The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are two of the most talked about smartphones in 2024. Both phones boast top-of-the-line specs, powerful cameras, and sleek designs. Let’s have a close look at both flagships and compare.
Design, and overall feel in hand
When it comes to design, both Apple and Samsung have carved out distinctive aesthetics, and their latest flagships, the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, stay true to their iconic styles. However, with a refined approach to materials and craftsmanship, these devices stand out in the crowd for sure.
Apple takes a bold step with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, introducing a titanium chassis that exudes sophistication and durability. The Natural Titanium variant offers a tactile experience like no other, boasting a sleek yet understated design that captivates the senses. This premium material not only enhances the device’s aesthetics but also contributes to its remarkable lightweight feel, making it a joy to hold and use.
Notably thinner and lighter than its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max sets a new standard for comfort and convenience. The reduction in weight, facilitated by the titanium build, ensures a seamless user experience, elevating daily interactions with the device to a new level of satisfaction.
While Samsung adopts a titanium chassis for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I feel it falls short in delivering a comparable in-hand feel. Don’t get me wring, the S24 Ultra feels great with its new flat screen and its slightly beveled edges, enhancing grip and maneuverability, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a superior ergonomic experience, setting a benchmark for comfortable usage.
Design WINNER: iPhone 15 Pro Max
Immersive displays
The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a stunning 6.8-inch AMOLED panel with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, delivering breathtaking visuals with remarkable clarity and vibrancy.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a slightly smaller 6.7-inch XDR OLED display that shines with dynamic 120Hz refresh rates and exceptional color accuracy.
In real-world scenarios, the Galaxy S24 stands out as one of the brightest devices, ensuring optimal visibility even in harsh sunlight. Its OLED panel, boasts bright content compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, delivers an immersive viewing experience that surpasses expectations.
Display WINNER: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Powerhouse performers and battery
Equipped with cutting-edge hardware, the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max redefine performance standards in the smartphone arena. Samsung’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Apple’s A17 Pro ensure seamless multitasking and fluid responsiveness, promising years of consistent performance without slowdowns.
Both devices boast top-of-the-line features and extras, catering to diverse user needs. Samsung’s inclusion of a stylus with the S24 Ultra enhances versatility, while Apple’s meticulous hardware and software integration elevates the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s performance and user experience overall.
With a larger 5000mAh battery, the S24 Ultra offers extended usage without compromising on performance. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers a day’s use on a single charge, ensuring reliability even with intensive usage. This is again due mainly to the seamless hardware / software harmony that Apple is know for.
Performance WINNER: iPhone 15 Pro Max
Seamless software integration
In a similar vein to design considerations, both brands maintain stable software ecosystems that undergo annual changes. The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes equipped with One UI 6.1, introducing a host of new AI-focused features this year under the Galaxy AI umbrella. While some, like Circle to Search for streamlined Google searches, prove genuinely useful, most require the use of Samsung’s proprietary utilities. Nonetheless, Samsung has effectively integrated these features into the S24 Ultra, with plans to extend them to older models in the near future.
A notable downside to the AI features is that the majority will become locked behind a paywall by the end of 2025, necessitating a fee for continued use after two years. This aspect can be frustrating, particularly considering the initial investment in the phone, and consumers will be eager to see how Samsung prices the Galaxy AI subscription.
Beyond the AI enhancements, One UI remains largely unchanged from the previous year, maintaining its familiar features and interface.
With the iPhone 15 Pro Max, users can expect iOS 17, featuring a familiar interface with several intriguing additions. These include the new StandBy mode, interactive widgets, tweaks to iMessage, FaceTime, contact pages, a new journal feature, and the introduction of the Action Button and customizable actions, enhancing user experience.
In terms of software updates, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is slated to receive seven years of Android OS updates, surpassing the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s anticipated five years of platform updates, both devices offer impressive longevity. Overall, I think iOS delivers a better experience and more stable overall, despite the new Galaxy AI features introduced.
Software WINNER: Despite the Galaxy AI, iPhone 15 Pro Max
Cameras capturing brilliance
This year’s contenders, lock horns in a battle of high-resolution sensors and powerful zooms. While most cameras remain unchanged, the S24 Ultra boasts a brand new 50MP telephoto lens replacing the 10MP 10x zoom. This upgrade translates to sharper, clearer photos at 10x zoom and beyond, easily topping rivals. Its 200MP main sensor and improved processing deliver superior tonal balance and highlight management, especially in low-light situations.
Sticking with familiar sensors, the iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces a new 12MP 3x zoom lens. It offers significant improvement over previous iPhones, capturing great shots at 3x, 5x, and even 10x zoom.
Galaxy S24 Ultra reigns supreme in zoom quality. Its advanced processing delivers more natural-looking images with better balance and detail. However, iPhone 15 Pro Max shouldn’t be underestimated. It delivers higher quality shots overall and remains one of the best cameras on the market right now.
Camera WINNER: It’s a tie on this one
The ultimate upgrade decision
Team Android? Upgrading from a Samsung? Look no further than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It boasts the same sleek design you love, now with a touch of elegance thanks to the titanium chassis. Enjoy a stunning AMOLED display, powerhouse performance, and a battery that won’t quit after a day. The S24 Ultra is packed with features, offering more than almost any other phone. While the cameras haven’t changed, Samsung’s tweaks deliver stellar photos in any situation. Plus, the familiar One UI 6.1 software gets even better with new features.
iPhone Fanatic? Sticking with iOS greatness? The iPhone 15 Pro Max welcomes you with open arms. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is lighter and thinner for comfortable use, boasts a phenomenal screen, and delivers top-notch performance with even console-quality games. Finally, say goodbye to proprietary chargers – it embraces USB-C! The battery endures heavy use, and the cameras are significantly improved. The iPhone 15 Pro Max reigns supreme for video recording.
Ultimately, the choice boils down to preference. Consider your ecosystem, desired features, and priorities to pick your perfect match!
READ: iPhone 15 Pro Max full review
