Quick Verdict
- Choose Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if gaming and smooth frame rates are your priority.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want the better camera for photos and videos.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if battery life and all-day usage matter most.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want the best value for your money.
- Choose Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if raw performance and multitasking are your focus.
Score Comparison
Based on MobileDaam rating systemCategory
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Performance
96.5 ★
93.9
Camera
80.0
100.0 ★
Battery
76.0
88.0 ★
Gaming
96.5 ★
94.3
Overall
88.8
93.7 ★
Value for Money
—
Best Value ★
Scores are out of 100. Value for Money = overall score per rupee spent.
Performance Winner
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
96.5/100
Camera Winner
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
100.0/100
Battery Winner
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
88.0/100
Gaming Winner
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
96.5/100
Overall Winner
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
93.7/100
Best Value
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Better Value for Money
At a Glance
Category
Winner
⚡ Performance
🏆 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
📷 Camera
🏆 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
🔋 Battery
🏆 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
🎮 Gaming
🏆 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
💰 Value
🏆 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
📱 Display
Screen Size
6.90"
6.80"
Display Type
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits
Dynamic AMOLED 2X Capacitive Touchscreen, Multitouch
Resolution
1320x2868
1440x3088
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
120 Hz
⚡ Performance
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro (3 nm)
Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU
Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
Adreno 740
RAM
12 GB
12 GB
Storage
256 GB
512 GB
📸 Camera
Main Camera
48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 4x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Quad Camera: 200 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", PDAF, Laser AF, OIS 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom + 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom + 12 M
Selfie Camera
18 MP multi-aspect, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide), PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
12 MP
Video Recording
4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 120fps), ProRes, ProRes RAW (up to 120fps)
8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
🔋 Battery
Battery Capacity
4823 mAh
5000 mAh
Charging
Wired, PD3.2, AVS, 50% in 20 min 25W wireless MagSafe/Qi2, 50% in 30 min (15W - China) 4.5W reverse wired
Fast battery 45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi/PMA), 4.5W reverse wireless
📶 Network & Connectivity
5G
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, hotspot
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE
5.3 with A2DP, LE
NFC
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
USB
USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort
USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
📞 SIM & Audio
SIM Type
Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Dual Sim, eSIM (Nano-SIM), (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by)
🎨 Design & Build
Dimensions
163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm
Weight
233g
233g
Build Material
Glass front (Ceramic Shield 2), aluminum frame, aluminum back/ glass back (Ceramic Shield)
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Colors
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Green, Phantom Black, Lavender, Cream, Lime, Sky Blue, Graphite, Red,
💻 Software
Operating System
iOS 26, upgradable to iOS 26.5
Android 13
Our Verdict
Both phones are very closely matched. Your choice should depend on which features matter most to you — whether it's camera quality, battery life, gaming performance, or value for money.
Pros & Cons Comparison
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Pros
- Flagship-grade processor
- Good camera quality
- Good battery life
- Great for gaming
- 120Hz smooth display
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Heavy (233g)
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Pros
- Flagship-grade processor
- Excellent camera system
- All-day battery life
- Great for gaming
- 120Hz smooth display
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Heavy (233g)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Both phones are very closely matched with similar overall scores.
Which has a better camera, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra wins in camera with 100.0/100 vs 80.0/100.
Which has better battery life?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has better battery with a score of 88.0/100.
Which is better for gaming?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is better for gaming with a score of 96.5/100.
Which offers better value for money?
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers better value at PKR 389,999 with a value score of 1.1.
What is the price difference between Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max costs PKR 564,999 while Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra costs PKR 389,999. The price difference is PKR 175,000.
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