Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Best Ultra-Premium Smartphones Compared

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series was only recently unveiled in India and globally. While the Samsung Galaxy S24 series didn't come with a major price hike, it didn't feature a lot of upgrades too.

So can the new titanium build, an upgraded periscope lens, a brighter display, and new AI features help the Galaxy S24 Ultra compete with Apple's top-end iPhone 15 Pro Max? Let's find out!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max

Design and Build

In terms of design, both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra both use titanium frames and glass back and front panels. Samsung has broken from tradition, offering flat sides with sharp corners, at least sharper compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra also weighs slightly more than the iPhone. Both phones offer an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. They do have slightly different button placements, while the USB Type-C ports are located on the bottom of both devices.

Both phones also have two distinct features. The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with S Pen support and the stylus included with the handset. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro has a new programmable 'Action Button'.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features a larger and wider screen. The S24 Ultra's display is also the brighter of the two and boasts a higher resolution, ensuring better pixel density. Samsung's S24 Ultra also features an ultrasonic fingerprint reader as well as Face Unlock. On the other hand, Apple's Face Unlock is the best in the business.

Performance

Both smartphones can handle demanding workloads with little-to-no effort. However, the iPhone 15 Pro models are touted to run PlayStation titles, which isn't something we see on the Galaxy S24 Ultra or every other smartphone for that matter.

In terms of raw performance, the iPhone should have the edge here. On the other hand, Samsung placed a heavy emphasis on AI performance. AI was at the forefront of Samsung's Unpacked event with its influence throughout the Galaxy S24 series.

Cameras

We are yet to test out the cameras on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max, so our focus here will be comparing hardware. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a clear edge in zoom quality as the new 50 MP periscope lens promises losses quality at 10x magnification.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max defaults photos in a higher 24 MP as opposed to the default 12 MP of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. In terms of video, the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max can record 4K video at up to 60fps, although the former can push it up to 8K, 30fps.

While Apple has generally held an advantage in the software department, the Galaxy S24 Ultra will likely catch up thanks to the new AI updates. It is still too early too sure, but Apple's camera system focuses largely on quality, while the S24 Ultra appears to lean towards versatility.

Battery

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra packs a large 5,000 mAh battery, which will likely be bigger than the battery on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is rumored to be just under 4,500 mAh. However, iOS offers the best battery management of any smartphone, giving Apple an edge in battery life.

On the flip side, the Galaxy S24 Ultra supports faster wired charging, although wireless charging speeds are similar for both handsets. Both Apple and Samsung don't include a charging adapter in the box.

Software

When it comes to software, it is anyone's game and primarily comes down to personal performance. However, Android offers more flexibility than iOS, while the latter features a better update cycle. The one area where Samsung emerges as the clear winner in the software battle is its support, offering seven years of major OS and security updates, over Apple's five.