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

All four iPhone 16 models that Apple unveiled last month are now in stores. The biggest phone in the bunch remains the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which can go 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 0.1-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. 

See more: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Review: Compelling Upgrade With My Favorite iPhone Feature in Years

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. 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.

Watch this: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra: Spec Breakdown

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Should you buy and iPhone 16 Pro Max or Galaxy S24 Ultra?

Despite all the flashy specs and features, the two biggest factors most people should consider if choosing between these two phones is price and software. The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts a $1,199 compared to the $1,300 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Is the Ultra $100 better than the new iPhone. Honestly, it’s hard to say. But you can find the Ultra on sale — we’ve seen it be discounted as much as $250.

In terms of software one phone runs iOS and the other Android. Clearly if you, your family or close friends are on Android or iOS, that will be a huge factor in determining which phone is best for you. While Apple promises five years of major OS upgrades, Samsung has committed to seven years. Also, we should mention that the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a built-in stylus called the S Pen — the iPhone doesn’t. At the end of the day, whether you opt for an iPhone 16 Pro Max of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you’re getting an excellent phone that should last you for years.

Watch this: Review: Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Is an Impressive Upgrade

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