The headline differences
The iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24 Ultra are the two phones everyone cross-shops at the top of the market. They are very different in philosophy: Apple bets on tight hardware-software integration and the best video; Samsung bets on the S Pen, a bigger zoom range and longer software support. Neither wins outright.
Display
Both have class-leading panels. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is brighter and larger at 6.8 inches with a flat screen and anti-reflective glass — an ergonomic win. The iPhone 16 Pro Max runs 120Hz ProMotion on a 6.9-inch curved OLED. Day-to-day you will not find a bad display here; the Galaxy S24 Ultra edge is the flat glass and outdoor peak brightness.
Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro Max shoots the best 4K video of any phone — period. Log format, Dolby Vision, Action mode, and the best stabilisation in the business. For stills, both are excellent; the Galaxy S24 Ultra has more zoom range (3x and 5x vs 5x only) and a 200MP main for extreme crops. For video creators, the iPhone 16 Pro Max wins; for travel photographers who zoom a lot, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is stronger.
Performance
The A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro Max leads raw benchmarks but neither phone throttles in real use. The Galaxy S24 Ultra runs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy — also excellent, with four years of proven performance remaining. Both will feel fast until the hardware becomes obsolete.
S Pen and ecosystem
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a built-in S Pen — no other flagship does this. If you use a stylus for notes, sketches or productivity, the Samsung wins here with no contest. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the Apple ecosystem advantage: AirDrop, AirPlay, iMessage, Handoff, Apple Watch — none of which the Android side matches without compromise.
Battery and software longevity
The iPhone 16 Pro Max runs longer on a charge for most users; the Galaxy S24 Ultra charges faster. Samsung promises seven OS updates; Apple supports iPhones for at least five to six years historically. On paper Samsung wins longevity; in practice Apple still delivers updates longer than almost any Android OEM. Call it even.
Verdict
Buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max if: you are in the Apple ecosystem, shoot video, or want the best point-and-shoot camera. Buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra if: you want the S Pen, more zoom flexibility, Android freedom, or the anti-reflective flat display.