As they have done for the past 10 years, Samsung will at least attempt to match the iPhone 15 Pro Max. So, the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Samsung S24 Ultra battle will be fierce in 2024. With all the rumors about the specifications, the release date may surprise many.
Traditionally, Samsung releases their Galaxy phones in February, but that could change with the S24. Rumors say there are plans to release it early in January. Before we dive deep, let’s review both devices side by side.
In this article
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Samsung S24 Ultra: Side by Side Comparison
Here is a side by side comparison of both devices, showing the most important features.
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (rumored) | |
| Display and Refresh Rate | 6.7-inch LPTO Super Retina XDR OLED. 120Hz | 6.8-inch dynamic LPTO AMOLED 144Hz |
| Dimension | 6.30 x 3.02 x 0.32 inches | 6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches |
| CPU | A17 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 | 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256GB and up to 1TB | 256GB and up to 2TB |
| Camera | Rear: 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 5x telephoto Front: 12MP | Rear: 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 50MP 5x telephoto, 10MP 3x telephoto Front: 12MP |
| Battery Size | 4441 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Price | $1,199 | $1,199 (expected) |
iPhone 15 pro max vs. Samsung S24 ultra: 4 Key Differences
At the basics, both of these smartphones have similar features and it would take only a technical person to tell the performances apart. But here are some areas where they differ.
CPU Performance
Reports suggest that the Galaxy S24 Ultra will only feature Qualcomm chipsets. That is good news for Samsung fans as many are not a fan of the previous Exynos chipset. Reports also suggest that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will have 25% faster graphics and a 30% improvement in CPU performance over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
Based on rumored benchmark tests, the A17 outperforms the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, although not by much. Rumored benchmark test results show that A17 scored 2783 in single-core and 6945 in multicore tests, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 scored 2214 and 6744 respectively.
Camera
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has one of the most advanced camera systems of any smartphone in the world. The 48MP main camera has different focal lengths and images captured at 24MP. It comes with several improvements over previous iPhones, including the SmartHDR. Its 5x zoom of the telephoto lens is also the biggest among iPhones.
Despite that, it still does not measure up to the Galaxy S23 Ultra's rumored 10x zoom, which is due to the twin telephoto lenses. Its main camera is also set to get a 1-inch sensor, which will improve the camera performance in dark settings. If that happens, the Galaxy S24 will have a larger sensor than the 1 / 1.4 (0.87) inch sensor of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Battery Life and Charging Speed
The iPhone 15 Pro Max excels in charge speed and battery power. It lasts around 14 hours after full charge, beating the Samsung S23 ultra by 1 and a half hours. So, the S24 must perform better than that.
But the S24 offers faster charging speed. Rumors have it that Samsung is considering a stacked battery that could deliver up to 65W of charging power. However, rumors refute that news, stating that the S24 Ultra will maintain a 45W charging speed, which is still faster than the 20W that the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers.
Display
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display, the Samsung S24 Ultra should have a 6.8-inch screen. So, the Samsung Galaxy is slightly wider. It also has a wider aspect ratio at 19:3:9 compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 19.5:9. Both have flat screens and a refresh rate of 120Hz.
Resolution is high on both devices, but the Samsung Galaxy S24 has a slightly sharper one with a 1440p resolution. But where they really go apart is the brightness. The S24 ultra smartphone is far brighter than the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 2500 nits compared to 2000 nits.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Samsung S24 Ultra: Which Should You Buy?
There are many factors to consider when choosing between two high-end smartphones. For the Samsung S24 and iPhone 15 Pro Max, it is not about price, as both come at similar starting prices of $1,199.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max seems to have a better chipset compared to the rumored specifications of the Samsung S24. The A17 so far has the better performance when compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. But again, the difference is not by much.
But if you are more interested in photography, perhaps you could lean towards the Samsung S24. Again, the difference is not much. The iPhone 15 camera system with telephoto and 5x optical zoom is powerful enough. However, Samsung may retain its 10x optical zoom and introduce a larger sensor.
What do users have to say about this no-much-difference choice? Let’s review some comments from Android and iPhone users.
👀Perspective 1: Customization is the main difference and S24 would do better on that.
This Reddit Thread is in the Samsung Galaxy section and here are some of the important comments. user @/throwaway17612d feels the customization is the main difference and S24 would do better on that.
👀Perspective 2: Prefer the system and hardware of Samsung S24.
Another user, @/apocalyptic-Duck also advises to wait for S24. In his opinion, the iOS is not suitable for large screen phones, and he also prefers Samsung.
@/dayanku0234 goes into a bit more detail. He recommends sticking to the brand you are used to. He’s also trying an s23 and iPhone 15 to know which is better. For security and ecosystem access, he recommends the iPhone. But for hardware, he believes Samsung is better.
👀Perspective 3: Wait for iPhone 15 issues are sorted.
Another user, @/MostAssumption9122 stated, “the iPhone 15 has many issues, wait until that is sorted”. And he’s not wrong, because there has been news of iPhone 15 overheating and having some minor issues. Although, the thread was 2 months ago and Apple has resolved it.
@/Key-Baker6929 also recommends waiting for Samsung Ultra S24 as the iPhone has experienced some performance issues lately.
Let’s review another Reddit thread, this time from the iPhone section.
👀Perspective 4: Mac owners will choose the iPhone. Beloved Apple ecosystem.
User @/WD-30 also advises to go for the iPhone, if you already have the Mac.
@/shaki8 goes into more details. The user recommends the Samsung phone for people that want processing power and the iPhone if you want to enjoy yhr Apple ecosystem.
And, Automatic-Gap7188 states, “Make a change and switch to iOS. Plus you have a Mac so , why not bound yourself with the chains of the ecosystem?”
👀Perspective 5: Wait and see.
@/toofast232 advises to wait and try both to see which is better.
One thing to understand is that there is some bias in the response. iPhone users will suggest buying the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and Android lovers will recommend waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. But on both sides, the users agree that the Apple ecosystem is a good reason to buy the iPhone.
Our Verdict
If you already have Apple products like Mac, watches, and Pods, it would be best to stick with an iPhone 15 Pro Max. It is the best iPhone in the market and one of the best smartphones. But if you care about minor differences in brightness and processor power, or want to try out the Android OS, you may wait a little longer and get the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Bonus: Carefree Transfer from iPhone 15 Pro Max to Galaxy S24
If you like the Qualcomm chipset in Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, or free faster charging speed of S24 Ultra, you may can't wait to buy it. Then MobileTrans app will offer you a wireless and worriless way to transfer to the new Samsung device.
Step 1: Install and open the MobileTrans app on your old phone and Samsung S24.
Step 2: Tap on "Phone Transfer" and then go to "Phone to Phone" option. Choose the "Old Phone" on your old phone. It is the source you're transferring data from. And choose "New Phone" on the Samsung S24 Ultra.
Step 3: Choose the specific data (or all of them) you want to transfer from your old device to the Samsung S24 Ultra. Afterward, tap on "Send".
Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to establish a connection between the two phones and initiate the data transfer.
Wait for seconds, all of your data, files, apps and musics on your old iPhone will be on the new Samsung S24 Ultra, safely and securely.
Conclusion
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Samsung S24 Ultra is the battle of flagships and there isn’t much between these devices. Many regular users will enjoy the beautiful hardware, a top-class camera system, and a responsive smartphone. After that, it is down to small details like charging speed, processor power, bezel size, and perhaps screen brightness. Deciding on the one to buy is even trickier because it is expected that both devices will sell at the same price.
So, if you are a technical user, you can consider the functions that matter to you and decide on which is best. But for others, you can remain within the Apple ecosystem if you are already there, or wait for the S24 Ultra if you want a more powerful performance and want to try Android. Whichever you opt for, you will end up with a fantastic device.
