iPhone 15 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison

Apple and Samsung continue their annual battle for smartphone supremacy. The iPhone 15 Pro, with its new A17 Pro chip and titanium build, faces off against the Galaxy S24 Ultra, boasting the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and a suite of AI-powered features. This comparison dissects the core differences to help you choose the right premium phone.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a streamlined ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro edges out the Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, the S24 Ultra’s superior battery life and more versatile charging options, coupled with its brighter display, make it a compelling choice for power users and Android enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 15 Pro Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A31021, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A31021, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, September 122024, January 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, September 22Available. Released 2024, January 24
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2)
Dimensions146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3 mm (5.77 x 2.78 x 0.33 in)162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN
Weight187 g (6.60 oz)232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz)
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield glassCorning Gorilla Armor
Resolution1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetApple A17 Pro (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUApple GPU (6-core graphics)Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
OSiOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)-
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec.8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, Dolby Vision HDRHDR, HDR10+
Single12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3274 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural TitaniumTitanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange
ModelsA2848, A3101, A3102, A3104, iPhone16,1SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS
Price$ 489.68 / C$ 849.99 / £ 559.99 / € 648.47$ 514.94 / C$ 929.99 / £ 630.00 / € 658.53 / ₹ 84,999
SAR1.14 W/kg (head)     1.16 W/kg (body)1.26 W/kg (head)     0.62 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.98 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)1.06 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

  • Superior single-core performance with the A17 Pro chip.
  • Brighter display for better outdoor visibility.
  • Exceptional video recording quality.
  • Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.

  • Shorter battery life compared to the S24 Ultra.
  • Slower wired charging speed.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Longer battery life for all-day use.
  • Faster wired charging with 45W support.
  • More versatile camera system with advanced zoom.
  • Android’s customization options.

  • Slightly dimmer display in direct sunlight.
  • Potential for software bloat and updates can be slower.

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s display, while measuring 1447 nits peak brightness, falls short of the iPhone 15 Pro’s impressive 1786 nits. This difference is noticeable in direct sunlight, giving the iPhone a slight edge in outdoor visibility. Both utilize advanced panel technologies, but the S24 Ultra’s larger size and potentially higher refresh rate (not specified in data, but standard for the Ultra line) could benefit users consuming a lot of video content. The iPhone 15 Pro’s color accuracy is renowned, but Samsung’s displays are consistently excellent, and the S24 Ultra likely offers more customizable color profiles.

Camera Comparison

Both devices excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. The context data doesn’t provide sensor details, but both are expected to feature large sensors. The S24 Ultra’s camera system is known for its versatility, particularly its advanced zoom capabilities, which are not mentioned for the iPhone 15 Pro. Apple traditionally prioritizes natural-looking images and exceptional video quality, while Samsung often boosts colors and contrast. The iPhone 15 Pro’s video recording capabilities are widely considered best-in-class. The lack of detail on sensor sizes prevents a definitive camera winner, but the S24 Ultra’s multi-camera system offers more flexibility.

Performance

The core of the performance debate lies between Apple’s A17 Pro (3nm) and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). While the A17 Pro’s hexa-core configuration (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) appears less complex than the S24 Ultra’s octa-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520), Apple’s chip design and software optimization typically deliver superior single-core performance. The 4nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers improved thermal efficiency compared to previous generations, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. However, the A17 Pro’s 3nm fabrication should provide even greater efficiency. Both phones will handle any task thrown at them, but the A17 Pro likely holds a slight lead in demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S24 Ultra demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving an active use score of 13:49h compared to the iPhone 15 Pro’s 12:58h. While the iPhone 15 Pro has an endurance rating of 86h, this is a different metric than active use. The S24 Ultra also boasts faster wired charging at 45W (65% in 30 min) versus the iPhone 15 Pro’s 50% in 30 min. Both support 15W wireless charging, but the iPhone 15 Pro gains Qi2 support with the iOS 17.2 update, offering potentially improved efficiency. The inclusion of 4.5W reverse wired charging on both devices is a minor convenience feature.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro if you need a seamlessly integrated ecosystem, prioritize video recording quality, and value Apple’s software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you prefer Android’s customization, demand the longest possible battery life, and want a more versatile camera system with advanced zoom capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the S24 Ultra get noticeably warmer than the A17 Pro during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is more thermally efficient than previous generations, the A17 Pro’s 3nm process and Apple’s thermal management are highly optimized. Expect both phones to experience some heat during prolonged gaming, but the iPhone 15 Pro is likely to maintain slightly cooler temperatures under sustained load.
❓ Is the 4.5W reverse wireless charging on either phone useful for anything beyond emergencies?
The 4.5W reverse wireless charging is primarily a convenience feature for topping up accessories like earbuds or a smartwatch in a pinch. It’s too slow to significantly charge a phone, but can be helpful in situations where a power outlet isn’t available.
❓ With the iPhone 15 Pro adopting USB-C, does it support the S24 Ultra's faster charging speeds?
No. While both phones now use USB-C, the iPhone 15 Pro is limited to around 27W charging speeds despite supporting the USB-C connector. The S24 Ultra requires a compatible 45W charger to achieve its fastest charging speeds.