot video.
One major advantage of Apple is that your iPhone 14 Pro Max will continue to receive iOS updates for quite some time. With Samsung, you will most likely continue to receive updates for five years.
If you are already familiar with iOS and the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 14 Pro Max may ultimately be the most logical choice.
