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Apple iPhone 15 Professional
In all probability the very best compact flagship on the earth
In case you’re on the lookout for an entire flagship cellphone and are a fan of Apple gadgets, there actually is just one sensible choice – you must get the iPhone 15 Professional. It is the top of Apple’s engineering, combining gorgeous construct high quality with stellar efficiency and software program.
Professionals- Beautiful design with a titanium body
- Glorious efficiency
- Nice show and digicam
Cons- Missed out on the periscope zoom from the iPhone 15 Professional Max
- Gradual charging speeds
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Samsung Galaxy S23
The compact flagship for the Android lovers
The Android area has just a few nice contenders for the title of the very best compact smartphone, however the Galaxy S23 is an superior alternative amongst them. It is the correct combination of doing every little thing very well, making for a well-rounded smartphone that won’t break the financial institution, but in addition slot in your pocket.
Professionals- Slim, premium design
- Glorious, vivid show
- First rate battery life and efficiency
Cons- Images are typically a tad oversaturated
- Not that a lot completely different from the S22
Key Takeaways
- Flagship telephones are getting greater yearly, however smaller compact telephones are nonetheless obtainable from manufacturers like Samsung and Apple.
- The Samsung Galaxy S23 begins at $799 for the bottom mannequin, whereas the iPhone 15 Professional is $200 dearer, beginning at $999.
- The iPhone 15 Professional has a strong Apple A17 SoC and a glossy design with a brushed titanium physique, whereas the Galaxy S23 has a Snapdragon 8 gen 2 SoC and a shiny glass again.
When searching for telephones in the present day – particularly in case you’re on the lookout for a flagship machine – you’re principally spoiled for alternative. Whether or not you need clear software program, superb photographs or movies, nice construct high quality or unique options, manufacturers like Google, Xiaomi, OnePlus or Motorola have gotten you coated.
Nonetheless, there may be one alternative that’s usually neglected, and that’s the measurement of the cellphone. Currently, flagship phones have been getting greater yearly, with most of them reaching surpreme sizes.
If that is the event you want, the larger display sizes make for nice information because it means more room to observe your favourite content material, play video games or simply browse your apps. However these greater shows are sometimes accompanied by merely being unwieldy, barely becoming in your pockets (particularly in case you put on feminine clothes), and simply being onerous to make use of when you’ve got smaller arms.
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Thankfully, there are nonetheless some corporations that supply great compact phones. In fact, the Asus Zenfone 10 might be the smallest flagship obtainable now, however if you wish to go for one of many mainstream manufacturers, each the Android king Samsung, together with Apple, have one thing to supply for people who like their telephones on the smaller aspect. iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 are fully-featured, flagship telephones that don’t compromise on options and specs whereas nonetheless sustaining smaller, extra pocketable dimensions. With each, you get top-tier processors, a triple digicam setup, and a surprising display, crammed right into a glossy physique.
So, if you wish to get your self a smaller flagship, which one in all these two is the higher alternative? This is all you might want to learn about them:
Worth and availability
Beginning with the Samsung Galaxy S23, the cellphone begins at $799 for the bottom mannequin with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. You may improve the storage to 256GB – this model prices a bit extra, because it’s $859.
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Searching for a strong, feature-rich smartphone that is additionally small and lightweight? The Samsung Galaxy S23 is an excellent alternative.
The iPhone 15 Professional, however, is sort of a bit dearer. Its base mannequin is a steep $200 dearer, beginning at $999 for a similar 8/128GB configuration because the competitor in the present day. You may increase the storage as nicely, and the iPhone has three extra storage tiers: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.
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It is bought some stiff competitors this yr, not simply from the iPhone 15 Professional Max, however the iPhone 15 too. So must you purchase the iPhone 15 Professional?
Each of those telephones have already been launched, so you may simply discover them each on-line and in bodily shops. Galaxy S23 was launched in February 2023, whereas the iPhone 15 Professional got here to the market fairly a bit later – in September 2023.
Specs
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Apple iPhone 15 Professional Samsung Galaxy S23 SoC Apple A17 Professional Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Show 6.1-inch, OLED, 2556 x 1179, HDR, 2000nits, 120Hz 5.1-inch, 120 hz, AMOLED 2X Storage 128/256/512GB/1TB 128GB / 256GB / 512GB Battery 23 hours, quick cost 50% in 30 minutes 20W wired, 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi wi-fi 3900mAh, 25W wired, 15W wi-fi Ports USB-C USB-C Dimensions 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25mm, 187g 70.9 x 146.3 x 7.6mm, 168g IP Score IP68 IP68
Beginning with the guts of those handsets, the SoC, the iPhone 15 Professional sports activities the state-of-the-art Apple A17 SoC, which has 6 CPU and 6 GPU cores. Put straight, the A17 is an absolute beast and by far probably the most highly effective cell chip thus far, so even in case you’re doing something intensive like enjoying video games or rendering movies, you should not really feel any slowdown both now, or fairly just a few years down the street. The SoC is supported by 8GB of RAM. Different notable options embrace the IP68 water-resistance ranking, Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6e assist. It is also price mentioning that it’s the primary iPhone to lastly get a USB-C charging port, as an alternative of the growing old Lightning. What’s extra, the port itself helps the USB 3.2 Gen 2 commonplace, so it isn’t solely versatile but in addition helps extraordinarily quick knowledge transfers.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 isn’t any slouch both. Its SoC – the Snapdragon 8 gen 2 -is a bit slower than what Apple has in retailer, but it surely’s a particularly succesful, highly effective chip that can simply cope with something you throw its method, making it nice each now, and sooner or later. It’s additionally paired with 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy S23 options the IP68 water resistance rating, in addition to Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6e assist. As is commonplace on each fashionable cellphone now, it too has a USB-C charging port which helps USB 3.2 Gen 2 as nicely.
Design
Apple, as an organization recognized for its design prowess, didn’t disappoint with the iPhone 15 Professional. It’s a fantastic type issue – the 6.1-inch display along with good, slim bezels makes the cellphone’s dimensions a very pocketable 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3 mm. What’s even higher is that the cellphone, as an alternative of the usual aluminum or stainless-steel, is now made out of brushed titanium with flat edges. This not solely makes it lighter (the cellphone now weighs solely 168g) and extra sturdy, but in addition leaves it feeling far more premium than the competitors – this alloy does provide the “one thing additional” that you simply’d anticipate from an Apple product.
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Apart from the titanium, Apple went for a matte glass again and toned down colours you’d anticipate from the “Professional” lineup: Grey, Black, White and Blue. There are additionally two extra modifications. I’ve talked about the inclusion of USB-C for charging and knowledge switch, however the brand new iPhone additionally lacks a staple of the road for a few years – the mute change. As an alternative, you’ll discover an Motion Button there. It is a programmable button which you can personalize to your liking – it may well nonetheless act like a mute change, however you may also program it to do different features that you simply’d prefer to have a devoted shortcut for. On the again, you get the acquainted 3-camera setup and an Apple brand.
Transferring on to the Galaxy S23 – that is additionally a pleasant, premium-looking cellphone. It goes with out saying that its aluminum chassis doesn’t really feel nearly as good because the titanium on the iPhone, however the match and end are equally good, making for a pleasant flagship. Samsung even manages to be a bit smaller than the Apple cellphone, measuring 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm – particularly the distinction in thinness is sort of noticeable right here.
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On the again, Galaxy S23 additionally goes for a glass cowl, however the Korean producer opted for a shiny end. It does look higher in my view, but it surely’s a slo a fingerprint magnet – so that you get some, you lose some. There are additionally three vertically stacked cameras, a Samsung brand and a small flash. The cellphone is available in 4 colours that are far more energetic than toned-down iPhone colours: Black, Cream, Lavender and Inexperienced. Rounding issues up, you additionally get a USB-C charging port, however no motion button – after the failure of Bixby, Samsung gave up on this concept, sticking to the same old quantity rocker and energy button combo.
Software program
There isn’t any beating across the bush anymore – the most important distinction between these two telephones won’t come all the way down to their design or {hardware} however to their respective software program. Each Apple and Samsung went all-in into creating its product ecosystems, the place its telephones are the centerpiece of all of it, however the corporations did that with utterly completely different mindsets and objectives in thoughts.
The iPhone 15 Professional is working the latest model of iOS 17. There may be rather a lot to be mentioned about iOS, good and unhealthy, however you may’t deny it being some of the polished, well-rounded cell working methods. It’s a utterly closed-down system, so overlook about sideloading your apps or modifying the UI in any method that Apple didn’t take into consideration, however in return, you get a easy, acquainted expertise with tons of well-optimized apps.
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What’s extra, for the previous few years Apple did open the system up a bit for its customers to personalize the handset, so recently every cellphone has change into far more private. Plus, with how widespread iPhones are within the US, you might be fairly certain that if there may be an app for one thing, it’ll certainly be obtainable on iOS, and it’ll be well-optimized – one thing that Android nonetheless appears to battle with a bit in America. To high all of it off, you could have the aforementioned ecosystem. All of the Apple gadgets work nice with each other, so if you have already got a Mac, an iPad, or an Apple Watch, that is a fantastic mixture in your iPhone. Yet one more factor to say – other than the common connectivity choices, the iPhone additionally provides satellite tv for pc connectivity, enabling SOS communication even in case you’re out of cell community vary.
Alternatively, Samsung is the preferred firm making Android telephones within the US, and its concept of software program is sort of a bit completely different. It is working Samsung’s customized Android pores and skin referred to as OneUI. Proper now, it is already on OneUI 6.0 which is predicated on Android 14. As with all Android telephones, the very best factor about it’s the freedom to do what you need – freely change your UI, sideload apps and all that good things. Samsung does deliver numerous its personal improvements to the desk although – nice multi-windows multitasking capabilities, DeX desktop mode and only a slew of other handy features which you can uncover by yourself. It additionally works nice with different Samsung gadgets, such because the Galaxy Tab collection or the Galaxy Watch, however opposite to opponents, Samsung gadgets additionally work nice with different Android equipment, so you may combine and match completely different producers primarily based on what you need and want.
Show
I might argue that the display is, in the end, an important a part of your cellphone. That is the factor you take a look at each time you need to use it, so when it is crisp, responsive and vibrant, nearly every little thing seems and feels good when searching content material on such a show.
Let’s get into the small print then. Apple is utilizing what it calls a Tremendous Retina XDR show for its iPhone 15 Professional. It is an OLED panel with a decision of 2556 x 1179 pixels and a dynamic 1-120 Hz refresh fee. It is 6.1-inches in diameter and Apple covers it with its Ceramic Protect glass. It helps 1000 nits of sustained brightness and 2000 nits of peak brightness. The show is flat, with out curved edges, and contains a Dynamic Island – a cutout for the digicam and Apple’s FaceID tech.
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 however, comes geared up with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a decision of 2380 x 1080 pixels and a dynamic 48-120 Hz refresh fee. It is also 6.1-inches in diameter and is roofed with Corning’s newest Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Its peak brightness is a contact decrease, coming at 1750 nits, however Samsung claims a better sustained brightness of 1200 nits. Samsung additionally went for a flat panel this time round, with a a lot smaller digicam cutout in the course of the display’s higher edge.
General, it is onerous to say which one in all these screens is best – they’re each magnificent to take a look at and are the top of cell show know-how. There are refined variations – Apple’s dynamic refresh fee goes all the way down to 1Hz, which ought to give it an edge in battery life, however Samsung’s display ought to have a better sustained brightness. In any case, in case you’re on the lookout for a cellphone with an out-of-this-world show, each of those will swimsuit you simply positive.
Cameras
Apart from the show, one other space the place each of those telephones are extraordinarily equally matched are their cameras. If you would like your cellphone to take nice photographs in all circumstances – these two are most likely, perhaps other than the Pixel 8 Pro, your two finest selections. They’ve related triple digicam setups, nice further modes and options, and versatile lenses. Plus, each of them take actually first rate selfies.
Beginning with the principle shooter, the iPhone 15 Professional has a spectacular 48 MP important sensor with sensor cropping know-how, primarily providing you with the equal of three extra focal lengths (48mm, 35mm and 28mm). The image high quality itself is nice, albeit with the usual iPhone oversharpening. Nonetheless, the photographs are extremely vibrant and detailed, with pure colours. The digicam additionally works nice in worse lighting circumstances, using the 1/1.28-inch sensor to its fullest.
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The Galaxy S23 however sports activities a 50MP important sensor which is a bit smaller than the iPhone – just one/1.56-inch. Nonetheless, the photographs look nice, and the lens is equally succesful because the iPhone in coping with worse lighting circumstances. The images look spot-on in the case of sharpness – a stark distinction to the iPhone’s look – however they’re a tad oversaturated, which is one thing all Samsung cameras are recognized for. Apart from that, it’s a very succesful, versatile digicam.
The opposite lenses on each of those gadgets are not so good as their important ones. The iPhone 15 Professional is provided with a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 12MP 3x zoom lens, making for a well-rounded setup. Its 12 MP selfie digicam completes the image. Sadly, the iPhone 15 Professional missed out on the periscope telephoto lens from the Pro Max, so the zoomed-in footage won’t look as nice on the smaller mannequin.
Samsung has a very related setup of secondary cameras, going for a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 10MP 3x telephoto. As soon as once more, each of those are barely on the smaller aspect in comparison with the iPhone, so that you may discover a small drawback in darker environments. Samsung can be geared up with a 12MP selfie cam.
The one factor the place the iPhone – as all the time – shines nicely above the Samsung is video. Regardless that it solely data in 4K 60FPS, in comparison with the Samsung’s 8K 30 FPS max decision, movies from the iPhone are a lot better high quality, with higher stabilization and colour science – plus they simply look so a lot better. The competitors nonetheless has miles to go earlier than it catches as much as the iPhone’s video capabilities.
Battery and charging
No flagship expertise could be fulfilling with out a first rate battery life – you do not need your smartphone, nonetheless highly effective and premium-feeling, to be tethered to your charger on a regular basis. Thankfully, each of those telephones are wonderful at conserving you related for a very long time. Sadly, in addition they each upset with their charging speeds.
Choosing up iPhone 15 Professional’s spec sheet may make you a bit hesitant – it solely sports activities a comparatively small, 3274 mAh battery. Nonetheless, measurement is not every little thing, and Apple does know the best way to use it – that means that the latest iPhone is a particularly environment friendly cellphone, with a power-sipping chip and nice optimization. Which means that regardless that the cell itself is small in comparison with the competitors, its battery life remains to be very first rate. In our testing, it comfortably lasted for an entire busy day, with round 20 % battery to spare on the finish of it.
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The Galaxy S23 affords a extra typical 3900 mAh battery, making it extra according to the remainder of the compact smartphone competitors. In our testing it behaved very equally to the iPhone, leaving you with round 20% of battery on the finish of the day.
What is just not nice about both the iPhone, or the Galaxy, are their charging speeds. With flagship telephones these days giving customers fast charging left and proper, each of those go for comparatively sluggish charging speeds – and don’t even offer you chargers within the field.
Samsung tops out at 25W wired charging and 15W wi-fi – not very spectacular. The iPhone is sort of the identical, topping at 27W and 15W wi-fi charging speeds. These telephones do, admittedly, have smaller batteries, so you must anticipate them to replenish in beneath an hour and a half, however in comparison with the competitors, such speeds are painfully sluggish.
iPhone 15 Professional vs. Galaxy S23: Which one must you select?
Evaluating the iPhone to any Android machine, irrespective of how good and completely different, is all the time a tricky alternative. It can normally come all the way down to the identical reply – in the end, you must get the cellphone with the software program you favor.
Nonetheless, wanting on the specs alone, the iPhone 15 Professional most likely edges out the Galaxy S23 and takes the win. Granted, it’s $200 dearer, however you get an insane titanium chassis, arguably a bit higher cameras, a surprising show and the very best efficiency obtainable within the cell area. Moreover, it really works nicely throughout all Apple ecosystem merchandise.
It must be mentioned that the Samsung Galaxy S23 is just not far behind – quite the opposite. For a lot much less, you get a tremendous, compact cellphone with a show that is perhaps even barely higher, a fantastic and versatile digicam system and all the nice options of Android with just a little little bit of that Samsung sparkle on high – it is nothing to scoff at. In case you like Android, or just need to lastly get out of Apple’s “walled backyard,” the Galaxy S23 is a superb alternative.
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