The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Apple iPhone 16 are not direct equivalents: the S24 Ultra is a large, premium Ultra phone, while the iPhone 16 is a smaller standard model. Choose Samsung for its 6.8-inch 120Hz screen, dedicated 3x and 5x telephoto cameras, S Pen-compatible design and storage options up to 1TB. Choose Apple if you want a lighter 6.1-inch phone and prefer iOS. The available U.S. price figures are not a current like-for-like comparison, so treat them as reference points rather than today’s price gap.
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16: key specifications
This is a specification comparison, not a claim about real-world speed, camera quality or battery life. The phones belong to different size and price tiers, and their listed features do not establish which performs better in everyday use.
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| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Apple iPhone 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X; adaptive refresh up to 120Hz (Samsung, 2024) | 6.1-inch OLED; 2556 × 1179 pixels, 460 ppi (Apple, technical specifications accessed October 7, 2026) |
| Dimensions and weight | 232g (Sub6) or 233g (mmWave), per Samsung (2024) | 170g, per Apple (technical specifications accessed October 7, 2026) |
| Rear cameras | Four: 200MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP 5x telephoto and 10MP 3x telephoto | Two: 48MP main and 12MP ultra-wide; the main-camera design supports a 2x optical zoom-in view |
| Storage configurations | 256GB, 512GB or 1TB; 12GB memory | 128GB is the starting configuration on Apple’s U.S. store page; see Apple’s current specification and store pages for available capacity options |
| Processor and software | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy; launched with Android 14 and One UI 6.1 | Apple A18 chip; iOS |
| Battery and charging evidence | 5,000mAh typical battery. Samsung says it can reach up to 65% in around 30 minutes with a 45W adapter and 5A USB-C cable under its stated lab conditions; adapter sold separately. | Battery capacity and a comparable runtime or charging figure are not stated on the cited Apple specification page. |
| Software-support statement | Samsung announced seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates for the S24 series. | A directly comparable support-duration commitment is not stated in the cited Apple sources. |
| Price evidence | Samsung’s U.S. MSRP list effective December 2024 showed $1,299.99 for the unlocked 256GB model and marked that SKU EOL. | Apple’s U.S. store page showed 128GB from $799; its unlocked “connect to any carrier later” listing was $829, accessed October 7, 2026. |
Sources: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specifications; Samsung Mobile Press, 2024 Galaxy S24 series announcement; Apple iPhone 16 technical specifications; Apple U.S. iPhone 16 store page; Samsung U.S. MSRP list, effective December 2024.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow the displays and size differ
The S24 Ultra gives you a larger 6.8-inch screen, higher stated QHD+ resolution and adaptive refresh up to 120Hz. The iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch OLED is more compact, and Apple specifies its resolution and pixel density as 2556 × 1179 and 460 ppi. A higher refresh ceiling is a listed feature, not proof of a better experience for every user.
#1 Best Overall
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
The weight difference is substantial: Samsung lists the S24 Ultra at 232g for Sub6 and 233g for mmWave, compared with Apple’s 170g iPhone 16. If one-handed handling, pocket space or carrying weight matters most, the iPhone’s smaller, lighter form is the clearer fit. Choose the Ultra if screen area matters more than compactness.
Camera systems: dedicated zoom versus a simpler setup
Samsung lists four rear cameras, including dedicated 3x and 5x telephoto lenses. That gives the S24 Ultra dedicated camera hardware for those zoom ranges. Apple lists a 48MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide; its main-camera design also provides a 2x optical zoom-in view. The iPhone does not have a separate 3x or 5x telephoto camera in the cited specifications.
Rank #2
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
Megapixel counts alone do not establish which phone takes better photos. The listed hardware supports a useful distinction—more dedicated telephoto options on Samsung, a two-camera system with a 2x view on Apple—but the specifications do not settle overall image quality. Apple also lists 4K Dolby Vision video recording up to 60 frames per second for iPhone 16.
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Storage, software and ecosystem
The S24 Ultra is available in Samsung’s listed 256GB, 512GB and 1TB configurations, each with 12GB memory. Apple’s U.S. store page starts the iPhone 16 at 128GB; capacity and availability can vary by market and seller. Check the specific configuration before buying, particularly if you keep large video libraries or install many apps.
Rank #3
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
The S24 Ultra launched with Android 14 and One UI 6.1; the iPhone 16 runs iOS. Samsung’s 2024 announcement promises the S24 series seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. The cited sources do not provide a comparable Apple support-duration commitment, so the figures do not support a direct support-length winner. Ecosystem preference is more practical: choose based on whether you want Android and Samsung’s Ultra features or Apple’s iOS environment.
Price difference: what the published figures do and do not show
The available U.S. figures are $799 for Apple’s 128GB iPhone 16 starting price and $1,299.99 for Samsung’s unlocked 256GB S24 Ultra MSRP. Subtracting them gives $500.99, but that arithmetic mixes storage capacities, a current Apple store listing accessed October 7, 2026, and Samsung’s historical December 2024 MSRP for a SKU marked end of life. It is not a verified current street-price difference.
Rank #4
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
For a buying decision, compare current prices for the same country, phone condition and purchase terms. Match storage as closely as possible, and account for unlocked versus carrier-conditional pricing, trade-ins and any seller-specific offer. The listed figures are useful context for the models’ original market positioning, not a substitute for checking current inventory.
Battery and charging: what can be concluded
Samsung states a 5,000mAh typical battery for the S24 Ultra and up to 65% charge in around 30 minutes using a 45W adapter and 5A USB-C cable under its stated lab conditions; the adapter is sold separately. Apple’s cited specification page does not give a battery capacity or a directly comparable runtime result. Battery capacity and charging specifications alone cannot establish which phone lasts longer in real use.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
Which phone should you choose?
- Choose the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you want a large, adaptive 120Hz display, dedicated 3x and 5x telephoto cameras, storage options up to 1TB, or Samsung’s S Pen-compatible Ultra experience.
- Choose the iPhone 16 if a smaller, lighter phone and Apple’s iOS ecosystem matter more than a large screen or dedicated long-range telephoto hardware.
- Compare the actual offers before deciding on price. The cited U.S. prices differ in date and storage, and Samsung’s listed MSRP SKU is marked EOL.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
