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 sequence and the Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence at the moment are full. In our comparability, we are going to concentrate on the bottom mannequin and its greater Plus sibling. As all the time, we’ll start with the technical specs however for those who desire, you may skip straight to the specified part from the desk of contents:
Desk of Contents:
Technical specs: iPhone 16, 16 Plus, Galaxy S24 and S24+ in contrast
Value and availability
The Galaxy S24 sequence has been on sale because the finish of January 2024, whereas Apple adopted swimsuit with new iPhones in September. It’s putting 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? Overlook about 128 GB!
When it comes to RRP, Samsung and Apple’s least expensive choice are on par with an asking value of $799. The identical goes for the Plus fashions. In the case of storage capability, then $,1099 will get you an iPhone 16 with 512GB whereas the Galaxy S24 lacks that choice. Check out the really useful retail costs within the desk beneath:
Apple iPhone 16
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung Galaxy S24+
128 GB
$799
$899
$799.99
–
256 GB
$899
$999
$859.99
$999.99
512 GB
$1,099
$1,199
–
$1,299.99
We are able to at present discover a considerably decrease RRP for the 2 S24 gadgets on Samsung’s web site: The Galaxy S24 is now formally out there from $779.99. It will get even cheaper after we take a look at avenue costs. It’s because each handsets having been round for some time now and Android gadgets are inclined to expertise the next value drop in comparison with Apple.
Design and show
Design
Visually, we’re coping with two duos that basically solely differ in measurement: Samsung presents us the selection between 6.2-inch and 6.6-inch shows, whereas Apple’s iPhones are 6.1 and 6.7 inches. Samsung presents 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 anticipate top-notch workmanship and a high-quality supplies throughout all 4 gadgets. 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 Defend”.
Whereas Samsung modified nearly nothing on the surface, 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 ingredient that has to date divided opinion. One other putting 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 fascinating 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, all the things it is advisable to know is within the technical specs above. Secondly, I believe it is cheeky of Apple to anticipate us to pay some huge cash for a middling refresh price of 60 Hz. Some China-brand laptops that retail for lower than $300 have lengthy been in a position to supply a 120 Hz refresh price, so Apple is ready to supply this with none effort. Other than that, each producers naturally use world-class panels, so other than the talked about refresh price, there’s nothing to criticize Apple for.
Efficiency and SoC
In the case of efficiency, we do not actually need to have a look at benchmark checks. 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, as an illustration. Nonetheless, let’s check out how the Samsung SoC and the Apple A18 carried out within the benchmarks:
Galaxy S24(Exynos 2400)
Galaxy S24+(Exynos 2400)
Apple iPhone 16(Apple A18)
3DMark Wild Life Excessive Stress Take a look at
Greatest loop: 2,822
Worst loop: 2,042
Greatest loop: 4,242
Worst loop: 2,637
Greatest loop: 5,160
Worst loop: 3,013
Geekbench
Single: 1,992
Multi: 6,096
Single: 2,131
Multi: 6,676
Single: 3,099Multi: 7,638
Sadly, we’ve got not but been in a position to assessment the iPhone 16 Plus, however we anticipate its efficiency to be simply nearly as good because the iPhone 16’s. Apps load in a short time, all the things runs easily, the way in which it ought to. On the S24+, we observed 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 have been even decrease than these of the Plus mannequin. It is usually 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 supply 128 GB of reminiscence because the minimal configuration, however the peak of cheekiness is how Samsung even nonetheless makes use of the outdated UFS 3.1 customary within the S24.
In the case 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 at the moment are additionally potential with this sensor. With the 48 MP fundamental digital camera, nonetheless, all the things remained the identical. The vertical orientation was designed to allow immersive photographs and movies. In case you are one of many few folks already utilizing an Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, you’ll profit from this.
Samsung units itself other than Apple with a 3rd sensor. Which means that along with the primary 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, nonetheless, Samsung nearly remained at a standstill, albeit at a excessive stage for each fashions. Solely in relation to night time photographs do difficulties crop up, though with the S24+, that is basically restricted to the extremely wide-angle sensor. Other than enhancements within the extremely wide-angle sensor, the efficiency of Apple’s smartphones stays nearly unchanged in comparison with the earlier 12 months. Earlier than I’m going on at size, I am going to simply allow you to take a fast take a look at the galleries:
Samsung Galaxy S24 picture gallery
Samsung Galaxy S24+ picture gallery
Apple iPhone 16 picture gallery
Since we’ll discuss concerning the software program subsequent anyway, we must also 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 an identical digital camera because the earlier 12 months, however nonetheless obtain higher outcomes or get pleasure from further capabilities.
With Apple, this has been a little bit of a flop in that Apple Intelligence has not but been launched and you can’t but make full use of the brand new Digicam Management operate.
Software program
Let’s discuss concerning the elephant within the room at Apple: Apple Intelligence! Truly, 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. Which means that we are going to solely have the ability to assess what has occurred by way of software program and AI as soon as it arrives on the gadgets. Sadly, everyone knows that we’ll have to attend even longer for these dwelling outdoors of the USA.
Samsung, then again, did not present any weak spot with Android 14 and precipitated an AI sensation with the launch of Galaxy AI earlier this 12 months. We mentioned how helpful we discovered these capabilities similar to Circle to Search many occasions elsewhere. The very fact is, you may be utilizing good AI capabilities on the S24 fashions for a very long time, whilst you’ll nonetheless staring down the barrel at Apple within the medium time period.
Need to learn extra about Samsung’s present pores and skin? Take a look at our One UI 6 assessment
Whether or not you like One UI or iOS might be a query of desire and ecosystem anyway, proper? Therefore, I do not assume the look of the interface might actually affect a purchase order determination in favor of the opposite working system.
The query of how lengthy I might 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 gadgets such because the iPhone XR from 2018.
Nonetheless, Samsung additionally made vital strides ains in recent times. Not solely do the updates arrive extra shortly than earlier than, they’re additionally out there 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 tough when iPhones are concerned, I believe. It’s because Apple all the time quotes figures that nobody can actually assess, similar to “22 hours of video playback” for the iPhone 16. Within the assessment, my colleague Ben attests to the iPhone 16’s superb battery life and quicker charging velocity.
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’ve got reached 4,674 mAh, a rise of 291 mAh. Relying on the utilization state of affairs, the battery lasts for greater than two days. Despite the fact that charging is now quicker, it annoys me a bit that each Apple and Samsung are to date behind the charging velocity of corporations like Xiaomi or Realme.
Regardless of that, the Galaxy handsets have a charging velocity 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 take a look at confirmed us how the S24+ lasts considerably longer with over 15 hours than the S24 with simply over 13 hours within the PCMark battery take a look at. 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 ultimate winner right here. Firstly, as a result of we’ve got not but reviewed the iPhone 16 Plus and we’re nonetheless ready for Apple Intelligence, their AI platform that can almost certainly drain the battery much more.
Conclusion
Truthfully? A conclusion solely is smart for those who stand within the retailer and take a look at each smartphones from Apple and Samsung with an open thoughts. Actually, we’re creatures of behavior who’ve lengthy since determined. We’re additionally pragmatic and can almost certainly go for the model that matches higher into our ecosystem when shopping for a brand new system.
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 present see Samsung within the lead, though I am in all probability a bit biased right here.
After all, the cheaper avenue costs additionally clearly converse in Samsung’s favor however the draw back is, the resale worth suffers for those who determine to do away with it. Nonetheless, you may do away with your iPhone 16 or 16 Plus at a excessive value even after a 12 months or two. As you may see, I am undecided general. 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 creating a nasty buy accidentally.
It’s now my flip to ask: Who presents higher smartphones for you, Apple or Samsung? Which of the 4 fashions do you have got your eyes on?