iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: The Flagship Showdown

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Which should you buy?

Few smartphones command as much attention and hype as Apple's iPhone and Samsung's flagship Galaxy S series. And while new iPhone releases rarely look exciting on the surface, you can always count on the presence of cutting-edge performance and software features. This year is no exception and the latest iPhone 16 series also goes all-in on artificial intelligence. But the question remains: has Apple brought enough to the table to go up against the best Android flagships of 2024? Let's find out in this iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra comparison.

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: What are the differences?

The iPhone 16 Pro Max, in particular, warrants comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra because these are both the biggest and most expensive (non-foldable) flagships that Apple and Samsung make. Both phones have the same starting price and similarities across the board regarding specs and features, but two very divergent mobile operating systems and a couple other bells and whistles make for some pretty big differences, too. Here's how the iPhone 16 Pro Max compares to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Comparing the chipsets powering these two devices is difficult right now because Samsung went with a third-party Qualcomm chip and Apple went with in-house silicon, as it has for the past few years. It's also difficult because the iPhone 16 Pro Max isn't out yet, so we can't say which phone performs better right now. Both phones also go up to 512GB or 1TB of storage, for an increased price, of course. We'll get into more granular display differences in a moment. But when it comes to size and refresh rate, it's basically a wash between these two phones. Apple's is 0.1-inches bigger, but they're both huge. The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes in four colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium. It's a minimalist set of colors, especially considering the fact that the entry-level iPhone 16 comes in bolder colors (e.g., pink, teal, and more). The Galaxy S24 Ultra beats the iPhone 16 Pro Max handily in terms of colors, coming in Titanium Grey, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow. Purple and Yellow beat grey and beige any day. Aside from that, these two phones look about how you'd expect. Samsung positions its rear camera lenses vertically without a bump, while Apple is still using the same bump with a diagonal pattern for the lenses that it used a year ago. Really, the colors are the big thing here. Go with your gut. I've already covered that these two phones have almost the same size of display with the same refresh rate, Samsung beats Apple in one major area: peak brightness. Outdoors, the iPhone 16 Pro Max peaks at 2,000 nits, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra peaks at 2,600 nits. Both phones should be perfectly usable outside, but Samsung is just a bit brighter here. On an OS level, the iPhone 16 Pro Max can do everything inherent to iOS, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra can do everything inherent to Android. These are new phones with new chips and you shouldn't be locked out of anything. Instead, it's worth looking at AI because that's what every big phone company is leaning on this year. Apple and Samsung have their own suites of AI features, called Apple Intelligence and Galaxy AI, respectively. There isn't exact feature parity between the two, but there are some similarities. Both phones can use AI for speech translation, visual searches, and making edits on text messages or emails. Samsung has a bit more going on photographically, with a Photoshop-like image editor that uses AI included in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, as well as the ability to turn selfies into cartoon portraits. But Apple, sooner than later, is set to offer features like a text prompt-based image generator and the ability to create custom emoji using AI. Probably the most major difference between these two phones is Samsung's inclusion of the S Pen stylus with every S24 Ultra. The phone supports the stylus for all sorts of features (or just general daily phone usage), and you can conveniently hide the stylus in a slot on the phone itself. Maybe you don't need that, but for the people who do, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is probably the way to go. It's not possible to do deep and direct photo comparisons between these two phones because we don't have an iPhone 16 Pro Max in our hands yet. However, we can at least look at the specs. Here's what you get from the iPhone 16 Pro Max: And here's what Samsung packed into the Galaxy S24 Ultra: As you can see, the specs are very similar with the exception of the main lenses, which have a pretty sizable gap in megapixel counts between the two of them. That said, don't just assume the Galaxy S24 Ultra's camera is better than the iPhone 16 Pro Max's just because it has more megapixels. These things often shake out quite differently in practice. In Mashable's battery testing, which involves looping a TikTok video on a phone's display until it dies, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lasted 13 hours and 1 minute. There's no way of knowing yet how it compares to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but here's some food for thought: The iPhone 15 Pro Max, last year's model, came in at 14 hours and 53 minutes in the same test. Also, it's also worth noting that Apple claimed that the iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers the longest battery ever on an iPhone. Without proper and rigorous testing, we can't firmly recommend one of these phones over the other just yet. As always, your preference for iOS or Android is probably what matters the most when making this decision. Are you ashamed of green text bubbles, or do you believe that iPhone owners need to get over it? That's up to you. These phones are so similar in terms of basic specs and AI features that OS may, in fact, be the deciding factor. Unless you like styluses, at which point you should definitely get the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

iPhone 16 Pro Max Specs vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra: Big Phones Compared

Apple has just taken the wraps off a host of new tech at its September launch event on Monday, including a new watch, AirPods and iPhone 16 range. The biggest phone in the bunch remains the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which will be going toe-to-massive-toe with Samsung's biggest flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Both phones have a lot to offer to those of you who love sizable devices, but how do the two compare on paper? Let's take a look at the specs. Starting with the obvious part; the screen. Apple crept ahead here (assuming you think bigger is better, that is) upping its iPhone 16 Pro Max to 6.9 inches, over last year's 6.7 inches. At 6.8 inches, the S24 Ultra is ever so slightly smaller than Apple's phone, but I can't imagine you'd ever notice that 0.01-inch difference. The S24 Ultra does have a higher pixel density (501ppi vs. 460ppi) but we'll have to wait to see how they actually compare in use when we can put the two side by side. Samsung's phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, while Apple's phone runs on its own in-house silicon. In this case, a brand-new A18 Pro chip, which Apple promises will deliver better power efficiency and performance for gaming and AI. Given that the iPhone's consistently dominate benchmarks -- especially graphics ones -- it's fair to assume that the new chip will be a powerhouse. But it'll certainly be interesting to see how the scores stack up. Turning to the rear cameras, the iPhone packs the usual trinity of main, ultrawide and 5x telephoto zoom lens, while the S24 Ultra hits back with its main, ultrawide, and 3x and 5x telephoto zooms. On paper, Samsung's phone should be the ultimate photography powerhouse -- especially with its whopping 200 megapixel main sensor -- but Apple's phones have always taken some of the best images around. The inclusion of ProRaw images and ProRes video -- including the new 4K slow motion shooting -- means that the iPhones will still be a top contender with enthusiastic photographers. Beyond that, there's less to pick apart at this point. Both phones offer up to 1TB of storage, neither allows you to expand the storage and both use titanium in their designs, offering IP68 water resistance. How well the phones really compare remains to be seen in our full review.

Apple iPhone 16 vs Samsung Galaxy S24: Which flagship smartphone suits you best

Design and display: The iPhone 16 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 come with a similar design with rounded edges, and they both look identical to their predecessor. However, this year Apple has made some refinements to camera placement. With the iPhone 16, users will get a vertically placed pill-shaped camera module, similar to the Galaxy S24. The iPhone 16 is protected with Ceramic Shield Glass and it has received an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. On the other hand, Galaxy S24 comes with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection and a similar IP68 rating. For viewing experience, the iPhone 16 features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 2000nits peak brightness. For Galaxy S24, it comes with a 6.2-inch Full HD+ 2X Dynamic LTPO AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 2600nits peak brightness. Therefore, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is faster and brighter than the iPhone 16. Also read: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: 4 reasons why you should not upgrade to new-generation Camera: For photography, the iPhone 16 features a dual camera setup that consists of a 48 MP fusion main camera with 2x optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. It also offers 4K video recording at up to 60fps. The Galaxy S24 sports a triple-camera setup that includes a 50 MP main camera with OIS, a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. It offers 8K video recording at 30fps and 4K video at 120fps. Performance and Battery: The iPhone 16 is powered by Apple's latest in-house A18 chipset that offers a 16-core Neural Engine, a 6-core CPU with two performance cores, and a 5-core GPU. iPhone 16 also offers 8GB RAM and up to 512GB internal storage. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 is equipped with Samsung's own Exynos 2400 processor which is paired with Samsung Xclipse 940 GPU and AI Engine. The smartphone also offers 8GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. For lasting performance, the iPhone 16 claims to provide up to 22 hours of battery life with up to 25W fast charging support. The Galaxy S24 is equipped with a 4000mAh battery with similar charging support. Also read: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro price and storage variants in India announced- All details Whereas, the Samsung Galaxy S24 already comes with Galaxy AI features that include live translation, real-time voice translation, Circle to Search, Note Assist, transcript assist, Portrait Studio, and much more. Price: The Apple iPhone 16 was announced at a starting price of ₹79900 for 128GB. The Samsung Galaxy S24, however, is priced at ₹79999 for the 256GB storage variant.

iPhone 16 vs Samsung Galaxy S24: the age-old battle continues | Stuff

With Apple unveiling the iPhone 16 last night, the long-standing rivalry for smartphone supremacy intensifies as it faces off against the Samsung Galaxy S24, which hit the market earlier this year. Both brands continue to push the boundaries with advanced features, superior design, and smarter AI integration. So, which base-level smartphone stands out? Let's break down how the iPhone 16 stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy S24 across various categories. Apple's iPhone 16 retains its classic 6.1-inch design but introduces new colour options, including Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink. It also features improved glass durability, boasting 50-percent more strength than the original Ceramic Shield. The display reaches a peak brightness of 2000 nits, making it highly visible in any lighting conditions, though it's worth noting the ultra-slim bezels and 120Hz ProMotion are still reserved for the Pro models. The iPhone 16 adopts the customisable Action Button from last year's iPhone 15 Pro models, allowing users to assign it different functions like launching the camera or switching the ringer. The Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch AMOLED display that reaches an impressive 2600 nits for even better outdoor visibility. Samsung's Gorilla Glass Armor offers protection against scratches, and the titanium frame adds durability while reducing the phone's weight. The Galaxy S24 features slimmer bezels and offers a more immersive display experience compared to its predecessor. While both phones look great, if premium design and outdoor screen clarity are priorities, the Galaxy S24 edges ahead. However, if build quality and smaller size are more important, the iPhone 16 should be your pick. The iPhone 16 is powered by Apple's A18 chipset, a second-generation 3nm processor that promises a 30-percent boost in performance over the A17. With a 16-core Neural Engine, it promises to excel in AI tasks, driving new features like Apple Intelligence. This improved efficiency also translates to longer battery life and enhanced performance. The 128GB base storage might feel limited to users who frequently capture high-res content. Samsung's Galaxy S24 features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip customised for Galaxy. It's designed for intensive AI workloads and enhanced gaming experiences with improved ray tracing and thermal management. Samsung has also optimized its chipset for better AI integration, particularly with its ProVisual Engine, which powers the camera and search features. The Galaxy S24 also comes with 128GB of base storage, which is limiting. Samsung's array of AI-powered tools, from live translations to gesture-based search, are helpful in daily use. While both devices offer high performance, Apple's A18 may offer a slight edge in raw speed, but we'd have to do more testing to make a definitive conclusion on this. The iPhone 16 comes equipped with a 48MP main camera and introduces the new Camera Control Button for quick camera access. Its Visual Intelligence feature offers real-time object analysis, similar to Google Lens, and enhances interaction with images. The new 12MP ultrawide camera gains autofocus and 2.6x more light capture, perfect for low-light and macro photography. The iPhone 16 also supports shooting in 4K 60fps with Dolby Vision HDR, and new AI-powered noise reduction improves video quality. Samsung's Galaxy S24, on the other hand, integrates its ProVisual Engine, a suite of AI-powered tools for advanced photo editing. It features a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x optical zoom lens with excellent zoom capabilities, while Nightography ensures bright, clear images in low light. Samsung's Generative Edit allows for detailed post-capture adjustments, including background edits and AI-enhanced photo composition. Both phones feature 12MP selfie cameras. The iPhone 16 has an f/1.9 aperture, 23mm field of view and PDAF, while the S24 has f/2.2 aperture, 26mm field of view and dual pixel PDAF. Both phones offer robust camera features, and both camera systems have their fans with image quality being largely down to personal taste. However, the Samsung Galaxy S24 has a slight edge here, with its triple camera system being more versatile than Apple's dual cameras. Apple has focused on improving battery life in the iPhone 16, though specific figures remain undisclosed. It supports 25W MagSafe wireless charging and introduces the Qi2 standard for faster, more efficient wireless charging. The Galaxy S24 comes with a 4000mAh battery, delivering over 24 hours of usage and supporting 25W fast charging, allowing it to reach 50-percent in just 30 minutes. It lacks the Qi2 wireless standard, resulting in slower wireless charging compared to the iPhone. In terms of battery and charging, this one's a dead heat. The iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 both showcase the latest smartphone tech Apple and Samsung have to offer. The iPhone 16 stands out with its enhanced durability, faster A18 processor, and new interactive camera features, while the Galaxy S24 offers better outdoor visibility, smarter AI-driven tools, and superior battery life. If you prioritize design, speed, and interactive photography, the iPhone 16 may be your best choice. However, if you prefer AI-powered enhancements, post-shot creative tools, and faster charging, the Samsung Galaxy S24 could be the phone for you. Ultimately, though, both devices are top contenders and your decision ultimately comes down to which features resonate more with your daily needs, or which ecosystem you're currently invested in.

Apple iPhone 16 vs Google Pixel 9: Which should you buy?

Arch-rivals Google and Apple offer some of the best smartphones, and their two contenders are fresh out of the box. Less than a month ago, Google announced the Pixel 9 series with four distinct devices. Now it's Apple's turn with the iPhone 16 series. But which device is best for you? It's a question that involves a point-by-point breakdown, so sink your teeth into our iPhone 16 vs Pixel 9 comparison below. The Google Pixel 9's specs sheet offers some impressive numbers. These include its 6.3-inch screen, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,700 nits maximum brightness rating. It also packs 4GB more RAM than the iPhone 16 to power its onboard Gemini Nano AI smarts. However, Apple has beaten Google in some key areas. The iPhone 16 is the only one with 512GB and includes a display with a higher pixel density and overall resolution. The core specs are broken down in the table above. The iPhone 16 is unmistakably Apple, utilizing many stylistic cues from previous models. Its screen sees no dimensional improvements over the iPhone 15 and still measures 6.1 inches corner-to-corner. The phone's edges remain flat and rounded at its corners, too. However, flip over the phone, and you'll spy the most significant generational change. Apple has redesigned the iPhone 16's camera array, stacking its two lenses vertically instead of diagonally. This arrangement also gives the iPhone 16 an iPhone X-like appearance, even if its camera lenses are much larger than those of the 2017 model. The housing also wears a more saturated version of the device's main colorway, which is far more striking than previous iPhone versions. Notably, the iPhone 16 also includes new pushers, namely the Capture and Action buttons. We've met the Action button before on the iPhone 15 Pro and the Apple Watch Ultra. It's a programmable nub that can be used to trigger a variety of user-determined tasks and apps. The Capture button is a hardware camera shutter sensitive to touch and pressure. I'll drill down into its functionality in the camera section below. Aesthetically, the Google Pixel 9 has more in common with the iPhone 16 than the Pixel 8 it replaces. Yes, the phone retains its horizontal camera bar, but the new phone offers a more distinct oval island that stands out substantially from the phone's main body. It's a tidier design decision, and when paired with the flat sizes and rounder corners, it gives the Pixel an iPhone-like silhouette. Despite this similarity, plenty sets the Pixel 9 apart from its rival. It has a much larger footprint, with a longer, thicker, and marginally wider body. It's also heavier, with a 28g penalty over the iPhone 16. These details make the Pixel 9 a little less pocketable than the new Apple phone -- a potential dealbreaker for those looking for a compact device. Photography is a key selling point for the iPhone and Pixel series, and both devices take imaging seriously. The iPhone 16 uses a 48MP primary camera with an f/1.6 aperture and OIS, while the secondary camera is a 12MP ultrawide with autofocus and macro support. While the phone lacks a telephoto lens, Apple notes that the main camera can be used as a 12MP f/2.2 2x telephoto snapper if desired. Apple's giving the iPhone 16 series a new camera button for more control of those lenses. This capacitive sensor plugs into the phone's haptic feedback system, making it feel like an actual shutter button. By swiping across and lightly tapping this button, users can also control various settings, from aperture to zoom levels. The Pixel 9 has no dedicated camera button, but its two rear snappers pack more megapixels. It's headlined by a 50MP primary sensor with an f/1.68 aperture and a 48MP ultrawide camera with an f/1.7 aperture. Based on our experience, it's a capable imaging machine. However, we did feel that the selfie camera didn't accurately capture fine details. It employs a 10.5MP f/2.2 sensor for this purpose. iPhone 16 users can access a 12MP selfie camera. Charging has never been a priority for either company, but the Pixel 9 has seen a speed bump in 2024. It maxes out at 27W when plugged into the wall via Google's 45W charger, while 15W is capable wirelessly when using the Pixel Stand. The iPhone 16 offers 25W wired and wireless charging with Apple's new MagSafe charger, but only with this charger. You can get up to 15W with a Qi2 charger and 7.5W with a Qi charger. Notably, neither phone comes with a charger that'll push these phones to their top speeds, so you'll have to fetch your own supported brick. As for battery capacity, Apple doesn't state the capacity of the iPhone 16 but does suggest the phone will last up to 27 hours playing video, and 22 hours streaming video. The Pixel 9 includes a roomy 4,700mAh battery that lasts well over a day, often beating the Samsung Galaxy S24 in our tests. The iPhone 16 and its three siblings debuted at Apple's September 9, 2024 event. The phone starts at $799, the same price that the outgoing iPhone 15 demanded. It is currently available to pre-order and will go on sale on September 20, 2024. The company is also offering trade-in deals. The Pixel 9 has been available since August 22, starting at $799 for the base 128GB model. As is usual with Google devices, the Pixel 9 is available in fewer markets than the iPhone. The iPhone 16 is closer to its Pro siblings than ever before, gaining the same pacey chipset and multifunctional button. The addition of the camera button and autofocus to the ultrawide camera also makes the phone a more complete pocket camera. However, picking it over the Pixel 9 ultimately depends on whether you'll be happy using iOS over Android. If yes, the iPhone 16 is a great onboarding point for newcomers. For those who answered no, naturally, the Pixel 9 is one of the best Android phones in its class you can buy. It also offers a versatile camera arrangement, a clean design, and years of software support. However, if you want a worthwhile alternative to both phones, the $100 cheaper Pixel 8 ($699 at Amazon) is still well worth considering.

Google Pixel 9 vs Apple iPhone 16: Flagship Phone Face-off! - Phandroid

It was only a matter of time - with the iPhone 16 series making its way to the hands of buyers soon, we thought that it would be interesting to see how Apple's latest flagship smartphone stacks up against the likewise recently-launched Google Pixel 9. Both phones come with some similarities in terms of hardware and software, and as such you might be curious as to how they compare to each other. Let's take a look at the major highlights from each device! READ: Apple's new iPhone 16 is here and it's more powerful than ever Perhaps the iPhone 16's biggest strength versus the Pixel 9 is the A18 chip inside. Apple's A-series chips have always been impressive, and the A18 is no different. Built on a 3nm process, the new chipset is able to run AAA console games and - at least according to Apple - features considerable improvements over the A16 chip from last year, which itself was already fairly powerful. By comparison, the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9 is somewhat lacking in terms of overall power and performance, with Google opting for a more efficiency-based approach to its custom chip. In addition to this, Apple seems to be doubling down on the iPhone 16's selling point as a camera-centric smartphone. The addition of a new physical shutter button with capacitive touch capabilities allows users to quickly access their camera and tweak certain camera settings simply by sliding their finger across the button. There's also the addition of a new "fusion camera" system which Apple claims transforms the iPhone 16's otherwise plain dual-camera setup into a more versatile system with telephoto capabilities. Of course by comparison, the Pixel 9 also excels when it comes to its photographic abilities. It's an ideal point-and-shoot camera, as Google's computational photography does most of the heavy lifting. Unlike the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 Pro models however, it lacks Pro camera controls so users looking for more in-depth tweaking might be left wanting more. Its video capabilities are likewise a bit lacklustre especially when compared to how Apple handles video recording and processing, with the Pixel exhibiting considerable grain and noise in some situations. As for performance, the Tensor G4 chip inside the Pixel 9 isn't the most powerful SoC out there, and is easily outpaced by the Apple A18. Google has decided to focus on efficiency this time which allows for better thermal management and power efficiency with the Pixel 9, but it will have a bit of trouble playing high-end games in comparison to its Cupertino rival. READ: Pixel 9 versus iPhone 15 Pro Max camera comparison: the ultimate showdown Perhaps one advantage of the Pixel 9 is that it runs Android - yes, the Android vs iOS debate is a very subjective one, but in terms of overall freedom and flexibility, Android just offers a world of difference that iOS has just started catching up to, and you do get some practically useful features with the Pixel 9 such as Call Screening, Circle to Search, and better voice recognition to name a few. On the other hand, going with the iPhone 16 means that you'll have an easier time using it with other Apple hardware such as laptops and watches, a more ideal situation if that's the route you're going for. Both phones also come with AI, with Gemini on the Pixel 9 and Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16. Both Apple and Google claiming that their latest chipsets are designed specifically to enable powerful on-device AI features, and it's interesting how both have very similar AI features such as enhanced email and photo search functions, image generation, and more. Both phones are expensive, with the iPhone 16 starting at $799 and the Pixel 9 going a bit higher at $899, both for 128GB storage. It's clear that Apple has the advantage here in terms of retail pricing, but of course trade-ins and promo deals do bring these prices down.

Apple iPhone 16 and Google Pixel 9 | Base model features, specs, and everything you need to know

After months of rumours and speculation, Apple launched the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max during its Glowtime event on September 9. While most gadget-lovers might dream of snagging the high-end iPhone 16 Pro Max and the most cutting-edge features it offers, Apple's iPhone 16 base variant also packs a punch. The launch of the new iPhones comes shortly after Google released its latest Pixel 9 lineup, powered by its generative AI offering Gemini. Google's base model, the Pixel 9, is also similarly priced to the Apple iPhone 16 in India. If a potential new phone owner is split between the two, which one would be a better fit for them? Let's take a look. Google Pixel 9 Review | Undoubtedly one of the best compact options available todaySpecificationApple iPhone 16Google Pixel 9Price₹79,900₹79,999DisplaySuper Retina XDR 6.1‑inch OLED display; 2556‑by‑1179-pixel resolution at 460 ppi6.3-inch Actua display; 1080 x 2424 OLED at 422 PPIBrightness2000 nits peak brightness2700 nits peak brightnessBatteryVideo playback (streamed) up to 18 hours4700 mAh/24+ hour battery lifeChipsetA18Google Tensor G4 On the subject of cameras, both the Apple iPhone 16 and the Google Pixel 9 strive to impress. The Apple iPhone 16 comes with a 48MP Fusion camera and a 12MP Ultra Wide camera, while the Google Pixel 9 packs a 50 MP Octa PD wide camera and a 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with auto-focus. The Pixel 9 has a 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with auto-focus, while the iPhone 16 has a 12MP 'TrueDepth' front camera. Published - September 11, 2024 02:40 pm IST Read Comments