iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S24
For flagship smartphone shoppers, the iPhone 17 from Apple and the Galaxy S24 from Samsung are two of the obvious candidates. Count the areas and a pattern appears. The iPhone 17 is ahead in 5 of 5, led by a clear margin in display.
At a glance
- Display iPhone 17 wins
- Performance iPhone 17 wins
- Memory & Storage iPhone 17 wins
- Camera iPhone 17 wins
- Battery & Charging iPhone 17 wins
- Price iPhone 17 wins
- Display6.6
- Camera3.8
- Display5.8
- Camera2.4
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
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The iPhone 17 has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
Among all the differences on this page, 256 GB against 128 GB is one of the most meaningful, and it favors the iPhone 17. 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.
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The Galaxy S24 has an extra rear camera
The iPhone 17 gives up a lot on rear cameras: 2, compared with 3 on the Galaxy S24. The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the Galaxy S24 gives you more lenses to choose from.
-
The Galaxy S24 has a 0.35 oz lighter build
The Galaxy S24 has a modest edge on weight: 5.89 oz against 6.24 oz for the iPhone 17. The Galaxy S24 is easier on your wrist during long reading or gaming sessions.
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The iPhone 17 has a sharper 48 MP ultra-wide
Few buyers will miss this one. The iPhone 17 brings 48 MP to the table; the Galaxy S24 brings 12 MP. Ultra-wide cameras often lag behind the main one, so the iPhone 17’s higher resolution helps narrow that gap.
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The iPhone 17 has faster 25 W wireless charging
When it comes to wireless charging, the iPhone 17 wins comfortably with 25 W against 15 W. Faster wireless charging makes a pad or stand more practical as your main way to top up.
Design & Size
- iPhone 17 5.89 in × 2.81 in × 0.31 in
- Galaxy S24 5.79 in × 2.78 in × 0.30 in
Side by side, the iPhone 17 is the one that fills more space; the Galaxy S24 keeps things tighter. By weight, the Galaxy S24 has the edge: 0.35 oz less than the iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 measures 0.01 in more in depth than the Galaxy S24.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.89 in | 5.79 in |
| Width | 2.81 in | 2.78 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in | 0.30 in (winner) |
| Weight | 6.24 oz | 5.89 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Armor Aluminum |
Display
iPhone 17 leads
Here the iPhone 17 opens up one of its biggest leads in the comparison. The iPhone 17 answers with 15% higher peak brightness. Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks. Weighing only display, the iPhone 17 comes out ahead.
Peak brightness
iPhone 17: 3,000 nits Galaxy S24: 2,600 nits If you use your phone outdoors a lot, the iPhone 17’s brighter panel is the one that holds up better at midday.
Pixel density
iPhone 17: 460 ppi Galaxy S24: 416 ppi Pixel density matters most if you hold your phone close or read a lot of small type; for casual use, the gap is subtle.
Performance
iPhone 17 leads
On balance, the iPhone 17 leads the performance section, just not by much. The iPhone 17 makes its case with 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. The performance verdict goes to the iPhone 17.
Process node
iPhone 17: 3 nm Galaxy S24: 4 nm The iPhone 17’s chip is built on a more advanced process. That usually points to efficiency gains, though chip design matters just as much.
CPU cores
iPhone 17: 6 Galaxy S24: 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
iPhone 17 leads
The iPhone 17 dominates the memory & storage section, and the gaps are large enough to matter in daily use. Choose the iPhone 17 and you get 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 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. If memory & storage is your priority, the iPhone 17 is the phone to pick.
Base storage
iPhone 17: 256 GB Galaxy S24: 128 GB The iPhone 17 starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
Camera
iPhone 17 leads
The iPhone 17 is the clear pick if camera is what you care about most. The iPhone 17 delivers a sharper 48 MP ultra-wide. If you rarely switch to the wide view, this won’t matter much; if you use it often, it will. Here the Galaxy S24 offers an extra rear camera. Anyone shopping mainly on camera should start with the iPhone 17.
Rear cameras
iPhone 17: 2 Galaxy S24: 3 An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Ultra-wide camera
iPhone 17: 48 MP Galaxy S24: 12 MP A sharper ultra-wide keeps more detail at the edges of landscape, architecture and group shots.
Battery & Charging
iPhone 17 leads
The iPhone 17 has the slight upper hand on battery & charging. The iPhone 17 gives you faster 25 W wireless charging. If you rely on a wireless pad at your desk or bedside, the iPhone 17 refills quicker there. For battery & charging, the iPhone 17 is the one to beat.
Wireless charging
iPhone 17: 25 W Galaxy S24: 15 W Wireless charging is usually slower than a cable, so this edge matters mainly to people who value the convenience.
Software & Updates
For software & updates, the spec sheet lists components and formats rather than figures we can rank. The table shows what the iPhone 17 and the Galaxy S24 each bring.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.3 in | 6.2 in |
| Panel type | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2622 x 1206 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi (winner) | 416 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 3,000 nits (winner) | 2,600 nits |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A19 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (US) |
| CPU cores | 6 | 8 |
| Process node | 3 nm (winner) | 4 nm |
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 8 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 256 GB (winner) | 128 GB |
| Max storage | 512 GB | N/A (not specified) |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 48 MP (winner) | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 10 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 3× |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3 (winner) |
| Front camera | 18 MP (winner) | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | 8K30 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | N/A (not specified) | 4,000 mAh |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 30 h | N/A (not specified) |
| Wired charging | N/A (not specified) | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | 25 W (winner) | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 26 | Android 14 (One UI 6.1) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | N/A (not specified) | 7 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.89 in | 5.79 in |
| Width | 2.81 in | 2.78 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in | 0.30 in (winner) |
| Weight | 6.24 oz | 5.89 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Armor Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 | $800 |
“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 price gap of $1 at launch won’t make or break this decision. Value is clear-cut: the iPhone 17 saves $1 and leads in more areas.
Launch prices in the US as of September 2025; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 17 if…
- you shoot a lot of photos and video (256 GB vs 128 GB base storage)
- you often shoot landscapes, buildings or group photos (48 MP vs 12 MP ultra-wide)
- you use a wireless charging pad every day (25 W vs 15 W)
- you want the sharper selfie camera (18 MP vs 12 MP)
- you’d put the $1 saving toward something else
Choose the Galaxy S24 if…
- you want more lenses to choose from (3 vs 2 rear cameras)
- you want the lighter phone (5.89 oz vs 6.24 oz)
- you care about a thin profile in your pocket (0.30 in vs 0.31 in)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 17 or the Galaxy S24?
For most people, the iPhone 17 is the stronger choice, unless you specifically want an extra rear camera, where the Galaxy S24 has the edge.
Is the iPhone 17 bigger than the Galaxy S24?
Size goes the other way: the iPhone 17 is larger (5.89 × 2.81 × 0.31 in), and the Galaxy S24 is the smaller option (5.79 × 2.78 × 0.30 in).
Which is faster, the iPhone 17 or the Galaxy S24?
The iPhone 17 has the edge in performance thanks to a newer 3 nm chip process.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone 17 or the Galaxy S24?
Going by the hardware, the iPhone 17 comes out ahead: a sharper 48 MP ultra-wide and a sharper 18 MP selfie camera.
Which has the better screen, the iPhone 17 or the Galaxy S24?
Going by the numbers, the iPhone 17’s screen comes out ahead: 15% higher peak brightness and 11% sharper pixel density.
Which costs less, the iPhone 17 or the Galaxy S24?
The iPhone 17 is the cheaper option, launching at $1 less than the Galaxy S24 (launch prices as of September 2025).
Executive Summary
The iPhone 17 from Apple and the Galaxy S24 from Samsung go after the same buyer. Here’s how I see them. To me, the standout is that the iPhone 17 offers 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. Plus, the iPhone 17 gets a sharper 48 MP ultra-wide, which I wouldn’t overlook. To be fair, the Galaxy S24 has an extra rear camera, and that’s not nothing.
If you’d rather have strength in display, go with the iPhone 17. If camera flexibility is what you’d miss, go with the Galaxy S24.
My pick: the iPhone 17 for most people, with the Galaxy S24 as the smarter choice if you’d trade the rest for an extra rear camera.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.