Head to head

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra leads 6 to 5 on the 11 rankable specs, but iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $100 less.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Weight: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists 232 g (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists 227 g (8.0 oz) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Size: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists 6.8 inches (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists 6.9 inches (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Chipset: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm) (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
RAM: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists 12 GB (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists 8GB (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Max optical zoom: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists 5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital) (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists 5x optical (25x digital) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your phone.

Your devices

Select your ecosystem to flag non-functional features or platform lock-in.

Straight answer

Overall: 6 to 5

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Leads 6 of 11 rankable overall specs; iPhone 16 Pro Max takes 5.
RAM: 12 GB vs 8GB
Capacity: 5,000 mAh vs 4,685 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro Max is $100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if ram matters to you.

6 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra11 rankable of 48 specsiPhone 16 Pro Max 5

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

No stylusrow
No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.
Clear:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · S Pen (integrated, IP68)Trips:iPhone 16 Pro Max · No
No headphone jackrow
Wired headphones need a USB-C dongle.
Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Pro Max · No
No charger in the boxrow
Budget another $20 to $40 for a fast charger.
Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Pro Max · No
No microSD slotrow
Storage is fixed at what you buy.
Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Pro Max · No

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

6 of 6 differ

Weight

Samsung

232 g

Apple

227 g (8.0 oz)

Size

Samsung

6.8 inches

Apple

6.9 inches

Chipset≠

Samsung

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)

Apple

Apple A18 Pro (3 nm)

RAM

Samsung

12 GB

Apple

8GB

Max optical zoom≠

Samsung

5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital)

Apple

5x optical (25x digital)

Capacity

Samsung

5,000 mAh

Apple

4,685 mAh (typical)

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Upfront price + 3 years of consumables, fees & essential add-ons

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Upfront list price$1,299

Essential add-ons (45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 brick (no charger in box))+$35

3-Year Estimated Total$1,334

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Upfront list price$1,199

Essential add-ons (30W USB-C fast charging brick (no charger in box))+$29

3-Year Estimated Total$1,228

Pocket, Palm & Desk Usability Check

One-handed reachability, pocket weight, and table wobble when typing without a case.

Ergonomic & Spatial Check

One-Handed Palm Reach

Widths under 72mm allow thumb access to opposite screen edges without shifting grip.

Samsung

6.8" display with 79.0mm wide squared edges (stretches palms)

Apple

6.9" display with 77.6mm width (strictly 2-handed for most hands)

Desk Typing Table Wobble

Horizontal visor cameras sit flat on desks without annoying rocking while typing.

Samsung

Individual camera lens rings cause corner wobble on flat tables

Apple

Prominent corner camera plateau rocks when typing on desk

Pocket Weight & Heft

Samsung

232g (substantial titanium brick)

Apple

227g (heavy pocket presence)

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

Samsung: What to watch for

Ergonomics
Sharp 90-degree squared corners dig aggressively into palms.
One-handed typing causes the pointed lower corner to dig into your palm tissue unless cushioned by a rounded silicone case.
Hardware Quirk
Anti-reflective Gorilla Armor glass smudges easily with skin oils.
While outdoor glare reduction is class-leading, finger oils create noticeable rainbow sheen smudges in bright sunlight.

Apple: What to watch for

Hidden Cost
No wall charging adapter included in the retail box.
Packaging contains only a Type-C cable; high-speed wall charging bricks must be purchased separately if you do not already own one.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra$1,2996 wins

iPhone 16 Pro Max$1,1995 wins

Body Display Platform Memory Rear camera Front camera Battery & charging Audio Connectivity Features

40 of 48 attributes differ. Identical rows are dimmed.

Body

leads 1-0

Body specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Dimensions	162.3 × 79.0 × 8.6 mm	163 × 77.6 × 8.25 mm
Weight	232 g	227 g (8.0 oz) (wins this row: lower)
Build	Gorilla Armor front and back, titanium frame	Grade 5 titanium frame, Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back
Water / dust rating	IP68 (1.5 m / 30 min)	IP68 (6 m up to 30 min)
Colors	Titanium Black, Gray, Violet, Yellow (plus exclusives)	Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
Stylus	S Pen (integrated, IP68)	No

Display

8 differences

Display specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Type	Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, flat	LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Size	6.8 inches	6.9 inches (wins this row: higher)
Resolution	1440 × 3120 (QHD+)	2868 × 1320 (wins this row: higher)
Pixel density	~505 ppi (wins this row: higher)	460 ppi
Refresh rate	1–120 Hz LTPO	120 Hz ProMotion
Peak brightness	2,600 nits peak (wins this row: higher)	2,000 nits peak (outdoor)
HDR	HDR10+	HDR10, Dolby Vision
Protection	Corning Gorilla Armor, anti-reflective	Latest-generation Ceramic Shield
Always-on display	Yes	Yes

Platform

5 differences

Platform specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Operating system	Android 14, One UI 6.1 (upgradable)	iOS 18
Software support	7 major OS versions + 7 years security	7 years (estimated based on Apple track record)
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)	Apple A18 Pro (3 nm)
CPU	8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 5× A720 + 2× A520)	6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency)
GPU	Adreno 750	6-core Apple GPU with ray tracing

Memory

leads 1-0

Memory specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
RAM	12 GB (wins this row: higher)	8GB
Storage	256 GB UFS 4.0	256 GB
Storage options	256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB	256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
microSD	No	No

Rear camera

leads 2-1

Rear camera specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Main	200 MP, f/1.7, 24 mm, 1/1.3", OIS, multi-direction PDAF (wins this row: higher)	48 MP Fusion, f/1.78, 24 mm, sensor-shift OIS
Ultrawide	12 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120°	48 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120° FOV, autofocus macro (wins this row: higher)
Telephoto	10 MP 3x + 50 MP 5x periscope (both OIS)	12 MP, f/2.8, 120 mm, 5x optical zoom, 3D sensor-shift OIS (wins this row: higher)
Max optical zoom	5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital)	5x optical (25x digital)
Stabilization	OIS on main and both telephotos	3D Sensor-shift OIS on main and telephoto
Video	8K 30 fps, 4K 120 fps, HDR10+	4K at 24/25/30/60/120 fps Dolby Vision, ProRes, Log, spatial video

Front camera

2 differences

Front camera specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Selfie camera	12 MP, f/2.2, punch-hole	12 MP TrueDepth, f/1.9, autofocus
Selfie video	4K 60 fps	4K 60 fps, Cinematic mode 4K 30 fps

Battery & charging

leads 2-0

Battery & charging specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Capacity	5,000 mAh (wins this row: higher)	4,685 mAh (typical)
Wired chargingNot on the official sheet	45 W (charger sold separately) (wins this row: higher)	~25 W USB-C (no charger in box)
Wireless charging	15 W Qi / Fast Wireless	MagSafe up to 25 W, Qi2 up to 15 W
Reverse wireless	4.5 W Wireless PowerShare	4.5 W wired reverse charging
Charger in box	No	No

Audio

1 differences

Audio specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Speakers	Stereo tuned by AKG	Stereo (bottom + earpiece)
Headphone jack	No	No

Connectivity

3 differences

Connectivity specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Cellular	5G (sub-6 + mmWave, region-dependent)	5G (sub-6 + mmWave, region-dependent)
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
NFC	Yes (Samsung Pay / Google Wallet)	Yes (Apple Pay)
USB	USB-C 3.2	USB-C 3 (up to 10 Gbps)
SIM	Dual nano-SIM + eSIM (region-dependent)	eSIM (US) / dual nano + eSIM (many other regions)

Features

3 differences

Features specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Biometrics	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint + face unlock	Face ID
Extra controls	S Pen button, programmable side key	Action Button, Camera Control
Standout features	S Pen, Samsung DeX, Galaxy AI, Vision Booster	Dynamic Island, Apple Intelligence, MagSafe, Emergency SOS via satellite

Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra source iPhone 16 Pro Max source

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Android flagship with S Pen, 200MP camera, 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED, and seven years of OS updates.

S Pen built in
200MP main + 5x periscope telephoto
7 years of OS and security updates

What you give up

Larger and heavier than iPhone 16 Pro
No charger in the box
Flat 6.8-inch body is harder one-handed

Full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specs →

Pick this one if

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple's top-tier 6.9-inch smartphone with A18 Pro chip, 5x optical telephoto camera, and Camera Control button.

Massive 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display with ultra-thin borders
Longest battery life ever on an iPhone with up to 33 hours video
4K 120 fps ProRes video capture and dedicated Camera Control button

What you give up

Large and heavy in one-handed use
Wired fast charging capped around 25W

Full iPhone 16 Pro Max specs →

Best for each use

Photos

Camera first: zoom reach, sensors, stabilisation and video

For photos, buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Leads 2 of 3 rankable photos specs; Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes 1.
Ultrawide: 48 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120° FOV, autofocus macro vs 12 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120°
Telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.8, 120 mm, 5x optical zoom, 3D… vs 10 MP 3x + 50 MP 5x periscope
It is also $100 cheaper.

Battery & updates

All-day battery, fast top-ups and years of software support

For battery & updates, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Leads 2 of 2 rankable battery & updates specs.
Capacity: 5,000 mAh vs 4,685 mAh
Wired charging: 45 W vs ~25 W USB-C
iPhone 16 Pro Max is $100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if capacity matters to you.

Games & video

Games and streaming: chip, refresh rate, brightness, speakers

For games & video, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Leads 2 of 3 rankable games & video specs; iPhone 16 Pro Max takes 1.
RAM: 12 GB vs 8GB
Peak brightness: 2,600 nits peak vs 2,000 nits peak
iPhone 16 Pro Max is $100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if ram matters to you.

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra spec sheet iPhone 16 Pro Max spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ↗ · iPhone 16 Pro Max ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Pro Max?

iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $100 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max?

iPhone 16 Pro Max has this deal-breaker: no stylus. No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.

Which is better for photos, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Pro Max?

For photos, buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Leads 2 of 3 rankable photos specs; Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes 1. Ultrawide: 48 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120° FOV, autofocus macro vs 12 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120°

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 48 specs tracked here, 37 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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