The iPhone 16e and Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus are two premium smartphones targeting different types of users. While Apple continues to refine its iOS ecosystem, Samsung offers an Android experience packed with powerful hardware and customization features. Choosing between these two flagship devices depends on several factors, including display, performance, camera, battery, and software.
This in-depth comparison explores every aspect of the iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, helping you decide which smartphone best suits your needs.
Design and Build Quality: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Premium Materials and Durability
The iPhone 16e retains Apple’s signature glass front and back with an aluminum frame, ensuring a premium feel while keeping the weight down to 167g. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, on the other hand, features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on both the front and back, combined with an armor aluminum frame for improved durability. It is heavier at 196g, which may be noticeable in daily use.
Water and Dust Resistance: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Both phones are IP68-rated, meaning they are dust-tight and water-resistant. However, the iPhone 16e boasts superior protection, surviving up to 6m for 30 minutes, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus can endure 1.5m of water immersion for 30 minutes. If water resistance is a crucial factor, Apple’s device takes the lead.
Display: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
The iPhone 16e comes with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, featuring HDR10 support and a peak brightness of 1200 nits. Its resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels ensures a high pixel density of 457 ppi, delivering sharp and vibrant visuals.
In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus sports a larger 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a higher peak brightness of 1750 nits. It also features a 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations smoother. Additionally, HDR10+ support enhances video playback.
Protection: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Apple uses Ceramic Shield glass for durability, while Samsung employs Gorilla Glass Victus 2, known for its superior scratch resistance. The Galaxy S23 Plus also includes an always-on display, which the iPhone 16e lacks. This feature is useful for quickly checking notifications and time without unlocking the phone.
Performance and Software: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
The iPhone 16e is powered by the Apple A18 chipset (3nm), a Hexa-core processor, and an Apple GPU. Known for its efficiency, Apple’s custom silicon ensures smooth multitasking, excellent gaming performance, and long-term software updates.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which features an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 740 GPU. While this chipset delivers top-tier performance, it is slightly behind Apple’s A18 in benchmark scores, particularly in single-core tasks and long-term efficiency.
Operating System: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
The iPhone 16e runs iOS 18.3.1, ensuring regular updates and tight integration with Apple’s ecosystem. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus ships with Android 13 and One UI 6.1.1, with a promise of four major OS upgrades and five years of security updates.
While Android offers more customization, iOS provides better app optimization, privacy features, and a lag-free experience over time.
Camera Capabilities: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Rear Camera Setup
The iPhone 16e features a 48MP primary camera with PDAF and OIS, ensuring high-quality images with excellent low-light performance. Apple’s 3D (spatial) audio recording and Dolby Vision HDR further enhance video quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is equipped with a triple-camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. This combination allows for versatile photography, covering zoomed-in shots, wide-angle landscapes, and detailed low-light images.
Selfie Camera
For selfies, the iPhone 16e offers a 12MP wide camera with autofocus and a SL 3D depth sensor for Face ID and portrait mode. It supports 4K video recording with Dolby Vision HDR.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus also features a 12MP selfie camera, but with dual-pixel PDAF and HDR10+ support, ensuring crisp and well-exposed selfies.
Battery and Charging: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
The iPhone 16e is equipped with a Li-Ion battery, optimized for iOS power efficiency. While Apple does not disclose battery capacity, it provides a full day of usage under normal conditions.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, with its 4700mAh battery, offers longer screen-on time and better endurance for power users.
The iPhone 16e supports wired charging, reaching 50% in 30 minutes, and 7.5W wireless charging (Qi standard).
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Plus outperforms here, supporting 45W wired fast charging (65% in 30 minutes), 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, allowing users to charge accessories like Galaxy Buds or a smartwatch.
Connectivity and Additional Features: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Both devices support Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and GPS navigation. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus has USB Type-C 3.2, which offers faster data transfer speeds compared to the USB Type-C 2.0 on the iPhone 16e.
The iPhone 16e relies on Face ID for authentication, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus features an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the display.
Additional Features: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
iPhone 16e includes Emergency SOS via satellite, allowing connectivity in remote areas.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus supports Samsung DeX, enabling a PC-like experience by connecting the phone to an external display.
Pricing: iPhone 16e vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
- Apple iPhone 16e Starts at ₹59,900 – Best Buy Link!
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Starts at ₹60,999 – Best Buy Link!
Conclusion: Which One Should You Buy?
The iPhone 16e is an excellent choice for users invested in the Apple ecosystem, prioritizing seamless software updates, Face ID security, and a compact design.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is ideal for users who prefer Android flexibility, a larger display, faster charging, and a more versatile camera setup.
Ultimately, your decision should be based on your ecosystem preference, camera needs, battery priorities, and software longevity.
