Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 · One UI · 128GB · Gold · Unlocked
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
A19 Pro · 256GB · Black
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked lands at 89 and iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) ahead by 9 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked if…
- ✓Large AMOLED display
- ✓S-Pen or DeX productivity (on Ultra/Note)
- ✓Many storage tiers
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) if…
- ✓Apple A19 Pro silicon
- ✓120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked | iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | A19 Pro |
| Storage | 128GB | ▲ 256GB |
| OS | Android 13 | iOS 19 |
| Release year | 2023 | 2025 |
| Color | — | Black |
Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked
- +Large AMOLED display
- +S-Pen or DeX productivity (on Ultra/Note)
- +Many storage tiers
- −One UI can be heavy
- −Pricey top trims
- −Update speed trails Pixel
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
- +Apple A19 Pro silicon
- +120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- +Apple Intelligence Gen 2
- −Still Lightning-free, USB-C only
- −Premium pricing
- −AI features require online offload for some tasks
FAQ: Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked vs iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
Which is better, Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 9. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked worth the price? +
At $1,199, Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in camera.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does Galaxy S23 Ultra 128GB · Gold · Unlocked or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.