Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung and Apple are two leaders in the smartphone market, offering high-end models with impressive features. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are the latest additions to their respective ranges, and they are competing for the title of best smartphone of 2024. But how do they compare? Here is a comparison between these two devices on a few aspects: design, display, performance, camera, battery and operating system.
Body | ||
|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
Dimensions | 163.4 x 78 x 8.9 mm | 159.8 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm |
Weight | 230 g | 240 g |
Build | – | – |
Waterproof | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) |
Design
Both smartphones have a premium design, with a glass back and a metal frame. They are also water and dust resistant, with IP68 certification. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a built-in stylus, which allows you to take notes, draw or control the smartphone remotely. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a titanium frame, which gives it better resistance to scratches and impacts.
Display
Both smartphones have a 6.8-inch OLED screen for the Galaxy S24 Ultra and a 6.9-inch OLED screen for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a higher resolution, an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, and higher peak brightness than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Display | ||
|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
Screen type | Dynamic AMOLED 3X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2300 nits (peak) | Super Retina XDR LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 2300 nits (peak) |
Screen size | 6.8 inches (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
Resolution | 1440 x 3088 pixels (~510 ppi density) | 1384 x 2978 pixels, (~460 ppi density) |
Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Ceramic Shield glass |
Performance
Both smartphones are equipped with the most powerful processors on the market. The Galaxy S24 Ultra uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, engraved in 4 nanometers, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max uses Apple’s A18 Pro, engraved in 3 nanometers. Both processors are compatible with 5G, the technology which allows access to very high speeds on the mobile network. Both smartphones have 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of ROM in their basic version, without the possibility of expansion by microSD.
Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
OS | Android 14, One UI 6 | iOS 18 |
Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from Galaxy (3 nm) | Apple A18 Bionic (3 nm) |
GPU | Adreno 750 | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) |
Internal storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
RAM | 12GB | 8GB |
Camera
Both smartphones have very capable rear camera systems. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has four sensors, including a 200-megapixel main sensor, and 100x digital zoom. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has three sensors, including a 48-megapixel main sensor, and advanced video features, like ProRes and Cinematic mode. For selfies, both smartphones have a 12-megapixel front sensor, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max additionally has a ToF sensor, which measures the distance between the smartphone and the subject.
Caméra | ||
|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
Main camera | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide) video: 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps/120fps | 48 MP, (wide) Video: 8K@30fps |
Selfie camera | 12 MP (4K@60fps) | 12 MP (4K@60fps) |
Battery
The two smartphones have batteries of different capacities. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 4,352 mAh battery. Both devices support fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse charging. The Galaxy S24 Ultra supports a maximum charging power of 45 W wired, and 15 W wireless. The iPhone 16 Pro Max supports a maximum charging power of 20 W wired, and 7.5 W wireless. The iPhone 16 Pro Max also uses MagSafe technology, which allows the smartphone to be perfectly aligned with the wireless charger using magnets.
Battery and other specs | ||
|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
Battery | 5000 mAh | 4550 mAh |
Charging | Fast charging 65W, wireless charging 25W Reverse wireless charging 10W | Fast charging 30W MagSafe wireless charging 15W Qi magnetic fast wireless charging 7.5W |
Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID |
3.5mm Jack | No | No |
Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
Price | $ 1,199 | $ 1,199 |
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are two exceptional smartphones, which are equal on many points. The choice between the two will essentially depend on the most important criteria for each user, as well as their budget and their affinity with the Samsung or Apple brands. The Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out with its stylus, screen, processor, main camera and battery. The iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out for its frame, its video features, its ToF sensor, its MagSafe technology and its Apple ecosystem.
Connectivity | ||
|---|---|---|
WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e |
Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
NFC | Yes | Yes |
USB | Type-C 3.2 OTG | Type-C 3.2 |