Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The battle between the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes down to camera power: 48MP vs 200MP. If you're into photography, that 200MP sensor on the S24 Ultra is a game changer, especially for detailed shots and zooming in on subjects. In real-world use, the 5000mAh battery on the S24 Ultra lasts up to 30 hours of video playback, which is plenty for binge-watching on long flights. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with its 4685mAh battery, delivers about 33 hours of video playback, making it a strong fit for those who prioritize battery life and excellent display quality at 6.9 inches. Key specs: Display: 6.9" vs 6.8" and Battery: 4685 mAh vs 5000 mAh.
Why compare these? Both the Apple iPhone 16 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 | ✓4.7★ (348 reviews) | 4.6★ (3,377 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Largest iPhone display ever at 6.9 inches with ultra-thin borders | Exclusive Corning Gorilla Glass Armor significantly reduces reflections |
| Main Drawback | Large physical dimensions can be unwieldy for some users | Large and heavy (232 g) with sharp corners that can dig into palms |
| Market Position | Flagship | Flagship |
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A18 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 6-core GPU (A18 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 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(348)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 A18 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 (A18 Pro) | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
RAM | 8 GB (LPDDR5X) | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) |
Display Size | 6.9" (6.86" 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 | 2868 x 1320 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); 1 nit minimum | 2600 nits peak (outdoor) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion (24 mm, f/1.78), second-generation 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 | 48MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography | 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, 100% Focus Pixels | 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 | 5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 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 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion); Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps; ProRes up to 4K 120 fps with external recording | 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 | 4685 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 33 hours video playback (29 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 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W (via iOS update); 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 7 (802.11be) 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 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield (latest generation) front; Titanium design (Grade 5); 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 | 6.42" x 3.06" x 0.32" (163.0 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm) | 6.39" x 3.11" x 0.34" (162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6 mm) |
Weight | 7.99 oz (227 g) | 8.18 oz (232 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Ultrasonic Fingerprint (under display); Face recognition |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; LiDAR Scanner; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | 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 16 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A18 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 6-core GPU (A18 Pro)
8 GB (LPDDR5X)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Pros
- Largest iPhone display ever at 6.9 inches with ultra-thin borders
- 48MP Ultra Wide camera improves macro and wide-angle detail significantly
Cons
- Large physical dimensions can be unwieldy for some users
- Fastest charging speeds (MagSafe 25W) require purchasing a new puck and adapter
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 16 Pro Max is the better buy for most people - its 33 hours of video playback crushes the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's 30 hours. That said, grab the S24 Ultra if you want top-notch photography with its notable 200MP camera.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if: you value a larger 6.9" display for media, prioritize battery life with up to 33 hours of video playback, or appreciate smooth integration with macOS and iPadOS.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if: you need a powerful 200MP camera for photography, want the built-in S Pen for productivity, or seek a device with longer software support of 7 years.
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.7★ vs 4.6★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 3,377 reviews vs 348
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Largest iPhone display Priority
Largest iPhone display ever at 6.9 inches with ultra-thin borders
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Exclusive Corning Gorilla Priority
Exclusive Corning Gorilla Glass Armor significantly reduces reflections
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Conclusion
Apple iPhone 16 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 16 Pro Max edges ahead with a 4.7★ 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 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the better choice if you prioritize largest iphone display ever at 6.9 inches with ultra-thin borders. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wins if you value exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections. Both are rated highly (4.7★ vs 4.6★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max offers largest iphone display ever at 6.9 inches with ultra-thin borders, while Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out with exclusive corning gorilla glass armor significantly reduces reflections. Consider that Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max large physical dimensions can be unwieldy for some users. 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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