Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Our Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra leads on camera hardware with a 200MP main sensor to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro's 12MP, and the S23 Ultra 5G has the bigger battery of the two, 5000mAh against 2815mAh, though iOS and Android manage power differently, so more mAh doesn't always mean longer battery life. The S23 Ultra 5G has the stronger screen, bigger at 6.8" against 6.1" and sharper at 500 PPI, and the iPhone 12 Pro is the lighter phone at 189g against 233g. Only pay up for the S23 Ultra 5G if you'll use what it offers; if not, the iPhone 12 Pro makes more sense.

If you'd rather pay up front, the iPhone 12 Pro is the cheaper buy at £180 SIM-free.

Expert Rating
4.3
19 reviews
4.5
10 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.8"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1170 x 2532 1440 x 3080
Pixels Per Inch
457 500
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
Battery
2,815 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB
OS
iOS 14.1 Android 13
SIM Type
Nano SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm
Weight
189 grams 233 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
- £59.00/mo (£30.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£179.99 £319.00
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Apple iPhone 12 Pro Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Expert Rating 4.3
19 reviews
4.5
10 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.8"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1170 x 2532 1440 x 3080
Pixels Per Inch 457 500
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
Battery 2,815 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB
OS iOS 14.1 Android 13
SIM Type Nano SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm
Weight 189 grams 233 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts - £59.00/mo
£30.00 upfront
SIM-free £179.99 £319.00
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Apple iPhone 12 Pro

128GB

Graphite

Refurbished

From £179.99

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

12 Months

256GB

Phantom Black

Refurbished

5GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£59 per month, £30 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the bigger screen at 6.8" compared to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro's 6.1", the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the sharper display at 500 pixels per inch versus 457, and the Apple iPhone 12 Pro uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 200 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £179.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra use?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra uses the Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is the more portable of the two: it's 44g lighter at 189 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm, and is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra run?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro runs iOS 14.1 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra runs Android 13. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.