Lets look at two of the premium smartphones in the market today, the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro MAx. Both the devices warrant a super premium price tag but at the same time, offer some of the best features that you’ll find in a 2024 smartphone.
So lets see how these two smartphones fare against each other and whether getting either one of them offers some kind of advantage in the long run.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Specs
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Price | $1,299 / £1,249 | $1129 / £1119 |
| Display | 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED | 6.7-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Refresh rate | 1 – 120Hz adaptive | 1 – 120Hz adaptive |
| Rear cameras | 200MP main (f/1.7), 50MP periscope telephoto 5x optical zoom (f/3.4), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4), 12MP 120˚ ultrawide (f/2.2) | 48MP main wide (f/1.8), 12MP periscoop telephoto (f/2.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), TOF 3D LiDAR depth sensor. |
| Front camera | 12MP (f/2.2) | 12MP (f/1.9) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Apple A17 Pro |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 4,441 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired/15W wireless/4.5W reverse wireless | 15W wired/15W wireless/4.5W reversed wireless |
| Water/dust resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Size | 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 232 grams (8.22 ounces) | 221g (7.80 ounces) |
| Colours | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
In the smartphone industry there are two brands that are always at a loggerhead with one another. These brands are none other than Samsung and Apple and in this comparison article we will port devices from these brands against one another to compare the features and specifications. The devices we will be putting against one another are the latest flagships from both of these brands.
With each Apple launch Samsung tries hard to outperform them with their next launch and vice versa. Both Apple and Samsung fanboys will give a thousand reasons why the latest flagship from their favourite brand is better than the competition. Well that’s not the aim of this article, as it aims to help you make a well informed decision when shopping for a new smartphone to purchase.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Design and colours
Galaxy S24 Ultra:
The new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a ton of design upgrades from its predecessor. These updates place it inches ahead of the competition in this comparison. For its design, this new device comes with Gorilla Glass Armor on the front and Gorilla Glass on the back as well as titanium frame which is a new feature. This device weighs 232g and its dimensions are 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in).
A standard feature on the Samsung S Ultra entries is the S Pen, which is great for productivity. This flagship device comes with a ton of colour options which are very impressive. The colours available are Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
Over the years Apple has stuck with its timeless design for the iPhones with each year bringing something new. This year the iPhone 15 Pro series got the titanium frame for durability and an improved appearance. The camera cutout is a bit larger than we saw on the predecessor of this smartphone.
Just like with the 14 Pro series the new iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with the dynamic island front facing camera cutout. Impressively Apple hasn’t locked down this cutout to just aesthetics as it serves a purpose thanks to its software abilities. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also comes with USB-C charging for the first time in Apple lightning history.
Major differences:
- S24 Ultra is heavier than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
- S24 Ultra has an S Pen while the iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn’t.
- The iPhone 15 Pro Max puts the volume rocker keys on the left side while the power button stays on the right.
- The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features smoother edges in comparison with the iPhones sharper edges.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display
Galaxy S24 Ultra:
When it comes to the design, the new S24 Ultra is at the top of its game when it comes to its display. This new device features a 6.8-inch dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel that supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The display supports HDR10+ and maxes out at a display brightness of 2600 nits.
For protection this device comes with the Corning Gorilla Glass Armor which protects it from damage in case of a scratch or a drop. Users will also benefit from the new Always-On display that this device comes with. Samsung also puts to use the new anti-reflective screen coating that makes this device very usable even under bright light.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
If you are looking out for really slim bezels on a smartphone the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a great place to start your search. With up to 2700 nits brightness this device is one of the best when it comes to its display abilities. For protection this display features Ceramic Shield glass which can protect against damage in an event of the device falling.
Users of this device will have no problem with its 6.7-inch screen as it is more than okay for usage. This display supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision technology which is great for gaming and watching movies. One feature that this screen display supports and most users like is the Always On display which is also available on the rival device in this comparison.
Major differences:
- S24 Ultra features a special anti glare coating not found on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max features a slightly better screen to body ratio.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Cameras
Galaxy S24 Ultra:
The camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features 200MP, 50MP, 10MP, and 12MP sensors. Some of the features it packs include Multi directional PDAF sensor, AI picture enhancement feature, enhanced AI object-aware engine. Up front it features a 12MP sensor that supports up to 4K video recording.
The rear camera on this device supports 8K video recording at 30fps. The entire camera system brings a ton of AI features and abilities that users can benefit from. These AI features and abilities help step up the photography experience that this device comes with.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the top photography devices on DXOMark’s camera ranking, falling behind the competition from Huawei. To ensure users of its impressive performance this device features a 48MP main camera sensor which is joined by two 12MP cameras. For depth sensing pictures this device relies on its TOF 3D LiDAR scanner which gives images a sense of depth.
When it comes to videography Apple calls the shots with its 4K video recording abilities. While this might be less than the 8K capability Samsung offers, it makes up for this lack with features like its ProRes Cinematic mode. On the front camera users can also record 4K videos and also employ the use of an SL 3D depth sensor.
Major differences:
- S24 Ultra features a higher resolution main camera.
- S24 Ultra features an extra camera.
- S24 Ultra supports 8K video recording.
- S24 Ultra comes with a ton of AI features.
- Apple comes with a TOF LiDAR sensor for depth sensing.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Performance
Galaxy S24 Ultra:
This new device comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor as well as the Adreno 750 GPU chip. It features a ton of performance improvements in comparison with its predecessor.
Users can get this new device in the following storage configurations: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM.
The storage on this device is not expandable as it offers more than inbuilt enough storage for most users. Speaking of its performance , a benchmark review will be great to actually see how well this device holds up against the competition. For Geekbench 6 this device secured a single-core score of 2297 and a multi-core score of 7142. As for its AnTuTu score this performance behemoth secures a score of 1,780,568.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
While we have talked a bit about photography it’s good to understand that performance of a device helps enhance the quality of images. Most Apple users are not heavy duty users and might not need the biggest of RAM capacity like the standard 12GB on the S24. While 8GB RAM is more than enough for an average iPhone user, they also benefit from the more than capable Apple A17 Pro processor that sits under the hood of this device.
Just like the S24, storage on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is not expandable as you get what you get. But users can console themselves with this device’s performance test results with a 1,525,994 ranking on AnTuTu and 2927 single-core score and 7371 multi-core score on Geekbench 6. These scores shows how well the iPhone 15 Pro Max performs when put under test by experts.
Major upgrades & differences:
- 12GB available on the S24 Ultra.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on the S24.
- Apple A17 Pro on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Software
Galaxy S24 Ultra:
This new flagship smartphone from Samsung launches with Android 14 out of the box. Following this is Samsung One UI 6.1 software which brings some features that are exclusive to the S24 Ultra. Amazingly, this smartphone will be able to boast seven years of OS updates on this device.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out of the box with the iOS 17 software and it’s upgradable to newer software entries. This device will keep getting OS upgrades till 2029; that’s real value for your money. However, this is on par with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but both devices feature different software that exists within different ecosystems.
Major differences:
- Samsung S24 Ultra runs on Android.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max runs on iOS.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Battery life and charging
Galaxy S24 Ultra:
Samsung gives 5000mAh battery capacity on this new device which is enough for daily usage on a single charge. On a single charge, this device can last for hours of heavy usage, as proven by various tests. For its wired charging, Samsung equips this device with 45W fast charging to get the device from 0-65% in 30 minutes. For those that use wireless charging, they get 15W as standard and 4.5W reversed wireless charge.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
Battery hasn’t been the strong point of Apple devices until recent years. The new iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a 4441mAh battery capacity which lasts for 16 hours on a single charge. Charging is not the fastest on the market as this device supports 15W fast wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reversed wireless charging.
Major differences:
- Larger battery capacity on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
- Faster wired, reversed wired, and wireless charging on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Price
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Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Final Verdict
You can call this comparison the El Classico in the smartphone world. Two of the best devices from two of the top smartphone manufacturers go head-to-head to see who is the better pick for those shopping for a new device. However, the better pick in this comparison is solely dependent on the buyers and their preferences considering the fact that both devices run on entirely different software.
If you are shopping for either of these devices then money isn’t your problem, as you’re looking for the best product to suit your needs. Both Apple and Samsung have a solid ecosystem of products ranging from large-screen tablets to laptops, smartwatches, and so much more to help users build an ecosystem. But the final pick is solely dependent on the software the users prefer.
The S24 Ultra and the 15 Pro Max have impressive cameras as well as performance. They both feature impressive build quality and are very durable to last your money’s worth, but they run on different software. If you are an iPhone user looking to switch to Android, then the S24 Ultra is a great pick for you considering that it is a close competitor with the best iPhone available for purchase today.
