iPhone 15 Pro Max Vs Samsung Galaxy S22/S23 Ultra

Apple has launched the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. These devices claimed to have loaded with game-changing features, including an Action Button, a 48MP camera, the A17 Pro Bionic chip and a Type-C port. Samsung S22/S23 Ultra owners may want to know whether these models from Apple made their smartphones outdated. This article is not a systemic review. Samsung S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra are of similar specifications.

iPhone beats the Samsung S series at least at one point – the LiDAR sensor. You can not 3D scan with Samsung S22 Ultra or S23 Ultra. The presence of a LiDAR scanner definitely can make photography & videography better on paper. Yes, with the iPhone it is possible to create professional-grade movies. It is possible to create movies with S22 Ultra or S23 Ultra but Apple uses Leica’s top-notch system. It is agreeable that it is difficult to beat the iPhone at that point. But the Leica D Lux 7 takes better photos than any iPhone even though it costs less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
If you talk about videography, Sony and Panasonic offer better solutions than any iPhone.

Let us think about music. iPhone 15 Pro Max with Type-C port made it easier to combine with external portable DAC. But that also makes the older iPhones get the latest models of external DAC. Nobody can confirm the hardware for S22 Ultra, S23 Ultra, and iPhone 14/15 Pro Max around DAC. Both Samsung and Sony offer an “adapter” for a 3.5mm jack which is DAC. They sound great although they cost a few dollars. It is unknown how that is possible. Probably there is some trade secret. In short, the iPhone 15 Pro Max itself will not deliver you an audiophile experience.

In the above two fields, neither Samsung nor Apple do anything astonishing. Although S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra are slightly ahead because of the capability of moon photography, astrophotography etc.

What These Smartphones Are Built For?

Presently these devices are meant for lighter computing tasks, not only they are phones. They are kind of palm tops. Even from that view, the S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra offer the S Pen. Which makes the total package cost-effective.

If you talk about portability and durability then none of these are practical. Mid-range Smartphones from Samsung A Series are far more suitable for rough usage (and theft). Knowing that these smartphones have marketing gimmicks bundled, we still purchase them because we love cutting-edge technologies.

Coming back to the topic. Compare the displays of the S22 Ultra, and S23 Ultra with iPhone Pro Max. S22 Ultra offers a display of 1440 x 3088 pixels, a 19.3:9 ratio and 500 ppi density. iPhone Pro Max offers a display of 1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio and 458 ppi density. S22 Ultra is superior to the iPhone around the display.

With the small punch-hole camera, S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra are great devices for video consumption.

Who is the Winner?

iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a big list of “do not have”. Even a $200 Android phone of 2023 offers a fingerprint scanner. Samsung offers DeX which makes the S series cost-effective and ahead of Samsung A series phones. Not having Android itself is a disadvantage.

iPhone 15 Pro Max offers great cameras, a LiDAR scanner, good speakers and probably a better build quality. There is a cheap China feel in Samsung S22 Ultra or S23 Ultra and that is because the price tag is lesser. It is not that S22 Ultra or S23 Ultra are not overpriced or that everything of them is great.

I do not think the iPhone 15 Pro Max gives a good value for money. MacBook Pro is definitely a better product from Apple. But that is a different story.