Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

This story is a part of Samsung Occasion, CNET’s assortment of stories, ideas and recommendation round Samsung’s hottest merchandise.

5 months in the past, I went from being a die-hard Samsung Galaxy fan to a sellout iPhone proprietor. Since then, I’ve totally tailored to the world of Apple and have been basking within the perks of options like AirDrop and iMessage (principally to the delight of my mates, who have been sick of my inexperienced texts). 

However I nonetheless have a gentle spot for Galaxy telephones, and when Samsung unveiled the S23 lineup in February, I used to be desirous to see how the top-of-the-line S23 Extremely would evaluate to my iPhone 14 Professional. So I obtained my palms on one and started utilizing the telephones aspect by aspect to match every part from the cameras to battery life to general design — and to see whether or not I might have any regrets about switching to the “darkish aspect.” Here is what I discovered.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s show vs. Apple’s Tremendous Retina display

First issues first: I’ve an iPhone 14 Professional, and never a Professional Max, so the Extremely’s huge display positively stands out as compared. I by no means really feel like I would like an even bigger display than what I get on my 14 Professional, however it positively does not harm to have that bigger show once I’m watching a YouTube video or streaming a present — or spending an excessive amount of time on TikTok. 

The trade-off to having that bigger display is making an attempt to suit it in my pocket and having to hold one thing a bit bulkier. Nonetheless, it is a fairly smooth telephone for all that actual property.  

The show high quality on each telephones is stellar, and I do not see a lot of a top quality distinction between the 2. Proper out of the field, the S23 Extremely has a pleasant brilliant show, which you’ll obtain on the iPhone by turning off True Tone (a characteristic that adjusts the colour and depth of your show relying in your atmosphere). If the brightness on the Extremely is an excessive amount of, you possibly can inversely mimic the results of True Tone by going into Show settings and both toggling on Eye consolation protect or going to Display mode and choosing Pure. You may also play with the White steadiness scale. Photographs on the iPhone look barely sharper, however colours pop a bit extra on the S23 Extremely. General, although, there’s actually not a lot of a distinction between the telephones.

The keyboard on the Galaxy S23 Extremely (proper) locations numbers above letters, so you do not have to hop between the 2.

John Kim/CNET

There’s one facet to having an iPhone that I have never fairly made peace with but, and it is the keyboard. I am glad Apple added Slide to Kind with iOS 13 a couple of years in the past, adopted by haptic suggestions on the keyboard with iOS 16 (lastly), as a result of these are options I cherished on Android. However I nonetheless get pissed off that I’ve to modify between numbers and letters once I’m typing on the iPhone. In the meantime, on the Galaxy, the numbers sit simply above the letters, so you possibly can choose them extra shortly, the way in which you’d on a laptop computer keyboard. You’ll be able to obtain totally different keyboards on the iPhone like Gboard, however it’s not the identical. I will admit that is a minor criticism, however I do suppose the person expertise would profit from Apple taking a web page from Android’s e book — you already know, like they’ve finished many instances earlier than. Transferring on….

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s battery life is subsequent stage

I’ve had my iPhone for a couple of months now and fortunately have not seen any noticeable drops in battery life but. My telephone nonetheless lasts a full day of heavy use, however I all the time must cost on the finish of the day.

The Extremely’s battery is subsequent stage. I can go a full day of use and nonetheless have some juice left over. That is not stunning, given the S23 Extremely has a 5,000-mAh battery. Apple does not share battery capability for its telephones, however says the 14 Professional has as much as 23 hours of video playback. An iFixit teardown discovered the iPhone 14 Professional has a 3,200-mAh battery. 

The battery that retains going.

James Martin/CNET

Although the Extremely has an even bigger battery, Apple is definitely capable of crank out extra effectivity from its batteries due to iOS and its personal A-series chips. In the meantime, Android has to work with a wide range of units working totally different processors, so it turns into extra necessary to have that larger battery.

Specs and logistics apart, I am amazed by the Extremely’s battery life, as was CNET’s cell reporter Lisa Eadicicco when she reviewed the Extremely.

The S23 Extremely’s 200-megapixel digital camera

Digital camera high quality is crucial facet of any telephone for me. I take a number of footage and movies for work and social media, together with for my very area of interest tea account on Instagram. The digital camera on the Galaxy telephones saved me within the Samsung household for a decade, so I used to be keen to match the S23 Extremely’s cameras to the iPhone 14 Professional’s. 

What I seen straight away is how rather more saturated pictures on the Extremely are. Usually, that saturation provides a pleasant shade enhance to photographs and makes them stand out extra. Photos of my colourful teacups look much more vibrant on the Extremely. Generally, that saturation could be a bit overwhelming and makes pictures look unnatural, as if there is a filter on them. However different instances, it makes colours and topics stand out, in a great way.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s 200-megapixel sensor brings out particulars and shade on this ornamental teacup.

Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET

The 200-megapixel sensor on the Extremely punches up shade and element much more. An image I took of an ornamental teacup emphasizes the intricate floral design and gold trim and one other picture of a Klay Thompson mural reveals vivid blues and yellows. 

Not all moments are made for a 200-megapixel sensor, although. In one other picture taken open air, the sensor eliminated a couple of too many highlights, so it was more durable to see element and make sense of what is going on on. 

General, I admire the softness and brightness of pictures on the Extremely. Shadows on the iPhone are sometimes a bit too harsh and provides some photos a darker overtone. A picture of the sky on the Extremely will look good and brilliant, whereas on the iPhone, there is perhaps distracting shadows underneath clouds. The Extremely’s softness and brightness additionally make for extra flattering selfies. You’ll be able to modify the iPhone’s digital camera settings and mess around with issues like distinction, tone and shade temperature, and even mimic images kinds on the Galaxy (and vice versa), however I do want the iPhone simply routinely adjusted for issues like shadows a little bit higher. 

The digital camera characteristic that stunned me most was Portrait mode. I consider Portrait mode on the iPhone because the gold customary. The topic is normally in excellent focus, the background is easily blurred and the colours are extra pure wanting. However I seen there’s one thing the Extremely did higher than my iPhone. I took an image of my buddy whereas she had sun shades on prime of her head, and the iPhone struggled to maintain the bridge and sides of the glasses in focus, whereas the Extremely did not. It is that small element that reveals how far Portrait mode has come on Galaxy telephones. I nonetheless favor the look of iPhone portraits due to the decrease saturation, and you’ll catch a bit extra element within the background, which is sweet.  

The image on the left was taken with Portrait mode on the iPhone 14 Professional, whereas the one on the precise was taken with the Galaxy S23 Extremely. When you look carefully, you will good the iPhone blurs the bridge and sides of the glasses, whereas the Extremely does not.

Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET

Does the Galaxy S23 Extremely beat the iPhone at video?

Given the recognition of TikTok and Instagram Reels proper now, video is a large focus for each Apple and Samsung — and likewise necessary for people like me who take a number of movies. Since switching to the iPhone, I’ve seen an uptick within the high quality of my movies. The colours are extra pure and the pictures sharper. Cinematic mode makes topics pop and lends a extra skilled look to my content material. Samsung has its personal Cinematic mode equal, known as Portrait video. It additionally does a terrific job of blurring the background, however objects and folks look rather less outlined than they do on iPhone.  

One space the place the Extremely is a transparent winner is with video stabilization. Even strolling down the steps, the footage is extremely easy, as in the event you’re utilizing a gimbal. With the iPhone, you possibly can nonetheless sense every step being taken, and there is much more motion. 

The S23 Extremely’s design vs. iPhone 14 Professional 

Let’s be sincere: the iPhone’s digital camera bumps are ridiculous. The Extremely is a breath of recent air as a result of the cameras do not stick out as a lot, so it wobbles much less once you set it down. 

The S Pen on the Extremely is a enjoyable further, although I by no means discovered myself reaching for it. There’s not a lot I need to write by hand, and I can simply faucet the display for just about all features. Nonetheless, I am glad the legacy of the retired Galaxy Word sequence lives on. 

The S Pen returns on the Galaxy S23 Extremely.

James Martin/CNET

The in-screen fingerprint reader was a favourite characteristic of mine on my Galaxy telephones, and it is good to have that possibility once more whereas utilizing the Extremely. I missed it once I first switched to the iPhone, however Face ID is stable sufficient that I shortly obtained over it. Unlocking each telephones has been seamless.

The Galaxy S23 Extremely’s worth is identical because the iPhone

The S23 Extremely is $1,200 for 256 GB of storage and is priced equally to the iPhone 14 Professional Max with the identical quantity of storage. The smaller iPhone 14 Professional is $1,100 for 256GB. Whether or not you are a Galaxy fan or an iPhone lover, $1,200 is so much. However on this case, you get what you pay for.

Galaxy S23 Extremely vs. iPhone 14 Professional closing ideas 

These digital camera bumps on the iPhone 14 Professional really feel a little bit extreme.

John Kim/CNET

It has been enjoyable to revisit a world I’ve deserted and evaluate the iPhone I’ve now to the one I might’ve had if I might stayed within the Galaxy household. Whereas there are points to the S23 Extremely that I admire, like brighter and extra colourful photos, higher video stabilization and unbelievable battery life, there are benefits to having an iPhone that transcend specs that’ll possible preserve me within the Apple ecosystem for some time. Options like Airdrop and iMessage have made the person expertise extra seamless. And I do not know if I might quit the iPhone’s video high quality for the rest.  

Nonetheless, I do know that if I need to take an image that makes individuals’s jaws drop, I will possible attain for the S23 Extremely. Then I will anticipate the look of shock once I inform them it wasn’t taken with an iPhone.

Try the video above to see extra of my expertise making an attempt out these two telephones, together with some side-by-side examples of pictures and movies taken on every. 

Galaxy S23 Extremely: Take a Nearer Have a look at Samsung’s Big New Telephone

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