The Galaxy AI event was highly anticipated this year, unveiling the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. The spotlight unquestionably fell on the top-tier Galaxy S24 Ultra, and rightfully so. But how does Samsung’s 2024 flagship compare to last year’s Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max? In this comparison, we pit the best against each other to determine superiority. Let’s delve into it.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display and Design
Let’s delve into the display specs of the two flagships. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, it boasts a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels and a 505 PPI. It features a rapid 120Hz refresh rate and HDR 10+ support.
The flagship is equipped with Corning Gorilla Armor for enhanced protection against falls. Notably, Samsung has opted for a flat display this year, departing from the recent trend of curved displays. Moreover, it offers a peak brightness of 2,500 nits.
Regarding the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it boasts a slightly smaller 6.7-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 1290 x 2796 pixels, lower than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The peak brightness, at 2,000 nits, falls short of 500 nits. Additional display specs include a 120Hz fast refresh rate and 460 PPI, alongside Ceramic Shield.
Both smartphones have an IP68 water-resistance rating, which enhances their design. However, the design preference is subjective. The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a boxy 79.0 x 162.3 x 8.6mm design, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has circular edges on a 76.7 x 159.9 x 8.3 mm body, ensuring comfortable handling.
Both devices maintain the aesthetics of their predecessors, with minimal changes to design. Additionally, the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max are hefty, weighing 232 and 221 grams, respectively.
Regarding displays, the Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as the superior choice based on specifications. It offers a larger QHD+ display with higher pixel density. Outdoor visibility is also enhanced, thanks to increased peak brightness. Furthermore, the improved Gorilla Glass Armor protection provides added security against accidental drops, complemented by the flat display edges that reduce the risk of screen damage.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts significant performance enhancements, driven by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. This 4nm ARM-based chipset features the latest ARM Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.3GHz, alongside five ARM Cortex-720-based performance cores ranging from 3.0-3.2GHz. Complementing these are two ARM Cortex-520-based efficiency cores, reaching speeds of up to 2.3GHz.
Contrastingly, the iPhone 15 Pro Max employs Apple’s newest A17 Pro processor, utilizing a 3nm architecture rather than the 4nm-based 8 Gen 3. Additionally, Apple eschews the latest Cortex X4 architecture, opting to develop their own cores based on ARM architecture, a practice they’ve maintained for years, consistently leading in performance.
With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Galaxy S24 Ultra nearly matches the A17 Pro’s performance on the 15 Pro Max, trailing by only 3%. Comparing benchmarks, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and A17 Pro show negligible differences. Apple maintains its lead in single-core performance, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 surpasses it in multi-core performance.
Both smartphones deliver top-level performance. However, the A17 Pro edges ahead in performance and power efficiency.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a quad-rear camera setup, featuring a 200MP primary sensor with OIS and F 1.7 aperture. Accompanying this sensor is a dual telephoto setup. One of these telephoto sensors includes a 50MP quad-pixel autofocus sensor with OIS, offering 5x optical zoom and F 3.4 aperture.
As for the second telephoto camera, it’s a 10MP sensor supported by OIS, providing 3x optical zoom and an F 2.4 aperture. Additionally, there’s a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with a 120-degree FOV and F/2.2 aperture. For selfies, the device features a 12MP sensor with an F/2.2 aperture.
Meanwhile, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max features a triple rear camera setup, comprising a 48MP wide-angle F/1.8 sensor serving as the primary sensor, alongside a 12MP ultra-wide-angle F/2.2 secondary sensor, and a tertiary 12MP periscope telephoto f/2.8 sensor with 5x optical zoom.
Regarding cameras, it’s evident that the Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts an impressive setup. Building upon the already commendable cameras of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the inclusion of a superior 50-megapixel telephoto sensor hints at the exceptional output potential of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Yet, it doesn’t stop there. All the superior camera hardware is paired with AI features, including Nightography zoom, AI multi-frame processing across zoom ranges, and deep learning-based super-resolution.
Moreover, the Galaxy S24 Ultra excels in videography, boasting 100x Space Zoom, 8K recording at up to 60 FPS, Nightography video, and more. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is limited to 4K recording at 60 FPS and 12-bit HDR is available only on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Thus, whether for photos or videos, the Galaxy S24 Ultra surpasses the 15 Pro Max.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Battery and Charging
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra retains a 5,000mAh battery, like last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max packs a 4,441mAh unit. Charging speeds remain a weak point for both brands. Samsung offers 45W fast charging to its flagships, while Apple maxes out at 30W.
Despite the S24 Ultra’s larger battery, it also hosts a power-hungry processor. Additionally, 8 Gen 3 has fewer power-efficient cores than its predecessor, resulting in increased power but reduced battery life. In typical day-to-day use, both devices should provide similar screen-on time.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
