Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which Should You Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max are the undisputed flagships of 2024. Both cost over $1,200 in their highest configurations. We used both daily for a month to find out which one deserves your money.

Design

The S24 Ultra is a rectangular slab with flat edges and an integrated S Pen slot — unmistakably Samsung, and unmistakably aimed at power users. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the warmer, more premium feel of its titanium build. Both feel expensive. The S24 Ultra is noticeably heavier at 232g vs the iPhone's 221g.

Display

Both are excellent. The S24 Ultra's 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel is marginally brighter at peak (2600 nits vs 2000 nits), but in practice both are perfectly visible outdoors. The iPhone's ProMotion is smoother at lower frame rates for power saving.

Camera

The S24 Ultra has four rear cameras to the iPhone's three. Samsung's 200MP main sensor captures more detail in daylight shots — but the iPhone's computational photography and video processing are still ahead. Both have exceptional zoom: 10× optical on the S24 Ultra, 5× on the iPhone. For stills, it's a draw. For video, iPhone wins clearly.

Software

Samsung's Galaxy AI features (Live Translate, Circle to Search, AI-generated summaries) are impressive and genuinely useful day to day. Apple Intelligence is still rolling out. Neither is a clear winner here — it depends on which ecosystem you're invested in.

Battery

The S24 Ultra's 5000mAh battery outlasts the iPhone on heavy use. Samsung also supports faster wired charging (45W vs iPhone's 27W). However, the iPhone holds its charge better during light use, thanks to tighter hardware-software optimisation.

S Pen

If you need to hand-write notes or annotate documents, the S Pen is a genuine reason to pick the S24 Ultra. The iPhone has no stylus equivalent.

Verdict

iPhone 15 Pro Max: best if you value video, ecosystem integration (Mac, iPad, AirPods), and premium build quality.

Galaxy S24 Ultra: best if you value flexibility, the S Pen, faster charging, and Samsung's AI features.

Both are available now in the Servidge Shop with multiple colour and storage options.