In the rapidly evolving realm of flagship smartphones, Samsung recently unveiled its latest powerhouse, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This prompts a showdown between giants: Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max. If you are on the quest for the ultimate smartphone, placing the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max at the pinnacle of your list would be a prudent move. These two devices aim for the zenith in every aspect, from battery life to camera capabilities, screen quality to gaming performance. This year, however, introduces a new player in the arena: Galaxy AI.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra VS iPhone 15 PRO MAX
| Feature | Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.8″ AMOLED, QHD+ (3,120 x 1,440), 120Hz, HDR10+ | 6.7″ AMOLED, FHD+ (2,796 x 1,290), 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Apple A17 Pro |
| RAM | 12GB LPDDR5X | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB UFS 4.0 | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | 5,000mAh, 45W wired, 15W wireless, 5W reverse wireless | 4,422mAh, 20W wired, 15W MagSafe wireless, No reverse wireless |
| Camera | – Main: 200MP, f/1.7, OIS – Ultra-wide: 12MP, f/2.2 – Telephoto 1: 10MP, 3x optical zoom, f/2.4, OIS – Telephoto 2: 50MP, 5x optical zoom, f/3.4, OIS – Front: 12MP, f/2.2 | – Main: 48MP, f/1.78, OIS – Ultra-wide: 12MP, f/2.2 – Telephoto: 12MP, 5x optical zoom, f/2.8, OIS – Front: 12MP, f/1.9 |
| Video | 8K at 24/30fps, 4K at 30/60fps (all lenses) | 4K at 24/30/60fps (all lenses) |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, Triple microphone, No 3.5mm jack | Stereo speakers, Triple microphone, No 3.5mm jack |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, UWB | 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, UWB |
| Security | Ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor, 7 years of Android updates | Face ID |
| Software | Android 14, One UI 6.1 | iOS 17 |
| Material | Gorilla Armor front, Titanium frame, Glass back | Ceramic Shield front, Titanium frame, Glass back |
| Dimensions | 162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm, 233g | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm, 221g |
| Color Options | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Lavender, Titanium Yellow, Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, Sandstone Orange | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Price | $1299 | $1199 |
Design 🎨
Comparing two devices in the design category is inherently subjective. Design appeals to personal taste, and Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max diverge distinctly. Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a visibly larger, wider, and heavier build with flat edges and an angular design. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro Max presents itself with rounded corners and a more oval form. Despite these differences, both phones adhere to a design language seen in previous iterations, lacking groundbreaking innovations.
Both phones boast an IP68 rating, ensuring resistance to water and dust. Notably, Apple has transitioned to the Type C standard in this generation, aligning with Samsung’s approach of using a single cable for all devices. It’s worth mentioning that purchasing these phones does not include a charging adapter in the box, necessitating a separate purchase. This decision, akin to receiving a monitor without cables or a car without tires, raises questions.
Display 📱
The larger size of the Galaxy allows for a bigger screen: 6.8 inches compared to iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 6.7 inches. Beyond size, the aspect ratio of Galaxy’s screen is 19:3:9, providing a larger actual screen area compared to the iPhone’s 19.5:9 ratio.
Both phones feature flat screens without curvature. Galaxy S24 Ultra introduces a symmetrical design on the front, catering to those with a preference for symmetry. In terms of resolution, Galaxy’s 1440p screen surpasses the iPhone’s 1290p display, offering a slightly sharper visual experience. Both support a 120Hz variable refresh rate, dropping to 1Hz for static content.
Galaxy S24 Ultra outshines the iPhone 15 Pro Max in brightness, reaching 2600 nits compared to 2000 nits. Additionally, Galaxy features an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner and facial recognition, while the iPhone relies solely on Face ID utilizing your 3D facial model.
Performance âš¡
The competition heats up in the performance arena. Apple introduces the world’s first 3nm process-based A17 Pro chip, but it falls slightly short of expectations. Meanwhile, Galaxy S24 Ultra utilizes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip, boasting slightly higher performance than the standard SD 8 Gen 3. Both chips support hardware-based Ray Tracing, with Samsung and Apple emphasizing collaboration with studios and developers.
Regarding configurations, both Galaxy and iPhone offer storage options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. However, Galaxy comes with 12GB of RAM, surpassing iPhone’s 8GB. The significant difference lies in software, with Galaxy AI being a focal point in the new series, offering AI-supported editing, summarizing, and generating capabilities across various functions.
Camera 📸
Galaxy S24 Ultra features four rear cameras, with significant changes in one. iPhone 15 Pro Max sports three cameras, including a new 5X periscope zoom lens. Despite its 200MP main sensor, Galaxy S24 Ultra defaults to 12MP shots, while iPhone 15 Pro Max now captures 24MP photos, promising more detail. Samsung’s notable change lies in image processing, aiming for less aggressive sharpening and saturation, approaching realism.
Both phones have 12MP ultra-wide cameras. In terms of zoom capabilities, Galaxy takes the lead with 3X and 5X zoom lenses, while iPhone has only a 5X zoom. Galaxy’s 5X zoom camera, utilizing a higher resolution 50MP sensor, promises lossless quality at 10X. Video performance leans toward the iPhone, but Galaxy has improved its low-light video capabilities, reduced noise, and utilizes the 5X zoom camera at night. Samsung also supports 8K video recording, a feature absent in the iPhone.
Battery and Battery Life 🔋
With a 5,000mAh battery, Galaxy theoretically holds an advantage over iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 4,422mAh battery. However, both companies make similar claims. Apple promises 29 hours of video playback for iPhone 15 Pro Max, while Samsung offers 30 hours. These figures might not translate directly to personal use. Considering Samsung’s track record, we can anticipate good performance, as seen in the S23 Ultra.
In terms of charging, Galaxy outperforms with 45W speeds compared to iPhone’s 25W. Neither phone leads the pack in fast charging, but Galaxy completes a full charge in about 1 hour, contrasting with iPhone’s approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Both phones also support wireless charging at similar 15W speeds.
In conclusion, the clash between Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max spans multiple dimensions, from design and display to performance and camera capabilities. Understanding your priorities and preferences is crucial in determining which titan deserves the throne in your pocket.
