The Samsung Galaxy S24 series, including the S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra, is set to launch on January 31, aiming to secure a spot among the top smartphones of 2024.
While our comprehensive review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra is in the works, you may be curious about how Samsung’s new devices stack up against one of the market’s leading phones: the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Both phones boast cutting-edge specifications, utilizing the latest hardware and top-notch displays from Samsung and Apple. In terms of speed, battery life, cameras, and overall performance, these devices exhibit striking similarities.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24 Ultra each have their unique strengths, making the decision on which phone suits you best a matter of personal preference. To assist you in making an informed choice, let’s explore the distinctions between the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Specs
Comparing the raw specifications of the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max gives us a technical overview of the differences between the phones, though it’s not necessarily the best way to choose between the two.
Here’s a rundown of both phones, for reference.
Galaxy S24 Ultra
|
iPhone 15 Pro Max
|
Price
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From £1,249
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From £1,199
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Display
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6.8in AMOLED
|
6.7in OLED
|
Resolution
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1,440 x 3,120px
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1,290 x 2,796px
|
Brightness
|
2,600 nits (peak)
|
2,000 nits (peak)
|
Refresh rate
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120Hz dynamic
|
120Hz dynamic
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Processor
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Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
|
Apple A17 Pro
|
Storage
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256GB, 512GB, 1TB
|
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
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RAM
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12GB
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8GB
|
Cameras
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200MP wide, 50MP telephoto, 10MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide
|
48MP wide, 12MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide
|
Selfie camera
|
12MP
|
12MP
|
Battery
|
5,000mAh
|
4,441mAh
|
Colours
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Black, grey, violet, yellow, green, orange
|
Black, white, blue, natural
|
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display
Samsung is renowned not only for its smartphones but also for its television displays, to the extent that the Korean tech giant manufactures screens for competitors. Even Apple incorporates Samsung screens in its iPhone 15 Pro Max.
A notable enhancement in the display department comes with the Samsung Galaxy S24, boasting a newly improved peak brightness of 2,600 nits, surpassing the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s peak brightness of 2,000 nits.
The competition for peak brightness has unexpectedly become a focal point for flagship smartphones. However, despite the clear advantage of the S24 Ultra on paper, there is minimal practical difference between the two. This is particularly true in the UK and northern Europe, where the sun’s brightness is not intense enough to hinder reading the phone’s screen.
In other regions, both the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max provide remarkably similar display experiences. Samsung’s screen boasts a slightly higher pixel density (505ppi vs. 460ppi), making it marginally sharper, yet both phone screens are on par where it counts: both support HDR10 and operate with a smooth-scrolling 120Hz refresh rate.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Cameras
Both Samsung and Apple employ an assortment of camera lenses to capture impressive shots across various zoom levels. However, the flagship Galaxy device for this year experiences a technical shift compared to the S23 Ultra, opting for a less potent 5x lens while incorporating a larger and more light-sensitive sensor, abandoning the 10x optical lens.
Despite this change, the S24 Ultra maintains its noteworthy 100x super zoom capability. It achieves this by employing a combination of pixel-binning techniques and advanced machine-learning algorithms, allowing for commendable telephoto shots even at extreme zoom levels.
Contrast this with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which also reaches a maximum of 5x optical zoom but employs a considerably smaller sensor for light capture. While the raw specifications might suggest a gap between Apple’s camera hardware and Samsung’s, the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro Max employs advanced image processing to deliver outstanding smartphone photography.
Technically, the Galaxy S24 Ultra camera system offers more versatility, but the preference for one phone’s pictures over the other largely boils down to personal taste. This is because Samsung and Apple’s algorithms subtly adjust results to cater to specific styles, color balances, and contrasts.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Design
Samsung has unmistakably drawn inspiration from Apple’s design ethos this year, adorning the new Galaxy S24 Ultra with a fresh titanium frame and a flat display. The removal of the “waterfall edge” contributes to a more comfortable use of the S-Pen stylus, eliminating the issue of the pen tip slipping off the side of the phone during close-edge doodling. Beyond this adjustment, the design of the three latest Samsung phones remains familiar to anyone acquainted with Galaxy devices.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a visually striking squared-off display, imparting a boxier appearance and feel compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s gentler, rounded-off corners. While this writer personally leans towards the softer edges of Apple’s phone, neither design holds a clear objective advantage. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is marginally lighter, but the difference is not substantial. Additionally, Apple utilizes the ‘dynamic island’ camera notch to house the selfie camera, whereas Samsung’s phone integrates its front camera into a diminutive cutout no wider than a grain of rice.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Verdict
Making a direct comparison between the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15 is a nuanced task, given that each presents unique software features absent in the other.
Samsung’s latest phone introduces a suite of AI-powered tools, encompassing photo editing, live phone call translation, and writing enhancement, among others. The iPhone 15 Pro Max enjoys an inherent advantage for users already integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
However, in terms of sheer hardware specifications, the Galaxy S24 Ultra takes the lead. Samsung’s newest flagship boasts a superior camera system, a range of innovative AI features, Google’s latest search tools, and the versatile S-Pen stylus.
Stay tuned for our comprehensive review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
