Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the premium option here, boasting a 5x optical zoom that significantly enhances long-range photography. In real-world use, its 4422mAh battery provides up to 29 hours of video playback, perfect for binge-watching on long trips. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers a larger 5000mAh battery, lasting up to 30 hours of video, making it ideal for heavy users who need their phone to last all day and night. Key specs: Display: 6.7" vs 6.8" and Battery: 4422 mAh vs 5000 mAh.
Why compare these? Both the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are premium flagship smartphones competing in the same market segment. This makes them direct rivals for buyers looking for premium flagship features and performance in 2026. Understanding their differences helps you choose the right one for your specific needs.
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Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Apple iPhone | Samsung Galaxy |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | ✓4.8★ (895 reviews) | 4.6★ (3,377 reviews) |
| Market Position | Flagship | Flagship |
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 6-core GPU (A17 Pro)
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 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(895)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 A17 Pro chip (3nm; 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 6-core GPU (A17 Pro) | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
RAM | 8 GB (LPDDR5) | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage | 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) | 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), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 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 5x Telephoto (120 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus | 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, 5x optical zoom steps (10x optical zoom range) | 3x, 5x optical zoom; 2x, 10x optical-quality zoom (enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 25x | Up to 100x (Space Zoom) |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording; Log video recording (ACES compliant); Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 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, ProRes support | 12MP Front (26 mm, f/2.2), Dual Pixel PDAF; 4K video at 30/60 fps |
Battery | 4422 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback (25 hours streamed) | 5000 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 30 hours video playback |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher; USB 3 speeds supported | 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; Qi2 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 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (UWB); NFC |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gb/s); DisplayPort 1.2 |
Durability | — | IP68 (up to 1.5 m freshwater for 30 min); Titanium frame (Grade 2); Gorilla Glass Armor front; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back |
Dimensions | — | 6.39" x 3.11" x 0.34" (162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6 mm) |
Weight | — | 8.18 oz (232 g) |
Biometrics | — | Ultrasonic Fingerprint (under display); Face recognition |
Extras | — | Integrated S Pen (Bluetooth enabled); Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist); Samsung DeX; Stereo speakers tuned by AKG |
| Pros |
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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 6-core GPU (A17 Pro)
8 GB (LPDDR5)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Pros
Cons
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 Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better buy for most people - its 5x optical zoom crushes the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's 5x optical zoom with better detail in photos. That said, grab the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you need a longer battery life; its 5000mAh lasts an hour more than the iPhone's.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if: you want superior long-range photography with a 5x optical zoom, prefer a lighter design at 7.81oz, or desire a premium build with titanium.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if: you need a longer-lasting battery with 30 hours of playback, want a built-in S Pen for productivity, or prioritize a larger display at 6.8".
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.8★ vs 4.6★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 3,377 reviews vs 895
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Conclusion
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Bottom line: The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max edges ahead with a 4.8★ rating compared to 4.6★. However, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra remains a strong contender if its strengths align better with your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better choice if you prioritize performance. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wins if you value exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections. Both are rated highly (4.8★ vs 4.6★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max offers strong performance, while Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out with exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections. 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.
+What should I prioritize when choosing between these smartphones?
Focus on the features that matter most for your daily use. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out for its strengths. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra excels at exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections and versatile quad-camera system with high-resolution 50mp 5x zoom. Check the spec table above for the complete side-by-side breakdown.
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