Galaxy S23 vs iPhone 15
Short answer: the Galaxy S23 has the smoother 120Hz screen, a real 3x telephoto camera and a local SIM that works without PTA tax. The iPhone 15 has Dynamic Island, a 48MP main camera, a brighter screen, USB-C and longer expected iOS support. Pick the S23 for value and hardware, the iPhone 15 for iOS, video and resale.
Updated 11 November 2026
Design and build
Both are compact 6.1 inch phones with aluminium frames, glass backs and IP68 ratings. The Galaxy S23 weighs 168 g and is 7.6 mm thin. The iPhone 15 weighs 171 g and is 7.8 mm thin, with a colour-infused frosted glass back.
The S23 uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2; the iPhone 15 uses Ceramic Shield on the front. Both feel solid and fit easily in a pocket.
Display
The S23 has a 6.1 inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen at 120Hz with 1750 nits peak. The iPhone 15 has a 6.1 inch Super Retina XDR OLED at 60Hz with Dynamic Island and up to 2000 nits outdoors.
The iPhone is slightly brighter in the sun, and Dynamic Island shows calls, timers and rides neatly. The S23's 120Hz refresh feels much smoother when scrolling and gaming.
Performance and chipset
The S23 uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. The iPhone 15 uses the A16 Bionic, the chip from the iPhone 14 Pro. Both are fast for daily use and gaming.
The Snapdragon is stronger in graphics, while the A16 is slightly faster in single-core tasks. The iPhone 15 cannot run the console-style iOS games that need an iPhone Pro chip, but both phones run PUBG Mobile, Free Fire and Call of Duty Mobile smoothly.
Cameras
The S23 has a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP 3x telephoto. The iPhone 15 has a 48MP main camera with a 2x optical-quality crop and a 12MP ultra-wide, with no telephoto.
For zoom beyond 2x the S23 is better. The iPhone 15 takes very natural photos, great portraits and excellent 4K 60fps Dolby Vision video. Both front cameras are 12MP.
Battery and charging
The S23 has a 3900 mAh battery with 25W wired, 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. The iPhone 15 has a 3349 mAh battery with fast wired charging (about 50% in 30 minutes), 15W MagSafe and Qi2.
Both last about a day of normal use. Our used iPhone 15 units have 100% battery health, so real battery life stays close to new.
Neither phone comes with a charger in the box. Since both use USB-C, one 25W or higher USB-C adapter can charge both phones at good speed, which is handy in a family with mixed phones.
Specs side by side
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy vs A16 Bionic
- Display: 6.1 inch FHD+ 120Hz vs 6.1 inch 60Hz OLED, Dynamic Island
- Peak brightness: 1750 nits vs 2000 nits
- Rear cameras: 50MP + 12MP + 10MP 3x vs 48MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP vs 12MP
- Battery: 3900 mAh vs 3349 mAh
- Charging: 25W wired, 15W wireless vs fast wired, 15W MagSafe, Qi2
- Port: USB-C 3.2 vs USB-C (USB 2)
- Weight: 168 g vs 171 g
- Launch software: Android 13, One UI 5.1 vs iOS 17
Software and updates
The S23 launched with Android 13 and was promised four Android upgrades, and it has Galaxy AI features. The iPhone 15 launched with iOS 17 and will likely be supported for several more years, but it does not support Apple Intelligence; only the 15 Pro and newer models do.
Non PTA and SIM notes in Pakistan
Our iPhone 15 units are slightly used Non PTA phones with 100% battery health. A Non PTA iPhone is not registered with PTA's DIRBS, so a local SIM works only for a limited time unless you register it and pay the PTA tax. US iPhone 15 units are eSIM only. See PTA tax on mobile phones (PTA Tax on Mobile Phones: How It Is Calculated and Paid).
Our Galaxy S23 is a Non Custom box pack unit that is PTA Patch Approved, so a local SIM works normally.
Who should buy which
Buy the Galaxy S23 if you want a 120Hz screen, a 3x zoom camera and a SIM that works without PTA tax.
Buy the iPhone 15 if you prefer iOS, want Dynamic Island and great video, and value long support and resale. For Samsung's next model, see Galaxy S24 vs iPhone 15 (Galaxy S24 vs iPhone 15).
