Apple iPhone 17e vs Samsung Galaxy S23

Our verdict: Looking at total contract cost, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is £131.41 less expensive than the Apple iPhone 17e. Text and images look sharper on the Apple iPhone 17e with its 457 PPI display. Photography fans should note the Samsung Galaxy S23 packs a 50MP main sensor. Without a contract, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is the better deal at £209.00 SIM-free.

Screen
6.1" 6.1"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1170 x 2532 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
457 422
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
Storage
256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 13
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm
Weight
169 grams 167 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
£25.99/mo (£9.00 upfront) £16.00/mo (£109.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£572.00 £209.00
Apple iPhone 17e Apple iPhone 17e Samsung Galaxy S23 Samsung Galaxy S23
Screen 6.1" 6.1"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1170 x 2532 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 457 422
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
Storage 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS Apple iOS Android 13
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm
Weight 169 grams 167 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 £25.99/mo
£9.00 upfront
£16.00/mo
£109.00 upfront
SIM-free £572.00 £209.00
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 17e or Samsung Galaxy S23 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is cheaper on contract at £522.21 over the life of the deal from £16.00 per month with £109.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 17e or Samsung Galaxy S23?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.1", the Apple iPhone 17e has the sharper display at 457 pixels per inch versus 422, and the Apple iPhone 17e uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S23 has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 17e or Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Apple iPhone 17e features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 has a 50 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 17e or Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £209.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 17e and Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Apple iPhone 17e is available in 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 17e and Samsung Galaxy S23 use?

The Apple iPhone 17e is powered by the Apple A19 (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S23 uses the Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 17e or Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the more portable of the two — they weigh about the same (169 grams vs 167 grams), it's also the more compact phone at 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 17e or Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Apple iPhone 17e is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S23 is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 17e and Samsung Galaxy S23 run?

The Apple iPhone 17e runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S23 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.