Keen photographer? Then read on as we assess Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro, from a camera focus. This comparison will be diving into using each device for photography and videography, as well as staring at for hours on end, as we tend to do. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (US$1200) made its debut in February 2023, being the ultimate model of Samsung’s 2023 range. It enters the premium mobile phone space, competing with the cheaper Google’s Pixel 7 Pro (starting at US$899) and the high-end iPhone 14 Pro Max (US$1,099).
Comparison of Cameras, Screens and Features
Features
|
Price |
|
No. of Cameras |
|
Peak Brightness |
|
Screen Size |
|
Megapixels |
|
Zoom |
|
Memory Storage (options) |
| USD1200 |
| 5 |
| 1,750 nits (HDR) |
| 6.8 inch |
| 200MP wide angle 10/12/10MP tele front: 12MP |
| 100x digital space 10x optical zoom |
| 8GB RAM (12 max) 256GB 500GB 1TB |
| USD1099 |
| 1,600 nits (HDR) 2,000 outdoor |
| 6.7 inch |
|
48MP Main |
|
6x optical zoom range |
| A16 Chip, 6-core GPU 128GB 256GB 500GB 1TB |
|
USD899 |
| 4 |
| 927 nits |
| 6.7 inch |
| 50/ 12 / 48 front: 10.8MP |
| digital-optical zoom |
| 8GB RAM (12 max) 128GB 256GB |
Pros, Cons and Features of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 7 Pro
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Features and Results
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s talking points include enhanced nighttime photos, 5 cameras, brightness of its massive display, the S-pen stylus, plus more megapixels on the wide-angle camera. But its starting price point is US$300 higher than the versatile Pixel 7 Pro.
The S23’s wide-angle lens is an advancement – which boasts nearly double the resolution for those clear wide shots and it takes long-range zoomed shots very well. It has an advanced camera sensor to accommodate low light for your personal portraits.
Those photographers who want to have uncompressed original photos to edit from will also like Samsung’s Expert Raw mode and app. You can also zoom and crop on-screen for an entirely new shot without hitting the shutter.
Video recording has gotten better on the Galaxy S23 Ultra; you can record enhanced 8K video at 30 frames-per-second (FPS) at a wide angle. Samsung tried to remove unwanted camera shakes when capturing videos in low light, with the doubled optical image stabilizer.
The downside of the S23 Ultra is shots that include motion may turn quite blurry, if lighting conditions are indoors or in the shade. Samsung’s Good Lock Labs provide a Camera Assistant app and settings for adjusting how you take shots, including a quick tap shutter, and you can prioritize speed, though this may turn shots into poor quality instead. One S23 Ultra user even went so far as to say if you want to take shots of pets, walking people and kids, then don’t buy this model.
One highlight of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is its nighttime capability. Taking photos of the night sky, you can turn on Astro Hyperlapse to record stars moving across – making an hour last a minute – and test its distance clarity. However, one reviewer remarked that the Pixel 7 Pro is still better at shooting photos of stars.
The S23 Ultra has the highest specifications among the Android phones.
iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max: Features and Results
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro & Pro Max really take the iPhone’s cameras to the next level, with a boosted 48 Megapixel main camera and 12MP ultra-wide, a 12MP 3x telephoto lens and a 12MP Truedepth camera with a fast ƒ1.9 aperture. So, plenty of choices to get the right shot.
The larger sensor offers this maximum but default shooting is at 12 MP, which results in a quad pixel that improves light capture and with less noise.
On the ground, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a great tool to use for composition, it handles colour and contrast nicely, and can shoot a well-balanced photo in a dark forest. The iPhone 14 line-up also have a smart call feature, which can save your bacon in a car crash.
However, with the wider aperture on this main camera, it can lose some focus in darker parts of a landscape. The ultra-wide camera takes better shots in adequate light, including clarity in the corners. In dim light, its results are too noisy.
Using the S Pen lets you take photos from a distance (remote control), browse your photo gallery or write on-screen into Notes.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Features and Results
With the Pixel 7 Pro, it’s got a 50MP main camera, a similar 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a better 5x telephoto camera lens. This may be handy for the landscape photographer or for taking shots at school awards nights. It has a new “macro focus” feature and a “photo unblur” feature for those post-snap edits. These are no novel ideas for the expert Digital SLR user.
The nighttime photo shooting capability is one of the features that sell Google’s Pixel smartphones. With the night mode active, the Pixel 7 Pro’s colours are vibrant and have a strong depth.
Regarding downsides of this model, it seems scrolling may be erratic. One Reddit user said the touchscreen “constantly sticks on the backstroke of your finger when flicking to scroll. Not to mention the massive increase in keyboard fumbles when typing”.
Testing photography results
The Tom’s Guide test shoot-out between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Pixel 7 Pro proved the Pixel 7’s gradually improving capability. This test showed how different results can be of the same shot. In the iPhone picture of a skating rink, the people and colours popped more and it coped with the white rink really well. I agreed that the Pixel 7 Pro made the cranberry tart taken in macro focus looks more detailed and somehow realer, but I disagreed with his preference for the park portrait. That portrait taken with the iPhone 14 Pro Max is more correctly exposed, while the Pixel 7 Pro was too shadowy. With the close-up of flowers, it was splitting hairs, and other shots were simply a little brighter and clearer with the help of Apple’s Photonic Engine.
Another test of the Pixel 7 Pro (4 stars) found lacklustre colours in the telephoto and an underwhelming battery life, but it is a pretty device and does have a 5x optical zoom.
Whether you prefer one photo style over another with these three titans of premium phone cameras is largely down to personal preference.
Screen comparison
The iPhone 14 Pro version has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen with a slightly larger resolution. As always, excellent brightness of display.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s screen is noticeably brighter outdoors than the Pixel 6. The still colors pop, with sharp contrast and deep blacks.
Dxomark tested the Pixel 7 Pro on its cameras and it made 147 (ranking 3rd in it global rankings). It showed good detail on all zoom ranges, accurate exposure and nice skin tones. The test noted “decent ultra-wide image quality”, at 13.5mm focal length equivalent.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a beautiful display, one of the best on the market, so is the winner for color reproduction in all gamuts. It has the same screen size as the S22: a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution, which makes it ideal as a video-watching device. In fact, the latest Samsung Galaxy range can be used as a second TV, propped up in landscape. Its high brightness level when outdoors can also help us see better what’s on the screen.
The S22 screen was too curved, but they modified it and made the S23 just a little curved at the edges, so most screen protectors can work on it.
Battery life for photography
All photo fans need cameras with a strong battery life. When compared with iPhone 14 Pro Max’s claimed 24-hour battery life for regular use, the Samsung S23 Ultra has a battery life of 15.3 hours with the Standard refresh rate on, though this all depends on how you use your phone. Some S23 Ultra reviewers have been impressed with the battery still having 25% left after a 16-hour use period.
Samsung claim that with the 5000 mAh battery in this model, you’ll get up to 26 hours of video playback, which is a lot of Netflix! When capturing video, you want the most battery life possible.
In a 12-hour period, with maximal use (including photography) but with adaptive motion and adaptive brightness settings turned on and adjusting the ‘always on’ display, the Galaxy S23 Ultra used just 66% of its battery, claims CNet reviewer Lisa Eadicicco. So a full charge should get a photographer about 19 hours of life.
5 Must-Know Facts about All Three Models for Photography
- Biggest display on the S23 Ultra with bright, clear colours, enhanced nighttime photos, and good long-range photography.
- Downside of S23 Ultra is action movements are blurry, whether you want this or not.
- The Pixel 7 Pro offers good detail on zoom, decent ultra-wide image quality, but it has a lower brightness of display than the others that may affect outdoor usage.
- On the iPhone 14 Pro, shots come out brightly lit and clear.
- The iPhone 14 Pro Max has the best battery range for those all-day shoots.
Which is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Despite the higher price tag, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max ($1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899) subtly nudges out the Google Pixel 7 Pro ($899 / £849 / AU$1,299) in terms of camera as well as performance, according to a face-off by Tom’s Guide. The Galaxy S23 Ultra (starts at $1,200 for 256 GB) is a beautiful looking phone, has sharp and clear screens and takes a great portrait, and the Google Pixel 7 nudges it out on the nighttime sky and building shots.
So, if price is not the decider, then the real question is: do you prefer the ever-improving Apple iPhones for photography, as you want it to perform in all kinds of conditions? Or has Samsung Galaxy made enough camera improvements in this model to capture your heart?
Get a Content Expert to Review your Marketing!
We’ve all got two ears for a reason… so that’s why Jennifer promises to listen before advising what level of service you may need. In fact, some clients want something else entirely. Book in for a free 25-minute strategy call.
Book in a Time (Zoom)
Keen photographer? Then read on as we assess Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro, from a camera focus. This comparison will be diving into using each device for photography and videography, as well as staring at for hours on end, as we tend to do. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (US$1200) made its debut in February 2023, being the ultimate model of Samsung’s 2023 range. It enters the premium mobile phone space, competing with the cheaper Google’s Pixel 7 Pro (starting at US$899) and the high-end iPhone 14 Pro Max (US$1,099).
Comparison of Cameras, Screens and Features
Features
|
Price |
|
No. of Cameras |
|
Peak Brightness |
|
Screen Size |
|
Megapixels |
|
Zoom |
|
Memory Storage (options) |
| USD1200 |
| 5 |
| 1,750 nits (HDR) |
| 6.8 inch |
| 200MP wide angle 10/12/10MP tele front: 12MP |
| 100x digital space 10x optical zoom |
| 8GB RAM (12 max) 256GB 500GB 1TB |
| USD1099 |
| 1,600 nits (HDR) 2,000 outdoor |
| 6.7 inch |
|
48MP Main |
|
6x optical zoom range |
| A16 Chip, 6-core GPU 128GB 256GB 500GB 1TB |
|
USD899 |
| 4 |
| 927 nits |
| 6.7 inch |
| 50/ 12 / 48 front: 10.8MP |
| digital-optical zoom |
| 8GB RAM (12 max) 128GB 256GB |
Pros, Cons and Features of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 7 Pro
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Features and Results
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s talking points include enhanced nighttime photos, 5 cameras, brightness of its massive display, the S-pen stylus, plus more megapixels on the wide-angle camera. But its starting price point is US$300 higher than the versatile Pixel 7 Pro.
The S23’s wide-angle lens is an advancement – which boasts nearly double the resolution for those clear wide shots and it takes long-range zoomed shots very well. It has an advanced camera sensor to accommodate low light for your personal portraits.
Those photographers who want to have uncompressed original photos to edit from will also like Samsung’s Expert Raw mode and app. You can also zoom and crop on-screen for an entirely new shot without hitting the shutter.
Video recording has gotten better on the Galaxy S23 Ultra; you can record enhanced 8K video at 30 frames-per-second (FPS) at a wide angle. Samsung tried to remove unwanted camera shakes when capturing videos in low light, with the doubled optical image stabilizer.
The downside of the S23 Ultra is shots that include motion may turn quite blurry, if lighting conditions are indoors or in the shade. Samsung’s Good Lock Labs provide a Camera Assistant app and settings for adjusting how you take shots, including a quick tap shutter, and you can prioritize speed, though this may turn shots into poor quality instead. One S23 Ultra user even went so far as to say if you want to take shots of pets, walking people and kids, then don’t buy this model.
One highlight of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is its nighttime capability. Taking photos of the night sky, you can turn on Astro Hyperlapse to record stars moving across – making an hour last a minute – and test its distance clarity. However, one reviewer remarked that the Pixel 7 Pro is still better at shooting photos of stars.
The S23 Ultra has the highest specifications among the Android phones.
iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max: Features and Results
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro & Pro Max really take the iPhone’s cameras to the next level, with a boosted 48 Megapixel main camera and 12MP ultra-wide, a 12MP 3x telephoto lens and a 12MP Truedepth camera with a fast ƒ1.9 aperture. So, plenty of choices to get the right shot.
The larger sensor offers this maximum but default shooting is at 12 MP, which results in a quad pixel that improves light capture and with less noise.
On the ground, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a great tool to use for composition, it handles colour and contrast nicely, and can shoot a well-balanced photo in a dark forest. The iPhone 14 line-up also have a smart call feature, which can save your bacon in a car crash.
However, with the wider aperture on this main camera, it can lose some focus in darker parts of a landscape. The ultra-wide camera takes better shots in adequate light, including clarity in the corners. In dim light, its results are too noisy.
Using the S Pen lets you take photos from a distance (remote control), browse your photo gallery or write on-screen into Notes.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Features and Results
With the Pixel 7 Pro, it’s got a 50MP main camera, a similar 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a better 5x telephoto camera lens. This may be handy for the landscape photographer or for taking shots at school awards nights. It has a new “macro focus” feature and a “photo unblur” feature for those post-snap edits. These are no novel ideas for the expert Digital SLR user.
The nighttime photo shooting capability is one of the features that sell Google’s Pixel smartphones. With the night mode active, the Pixel 7 Pro’s colours are vibrant and have a strong depth.
Regarding downsides of this model, it seems scrolling may be erratic. One Reddit user said the touchscreen “constantly sticks on the backstroke of your finger when flicking to scroll. Not to mention the massive increase in keyboard fumbles when typing”.
Testing photography results
The Tom’s Guide test shoot-out between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Pixel 7 Pro proved the Pixel 7’s gradually improving capability. This test showed how different results can be of the same shot. In the iPhone picture of a skating rink, the people and colours popped more and it coped with the white rink really well. I agreed that the Pixel 7 Pro made the cranberry tart taken in macro focus looks more detailed and somehow realer, but I disagreed with his preference for the park portrait. That portrait taken with the iPhone 14 Pro Max is more correctly exposed, while the Pixel 7 Pro was too shadowy. With the close-up of flowers, it was splitting hairs, and other shots were simply a little brighter and clearer with the help of Apple’s Photonic Engine.
Another test of the Pixel 7 Pro (4 stars) found lacklustre colours in the telephoto and an underwhelming battery life, but it is a pretty device and does have a 5x optical zoom.
Whether you prefer one photo style over another with these three titans of premium phone cameras is largely down to personal preference.
Screen comparison
The iPhone 14 Pro version has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen with a slightly larger resolution. As always, excellent brightness of display.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s screen is noticeably brighter outdoors than the Pixel 6. The still colors pop, with sharp contrast and deep blacks.
Dxomark tested the Pixel 7 Pro on its cameras and it made 147 (ranking 3rd in it global rankings). It showed good detail on all zoom ranges, accurate exposure and nice skin tones. The test noted “decent ultra-wide image quality”, at 13.5mm focal length equivalent.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a beautiful display, one of the best on the market, so is the winner for color reproduction in all gamuts. It has the same screen size as the S22: a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution, which makes it ideal as a video-watching device. In fact, the latest Samsung Galaxy range can be used as a second TV, propped up in landscape. Its high brightness level when outdoors can also help us see better what’s on the screen.
The S22 screen was too curved, but they modified it and made the S23 just a little curved at the edges, so most screen protectors can work on it.
Battery life for photography
All photo fans need cameras with a strong battery life. When compared with iPhone 14 Pro Max’s claimed 24-hour battery life for regular use, the Samsung S23 Ultra has a battery life of 15.3 hours with the Standard refresh rate on, though this all depends on how you use your phone. Some S23 Ultra reviewers have been impressed with the battery still having 25% left after a 16-hour use period.
Samsung claim that with the 5000 mAh battery in this model, you’ll get up to 26 hours of video playback, which is a lot of Netflix! When capturing video, you want the most battery life possible.
In a 12-hour period, with maximal use (including photography) but with adaptive motion and adaptive brightness settings turned on and adjusting the ‘always on’ display, the Galaxy S23 Ultra used just 66% of its battery, claims CNet reviewer Lisa Eadicicco. So a full charge should get a photographer about 19 hours of life.
5 Must-Know Facts about All Three Models for Photography
- Biggest display on the S23 Ultra with bright, clear colours, enhanced nighttime photos, and good long-range photography.
- Downside of S23 Ultra is action movements are blurry, whether you want this or not.
- The Pixel 7 Pro offers good detail on zoom, decent ultra-wide image quality, but it has a lower brightness of display than the others that may affect outdoor usage.
- On the iPhone 14 Pro, shots come out brightly lit and clear.
- The iPhone 14 Pro Max has the best battery range for those all-day shoots.
Which is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Despite the higher price tag, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max ($1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899) subtly nudges out the Google Pixel 7 Pro ($899 / £849 / AU$1,299) in terms of camera as well as performance, according to a face-off by Tom’s Guide. The Galaxy S23 Ultra (starts at $1,200 for 256 GB) is a beautiful looking phone, has sharp and clear screens and takes a great portrait, and the Google Pixel 7 nudges it out on the nighttime sky and building shots.
So, if price is not the decider, then the real question is: do you prefer the ever-improving Apple iPhones for photography, as you want it to perform in all kinds of conditions? Or has Samsung Galaxy made enough camera improvements in this model to capture your heart?
Get a Content Expert to Review your Marketing!
We’ve all got two ears for a reason… so that’s why Jennifer promises to listen before advising what level of service you may need. In fact, some clients want something else entirely. Book in for a free 25-minute strategy call.
Book in a Time (Zoom) Keen photographer? Then read on as we assess Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro, from a camera focus. This comparison will be diving into using each device for photography and videography, as well as staring at for hours on end, as we tend to do. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (US$1200) made its debut in February 2023, being the ultimate model of Samsung’s 2023 range. It enters the premium mobile phone space, competing with the cheaper Google’s Pixel 7 Pro (starting at US$899) and the high-end iPhone 14 Pro Max (US$1,099).
Comparison of Cameras, Screens and Features
Features
|
Price |
|
No. of Cameras |
|
Peak Brightness |
|
Screen Size |
|
Megapixels |
|
Zoom |
|
Memory Storage (options) |
| USD1200 |
| 5 |
| 1,750 nits (HDR) |
| 6.8 inch |
| 200MP wide angle 10/12/10MP tele front: 12MP |
| 100x digital space 10x optical zoom |
| 8GB RAM (12 max) 256GB 500GB 1TB |
| USD1099 |
| 1,600 nits (HDR) 2,000 outdoor |
| 6.7 inch |
|
48MP Main |
|
6x optical zoom range |
| A16 Chip, 6-core GPU 128GB 256GB 500GB 1TB |
|
USD899 |
| 4 |
| 927 nits |
| 6.7 inch |
| 50/ 12 / 48 front: 10.8MP |
| digital-optical zoom |
| 8GB RAM (12 max) 128GB 256GB |
Pros, Cons and Features of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 7 Pro
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Features and Results
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s talking points include enhanced nighttime photos, 5 cameras, brightness of its massive display, the S-pen stylus, plus more megapixels on the wide-angle camera. But its starting price point is US$300 higher than the versatile Pixel 7 Pro.
The S23’s wide-angle lens is an advancement – which boasts nearly double the resolution for those clear wide shots and it takes long-range zoomed shots very well. It has an advanced camera sensor to accommodate low light for your personal portraits.
Those photographers who want to have uncompressed original photos to edit from will also like Samsung’s Expert Raw mode and app. You can also zoom and crop on-screen for an entirely new shot without hitting the shutter.
Video recording has gotten better on the Galaxy S23 Ultra; you can record enhanced 8K video at 30 frames-per-second (FPS) at a wide angle. Samsung tried to remove unwanted camera shakes when capturing videos in low light, with the doubled optical image stabilizer.
The downside of the S23 Ultra is shots that include motion may turn quite blurry, if lighting conditions are indoors or in the shade. Samsung’s Good Lock Labs provide a Camera Assistant app and settings for adjusting how you take shots, including a quick tap shutter, and you can prioritize speed, though this may turn shots into poor quality instead. One S23 Ultra user even went so far as to say if you want to take shots of pets, walking people and kids, then don’t buy this model.
One highlight of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is its nighttime capability. Taking photos of the night sky, you can turn on Astro Hyperlapse to record stars moving across – making an hour last a minute – and test its distance clarity. However, one reviewer remarked that the Pixel 7 Pro is still better at shooting photos of stars.
The S23 Ultra has the highest specifications among the Android phones.
iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max: Features and Results
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro & Pro Max really take the iPhone’s cameras to the next level, with a boosted 48 Megapixel main camera and 12MP ultra-wide, a 12MP 3x telephoto lens and a 12MP Truedepth camera with a fast ƒ1.9 aperture. So, plenty of choices to get the right shot.
The larger sensor offers this maximum but default shooting is at 12 MP, which results in a quad pixel that improves light capture and with less noise.
On the ground, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a great tool to use for composition, it handles colour and contrast nicely, and can shoot a well-balanced photo in a dark forest. The iPhone 14 line-up also have a smart call feature, which can save your bacon in a car crash.
However, with the wider aperture on this main camera, it can lose some focus in darker parts of a landscape. The ultra-wide camera takes better shots in adequate light, including clarity in the corners. In dim light, its results are too noisy.
Using the S Pen lets you take photos from a distance (remote control), browse your photo gallery or write on-screen into Notes.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Features and Results
With the Pixel 7 Pro, it’s got a 50MP main camera, a similar 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a better 5x telephoto camera lens. This may be handy for the landscape photographer or for taking shots at school awards nights. It has a new “macro focus” feature and a “photo unblur” feature for those post-snap edits. These are no novel ideas for the expert Digital SLR user.
The nighttime photo shooting capability is one of the features that sell Google’s Pixel smartphones. With the night mode active, the Pixel 7 Pro’s colours are vibrant and have a strong depth.
Regarding downsides of this model, it seems scrolling may be erratic. One Reddit user said the touchscreen “constantly sticks on the backstroke of your finger when flicking to scroll. Not to mention the massive increase in keyboard fumbles when typing”.
Testing photography results
The Tom’s Guide test shoot-out between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Pixel 7 Pro proved the Pixel 7’s gradually improving capability. This test showed how different results can be of the same shot. In the iPhone picture of a skating rink, the people and colours popped more and it coped with the white rink really well. I agreed that the Pixel 7 Pro made the cranberry tart taken in macro focus looks more detailed and somehow realer, but I disagreed with his preference for the park portrait. That portrait taken with the iPhone 14 Pro Max is more correctly exposed, while the Pixel 7 Pro was too shadowy. With the close-up of flowers, it was splitting hairs, and other shots were simply a little brighter and clearer with the help of Apple’s Photonic Engine.
Another test of the Pixel 7 Pro (4 stars) found lacklustre colours in the telephoto and an underwhelming battery life, but it is a pretty device and does have a 5x optical zoom.
Whether you prefer one photo style over another with these three titans of premium phone cameras is largely down to personal preference.
Screen comparison
The iPhone 14 Pro version has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen with a slightly larger resolution. As always, excellent brightness of display.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s screen is noticeably brighter outdoors than the Pixel 6. The still colors pop, with sharp contrast and deep blacks.
Dxomark tested the Pixel 7 Pro on its cameras and it made 147 (ranking 3rd in it global rankings). It showed good detail on all zoom ranges, accurate exposure and nice skin tones. The test noted “decent ultra-wide image quality”, at 13.5mm focal length equivalent.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a beautiful display, one of the best on the market, so is the winner for color reproduction in all gamuts. It has the same screen size as the S22: a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution, which makes it ideal as a video-watching device. In fact, the latest Samsung Galaxy range can be used as a second TV, propped up in landscape. Its high brightness level when outdoors can also help us see better what’s on the screen.
The S22 screen was too curved, but they modified it and made the S23 just a little curved at the edges, so most screen protectors can work on it.
Battery life for photography
All photo fans need cameras with a strong battery life. When compared with iPhone 14 Pro Max’s claimed 24-hour battery life for regular use, the Samsung S23 Ultra has a battery life of 15.3 hours with the Standard refresh rate on, though this all depends on how you use your phone. Some S23 Ultra reviewers have been impressed with the battery still having 25% left after a 16-hour use period.
Samsung claim that with the 5000 mAh battery in this model, you’ll get up to 26 hours of video playback, which is a lot of Netflix! When capturing video, you want the most battery life possible.
In a 12-hour period, with maximal use (including photography) but with adaptive motion and adaptive brightness settings turned on and adjusting the ‘always on’ display, the Galaxy S23 Ultra used just 66% of its battery, claims CNet reviewer Lisa Eadicicco. So a full charge should get a photographer about 19 hours of life.
5 Must-Know Facts about All Three Models for Photography
- Biggest display on the S23 Ultra with bright, clear colours, enhanced nighttime photos, and good long-range photography.
- Downside of S23 Ultra is action movements are blurry, whether you want this or not.
- The Pixel 7 Pro offers good detail on zoom, decent ultra-wide image quality, but it has a lower brightness of display than the others that may affect outdoor usage.
- On the iPhone 14 Pro, shots come out brightly lit and clear.
- The iPhone 14 Pro Max has the best battery range for those all-day shoots.
Which is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Despite the higher price tag, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max ($1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899) subtly nudges out the Google Pixel 7 Pro ($899 / £849 / AU$1,299) in terms of camera as well as performance, according to a face-off by Tom’s Guide. The Galaxy S23 Ultra (starts at $1,200 for 256 GB) is a beautiful looking phone, has sharp and clear screens and takes a great portrait, and the Google Pixel 7 nudges it out on the nighttime sky and building shots.
So, if price is not the decider, then the real question is: do you prefer the ever-improving Apple iPhones for photography, as you want it to perform in all kinds of conditions? Or has Samsung Galaxy made enough camera improvements in this model to capture your heart?
Get a Content Expert to Review your Marketing!
We’ve all got two ears for a reason… so that’s why Jennifer promises to listen before advising what level of service you may need. In fact, some clients want something else entirely. Book in for a free 25-minute strategy call.
Book in a Time (Zoom)
Keen photographer? Then read on as we assess Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Google Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro, from a camera focus. This comparison will be diving into using each device for photography and videography, as well as staring at for hours on end, as we tend to do. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (US$1200) made its debut in February 2023, being the ultimate model of Samsung’s 2023 range. It enters the premium mobile phone space, competing with the cheaper Google’s Pixel 7 Pro (starting at US$899) and the high-end iPhone 14 Pro Max (US$1,099).
Comparison of Cameras, Screens and Features
Features
|
Price |
|
No. of Cameras |
|
Peak Brightness |
|
Screen Size |
|
Megapixels |
|
Zoom |
|
Memory Storage (options) |
| USD1200 |
| 5 |
| 1,750 nits (HDR) |
| 6.8 inch |
| 200MP wide angle 10/12/10MP tele front: 12MP |
| 100x digital space 10x optical zoom |
| 8GB RAM (12 max) 256GB 500GB 1TB |
| USD1099 |
| 1,600 nits (HDR) 2,000 outdoor |
| 6.7 inch |
|
48MP Main |
|
6x optical zoom range |
| A16 Chip, 6-core GPU 128GB 256GB 500GB 1TB |
|
USD899 |
| 4 |
| 927 nits |
| 6.7 inch |
| 50/ 12 / 48 front: 10.8MP |
| digital-optical zoom |
| 8GB RAM (12 max) 128GB 256GB |
Pros, Cons and Features of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 7 Pro
Galaxy S23 Ultra: Features and Results
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s talking points include enhanced nighttime photos, 5 cameras, brightness of its massive display, the S-pen stylus, plus more megapixels on the wide-angle camera. But its starting price point is US$300 higher than the versatile Pixel 7 Pro.
The S23’s wide-angle lens is an advancement – which boasts nearly double the resolution for those clear wide shots and it takes long-range zoomed shots very well. It has an advanced camera sensor to accommodate low light for your personal portraits.
Those photographers who want to have uncompressed original photos to edit from will also like Samsung’s Expert Raw mode and app. You can also zoom and crop on-screen for an entirely new shot without hitting the shutter.
Video recording has gotten better on the Galaxy S23 Ultra; you can record enhanced 8K video at 30 frames-per-second (FPS) at a wide angle. Samsung tried to remove unwanted camera shakes when capturing videos in low light, with the doubled optical image stabilizer.
The downside of the S23 Ultra is shots that include motion may turn quite blurry, if lighting conditions are indoors or in the shade. Samsung’s Good Lock Labs provide a Camera Assistant app and settings for adjusting how you take shots, including a quick tap shutter, and you can prioritize speed, though this may turn shots into poor quality instead. One S23 Ultra user even went so far as to say if you want to take shots of pets, walking people and kids, then don’t buy this model.
One highlight of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is its nighttime capability. Taking photos of the night sky, you can turn on Astro Hyperlapse to record stars moving across – making an hour last a minute – and test its distance clarity. However, one reviewer remarked that the Pixel 7 Pro is still better at shooting photos of stars.
The S23 Ultra has the highest specifications among the Android phones.
iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max: Features and Results
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro & Pro Max really take the iPhone’s cameras to the next level, with a boosted 48 Megapixel main camera and 12MP ultra-wide, a 12MP 3x telephoto lens and a 12MP Truedepth camera with a fast ƒ1.9 aperture. So, plenty of choices to get the right shot.
The larger sensor offers this maximum but default shooting is at 12 MP, which results in a quad pixel that improves light capture and with less noise.
On the ground, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a great tool to use for composition, it handles colour and contrast nicely, and can shoot a well-balanced photo in a dark forest. The iPhone 14 line-up also have a smart call feature, which can save your bacon in a car crash.
However, with the wider aperture on this main camera, it can lose some focus in darker parts of a landscape. The ultra-wide camera takes better shots in adequate light, including clarity in the corners. In dim light, its results are too noisy.
Using the S Pen lets you take photos from a distance (remote control), browse your photo gallery or write on-screen into Notes.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Features and Results
With the Pixel 7 Pro, it’s got a 50MP main camera, a similar 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a better 5x telephoto camera lens. This may be handy for the landscape photographer or for taking shots at school awards nights. It has a new “macro focus” feature and a “photo unblur” feature for those post-snap edits. These are no novel ideas for the expert Digital SLR user.
The nighttime photo shooting capability is one of the features that sell Google’s Pixel smartphones. With the night mode active, the Pixel 7 Pro’s colours are vibrant and have a strong depth.
Regarding downsides of this model, it seems scrolling may be erratic. One Reddit user said the touchscreen “constantly sticks on the backstroke of your finger when flicking to scroll. Not to mention the massive increase in keyboard fumbles when typing”.
Testing photography results
The Tom’s Guide test shoot-out between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Pixel 7 Pro proved the Pixel 7’s gradually improving capability. This test showed how different results can be of the same shot. In the iPhone picture of a skating rink, the people and colours popped more and it coped with the white rink really well. I agreed that the Pixel 7 Pro made the cranberry tart taken in macro focus looks more detailed and somehow realer, but I disagreed with his preference for the park portrait. That portrait taken with the iPhone 14 Pro Max is more correctly exposed, while the Pixel 7 Pro was too shadowy. With the close-up of flowers, it was splitting hairs, and other shots were simply a little brighter and clearer with the help of Apple’s Photonic Engine.
Another test of the Pixel 7 Pro (4 stars) found lacklustre colours in the telephoto and an underwhelming battery life, but it is a pretty device and does have a 5x optical zoom.
Whether you prefer one photo style over another with these three titans of premium phone cameras is largely down to personal preference.
Screen comparison
The iPhone 14 Pro version has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen with a slightly larger resolution. As always, excellent brightness of display.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s screen is noticeably brighter outdoors than the Pixel 6. The still colors pop, with sharp contrast and deep blacks.
Dxomark tested the Pixel 7 Pro on its cameras and it made 147 (ranking 3rd in it global rankings). It showed good detail on all zoom ranges, accurate exposure and nice skin tones. The test noted “decent ultra-wide image quality”, at 13.5mm focal length equivalent.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a beautiful display, one of the best on the market, so is the winner for color reproduction in all gamuts. It has the same screen size as the S22: a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution, which makes it ideal as a video-watching device. In fact, the latest Samsung Galaxy range can be used as a second TV, propped up in landscape. Its high brightness level when outdoors can also help us see better what’s on the screen.
The S22 screen was too curved, but they modified it and made the S23 just a little curved at the edges, so most screen protectors can work on it.
Battery life for photography
All photo fans need cameras with a strong battery life. When compared with iPhone 14 Pro Max’s claimed 24-hour battery life for regular use, the Samsung S23 Ultra has a battery life of 15.3 hours with the Standard refresh rate on, though this all depends on how you use your phone. Some S23 Ultra reviewers have been impressed with the battery still having 25% left after a 16-hour use period.
Samsung claim that with the 5000 mAh battery in this model, you’ll get up to 26 hours of video playback, which is a lot of Netflix! When capturing video, you want the most battery life possible.
In a 12-hour period, with maximal use (including photography) but with adaptive motion and adaptive brightness settings turned on and adjusting the ‘always on’ display, the Galaxy S23 Ultra used just 66% of its battery, claims CNet reviewer Lisa Eadicicco. So a full charge should get a photographer about 19 hours of life.
5 Must-Know Facts about All Three Models for Photography
- Biggest display on the S23 Ultra with bright, clear colours, enhanced nighttime photos, and good long-range photography.
- Downside of S23 Ultra is action movements are blurry, whether you want this or not.
- The Pixel 7 Pro offers good detail on zoom, decent ultra-wide image quality, but it has a lower brightness of display than the others that may affect outdoor usage.
- On the iPhone 14 Pro, shots come out brightly lit and clear.
- The iPhone 14 Pro Max has the best battery range for those all-day shoots.
Which is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Despite the higher price tag, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max ($1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899) subtly nudges out the Google Pixel 7 Pro ($899 / £849 / AU$1,299) in terms of camera as well as performance, according to a face-off by Tom’s Guide. The Galaxy S23 Ultra (starts at $1,200 for 256 GB) is a beautiful looking phone, has sharp and clear screens and takes a great portrait, and the Google Pixel 7 nudges it out on the nighttime sky and building shots.
So, if price is not the decider, then the real question is: do you prefer the ever-improving Apple iPhones for photography, as you want it to perform in all kinds of conditions? Or has Samsung Galaxy made enough camera improvements in this model to capture your heart?
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