For a smaller and more affordable option, the Apple iPhone SE (2022) has a familiar, compact design and is a good choice if you prefer iOS. Its camera is decent, and the phone has a capable processor. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a larger, high-definition OLED screen with a higher refresh rate, superior camera capabilities including more advanced features and a higher megapixel count, and generally better battery life. It runs Android and is pricier. If you regularly use your phone for photography, media consumption, or gaming, the Galaxy S23's additional cost might be justifiable for its advanced features. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone SE (2022)
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23
Very good for taking photos
Good for recording videos
Very good battery life
Very good display quality
Excellent performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.7/10
8.3/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has very good overall camera quality, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 boasts excellent cameras due to its superior performance across key factors like high-resolution photos, advanced photo and video software experiences, and impressive low light capabilities for both photos and video. In contrast, the Apple iPhone SE (2022) offers fair cameras, with a lower selfie score and less versatility in its camera features, which impacts its dynamic range and low light performance compared to the S23.
Photo Quality
5.5/10
8.3/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes excellent photos, partly because it offers a better overall camera software experience and superior selfie quality compared to the Apple iPhone SE (2022), which only offers fair selfie photos. Other contributing factors are the Galaxy S23's advantages in dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility over the iPhone SE (2022).
Video Quality
6.6/10
7.8/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes good videos, while the Apple iPhone SE (2022) takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) provides a fair video experience partly because it has an older processor and captures video at lower resolutions compared to the latest flagship phones. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S23 delivers excellent video due to its superior specs such as higher video resolution and framerate, more advanced video stabilization, better video dynamic range, and improved performance in low light conditions, paired with higher microphone quality.
Battery
4.9 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has 4.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has a screen size of 4.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$429
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) has a price of $429 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
"Thanks to the inclusion of the A15 chip, the SE is likely to be supported for years to come. That makes it the best deal in smartphones today for folks who just want something simple and don't care about the frills. The iPhone SE is a great deal if you're more interested in the basics than the latest flashy features.. It's also a great option for people who prefer to use their phones one-handed—a dying breed, we know."
"The 6.1-inch S23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the US, partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it’s also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset responsible for some of that battery performance improvement is slightly different — and slightly faster — than the 8 Gen 2 in other Android flagships."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone SE (2022) or the Samsung Galaxy S23
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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75,140
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.