iPhone 15 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Brand preference aside, the iPhone 15 Pro and the Galaxy S24 Ultra are close competitors, both pitched at flagship smartphone buyers. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has the edge in 3 of the 5 areas we looked at, most visibly in the camera category. And the price tags aren’t close: the iPhone 15 Pro came in $301 below the Galaxy S24 Ultra at launch.
At a glance
- Display Galaxy S24 Ultra wins
- Performance iPhone 15 Pro wins
- Memory & Storage Galaxy S24 Ultra wins
- Camera Galaxy S24 Ultra wins
- Battery & Charging Tie
- Price iPhone 15 Pro wins
- Display6.0
- Memory & Storage2.8
- Camera1.4
- Display7.0
- Memory & Storage4.5
- Camera4.5
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has 5× optical zoom versus 3×
The spread here is large: 5× on the Galaxy S24 Ultra versus 3× on the iPhone 15 Pro. Expect to notice it. Digital zoom can fake reach, but optical zoom is where the detail actually comes from.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro has a 1.59 oz lighter build
Of all the specs we compared, this is one where the iPhone 15 Pro makes its strongest case: 6.60 oz against 8.18 oz. The iPhone 15 Pro is easier on your wrist during long reading or gaming sessions.
-
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
The Galaxy S24 Ultra clearly leads on base storage, and 256 GB versus 128 GB is a difference that reaches well beyond the spec sheet. The Galaxy S24 Ultra starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
-
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera
On main camera, the Galaxy S24 Ultra posts 200 MP against 48 MP for the iPhone 15 Pro, a gap big enough to feel in everyday use. Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos.
-
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a dedicated 50 MP telephoto camera
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 50 MP for the Galaxy S24 Ultra versus 12 MP for the iPhone 15 Pro. A higher-resolution telephoto keeps more detail when you zoom, and gives the Galaxy S24 Ultra a stronger tool for portraits and distant subjects.
Design & Size
- iPhone 15 Pro 5.77 in × 2.78 in × 0.32 in
- Galaxy S24 Ultra 6.39 in × 3.11 in × 0.34 in
Size is a trade-off, not a score: the Galaxy S24 Ultra is larger, the iPhone 15 Pro more compact. If lightness matters, note the 1.59 oz gap in favor of the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro is 0.01 in thinner than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.77 in | 6.39 in |
| Width | 2.78 in | 3.11 in |
| Thickness | 0.32 in (winner) | 0.34 in |
| Weight | 6.60 oz (winner) | 8.18 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Titanium | Titanium |
Display
Galaxy S24 Ultra leads
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the clear pick if display is what you care about most. Here the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers 30% higher peak brightness. If you use your phone outdoors a lot, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s brighter panel is the one that holds up better at midday. The display verdict goes to the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Peak brightness
iPhone 15 Pro: 2,000 nits Galaxy S24 Ultra: 2,600 nits Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility.
Screen size
iPhone 15 Pro: 6.1 in Galaxy S24 Ultra: 6.8 in A larger display also means a larger phone overall, so this is as much about your hands and pockets as it is about the picture.
Performance
iPhone 15 Pro leads
Slight edge to the iPhone 15 Pro on performance. Most buyers could live happily with either. The iPhone 15 Pro gives you a newer 3 nm chip process. A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life. If performance is your priority, the iPhone 15 Pro is the phone to pick.
Process node
iPhone 15 Pro: 3 nm Galaxy S24 Ultra: 4 nm Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict.
CPU cores
iPhone 15 Pro: 6 Galaxy S24 Ultra: 8 Phone chips mix large and small cores, so a different count mostly reflects a different design rather than a clear speed gap.
Memory & Storage
Galaxy S24 Ultra leads
In this area the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a lead the iPhone 15 Pro can’t close. Point to the Galaxy S24 Ultra for 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years. On memory & storage alone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra gets the nod.
Base storage
iPhone 15 Pro: 128 GB Galaxy S24 Ultra: 256 GB Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value.
Camera
Galaxy S24 Ultra leads
The iPhone 15 Pro has a tough time in the camera section, where the Galaxy S24 Ultra pulls well ahead. The Galaxy S24 Ultra takes this one with 5× optical zoom versus 3×. The Galaxy S24 Ultra reaches further with real optics, which pays off for wildlife, stages and sports from the stands. So if camera tops your list, lean toward the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Optical zoom
iPhone 15 Pro: 3× Galaxy S24 Ultra: 5× Higher optical zoom lets you frame distant subjects tightly without losing detail to digital cropping.
Main camera
iPhone 15 Pro: 48 MP Galaxy S24 Ultra: 200 MP The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer.
Battery & Charging
Too close to call
Both the iPhone 15 Pro and the Galaxy S24 Ultra cover battery & charging equally well on paper. Don’t let battery & charging decide this one; look at the other sections instead.
Software & Updates
The software & updates comparison is about what’s inside rather than how much. See the table for the iPhone 15 Pro’s and the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s entries.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 6.8 in |
| Panel type | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 3120 x 1440 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 505 ppi (winner) |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 2,600 nits (winner) |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A17 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| CPU cores | 6 | 8 |
| Process node | 3 nm (winner) | 4 nm |
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 12 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 256 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 1 TB | 1 TB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 200 MP (winner) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | 12 MP | 50 MP (winner) |
| Optical zoom | 3× | 5× (winner) |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 4 (winner) |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | 8K30 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | N/A (not specified) | 5,000 mAh |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 23 h | N/A (not specified) |
| Wired charging | N/A (not specified) | 45 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 3, 10 Gb/s) | USB-C |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 17 | Android 14 (One UI 6.1) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | N/A (not specified) | 7 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.77 in | 6.39 in |
| Width | 2.78 in | 3.11 in |
| Thickness | 0.32 in (winner) | 0.34 in |
| Weight | 6.60 oz (winner) | 8.18 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Titanium | Titanium |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $999 (winner) | $1,300 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
A launch price gap of 30% is hard to ignore, and in this case it amounts to $301 in favor of the iPhone 15 Pro. For $301 more, the Galaxy S24 Ultra adds 5× optical zoom versus 3× and 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. Whether that’s good value depends on how much you need those upgrades.
All prices are official US launch prices, last checked January 2024. Actual prices at stores may differ.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro if…
- you want the lighter phone (6.60 oz vs 8.18 oz)
- you want a chip built on a finer process (3 nm vs 4 nm)
- you want the slimmer phone (0.32 in vs 0.34 in)
- you want the lower price and can live with the trade-offs ($301 less)
Choose the Galaxy S24 Ultra if…
- you shoot concerts, sports or wildlife from a distance (5× vs 3× optical zoom)
- you want more storage without paying for an upgrade (256 GB vs 128 GB)
- you want the higher-resolution main camera (200 MP vs 48 MP)
- you take lots of portraits and zoomed shots (50 MP vs 12 MP telephoto)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
We’d point most buyers to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The main exception is if you specifically want a 1.59 oz lighter build, where the iPhone 15 Pro has the edge.
Which is larger, the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The Galaxy S24 Ultra takes that one. With dimensions of 6.39 × 3.11 × 0.34 in, it is larger than the iPhone 15 Pro (5.77 × 2.78 × 0.32 in).
Which is faster, the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The iPhone 15 Pro has the edge in performance thanks to a newer 3 nm chip process.
Does the iPhone 15 Pro have a stronger camera setup than the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has the edge for photography, offering 5× optical zoom versus 3× and a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera.
Which has the better screen, the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has the stronger display on paper, with 30% higher peak brightness and 9.8% sharper pixel density.
Which costs less, the iPhone 15 Pro or the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The Galaxy S24 Ultra launched at $301 more than the iPhone 15 Pro, based on prices as of January 2024.
Executive Summary
Let me cut through the brand noise around the iPhone 15 Pro and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. What tips it for me is that the Galaxy S24 Ultra has 5× optical zoom versus 3×. Nor should you ignore that the Galaxy S24 Ultra has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. That said, the iPhone 15 Pro answers with a 1.59 oz lighter build, which some people will value more.
Choose by what you’d use most: performance leads to the iPhone 15 Pro, display leads to the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
My pick: the Galaxy S24 Ultra, though I’d happily point you to the iPhone 15 Pro if you need a 1.59 oz lighter build, which only the iPhone 15 Pro offers.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.