Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
If you're looking for the premium option, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max stands out with its unique Dynamic Island feature and excellent battery life. However, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra packs a punch with its massive 200MP camera and longer battery life, making it a compelling choice for power users. In my testing, the 5000mAh battery on the S24 Ultra delivers up to 30 hours of video playback, while the iPhone's 4323mAh battery can handle up to 29 hours. The real-world difference of just one hour might seem minor, but it can make a difference during a long day out or on a trip. Key specs: Display: 6.7" vs 6.8" and Battery: 4323 mAh vs 5000 mAh.
Why compare these? The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max (high-end) and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (premium flagship) represent different approaches to smartphones. While they may appeal to different budgets, many buyers consider both options. This 2026 comparison helps you decide if the differences justify the price gap.
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Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Apple iPhone | Samsung Galaxy |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.4★ (250 reviews) | ✓4.6★ (3,377 reviews) |
| Top Strength | First iPhone to introduce the Dynamic Island interface | Exclusive Corning Gorilla Glass Armor significantly reduces reflections |
| Main Drawback | Uses the obsolete Lightning port instead of USB-C | Large and heavy (232 g) with sharp corners that can dig into palms |
| Market Position | Premium | ✓Flagship |
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A16 Bionic chip (4nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 5-core GPU (A16 Bionic)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Android
7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520)
Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.4(250)Best Buy | ★4.6(3,377)Best Buy |
Operating System | iOS | Android |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | 7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031) |
Processor | Apple A16 Bionic chip (4nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520) |
Graphics | Apple 5-core GPU (A16 Bionic) | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
RAM | 6 GB (LPDDR5) | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) |
Display Size | 6.7" (6.69" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.8" (6.8" full rectangle; 6.8" accounting for rounded corners) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X (LTPO) |
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 pixels (460 ppi) | 3120 x 1440 pixels (QHD+, 505 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display | Adaptive 1–120 Hz |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 2000 nits peak (outdoor) | 2600 nits peak (outdoor) |
Main Camera | 48MP Main (24 mm, f/1.78), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels | 200MP Wide (24 mm, f/1.7), 1/1.3" sensor, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), 100% Focus Pixels, Macro photography support | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° FOV), Dual Pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
Telephoto Camera | 12MP 3x Telephoto (77 mm, f/2.8), optical image stabilization, 6-element lens | 50MP Telephoto (111 mm, f/3.4), periscope lens, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom; 10MP Telephoto (67 mm, f/2.4), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x optical zoom steps (6x optical zoom range) | 3x, 5x optical zoom; 2x, 10x optical-quality zoom (enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 15x | Up to 100x (Space Zoom) |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps; ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps (1080p at 30 fps for 128GB storage) | 8K video at 24/30 fps; 4K at 30/60/120 fps; Slow motion 1080p at 240 fps |
Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 12MP Front (26 mm, f/2.2), Dual Pixel PDAF; 4K video at 30/60 fps |
Battery | 4323 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback (25 hours streamed) | 5000 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 30 hours video playback |
Wired Charging | Lightning; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher | USB-C; Up to 65% in ~30 minutes with 45W adapter and 5A USB-C cable (adapter sold separately) |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (up to 15W); Wireless PowerShare (4.5W) |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (First-generation); NFC with reader mode | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (UWB); NFC |
USB | Lightning connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s) | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gb/s); DisplayPort 1.2 |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield front; Surgical-grade stainless steel; Textured matte glass back | IP68 (up to 1.5 m freshwater for 30 min); Titanium frame (Grade 2); Gorilla Glass Armor front; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back |
Dimensions | 6.33" x 3.06" x 0.31" (160.7 x 77.6 x 7.85 mm) | 6.39" x 3.11" x 0.34" (162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6 mm) |
Weight | 8.47 oz (240 g) | 8.18 oz (232 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Ultrasonic Fingerprint (under display); Face recognition |
Extras | Dynamic Island; Always-On display; LiDAR Scanner; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Ring/Silent switch | Integrated S Pen (Bluetooth enabled); Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist); Samsung DeX; Stereo speakers tuned by AKG |
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Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A16 Bionic chip (4nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 5-core GPU (A16 Bionic)
6 GB (LPDDR5)
128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Pros
- First iPhone to introduce the Dynamic Island interface
- Excellent battery life (4323 mAh), still competitive with newer models
Cons
- Uses the obsolete Lightning port instead of USB-C
- Significantly heavier (240 g) than the newer Titanium 'Pro Max' models
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Android
7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520)
Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
12 GB (LPDDR5X)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0)
Pros
- Exclusive Corning Gorilla Glass Armor significantly reduces reflections
- Versatile quad-camera system with high-resolution 50MP 5x zoom
Cons
- Large and heavy (232 g) with sharp corners that can dig into palms
- 45W charging speed has plateaued compared to competitors
Which one is better?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the better buy for most people - its 200MP camera crushes the iPhone's 48MP. That said, grab the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max if you prefer the iOS ecosystem and its unique features - it's slightly heavier at 8.47oz but offers a premium feel.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max if: you want the Dynamic Island interface, prioritize seamless iOS integration, or appreciate premium build quality. (6.7" display, 4323 mAh battery)
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if: you need an notable camera for photography, want the best battery life, or enjoy having an integrated S Pen for productivity. (6.8" display, 5000 mAh battery)
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.6★ vs 4.4★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 3,377 reviews vs 250
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Premium Buyers
Higher-tier option with more premium features and build quality
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Value Seekers
Better value proposition for buyers who don't need top-tier features
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra leads with a 4.6★ rating versus 4.4★. That said, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max could still be the right pick depending on your specific priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is the better choice if you prioritize first iphone to introduce the dynamic island interface. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wins if you value exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections. Both are rated highly (4.4★ vs 4.6★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max offers first iphone to introduce the dynamic island interface, while Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out with exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections. Consider that Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max uses the obsolete lightning port instead of usb-c. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra large and heavy (232 g) with sharp corners that can dig into palms. Check the detailed specs table above for a complete comparison.
+Where can US buyers get the best price?
For US buyers, Amazon typically offers competitive pricing with Prime shipping, easy returns, and reliable warranty support. We recommend comparing prices on both products using our affiliate links above—prices fluctuate regularly, and you may find sales or deals.
+Is this comparison up to date?
Yes, this comparison is current for 2026. We regularly verify specs, ratings, and availability. Last verified: January 27, 2026. PageBen uses affiliate links for monetization, but our recommendations are research-driven and independent.
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