Following the launch of the iPhone 16 in September 2024 and Samsung’s unveiling of the Galaxy S24 FE (hands-on), each the Apple iPhone 16 collection and the Samsung Galaxy S24 collection are actually full. In our comparability, we’ll concentrate on the bottom mannequin and its larger Plus sibling. As all the time, we’ll start with the technical specs however when you desire, you possibly can skip straight to the specified part from the desk of contents:
Technical specs: iPhone 16, 16 Plus, Galaxy S24 and S24+ in contrast
| Apple’s 2024 Plus mannequin | Apple’s 2024 base mannequin | Samsung’s 2024 Plus mannequin | Samsung’s 2024 base mannequin | |
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Apple iPhone 16 overview |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ overview |
Samsung Galaxy S24 overview |
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| Dimensions and weight |
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Value and availability
The Galaxy S24 collection has been on sale because the finish of January 2024, whereas Apple adopted go well with with new iPhones in September. It’s placing each producers proceed to roll out smartphones with an entry-level reminiscence measurement of 128 GB. Solely the S24+ begins at 256 GB. My suggestion to each events for 2025? Neglect about 128 GB!
When it comes to RRP, Samsung and Apple’s most cost-effective choice are on par with an asking worth of $799. The identical goes for the Plus fashions. On the subject of storage capability, then $,1099 will get you an iPhone 16 with 512GB whereas the Galaxy S24 lacks that choice. Check out the really helpful retail costs within the desk beneath:
| Apple iPhone 16 | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
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| 128 GB | $799 | $899 | $799.99 | – |
| 256 GB | $899 | $999 | $859.99 | $999.99 |
| 512 GB | $1,099 | $1,199 | – | $1,299.99 |
We will at the moment discover a considerably decrease RRP for the 2 S24 units on Samsung’s web site: The Galaxy S24 is now formally accessible from $779.99. It will get even cheaper after we take a look at road costs. It is because each handsets having been round for some time now and Android units are inclined to expertise the next worth drop in comparison with Apple.
Design and show
Design
Visually, we’re coping with two duos that primarily solely differ in measurement: Samsung gives us the selection between 6.2-inch and 6.6-inch shows, whereas Apple’s iPhones are 6.1 and 6.7 inches. Samsung gives its fashions in Sapphire Blue, Jade Inexperienced, Sandstone Orange, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Onyx Black, and Marble Grey colours. The iPhones can be found in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black.
You possibly can count on top-notch workmanship and a high-quality supplies throughout all 4 units. Samsung makes use of Armour aluminum for the body and opted for Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ in entrance and on the again. Apple additionally depends on the mixture of a glass again and aluminum body, however naturally selected a flowery title for the fabric it makes use of: “Ceramic Shield”.
Whereas Samsung modified just about nothing on the skin, the iPhones function two new buttons. One is the Motion Button, which was launched on the Professional fashions final 12 months, and the opposite is the so-called Digicam Management, a brand new management aspect that has to this point divided opinion. One other placing function of Apple is how the 2 digital camera sensors are now not organized diagonally, however one is situated beneath the opposite.
The iPhones are every three grams heavier than their Samsung counterparts. What is especially attention-grabbing concerning the dimensions is how the S24, at 6.2 inches, is even barely slimmer, thinner and lighter than the iPhone 16 with its 6.1-inch show.
Show
I do not need to say a lot concerning the shows. One, every part that you must know is within the technical specs above. Secondly, I feel it is cheeky of Apple to count on us to pay some huge cash for a middling refresh fee of 60 Hz. Some China-brand laptops that retail for lower than $300 have lengthy been capable of provide a 120 Hz refresh fee, so Apple is ready to provide this with none effort. Aside from that, each producers naturally use world-class panels, so aside from the talked about refresh fee, there’s nothing to criticize Apple for.
Efficiency and SoC
On the subject of efficiency, we do not really want to take a look at benchmark exams. Apple’s SoCs often run circles across the competitors’s smartphones and Samsung additionally depends by itself Exynos 2400 chipset, which we all know performs considerably poorer than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, for example. Nonetheless, let’s check out how the Samsung SoC and the Apple A18 carried out within the benchmarks:
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Galaxy S24+ (Exynos 2400) |
Apple iPhone 16 (Apple A18) |
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Sadly, we now have not but been capable of overview the iPhone 16 Plus, however we count on its efficiency to be simply pretty much as good because the iPhone 16’s. Apps load in a short time, every part runs easily, the best way it ought to. On the S24+, we seen a noticeable build-up of warmth on the Exynos 2400 throughout longer gaming classes, which was accompanied by thermal throttling. The outcomes of the S24 had been even decrease than these of the Plus mannequin. Additionally it is annoying that the Exynos chipsets are much less energy-efficient.
Though the S24+ with 12 GB RAM has considerably extra working reminiscence than the iPhones with their present 8 GB RAM, Apple secured factors for victory on this class. Even the S24, as a fundamental mannequin, has to make do with 8 GB. I discovered it disagreeable that three of the 4 fashions in contrast solely provide 128 GB of reminiscence because the minimal configuration, however the top of cheekiness is how Samsung even nonetheless makes use of the outdated UFS 3.1 commonplace within the S24.
On the subject of connectivity, Apple additionally has a razor-thin lead, as a result of though all 4 smartphones depend on Bluetooth 5.3, with the iPhones already supporting Wi-Fi 7 as an alternative of Wi-Fi 6E.
Digicam high quality
Each iPhones boast improved digital camera sensors for the extremely wide-angle, together with a greater aperture. Superior macro pictures are actually additionally attainable with this sensor. With the 48 MP most important digital camera, nevertheless, every part remained the identical. The vertical orientation was designed to allow immersive images and movies. If you’re one of many few individuals already utilizing an Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, you’ll profit from this.
Samsung units itself aside from Apple with a 3rd sensor. Because of this along with the principle digital camera with 50 MP and the extremely wide-angle digital camera with 12 MP, there’s additionally a 3x telephoto lens at 10 MP decision.
In actuality, nevertheless, Samsung virtually remained at a standstill, albeit at a excessive stage for each fashions. Solely with regards to night time photographs do difficulties crop up, though with the S24+, that is primarily restricted to the extremely wide-angle sensor. Aside from enhancements within the extremely wide-angle sensor, the efficiency of Apple’s smartphones stays virtually unchanged in comparison with the earlier 12 months. Earlier than I’m going on at size, I will simply allow you to take a fast take a look at the galleries:
Samsung Galaxy S24 photograph gallery
Samsung Galaxy S24+ photograph gallery
Apple iPhone 16 photograph gallery
Since we’ll discuss concerning the software program subsequent anyway, we also needs to briefly level out that each Samsung and Apple are focusing closely on AI and that that is additionally mirrored in enhancements to the cameras. This implies that you could be be utilizing a largely similar digital camera because the earlier 12 months, however nonetheless obtain higher outcomes or take pleasure in extra capabilities.
With Apple, this has been a little bit of a flop in that Apple Intelligence has not but been launched and you can not but make full use of the brand new Digicam Management perform.
Software program
Let’s discuss concerning the elephant within the room at Apple: Apple Intelligence! Really, this elephant remains to be invisible, as a result of Apple launched the iPhone 16 with iOS 18, however with out this new AI platform. Because of this we’ll solely have the ability to assess what has occurred by way of software program and AI as soon as it arrives on the units. Sadly, everyone knows that we’ll have to attend even longer for these residing outdoors of the USA.
Samsung, however, did not present any weak spot with Android 14 and prompted an AI sensation with the launch of Galaxy AI earlier this 12 months. We mentioned how helpful we discovered these capabilities comparable to Circle to Search many occasions elsewhere. The actual fact is, you will be utilizing good AI capabilities on the S24 fashions for a very long time, when you’ll nonetheless staring down the barrel at Apple within the medium time period.
- Wish to learn extra about Samsung’s present pores and skin? Try our One UI 6 overview
Whether or not you favor One UI or iOS might be a query of choice and ecosystem anyway, proper? Therefore, I do not assume the look of the interface may actually affect a purchase order resolution in favor of the opposite working system.
The query of how lengthy I will likely be equipped with software program updates is probably extra thrilling. iOS has all the time remained unchallenged and nonetheless helps many iPhone generations. iOS 18 is even appropriate with units such because the iPhone XR from 2018.
Nonetheless, Samsung additionally made important strides ains in recent times. Not solely do the updates arrive extra rapidly than earlier than, they’re additionally accessible for an extended time The South Korean firm guarantees seven years of Android updates and safety patches!
Battery and charging
Evaluating batteries is all the time troublesome when iPhones are concerned, I feel. It is because Apple all the time quotes figures that nobody can actually assess, comparable to “22 hours of video playback” for the iPhone 16. Within the overview, my colleague Ben attests to the iPhone 16’s superb battery life and sooner charging pace.
We now know that the capability of the iPhone 16 has really elevated by 212 mAh to three,561 mAh. With the iPhone 16 Plus, we now have reached 4,674 mAh, a rise of 291 mAh. Relying on the utilization state of affairs, the battery lasts for greater than two days. Although charging is now sooner, it annoys me somewhat that each Apple and Samsung are to this point behind the charging pace of firms like Xiaomi or Realme.
Regardless of that, the Galaxy handsets have a charging pace of 25 W for the S24 and 45 W for the S24+. Battery capability has additionally elevated in every case, specifically to 4,900 mAh for the S24+ and to a easy 4,000 mAh for the South Koreans’ base mannequin. The benchmark check confirmed us how the S24+ lasts considerably longer with over 15 hours than the S24 with simply over 13 hours within the PCMark battery check. Sadly, Samsung suffers from the truth that the built-in Exynos chip is much less energy-efficient than its Snapdragon counterpart or the iPhone’s silicon.
Nonetheless, I do not need to crown a last winner right here. Firstly, as a result of we now have not but reviewed the iPhone 16 Plus and we’re nonetheless ready for Apple Intelligence, their AI platform that may most probably drain the battery much more.
Conclusion
Truthfully? A conclusion solely is sensible when you stand within the retailer and take a look at each smartphones from Apple and Samsung with an open thoughts. In reality, we’re creatures of behavior who’ve lengthy since decided. We’re additionally pragmatic and can most probably go for the model that matches higher into our ecosystem when shopping for a brand new gadget.
Nonetheless, if I needed to title a winner, I’d in all probability lean in the direction of the smartphones from Cupertino. Samsung cannot stand out from the competitors by way of both the cameras or the show, whereas Apple scored factors for its efficiency and battery. Solely by way of software program would I at the moment see Samsung within the lead, though I am in all probability somewhat biased right here.
In fact, the cheaper road costs additionally clearly communicate in Samsung’s favor however the draw back is, the resale worth suffers when you determine to do away with it. Nonetheless, you possibly can do away with your iPhone 16 or 16 Plus at a excessive worth even after a 12 months or two. As you possibly can see, I am undecided total. That is due to all of the factors I’ve already listed, however not least as a result of there are 4 actually highly effective smartphones right here that you do not actually have an opportunity of constructing a nasty buy by chance.
It’s now my flip to ask: Who gives higher smartphones for you, Apple or Samsung? Which of the 4 fashions do you could have your eyes on?