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Samsung’s Galaxy S24 lineup showcases an impressive array of hardware and AI features, but it isn’t the only line of flagship phones worth talking about. If you aren’t committed to Android, you’re likely considering the formidable iPhone 15 series, which recently helped Apple overtake Samsung for global smartphone shipments in 2023.We can’t predict whether the S24 lineup will swing the needle back in Samsung’s direction until we fully review each new handset (which we’re in the process of doing, so check back soon), but we can break down the specs to show you how they stack up on paper.
Samsung Galaxy S24
Unlocked, 256GB (sale price includes trade-in credit)
$249.00$859.00 Save $610.00
Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: PriceSamsung sells three Galaxy S24 devices, while Apple offers four iPhone 15 models. All of them command high prices.
The Galaxy S24 starts at $799.99, the S24+ retails for $999.99, and the S24 Ultra begins at $1,299.99. These base prices increase as you add more storage, but deals are often available that drive the prices down.
Apple’s iPhone 15 starts at $799, the iPhone 15 Plus lists for $899, the iPhone 15 Pro costs $999, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max goes for $1,199. As with the S24 family, storage upgrades add to the cost.
Although the base models cost the same, Apple has an advantage in a couple of spots. For example, the iPhone 15 Plus comes in $100 under the S24+, which has the same size screen. Similarly, Apple’s top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max costs $100 less than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: DesignThe Galaxy S24 and S24+ resemble each other and every iPhone 15 model. All are rounded rectangular slabs with flat screens and sides. Meanwhile, the S24 Ultra has a much more squared-off look and houses a slot for the included S-Pen stylus. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max stand apart slightly for their customizable Action buttons.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Apple builds its rear cameras into a raised squarish section on the back of each phone, but Samsung simply lets the lenses protrude directly from the rear panel for a more minimalist look. If you don’t like camera bumps, you won’t like the design of any iPhone 15 model. All the phones opt for a front camera that’s part of the display.
iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
As for dimensions, the Galaxy S24 comes in at 5.79 by 2.78 by 0.30 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.93 ounces. It’s smaller and lighter in every way than the iPhone 15 (5.81 by 2.82 by 0.31 inches, 6.02 ounces). The S24 is also thinner and lighter than the iPhone 15 Pro (5.77 by 2.78 by 0.32 inches, 6.60 ounces), though a bit taller.Samsung’s Galaxy S24+ measures 6.2 by 3.0 by 0.30 inches and weighs 6.95 ounces, making it smaller and lighter than the iPhone 15 Plus (6.33 by 3.06 by 0.31 inches, 7.09 ounces) and the iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.29 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches, 7.81 ounces).Finally, the S24 Ultra is 6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 inches and 8.22 ounces. It’s quite a bit larger and heavier than even the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the sharp corners make it less comfortable in your pocket.
Left to right: Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro Max (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max all feature titanium frames, while the rest of the models are aluminum. The S24 Ultra has Corning Armor glass on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass on the back while the S24 and S24+ use Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and all of Apple’s phones use proprietary Ceramic Shield panels. All of the phones have an IP68 rating, meaning they are fully dustproof and waterproof.In addition, every phone has a USB-C port now that Apple has ditched the Lightning connector. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have a slower USB 2.0 type, whereas the Pro models get the USB-C 3 Gen 2 spec for faster data transfers. We don’t yet know which type the Galaxy S24 devices have. None of the phones have a headphone jack or a microSD card slot.The Samsung models are available in similar, matte finishes. Amber Yellow, Cobalt Violet, Marble Gray, or Onyx Black are your options for the S24 and S24+, while Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, or Titanium Yellow are your choices for the S24 Ultra. The iPhone 15 Pro models come in Black Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium, or White Titanium, while Apple sells the regular variants in Light Blue, Green, Pink, or Yellow. Suffice it to say, you have no shortage of options.Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: DisplayScreen sizes across the device lineups range from 6.1 inches to 6.8 inches. Samsung and Apple both make compact devices for small phone fans, while the larger options offer plenty of space for multimedia.
Left to right: Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro Max (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The S24 has a 6.2-inch display with FHD+ resolution (2,340 by 1,080 pixels), while the 6.7-inch S24+ and 6.8-inch S24 Ultra phones both have QHD+ (3,120 by 1,440 pixels) displays. All models support variable refresh rates up to 120Hz, have a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, and offer an always-on option.Apple’s panels for the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 (2,556 by 1,179 pixels) and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus (2,796 by 1,290 pixels) stick to a refresh rate of 60Hz and do not have an always-on feature. But the screens for the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro (2,556 by 1,179 pixels) and 6.7-inch Pro Max (2,796 by 1,290 pixels) have an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz and do support an always-on display option. All iPhone 15 models have a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. We don’t anticipate screen visibility problems with any of these devices no matter the lighting conditions. If you’re looking for the smoothest animations or an always-on display, you should rule out the non-Pro iPhone 15 variants.Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: PerformanceFor years, Apple’s in-house chips have outperformed anything from Qualcomm. This time, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 might close the gap.Galaxy S24 models in the US use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy system on a chip (SoC). It’s the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with exclusive performance tweaks to the CPU, GPU, and NPU. Apple’s iPhone 15 and 15 Plus use the company’s own A16 Bionic SoC, while the Pro models get the more powerful A17 Pro SoC.
Galaxy S24 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
We haven’t run benchmarks on any of the S24 handsets yet, but we have tested other phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, including the Asus ROG Phone 8. In Geekbench 6, a suite of tests that quantifies raw computing power, the ROG Phone scored 2,236 on the single-core test and 7,000 on the multi-core test. For the iPhone 15, we saw scores of 2,607 and 6,231 in the single-core and multi-core tests respectively. The iPhone 15 Pro turned in results of 2,936 and 7,399. As for RAM, the S24 offers 8GB, while the S24+ and S24 Ultra have 12GB. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus both have 6GB of RAM. Apple doesn’t list how much memory its Pro devices offer, though it is suspected to be 8GB.Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: ConnectivityAll the handsets in the S24 and iPhone 15 lineup support 5G (C-band, sub-6GHz, and mmWave), NFC, and Bluetooth 5.3. That said, Samsung’s phones might have an advantage in testing because they use the Snapdragon X75 modem, whereas the iPhones use the older X70 modem.When it comes to Wi-Fi, things start to diverge. The Galaxy S24 and S24+, along with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, support Wi-Fi 6E. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus top out at the older Wi-Fi 6 standard. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra works with the latest Wi-Fi 7 spec. Remember that your internet service provider and router ultimately determine your Wi-Fi speeds. Make sure your router can keep up with your phone and vice versa.Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: CameraBoth the S24 and S24+ have a 50MP f/1.8 main lens with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The S24 Ultra has the same 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto cameras as the others but features a 200MP f/1.7 main camera with OIS and an additional 50MP f/3.4 telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.
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The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have identical camera arrangements: two on the back and one on the front. The main rear camera has a 48MP f/1.6 sensor and OIS, while a dedicated 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera offers a 120-degree field of view.
Left to right: Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro Max (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The Pro models get three rear cameras: a 48MP f/1.78 main lens with OIS, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, and a telephoto option. The 15 Pro comes with a 12MP f/2.8 lens with 3x optical zoom, whereas the 15 Pro Max gets a 12MP f/2.8 tetraprism lens with 5x optical zoom and OIS.Generally, you should be able to get excellent pictures from all of these devices. Each offers something unique, however. Samsung, for instance, includes AI tools in its camera and editing apps (including an Object Eraser feature), something not available on iPhones. On the Apple side, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the only two phones capable of recording Spatial Video for Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset. For video, the iPhone 15 Pro models can capture video in ProRes if you’re using an SSD connected via USB-C. This is useful if you want to get video without a lot of compression. That said, Samsung’s S24 line can shoot video at a maximum of 8K resolution and 30fps, whereas the latest iPhones top out at 4K and 60fps. You should be able to roll high-quality video with any of the phones.Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: BatteryWe haven’t put any of the S24 devices through our battery tests, but we do know that the S24 has a 4,000mAh battery, the S24+ has a 4,900mAh battery, and the S24 Ultra packs a 5,000mAh battery. The S24 charges at up to 25W, but the other two support faster rates of up to 45W (assuming you provide a capable charger). All top out at 15W for wireless charging. For reference, the S23 and S23 Ultra survived over 13 hours in our rundown test, while the S23+ got close to 15 hours.
Galaxy S24 Ultra (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The iPhone 15 has a 3,349mAh battery that lasted 16 hours in our battery tests. The numbers go up from there. We got over 19 hours with the iPhone 15 Plus (4,383mAh), 16 hours and 45 minutes with the iPhone 15 Pro (3,274mAh), and 20 hours and 15 minutes with the iPhone 15 Pro Max (4,400mAh). All iPhone 15 models officially support 20W wired charging (we clocked the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 27W) and 15W wireless charging with a MagSafe charger.Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: SoftwareSamsung will support its S24 devices with seven years of OS and security updates. That’s an impressive commitment that covers the phones into 2031. Apple doesn’t officially specify how long it plans to support its devices, but most iPhones get about five years of software and security upgrades.Of course, you should also think about Samsung’s and Apple’s respective app and device ecosystems. If you already use an iPhone, it can be hard to switch over to Android and vice versa. Moreover, the Apple Watch and AirTag work only with iPhones, while the Galaxy Watch and SmartTag 2 perform best with Samsung phones. True wireless earbuds from both companies also work the most seamlessly on first-party hardware.More broadly, you must also decide between Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 interface and Apple’s iOS 17. Each has its merits as we discuss in our in-depth comparison of the two operating systems.Ready to Choose?We can’t yet say how the S24 series will stack up in our real-world tests, but our expectations are high. Of course, we already highly recommend every model in the iPhone 15 line, so your decision is likely to come down to your preferences in favor of Samsung or Apple, as well as Android or iOS. Be sure to check back soon for our Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra reviews to get the full details and learn about any surprises that come up in testing. If you’re already sold, you can preorder the phones here.
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