Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 · One UI · 128GB
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB lands at 92 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB if…
- ✓Large AMOLED display
- ✓S-Pen or DeX productivity (on Ultra/Note)
- ✓Many storage tiers
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- ✓A19 Pro chip
- ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
- ✓Up to 2 TB storage
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
TieStills and video quality across lenses
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Battery life
iPhone 17 Pro MaxScreen-on time and charging
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 88).
Performance
iPhone 17 Pro MaxChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on cpu (98 vs 92).
Display
TiePanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
iPhone 17 Pro MaxSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
iPhone 17 Pro Max more score per dollar ($1,199 vs $1,299).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Apple A19 Pro chip |
| Storage | 128GB | ▲ 256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB |
| OS | Android 14 | iOS 26 |
| Release year | 2024 | — |
| Display | — | 6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi |
| Battery (video) | — | Up to 39 hours |
| Charging | — | 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W |
| Weight | — | 233 g |
| IP rating | — | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB
- +Large AMOLED display
- +S-Pen or DeX productivity (on Ultra/Note)
- +Many storage tiers
- −One UI can be heavy
- −Pricey top trims
- −Update speed trails Pixel
iPhone 17 Pro Max
- +A19 Pro chip
- +Up to 39 hours video playback
- +Up to 2 TB storage
- −Premium price
- −Weighs 233 g
- −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter
FAQ: Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB worth the price? +
At $1,299, Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in camera.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for battery life, Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 88). Screen-on time and charging.
Which is better for performance, Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on cpu (98 vs 92). Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps.