Apple iPhone vs Samsung Galaxy mobile phones

Apple and Samsung are the titans of the smartphone world, but which is the best brand to go for? Here, we explore the features that separate the two.

If you're looking for a high-end phone, two of the most popular options are the Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S series, which runs on Android.

Each year, these phones compete with the latest features, camera technology and designs at the premium end of the market, with the best costing upwards of £1,000.  It's now common to see multiple variations of these flagships, typically a standard model, a Plus or Pro version with enhanced features and/or a larger display, and the very top end, Ultra or Max. 

Choosing between them, and weighing up the benefits against more affordable phones by these brands, is no easy task, so we're here to help.

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The new Apple iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S23 range

The Apple iPhone 14 is the brand's standard flagship phone in its latest range, released in September 2022. It has a 6.1in OLED display with a high 2,532 x 1,170-pixel resolution. It has the same dual-camera set up as its predecessor, but with new features, including a larger sensor to improve the quality of pictures taken in dark lighting. 

However, it doesn't have a telephoto lens or the new Dynamic Island notch on the screen, unlike the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The iPhone 14 Plus is released on 7 October 2022 – we'll have results from our lab tests soon, so look out for our review. 

See if the other iPhones in the range measured up:

• iPhone 14 review
• iPhone 14 Pro review

Samsung Galaxy S23 range

The standard model from Samsung's latest flagship range, the Samsung Galaxy S23, came out in February 2023. It looks similar to its predecessor with a few notable upgrades, such as a 6.1in AMOLED display with 2,340 x 1,080-pixel resolution. The 50Mp wide, 10Mp telephoto, 12Mp ultra-wide and new 12Mp selfie camera promises versatile shots.

It's battery is also bigger than last year, which hopefully means you won't run out of juice as quickly.

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ has a larger 6.6in OLED display and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the most advanced cameras and the useful S-pen. 

See how these highly anticipated phones performed in our tough tests:

• Samsung Galaxy S23 review
• Samsung Galaxy S23+ review
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review

Cheap Apple iPhones and Samsung phones

The iPhone SE is Apple's answer to a mid-range phone. In March 2022, Apple released the third SE model with a pleasant surprise – it's fuelled by the same powerful A15 Bionic Chip as in the iPhone 13, but it only has one rear camera lens and (by modern standards) a small screen (4.7in). 

Find out if this phone is for you in our iPhone SE 2022 review.

The A range is where you'll find Samsung's cheapest phones. The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G, a mid-range phone released in April 2022, comes with cameras that are easy to use with several settings and modes. The 6.4in AMOLED screen, with 2,400 x 1,080-pixel resolution, has a pretty high 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling. It's the cheapest phone to be released with five years of security support guaranteed. 

Find out more in our Samsung Galaxy A33 review.

Apple iPhone vs Samsung Galaxy S

We narrow down some of the most important features and pit these two tech behemoths against each other.

Phone design

Apple iPhones have come a long way since the rounded, plastic-backed iPhone first released in 2007. Newer models now take on a sleeker glass and stainless-steel design that aims to turn heads. 

One distinguishing feature of iPhones is the 'notch' at the top – this houses the front camera and Face unlock sensor. This has become quite iconic, but it isn't on the newest and most premium iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Instead, these have the new Dynamic Island notch that's separated from the top of the phone. It houses the front-facing camera, notifications and shortcuts to applications you're using.

Like Apple, Samsung's Galaxy smartphones have veered away from the plastic design. The S6 Edge was the first model to feature its innovative dual-edge display in 2015, and the range has evolved since with larger displays and thinner bezels. Samsung now uses subtler 'holepunch' front cameras – a small hole to house the lens, rather than a notch, which can make the display seem more immersive.

In both cases, expect some of the very latest screen technologies, with high resolutions, sharp images and accurate colours.

Screen size and resolution

Apple offers four versions of the iPhone 14. 

• iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro actually have the same size (6.1in) display and the same resolution – 1,170 x 2,532 pixels. 
• iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max are larger, with a 6.7in screen and slightly different pixel-resolutions; 2,778 x 1,284 for the Plus and 2,796 x 1,290 for the Pro Max.

Samsung takes a slightly different approach. It's 'standard' S23 has a 6.1in display (2,340 x 1,080), and the S23+ bumps this to 6.6in, with the same resolution. The S23 Ultra boasts a 6.8in display and 3,088 x 1,440-pixel resolution.

Display

The two brands have differing display types. The newest iPhones have a Super Retina XDR OLED display, while Samsung's new models come with Dynamic AMOLED displays.

AMOLED displays allow control over each individual pixel, which in theory produces better picture quality. AMOLEDs also have better overall power consumption than OLEDs, but can use more power when displaying brighter colours and aren’t as visible in sunlight as OLED displays.

One of the most important factors for many people is handset size, but bear in mind that with different screen to body ratios, physical dimensions are a better indicator of this than display size.

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Camera

Cameras are what drive demand for many high-end phones, and neither Apple or Samsung shirk their responsibilities when it comes to pushing the boundaries of technology.

Since the iPhone 12, Apple has continued to embrace the benefits of multiple lenses and includes a 12Mp wide and 12Mp ultrawide on the iPhone 14, but the this has the additional benefit of a larger sensor and 4K cinematic mode. The 14 Pro adds an additional 12Mp telephoto lens and a time of flight (ToF) scanner to help improve photo effects. All four models also have a 12Mp selfie camera.

Samsung has a three-lens array on the standard S23 – a 50Mp wide, 10Mp telephoto and 12Mp ultrawide. This is the same as the S23+, but the Ultra gets a boost with a huge 200Mp wide-angle lens, 10Mp periscope telephoto lens, 10Mp telephoto lens and 12Mp ultrawide lens.

Samsung Galaxy loyalists can make use of Scene Optimiser to automatically adjust and improve scene quality when the camera recognises the object or scene in the frame. Modes include food, animals, greenery, beaches and sunsets.

Apple is no slouch in the camera department, either – it offers a range of useful and dramatic post-processing effects to enhance your photos. You'll find features such as Smart HDR – blending multiple photos for the best shot and the ability to change the depth of field of images after they’ve been taken.

Whichever of the two you choose, rest assured that both Apple and Samsung are right up there when it comes to some of the best and most advanced camera technology.

For more tips, see how to buy the best camera phone

Storage

Apple users have long dealt with the woes of running out of space on their phone. iPhones don’t come with a micro-SD card to expand internal storage, so you need to think about storage configuration before you buy. But you can also store pictures, videos and documents on iCloud. 

Samsung users are in the same position. Since the S21, they don't have micro-SD card slots to expand storage, but you have the option of the Samsung Cloud to store data.

Deciding how much you'll need before you buy is therefore important. The iPhone 14 and Samsung S23 start at 128GB capacity, which should be enough for most users. At the top end, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max go up to 1TB.

Operating system

Famous for its in-house expertise, Apple uses the iOS operating system, which is owned by the brand. This means the manufacturer has more control over producing updates, security patches and rolling these updates out to its devices than users of the Google Android operating system. 

Samsung is the biggest smartphone brand in the world and the largest manufacturer running on the Android operating system. Samsung Galaxy devices are typically launched with the newest version of Android software. To optimise the use of its devices, Samsung has One UI, an operating system skin to overlay Android that offers a range of visual and functional improvements.

Value for money

When it comes to these two tech titans, the premium smartphone ranges sit very close to each other in price.

In 2018, the iPhone broke the £1,000 threshold for the first time, making it one of the most expensive smartphones ever made. If you're looking for a better deal, Apple had introduced the iPhone XR (£749), a less expensive alternative to the iPhone XS (£999) and XS Max (£1,099). 

It has maintained a similar structure with the iPhone 14 range. At release, the iPhone 14 cost £849, the 14 Plus £949, the 14 Pro £1,099 and the Pro Max £1,199. 

Samsung’s Galaxy range is similar in price to Apple's main range of iPhones, but they have gone up in price since 2022's S22 range. The Samsung Galaxy S23 cost £849 at launch, the S23+ £1,049 and the S32 Ultra an eye-watering £1,249. 

Read our pick of the best wireless headphone deals

Other smartphones from Samsung and Apple

If your eyes are still watering from reading those prices, fear not. Both Samsung and Apple offer cheaper phones that may well be worth considering. 

Samsung Galaxy A series

The Galaxy A models comes in at a level below the Galaxy S range. One of the A series phones – the Galaxy A53 5G – is a mid-range handset aims to strike a balance between price and performance, and what it lacks in sophisticated functions, with a design that's more functional than fanciful. it's a good choice for anyone who wants a phone that can do everything they want without spending more than £30 per month on a contract. See our Samsung Galaxy A53 5G review for more.

Apple iPhone SE

Following the success of the original, Apple re-released an all-new SE in 2020 and then again in 2022. It's by far the brand's most affordable smartphone, with the 2022 model starting at £419. It offers a 4.7in HD display (1,344 x 750 pixels), Apple's A15 chipset, one 12Mp wide-angle rear camera lens and a single front 7Mp front camera. It's already proven popular among those who don't like larger phones. Read our iPhone SE 2022 review for more.

Apple iPhone 13 mini

Hot on the heels of the 12 mini came the 13 mini. With a 5.4in display, it's still a relatively small phone, but it's packing far more advanced features that are comparable with the iPhone 13. You'll find a higher resolution 2,340 x 1,080-pixel display and dual 12MP rear cameras (including ultra-wide), along with a powerful processor. At £679, it's not cheap, though, so it's better suited to someone who wants a premium phone in a compact size. Read our iPhone 13 Mini review to see if it's right for you.

Other brands: Google, Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi and more

There's plenty of choice in the smartphone market beyond Samsung and Apple, and plenty of quality too. We regularly reveal Best Buys from rival brands.

Google

Google aims for quality over quantity – it has a limited range, but they're popular with budding smartphone photographers and those who appreciate timely operating system updates, as Google owns Android Browse our Google smartphone reviews to see if they tick the boxes elsewhere.

Motorola

A popular 'budget' brand, Motorola has a range of competitively priced models and are a favourite among those who don't want to spend a lot. Check our Motorola phone reviews to make sure your money's spent wisely.

OnePlus

OnePlus has really upped its game in recent years, and its flagship models can now challenge those of Apple and Samsung. Prices have risen as well, though, so you might want to consider a range of its cheaper models. See our OnePlus smartphone reviews for more.

Xiaomi

If you're after a brand that provides value for money, look no further than Xiaomi. While it does produce high-end phones, it offers a wide range of cheap yet feature-packed models as well, and these have seriously impressed. It's capable of also producing a stinker, though, so read our Xiaomi reviews before you buy.

Other mobile phones

We've tested nearly 200 phones to bring you a definitive verdict on your next model – from old-hands Sony and Nokia to new kids on the block Oppo and Realme. Browse all our mobile phone reviews to find the perfect model.

How we rate smartphones

Each and every mobile phone that passes through our lab is subjected to the same set of tough tests. This enables us to compare them and tell you which are worth the money. You can then avoid slow phones that take rubbish photos, and spend your money on a good-quality model that won't constantly need recharging instead.

We examine everything, including processor speed, screen and camera quality, battery life and call quality.

Our tests are unique. For example, when testing how quick each phone is, we don't just use the industry-standard speed tests, we also rate what it's like in everyday use. Our testers assess whether the phone is sluggish when swiping through menus and how quickly it opens webpages. All these factors enable us to generate our star ratings and give every phone a score.

Browse all our Samsung reviews and Apple iPhone reviews to see which models impressed us.