{"id":229,"date":"2024-10-15T07:23:38","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T07:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/?p=229"},"modified":"2024-11-25T01:15:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T01:15:06","slug":"i-put-the-iphone-16-pro-max-vs-galaxy-s24-ultra-through-a-7-round-face-off-heres-the-winner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/2024\/10\/15\/i-put-the-iphone-16-pro-max-vs-galaxy-s24-ultra-through-a-7-round-face-off-heres-the-winner\/","title":{"rendered":"I put the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra through a 7-round face-off \u2014 here\u2019s the winner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s the matchup we’ve been waiting for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samsung came out swinging for the fence with the launch of the Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/a>, largely propelled by the slew of Galaxy AI features included on the device. It\u2019s been the top contender in our best Android phones list since then, but Apple\u2019s new flagship is the matchup we\u2019ve been waiting for. That\u2019s why an iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/a> face-off is necessary to once and for all have a definitive winner as our best phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given how things turned out in our Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max comparison, it inherently gives the newer iPhone 16 Pro Max an edge edge heading into this matchup. That\u2019s because there\u2019s an 8-month gap between the arrival of these two devices, giving Apple the advantage of having the newer handset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll look at all aspects surrounding the two phones, including their battery life, software, displays, AL features and much more to tell you exactly which one offers more value. These phones don\u2019t come cheap and they\u2019re the epitome of the ultra premium segment that come with extra features you don\u2019t find in other phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra showdown, there can only be one that comes out on top. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>>EB-BS928ABY Battery for Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/td>Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/strong><\/td>iPhone 16 Pro Max <\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Display<\/strong><\/td>6.8 inches QHD+ AMOLED (1-120Hz)<\/td>6.9 inches OLED (1-120Hz)<\/td><\/tr>
Chipset<\/strong><\/td>Snapdragon 8 Gen 3<\/td>Apple A18 Pro<\/td><\/tr>
RAM<\/strong><\/td>12GB<\/td>8GB<\/td><\/tr>
Storage<\/strong><\/td>256GB, 512GB, 1TB<\/td>256GB, 512GB, 1TB<\/td><\/tr>
Battery<\/strong><\/td>5,000 mAh<\/td>4,676 mAh<\/td><\/tr>
Rear Cameras<\/strong><\/td>200MP main (f\/1.7), 12MP ultrawide (f\/2.2), 50MP 5x telephoto f\/3.4), 10MP 3x telephoto (f\/2.4)<\/td>48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP 5x telephoto,<\/td><\/tr>
Front Cameras<\/strong><\/td>12MP (f\/2.2)<\/td>12MP<\/td><\/tr>
Size<\/strong><\/td>6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches<\/td>6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td>8.22 ounces<\/td>8 ounces<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For now, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is enjoying the time it has left before sailing into the sunset at the start of 2025. Despite offering the richer software, its age is beginning to show and this comparison proves that. Unless you can find Samsung’s phone at a good discount somewhere, you might hold off and save your money on the Galaxy S25 Ultra next year. It\u2019ll be a decent wait for it, but we anticipate bigger upgrades that will make it a more formidable challenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related:EB-BS926ABY Battery for Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Design<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"iPhone<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Image credit: Future)
To be fair, both phones make slight alterations with their designs, but they mostly follow the same design language as previous phones. While both phones have flat edges that let them stay upright on their own, that\u2019s about where their similarities end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samsung\u2019s design is boxier looking, evident in the Galaxy S24 Ultra\u2019s hard angled corner. You could argue that Samsung\u2019s design looks like the more boring of the two, but it\u2019s much harder to comfortably use one-handed because it\u2019s larger and heavier. While the S24’s titanium frame gives it a premium look, the overall look can\u2019t compare to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Samsung<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Image credit: Future)
But to be fair, Apple\u2019s design is mostly recycled too. Still, its rounded corners, lighter weight, and slimmer frame make it feel much more manageable. It\u2019s still massive in size, but it helps that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is accompanied by a more solid construction that makes its design feel polished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another difference worth pointing out is that the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with the S Pen, which discreetly tucks into the lower left corner of the phone when it\u2019s not being used. Not only does it help in giving off that paper meets pen experience, but it\u2019s also a handy tool for other functions \u2014 such as acting as a remote control for the camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Apple introduces the Camera Control button to give users better access to the most popular settings and tools to take better photos. It\u2019s unique in the sense that it can sense swiping gestures in addition to pressure sensitivity, which frees up the Action Button to do other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner<\/strong>: Draw<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>A2830 Battery for Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Display<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Samsung<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Image credit: Future)
In the past, Samsung has historically featured the bigger display, but that changes with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This is a shakeup because the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a larger 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra packs a 6.8-inch Super AMOLED panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a lot to like about both OLED displays because they\u2019re perfect for just about everything, from reading an ebook with ease thanks to their high resolutions, all the way to catching up on your favorite streaming shows because of their exceptional viewing angles and rich colors. Believe us when we say you\u2019ll be enchanted by just looking at them. They\u2019re that good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/td>iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/strong><\/td>Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Delta-E color accuracy (lower is better)<\/strong><\/td>0.24<\/td>0.25<\/td><\/tr>
DCI-P3 color gamut coverage (%)<\/strong><\/td>80.4<\/td>98.5<\/td><\/tr>
Peak brightness<\/strong><\/td>1,553<\/td>1,363<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, today\u2019s phones are mainly judged by how bright they get \u2014 and in our testing, it\u2019s the iPhone 16 Pro Max that\u2019s brighter. It reaches a peak brightness of 1,553 nits, which makes it more visible to the eyes with direct sunlight. Even though the Galaxy S24 Ultra earns a respectable mark of 1,363 nits, it doesn\u2019t get as bright when compared to the iPhone. For this reason, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is our choice here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner<\/strong>: iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Ultra S24: Cameras<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Taking<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Image credit: Future)
Without spilling the beans on which has the better cameras, it\u2019s worth noting that these two phones have everything for shooting photos and video with unprecedented quality. Apple fashions a familiar triple camera setup as before that consists of a 48MP main shooter, refreshed 48MP ultrawide, and a 12MP telephoto with 5x zoom. On paper it matches the Galaxy S24 Ultra\u2019s setup, which includes a 200MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom, and a 50MP telephoto with 5x zoom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These cameras are no doubt versatile in covering all the ranges, but each has their own charm with the experience. Take the new Camera Control button with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is a button on the phone’s side that allows you to quickly take photos much like an ordinary shutter button on a mirrorless camera. One unique way Apple makes Camera Control stand out is how it can also sense how hard your pressing; it recognizes swiping gestures, too. That makes it easier to zoom and go through all of the iPhones modes and settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the Galaxy S24 Ultra\u2019s camera app is more suitable to handle the needs of power users and enthusiasts. That\u2019s because it features proper manual controls for photos and video recording, while also throwing in several others like dual recording. And while it lacks a similar shutter button, the S Pen can be leveraged to take photos as well by pressing down its button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll briefly touch up on the most important areas with their cameras, but our 2 photos with the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra better dives into the differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Apple<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max shooting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra shooting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It came out to a draw between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max with their performance when we put those two phones to the test, but this time there\u2019s a clear winner. Based on a new 3nm manufacturing process, the iPhone 16 Pro Max\u2019s A18 Pro chip proves it has the muscle power to handle whatever we dish out to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Geekbench 6, the iPhone 16 Pro Max widens the divide by posting single and multi-core scores of 3,400 and 8,341 respectively. That\u2019s a much bigger increase from the iPhone 15 Pro Max and it certainly shows when you’re using Apple’s phone and notice the instant response and zippy feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"iPhone<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/td>iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/strong><\/td>Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Geekbench 6 (single-core\/multicore)<\/strong><\/td>3,400 \/ 8,341<\/td>2,300 \/ 7,249<\/td><\/tr>
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited (fps)<\/strong><\/td>107.53<\/td>121.81<\/td><\/tr>
Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (mins:secs)<\/strong><\/td>0:21<\/td>0:42<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite its newer hardware, the iPhone 16 Pro Max still can\u2019t eclipse the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powered Galaxy S24 Ultra when it comes to graphics processing. In 3DMark\u2019s Wild Life Unlimited test, the Galaxy posts an impressive average frame rate of 121.81 fps, which is smoother than the 107.53 fps rate that the iPhone averages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, there\u2019s our Adobe Rush Premiere test that times how long it takes a phone to transcode a video. Between them, the iPhone posts a faster time of 0:21, which is nearly half the time it takes the Galaxy S24 Ultra to complete the same task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Synthetic benchmark tests are great to objectively compare both phones, but the iPhone by and large exhibits smoother responses with normal, everyday tasks such as opening apps and scrolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner<\/strong>: iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Battery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gaming<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Image credit: Future)
Even though Apple doesn\u2019t list the battery capacity in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the company does say that it\u2019s bigger than the power pack inside the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But honestly, it really doesn\u2019t matter because the iPhone 16 Pro Max posts an unbelievable time with our battery benchmark test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Galaxy S24 Ultra\u2019s time of 15 hours and 41 minutes was one of the best when it launched, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max exceeds that with a better 18 hours and 6 minutes time. In our best phone battery life list, it places the iPhone in the third position only bested by the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro and OnePlus 12R, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra finds itself in the sixth position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/td>iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/strong><\/td>Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Battery Life (hours:minutes)<\/strong><\/td>18:06<\/td>15:41<\/td><\/tr>
Recharge Level in 15 mins<\/strong><\/td>29%<\/td>39%<\/td><\/tr>
Recharge Level in 30 mins<\/strong><\/td>55%<\/td>79%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over on the recharging side, the Galaxy S24 Ultra easily edges out the iPhone 16 Pro Max thanks to its faster 45W wired charging speed. The S24 Ultra is able to get up to 39% in 15 minutes, then to 79% in 30 minutes. In contrast, the iPhone gets to 29% and 55%, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, the faster charging speeds of the Ultra are great, but there\u2019s a bigger disparity between their battery life that gives this one to Apple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner<\/strong>: iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Software and AI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple\u2019s software has always been intuitive to use, and that\u2019s no different with iOS 18 running on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. On the surface, the latest software update doesn\u2019t shake up the experience as much as previous releases, but it\u2019s nice to see that Apple pays more attention than ever before in giving more customization, personalization, and privacy with its software. We detail everything new and exciting about it in our iOS 18 review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the greatest part about the software has nothing to do with iOS 18 at all; instead, the focus is on the features that are unlocked with Apple Intelligence. We\u2019ve been using Apple Intelligence with the iOS 18.1 beta to fully get a grip of what it\u2019s able to do, and for the most part, it elevates the experience to the same level as Samsung\u2019s Galaxy AI. There are handy summarizing tools that gives us oversight to our most important notifications, a new Siri that\u2019s much more conversational, and magic of the Photo Clean Up tool \u2014 all of which exists to some degree with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samsung\u2019s One UI 6.1 goes deeper by offering a slew of features that cater to power users. Not only can we access useful AI-assisted features such as Circle to Search and Google Gemini, but Galaxy AI features enhance the overall experience. Generative AI is clearly well represented in stuff like Generative Edit for removing reflections and unwanted subjects in photos, as well as how Instant Slow-Mo turns any video recording into a slow motion clip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also can\u2019t neglect to mention how the S Pen adds to the S24 Ultra experience. It\u2019s a valuable tool with many purposes with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, including the ability to instantly take notes without unlocking the phone, signing PDFs, and using it as a remote shutter for the camera. If that\u2019s not enough to convince you how the Galaxy S24 Ultra is meant for power users, the phone also packs one of the most underrated phone features you\u2019ll find \u2014 Samsung DeX. This allows the Galaxy S24 Ultra to mimic the experience of a traditional desktop PC, which is still something you won\u2019t get with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of these are reasons why the Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to have the more compelling software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner<\/strong>: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Verdict<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"iPhone
After putting the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra through the seven categories we\u2019re grading them in, the final tally gives a clear win to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This shouldn\u2019t be too much of a shock given how their releases are spaced significantly apart from one another, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max getting the upper hand in many areas. Most notable, it has a brighter display, better cameras, and longer battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/td>iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/strong><\/td>Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Price (15 points)<\/strong><\/td>13<\/td>11<\/td><\/tr>
Design (10 points)<\/strong><\/td>9<\/td>9<\/td><\/tr>
Display (15 points)<\/strong><\/td>14<\/td>12<\/td><\/tr>
Cameras (20 points)<\/strong><\/td>20<\/td>18<\/td><\/tr>
Performance (15 points)<\/strong><\/td>15<\/td>14<\/td><\/tr>
Battery and charging (10 points)<\/strong><\/td>9<\/td>8<\/td><\/tr>
Software and special features (15 points)<\/strong><\/td>14<\/td>15<\/td><\/tr>
Total (out of 100)<\/strong><\/td>94<\/td>87<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For now, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is enjoying the time it has left before sailing into the sunset at the start of 2025. Despite offering the richer software, its age is beginning to show and this comparison proves that. Unless you can find Samsung’s phone at a good discount somewhere, you might hold off and save your money on the Galaxy S25 Ultra next year. It\u2019ll be a decent wait for it, but we anticipate bigger upgrades that will make it a more formidable challenger.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s the matchup we’ve been waiting for (Image credit: Future) Samsung came out swinging for the fence with the launch of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, largely propelled by the slew of Galaxy AI features included on the device. It\u2019s been the top contender in our best Android phones list since then, but Apple\u2019s new flagship … Continue reading I put the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra through a 7-round face-off \u2014 here\u2019s the winner<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-apple","category-samsung"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":230,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229\/revisions\/230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}