Samsung
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Device summary
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2024 | 2025 |
| Starting price | — | $1,199 |
| Display size | — | 6.9-inch |
| Dimensions | 79.0 mm × 162.3 mm × 8.6 mm | 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 232 g | 233 g |
| Front material | — | Ceramic Shield |
| Back material | — | Ceramic Shield |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | — | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | — | 2868 × 1320 |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | — | 2000 nits |
| Protection | — | Ceramic Shield |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | — | Apple A19 Pro |
| RAM | — | 12 GB |
| Storage | — | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB |
| Expandable storage | — | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | — | Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.78 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera | — | Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm |
| Telephoto camera | — | Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 120 mm · 4× optical zoom · OIS |
| Front cameras | — | Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9 |
| Video recording | — | 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Wired charging | — | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | — | 15 W |
| Charging standard | — | MagSafe, Qi2 |
| Video playback (Manufacturer claim) | — | 39 h |
| Battery type | — | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | — | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE |
| Wi‑Fi | — | Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 6 |
| USB | — | USB-C (USB 3) |
| NFC | — | Yes |
| eSIM | — | Yes |
| Satellite | — | Emergency SOS via satellite |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | — | Aluminum unibody |
| Ingress protection | — | IP68 |
Basic information
Release year
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- 2024
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2025
Starting price
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- $1,199
Display size
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 6.9-inch
Dimensions
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- 79.0 mm × 162.3 mm × 8.6 mm
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm
Weight
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- 232 g
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 233 g
Front material
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Back material
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Display
Display technology
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2868 × 1320
Refresh rate
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 120 Hz
Peak brightness
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2000 nits
Protection
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Performance
Chipset
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Apple A19 Pro
RAM
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 12 GB
Storage
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
Expandable storage
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.78 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS
Ultra-wide camera
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm
Telephoto camera
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 120 mm · 4× optical zoom · OIS
Front cameras
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9
Video recording
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps
Battery & charging
Wired charging
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 25 W
Wireless charging
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 15 W
Charging standard
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- MagSafe, Qi2
Video playback (Manufacturer claim)
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 39 h
Battery type
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
Connectivity
Cellular
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE
Wi‑Fi
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Bluetooth 6
USB
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- USB-C (USB 3)
NFC
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Yes
eSIM
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Yes
Satellite
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Emergency SOS via satellite
Build & durability
Frame
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Aluminum unibody
Ingress protection
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- IP68
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Height
iPhone 17 Pro Max
1.1 mm taller · minor difference
Width
Galaxy S24 Ultra
1 mm wider · minor difference
Thickness
Very similar thickness
Weight
Very similar weight
User Experience Summary
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Strengths
- Camera system remains one of the most versatile on any Android phone
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy still feels fast after more than two years
- Bluetooth-enabled S Pen offers genuine utility Samsung has since removed from newer models
Compromises
- Persistent shutter lag causes missed candid photo moments
- Slow shutter speed in low light blurs moving subjects
- Titanium frame scratches more easily than its marketing suggested
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Strengths
- Best-in-lineup battery endurance for real travel and heavy days
- 6.9-inch display transforms media, gaming, and mobile editing
- Full Pro camera system including 4x telephoto
Compromises
- Wide, heavy body limits one-handed and pocket-first use
- Incremental upgrade for recent Pro Max owners
- No camera advantage over the smaller iPhone 17 Pro