Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
SD8 Gen 3 · 200MP · Galaxy AI debut
93
/ 100
From $1,299
VS
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB wins by 3
Apple
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB
96
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lands at 93 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB at 96. That puts iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if…
- ✓Galaxy AI Gen 1 features still useful
- ✓Titanium frame
- ✓Flat display vs curved predecessors
Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 93
vs 96 iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
Score breakdown
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
93 cpu 92
gpu 92
camera 95
battery 88
display 95
design 90
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
96 cpu 96
gpu 94
camera 95
battery 90
display 93
design 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 2600 nits | — |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | A18 Pro |
| RAM | 12 GB | — |
| Storage | ▲ 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB | 128GB |
| Rear camera | 200 MP main + 12 MP UW + 50 MP 5× + 10 MP 3× | — |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | — |
| Charging | 45W wired, 15W wireless | — |
| OS | One UI 6.1 | iOS 18 |
| Weight | 233 g | — |
| IP rating | IP68 | — |
| Release year | — | 2024 |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Pros
- +Galaxy AI Gen 1 features still useful
- +Titanium frame
- +Flat display vs curved predecessors
Cons
- −Massive at 233g
- −Tele zoom regressed from S23 Ultra
- −Premium pricing
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
Pros
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
FAQ: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
Which is better, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra worth the price? +
At $1,299, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in camera.
Is iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB 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.