The iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represent the latest flagship offerings from Apple and Samsung, promising cutting-edge technology, premium design, and robust performance. In this detailed comparison, we’ll pit these two devices against each other across various aspects such as design, display, performance, cameras, and more to help you decide which device fits your needs better.
Design and Build Quality
- iPhone 16 Pro: Apple continues its tradition of employing surgical-grade stainless steel for its frame with a ceramic shield front and back, offering excellent durability. The device is slightly lighter this year due to the adoption of a titanium alloy for its chassis. The edges are more refined, and the standard flat-edged design remains recognizable. The iPhone 16 Pro is water and dust resistant (IP68), capable of withstanding up to 6 meters of water depth for 30 minutes.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: The Galaxy S24 Ultra combines an aluminum frame with a Gorilla Glass Victus 3 front and back. Samsung’s design features curved edges on its larger screen, making it more ergonomic to hold despite its size. Like the iPhone, it is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance but can survive depths of only 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. The S Pen slot adds to the device's utility at the cost of additional bulk.
Verdict: The lighter titanium build of the iPhone 16 Pro gives it an edge in terms of portability, but the ergonomic design coupled with the S Pen utility makes the S24 Ultra appealing for productivity-oriented users.
Display Technology and Screen Size
- iPhone 16 Pro: The iPhone 16 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion technology, supporting adaptive refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz. It offers vibrant colors, HDR10, and Dolby Vision, while achieving a peak brightness of 2,500 nits, making it excellent for outdoor use.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra boasts a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate (adaptive) and HDR10+ support. Its peak brightness reaches 2,800 nits, outshining the iPhone in bright environments, and the WQHD+ resolution (3088 x 1440) provides ultra-crisp visuals.
Verdict: While smaller, the iPhone 16 Pro’s display excels in uniform color performance and Dolby Vision compatibility. However, the S24 Ultra offers superior brightness, a larger screen, and a higher resolution for media enthusiasts.
Performance and Chipset
| Parameter | iPhone 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A18 Pro Bionic (3nm) | Exynos 2400 / Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) |
| Clock Speed | High-performance cores clocked at 3.7 GHz | 3.2 GHz for Snapdragon variant |
| GPU | Apple-designed 8-core GPU | Adreno 750 (Snapdragon) / Xclipse 920 (Exynos) |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB/16GB |
Verdict: The A18 Pro surpasses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Exynos 2400 in raw processing power and efficiency, thanks to its 3nm architecture. However, the S24 Ultra’s additional RAM aids multitasking and future-proofing.
Camera Capabilities and Features
- iPhone 16 Pro: The triple-lens system includes a 48MP main sensor with enhanced low-light performance, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x zoom. Apple’s Smart HDR 5 ensures excellent contrast and detail. New computational features like extended portrait mode and spatial videos (for Vision Pro) elevate creativity.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: The quad-camera setup includes a massive 200MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide, a 10MP periscope telephoto (10x optical zoom), and a secondary 10MP telephoto lens (3x optical zoom). Samsung’s advanced ISP supports 8K videos at 30fps and high-res night shots.
Verdict: Samsung takes the crown in versatility and zoom capabilities, while Apple leads in color accuracy and computational photography features.
Battery Life and Charging Speed
- iPhone 16 Pro: Equipped with a 3,700mAh battery, the iPhone provides improved efficiency with its A18 Pro chip, lasting roughly 22 hours of video playback. MagSafe wireless charging reaches 15W, while wired Lightning charging caps at 30W.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: With a 5,000mAh battery, the S24 Ultra offers 25-30 hours of endurance depending on usage. It supports faster 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging paired with reverse wireless power-sharing.
Verdict: The S24 Ultra has a larger battery and faster wired charging, making it better for heavy users, while the iPhone optimizes power efficiency for longer usage despite a smaller battery.
Storage Options and RAM
- iPhone 16 Pro: Available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options, the iPhone sticks with 8GB RAM. Storage is non-expandable.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Offers 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options, with 12GB or 16GB RAM depending on the variant. Samsung continues to omit expandable storage on its Ultra lineup.
Verdict: The S24 Ultra’s higher RAM makes it better suited for RAM-intensive applications, but both phones have a wide range of storage capacities to cater to different users.
Software and User Interface
- iPhone 16 Pro: Runs iOS 17 with its seamless ecosystem integrations and new features like improved widgets and StandBy Mode. Frequent updates and extended software support are Apple's forte.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Packed with One UI 6 atop Android 14, the S24 Ultra offers superior customization, multitasking capabilities, and exclusive Samsung apps. However, Samsung’s update schedule lags behind Apple's consistency.
Verdict: iOS is ideal for seamless connectivity and updates, while One UI appeals to Android users who value customization and multitasking.
5G and Connectivity Features
- iPhone 16 Pro: Includes a custom Qualcomm modem for ultrafast mmWave 5G (in select regions) and support for Wi-Fi 6E. It introduces Ultra-Wideband (UWB) 2.0 for improved Precision Finding of nearby devices.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Comes with Wi-Fi 7 for higher-speed connectivity, mmWave and sub-6 5G, and UWB capabilities. Samsung Dex and S Pen wireless functionality add unique connectivity features.
Verdict: The S24 Ultra's inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 may appeal to early adopters, but UWB 2.0 and Apple’s ecosystem enhancements make the iPhone competitive.
Special Features Unique to Each Device
- iPhone 16 Pro: Spatial video recording for Vision Pro VR headset, improved Dynamic Island functionalities, and emergency satellite connectivity.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: S Pen integration, Samsung Dex for transforming the phone into a PC-like setup, and better zoom capabilities.
Price and Value for Money
- iPhone 16 Pro: Starting at $1,099, Apple offers a premium experience with cutting-edge technology, albeit with fewer hardware features for its price compared to Samsung.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Starting at $1,199, it provides more versatility in cameras and productivity tools, justifying its slightly higher price tag.
Verdict: The choice boils down to whether you value ecosystem integration (Apple) or spec-packed versatility (Samsung).
In conclusion, the iPhone 16 Pro is perfect for users immersed in Apple's ecosystem, valuing long-term software support and top-notch user experience. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is ideal for photography enthusiasts, power users, and those seeking a device for productivity. Your choice depends on what features matter most to you.
