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When it comes to flagship smartphones, the rivalry between Apple and Samsung is legendary.
This year, Apple’s iPhone 16 and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 go head-to-head in a battle of design, performance, camera power and innovation. While we’ve had the chance to extensively test and review the Galaxy S24, we’ve yet to experience the iPhone 16 firsthand.
Our comparison here is based on Apple’s official specifications and information, highlighting the key differences and similarities between these two high-end devices.
Differences between iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S24
Construction and design
The iPhone 16 maintains a classic look with an aluminum frame and frosted glass back, reminiscent of last year’s models. However, it features a new vertical dual-camera layout and introduces two new buttons: the action button and the camera control button.
These buttons are customizable and provide additional functionality, with the Camera Control button designed to mimic the tactile feel of a DSLR’s shutter and provide one-button zoom.
Petter Ahrnstedt
On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 sticks to its familiar design language, but with notable refinements. It has a flat aluminum frame that gives it a sleek, modern look, complemented by a new matte finish on the back that resists fingerprints and improves grip. The edges are less curved compared to previous models and also offer a more angular aesthetic.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
While the iPhone 16 aims to combine elegance and innovation, the Galaxy S24 focuses on durability and user comfort. The choice of design and construction of the two devices is therefore entirely a matter of preference.
Screen and speakers
The iPhone 16 features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2556 x 1179 pixels. It supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision and offers deep blacks and vibrant colors.
Petter Ahrnstedt
The screen peaks at 2000 nits outdoors, making it easy to read even in bright sunlight. However, it lacks the 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate found on the iPhone 16 Pro models, which some users may miss.
The Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch LTPO AMOLED display that dynamically adjusts the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz, ensuring smooth scrolling and improved battery efficiency.
It also features a higher peak brightness of up to 2600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility in all lighting conditions.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
While the iPhone 16’s display may excel in color accuracy and contrast, the Galaxy S24’s larger screen and adaptive refresh rate make for a smoother visual experience.
In terms of audio, both devices have stereo speakers that deliver clear and rich sound.
Performance
Under the hood, the iPhone 16 is powered by the advanced A18 chip. It is built on a 3nm process and features a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine capable of performing advanced machine learning tasks.
Apple claims a 30% increase in CPU performance and a 40% increase in GPU efficiency, compared to the previous generation. This chip promises to handle everything from intense gaming to complex multitasking with ease, setting a new benchmark for mobile processors.
The Galaxy S24 – depending on region – comes equipped with the Exynos 2400 (in regions such as the UK) or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in the US and other select markets).
Both variants deliver impressive performance, with the Snapdragon version having a slight lead in benchmarks. The Exynos 2400 – while slightly behind in terms of raw power – is optimized for efficiency and everyday performance.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
In practice, both chips are more than capable of handling today’s demanding apps and games, but Apple’s A18 can deliver superior sustained performance, especially in graphics-intensive scenarios.
Cameras
Camera capabilities are often a deciding factor for many smartphone buyers, and both the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 bring their A-game.
The iPhone 16 features a dual camera setup with a new 48Mp Fusion main sensor and a 12Mp ultra-wide lens. The Fusion sensor enables 2x optical quality zoom by cropping from the entire sensor, giving users greater flexibility without the need for additional lenses.
The Camera Control button improves usability, provides precise control over camera functions and is expected to be integrated with future AI capabilities for object and place recognition.
Petter Ahrnstedt
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 has the same camera hardware as its predecessor: a 50Mp main sensor, 12Mp ultra-wide-angle lens and 10Mp telephoto lens. Despite the unchanged hardware, software improvements in image processing result in more natural color reproduction and less aggressive sharpening.
The Galaxy S24 also introduces new AI-powered editing tools that can remove unwanted objects and reflections, although these features can sometimes produce mixed results.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Overall, the iPhone 16 may have a slight edge in computational photography, but the Galaxy S24’s versatility and telephoto capabilities shouldn’t be overlooked.
Battery and charging
The iPhone 16 has seen a modest increase in battery capacity, allowing for up to 22 hours of video playback (according to Apple). It supports 25W MagSafe fast charging, which can charge the battery up to 50% in just 30 minutes with the right charger.
Additionally, Apple has improved the phone’s thermal design to support better sustained performance under heavy use.
The Galaxy S24 – with its 4000mAh battery – offers similar all-day performance and supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. While charging speeds are comparable to the iPhone, the S24’s battery may offer slightly longer battery life for users who do heavy multitasking or gaming.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Both devices offer reliable battery life, but users who prioritize faster charging can opt for the iPhone 16’s improved MagSafe capabilities.
Software and apps
The iPhone 16 runs iOS 18, which introduces new features such as writing tools, updated Siri, and advanced integration with Apple’s ecosystem. iOS 18 focuses on usability, privacy, and interconnectivity, making it a good choice for users invested in the Apple ecosystem.
The addition of the Apple Intelligence, Action button and Camera Control button also provide a new layer of interaction, improving the user experience.
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 runs on One UI 6.1, built over Android 14. It includes several new AI-powered features such as improved photo editing tools and advanced multitasking capabilities.
One UI is known for its customization options and integration with Samsung’s ecosystem. Samsung promises seven years of software updates, which is similar to Apple’s long-term iOS support, making both devices reliable choices for long-term users.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Price and availability
Both the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 start at £799/$799 for their respective base 128GB models, and are available worldwide through their respective online stores, carriers and authorized retailers.
Should you buy the iPhone 16 or Galaxy S24?
The choice between the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 largely depends on personal preferences and loyalty to the ecosystem.
The iPhone 16 offers seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem, an innovative new Camera Control button and a powerful A18 chip, which promises top performance. It’s an excellent choice for users who value build quality, camera innovation, and a cohesive software experience.
The Galaxy S24, on the other hand, offers a more versatile screen, extensive customization options and strong camera performance, including a capable telephoto lens. It’s ideal for users who prefer Android’s flexibility, a compact form factor, and Samsung’s commitment to software longevity.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Ultimately, both devices are excellent choices in their own right. Whether you prefer iOS or Android, each of these smartphones offers a premium experience that will meet the needs of most users.