Why You Can Trust CNET iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23 vs. Pixel 7 Pro vs. OnePlus 11: Comparing Flagships
Apple's new iPhone 15 has a lot of competition. We're lining up the company's latest against rivals from Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
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Apple's iPhone 15 line includes four new phones.
Apple's iPhone 15 is the latest in a long line of high-end phones, and the range offers features that bring it up to date with its competition. The new specs include faster processors, USB-C charging and optical zoom (on the Pro models), but how does this really compare to what's already out there?
If you're looking to buy one of the 2023 crop of flagship phones, a bunch of familiar names will pop up. You may already be familiar with Samsung's competitive offerings -- Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra -- plus the older Google Pixel 7 Pro and the OnePlus 11. All of them cost in the ballpark of $800 to $1,000, just like the new iPhone 15, and offer lots of storage and advanced cameras. So which one is best for you?
Apple's iPhone takes on the competition
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple has four new phones -- the "standard" iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, and the premium iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. All of the models feature OLED screens in either 6.1- or 6.7-inch sizes. Most of the models start with 128GB of storage, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max starting at 256GB. If you're trying to choose between each iPhone 15 model, the higher-end models offer speedier processors and more lenses -- including a 12-megapixel telephoto on the Pro Max (with 5x optical zoom).
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and S23 Plus.
Meanwhile, Samsung's Galaxy S23 line appeared earlier this year and continues the company's tradition of fierce competition with Apple's mobile products. Samsung's highest-end $1,200 Galaxy S23 Ultra has a large 6.8-inch screen, a whopping 200-megapixel camera and a digitizer pen that originated on the old Galaxy Note. I do miss the ability to expand the storage yourself using a microSD card, as the phone tops out at 512GB (the iPhone 15 Pro's highest storage option is 1TB).
The Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
The Google Pixel 7 Pro may be the oldest phone on this list, being from 2022, but it's still competitive in terms of features. Its standout is the 48-megapixel telephoto camera, but the phone also packs advanced features like Magic Eraser, Direct My Call and Live Translate. At $899, it's at the more affordable end, but you may opt for the even cheaper Pixel 7 or 7A for much of the same functionality. It's also worth noting that Google's going to be unveiling its Pixel 8 line in a few weeks, so if you are eyeing a Pixel, it may be best to wait.
The OnePlus and the Google Pixel 7
Bringing up the rear in this comparison is the OnePlus 11, which boasts the second-best telephoto camera at 32 megapixels. Its features are very similar to the competition, while its current $600 price may tempt people who'd never heard of OnePlus previously.
Want to find out more about these phones? We've compared the specs to help you find all of the features you're most interested in.
Apple's iPhone 15 line vs. Samsung Galaxy S23, Google Pixel 7, OnePlus 11
| Apple iPhone 15 | Apple iPhone 15 Plus | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S23 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | OnePlus 11 | Google Pixel 7 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556x1,179 pixels | 6.7-inch OLED; 2,796x1,290 pixels | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556x1,179 pixels; 120Hz adaptive | 6.7-inch OLED; 2,796x1,290 pixels; 120Hz adaptive | 6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340x1,080 pixels; 120Hz adaptive | 6.6-inch AMOLED; 2,340x1,080 pixels; 120Hz adaptive | 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,088x1,440 pixels; 120Hz adaptive | 6.7-inch AMOLED; 3,216 x 1,440 pixels; 120Hz adaptive | 6.7-inch OLED display, QHD+ (1,440x3,120 pixels), 120Hz refresh rate, 1,500-nit brightness |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi | 460 ppi | 460 ppi | 425 ppi | 393 ppi | 500 ppi | 525 ppi | 512ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 2.82 x 5.81 x 0.31 in | 3.06 x 6.33 x 0.31 in | 2.78 x 5.77 x 0.32 in | 3.02 x 6.29 x 0.32 in | 2.79 x 5.76 x 0.3 in | 3 x 6.21 x 0.3 in | 3.07 x 6.43 x 0.35 in | 2.92 x 6.42 x 0.33 in | 6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 71.6 x 147.6 x 7.8 mm | 77.8 x 160.9 x 7.8 mm | 70.6 x 146.6 x 8.25 mm | 76.7 x 159.9 x 8.25 mm | 70.9 x 146.3 x 7.6 mm | 76.2 x 157.7 x 7.6 mm | 78 x 163.3 x 8.9 mm | 74.1 x 163.1 x 8.5 mm | 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 171 g (6.02 oz) | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 187 g (6.6 oz) | 221 g (7.81 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 234 g (8.25 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 212g (7.5 oz.) |
| Mobile software | iOS 17 | iOS 17 | iOS 17 | iOS 17 | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel telephoto (3x optical) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel telephoto (5x optical) | 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto) | 200-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) 10-megapixel (telephoto) 10-megapixel (telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 32-megapixel (telephoto) | 50-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (telephoto) |
| Front-facing camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 10.8-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 8K | 8K | 8K | 8K | 4K at 60fps |
| Processor | A16 Bionic | A16 Bionic | A17 Pro | A17 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Google Tensor G2 |
| RAM/storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 8GB RAM + 128GB; 8GB RAM + 256GB | 8GB + 256GB; 8GB + 512GB | 8GB + 256GB; 12GB + 256GB; 12GB + 512GB; 12GB + 1TB | 8GB RAM + 128GB; 12GB RAM + 256GB | 12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Battery | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 20 hours of video playback (16 hours streamed) | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 26 hours of video playback (20 hours streamed) | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 23 hours of video playback (20 hours streamed) | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 29 hours of video playback (25 hours streamed) | 3,900 mAh (25W wired charging) | 4,700 mAh (45W wired charging) | 5,000 mAh (45W wired charging) | 5,000 mAh (80W wired charging in US, 100W in UK) | 5,000 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) | In-display | In-display | In-display | In-display | Under display |
| Connector | USB-C (USB 2.0) | USB-C (USB 2.0) | USB-C (USB 3.0) | USB-C (USB 3.0) | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Special features | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, MagSafe, Dynamic Island | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, MagSafe, Dynamic Island | 5G (mmw/Sub6), Action Button, Always-On display, IP68 rating, MagSafe, Dynamic Island, 3x optical zoom | 5G (mmw/Sub6), Action Button, Always-On display, IP68 rating, MagSafe, Dynamic Island, 5x optical zoom (120mm equivalent) | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, wireless PowerShare to charge other devices | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, wireless PowerShare to charge other devices, UWB for finding other devices | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, wireless PowerShare to charge other devices, integrated S Pen, 100x Space Zoom, 10x Optical Zoom, UWB for finding other devices | 5G, IP64 rating, dual-batteries, 80W power adapter included in box | 5G, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Long Exposure Mode, Action Pan; Hold For Me, Wait Times, Direct My Call Live Translate, |
| US price off-contract | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) | $899 (128GB), $999 (256GB), $1,199 (512GB) | $999 (128GB, $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) | $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB) | $800 (8GB/128GB) | $1,000 (8GB/256GB) | $1,200 (12GB/256GB) | $799 (8GB/128GB) | $899 (128GB + 12GB) |
| UK price | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) | £899 (128GB), £999 (256GB), £1,199 (512GB) | £999 (128GB), £1,099 (256GB), £1,299 (512GB), £1,499 (1TB) | £1,199 (256GB), £1,399 (512GB), £1,599 (1TB) | £849 (8GB/128GB) | £1,049 (8GB/256GB) | £1,249 (12GB/256GB) | £729 (8GB/128GB) | £849 |
| Australia price | AU$1,499 (128GB), AU$1,699 (256GB), AU$2,049 (512GB) | AU$1,649 (128GB), AU$1,849 (256GB), AU$2,199 (512GB) | AU$1,849 (128GB), AU$2,049 (256GB), AU$2,399 (512GB), AU$2,749 (1TB) | AU$2,199 (256GB), AU$2,549 (512GB), AU$2,899 (1TB) | AU$1,349 (8GB/128GB) | AU$1,649 (8GB/256GB) | AU$1,949 (12GB/256GB) | Converts to AU$1,270 (8GB/128GB) | AU$1,299 |