Head to head

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra leads 10 to 2 on the 12 rankable specs, but iPhone 16 Plus costs $400 less.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Weight: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists 232 g (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Plus lists 199 g (7.03 oz) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Size: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists 6.8 inches (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Plus lists 6.7 inches (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Chipset: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm) (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Plus lists Apple A18 (3 nm) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
RAM: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists 12 GB (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Plus lists 8 GB (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Max optical zoom: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lists 5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital) (Samsung sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Plus lists 2x (sensor crop) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your phone.

Your devices

Select your ecosystem to flag non-functional features or platform lock-in.

Straight answer

Overall: 10 to 2

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Leads 10 of 12 rankable overall specs; iPhone 16 Plus takes 2.
Size: 6.8 inches vs 6.7 inches
RAM: 12 GB vs 8 GB
iPhone 16 Plus is $400 cheaper. Pay the difference only if size matters to you.

10 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra12 rankable of 48 specsiPhone 16 Plus 2

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

No stylusrow
No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.
Clear:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · S Pen (integrated, IP68)Trips:iPhone 16 Plus · No
No headphone jackrow
Wired headphones need a USB-C dongle.
Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Plus · No
No charger in the boxrow
Budget another $20 to $40 for a fast charger.
Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Plus · No
60 Hz screenrow
Scrolling looks noticeably less smooth than a 120 Hz rival.
Clear:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · 1–120 Hz LTPOTrips:iPhone 16 Plus · 60 Hz
No microSD slotrow
Storage is fixed at what you buy.
Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Plus · No

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

6 of 6 differ

Weight

Samsung

232 g

Apple

199 g (7.03 oz)

Size

Samsung

6.8 inches

Apple

6.7 inches

Chipset≠

Samsung

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)

Apple

Apple A18 (3 nm)

RAM

Samsung

12 GB

Apple

8 GB

Max optical zoom

Samsung

5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital)

Apple

2x (sensor crop)

Capacity

Samsung

5,000 mAh

Apple

4,674 mAh

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Upfront price + 3 years of consumables, fees & essential add-ons

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Upfront list price$1,299

Essential add-ons (45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 brick (no charger in box))+$35

3-Year Estimated Total$1,334

iPhone 16 Plus

Upfront list price$899

Essential add-ons (20W USB-C charging brick (no charger in box))+$29

3-Year Estimated Total$928

Pocket, Palm & Desk Usability Check

One-handed reachability, pocket weight, and table wobble when typing without a case.

Ergonomic & Spatial Check

One-Handed Palm Reach

Widths under 72mm allow thumb access to opposite screen edges without shifting grip.

Samsung

6.8" display with 79.0mm wide squared edges (stretches palms)

Apple

Standard smartphone width

Desk Typing Table Wobble

Horizontal visor cameras sit flat on desks without annoying rocking while typing.

Samsung

Individual camera lens rings cause corner wobble on flat tables

Apple

Corner camera bump causes minor wobble

Pocket Weight & Heft

Samsung

232g (substantial titanium brick)

Apple

Standard phone weight

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

Samsung: What to watch for

Ergonomics
Sharp 90-degree squared corners dig aggressively into palms.
One-handed typing causes the pointed lower corner to dig into your palm tissue unless cushioned by a rounded silicone case.
Hardware Quirk
Anti-reflective Gorilla Armor glass smudges easily with skin oils.
While outdoor glare reduction is class-leading, finger oils create noticeable rainbow sheen smudges in bright sunlight.

Apple: What to watch for

Hidden Cost
No wall charging adapter included in the retail box.
Packaging contains only a Type-C cable; high-speed wall charging bricks must be purchased separately if you do not already own one.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra$1,29910 wins

iPhone 16 Plus$8992 wins

Body Display Platform Memory Rear camera Front camera Battery & charging Audio Connectivity Features

44 of 48 attributes differ. Identical rows are dimmed.

Body

leads 1-0

Body specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Dimensions	162.3 × 79.0 × 8.6 mm	160.9 × 77.8 × 7.8 mm
Weight	232 g	199 g (7.03 oz) (wins this row: lower)
Build	Gorilla Armor front and back, titanium frame	Aluminum frame with color-infused glass back
Water / dust rating	IP68 (1.5 m / 30 min)	IP68 (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Colors	Titanium Black, Gray, Violet, Yellow (plus exclusives)	Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
Stylus	S Pen (integrated, IP68)	No

Display

leads 5-1

Display specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Type	Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, flat	Super Retina XDR OLED
Size	6.8 inches (wins this row: higher)	6.7 inches
Resolution	1440 × 3120 (QHD+)	2796 × 1290 (wins this row: higher)
Pixel density	~505 ppi (wins this row: higher)	460 ppi
Refresh rate	1–120 Hz LTPO (wins this row: higher)	60 Hz
Peak brightness	2,600 nits peak (wins this row: higher)	2,000 nits outdoor peak / 1,000 nits typical
HDR	HDR10+	HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Protection	Corning Gorilla Armor, anti-reflective	Ceramic Shield (latest generation)
Always-on display	Yes (wins this row: has it)	No

Platform

5 differences

Platform specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Operating system	Android 14, One UI 6.1 (upgradable)	iOS 18
Software support	7 major OS versions + 7 years security	5+ years estimated (typically 6-7 years)
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)	Apple A18 (3 nm)
CPU	8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 5× A720 + 2× A520)	6-core (2 performance + 4 efficiency)
GPU	Adreno 750	5-core Apple GPU

Memory

leads 2-0

Memory specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
RAM	12 GB (wins this row: higher)	8 GB
Storage	256 GB UFS 4.0 (wins this row: higher)	128 GB
Storage options	256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
microSD	No	No

Rear camera

leads 2-0

Rear camera specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Main	200 MP, f/1.7, 24 mm, 1/1.3", OIS, multi-direction PDAF (wins this row: higher)	48 MP (f/1.6, 26mm, sensor-shift OIS, 2x telephoto crop)
Ultrawide	12 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120°	12 MP (f/2.2, 13mm, 120°, autofocus macro)
Telephoto	10 MP 3x + 50 MP 5x periscope (both OIS)	None (2x optical-quality sensor crop via 48MP main)
Max optical zoom	5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital) (wins this row: higher)	2x (sensor crop)
Stabilization	OIS on main and both telephotos	Sensor-shift OIS on main camera
Video	8K 30 fps, 4K 120 fps, HDR10+	4K at 24/25/30/60 fps, Dolby Vision HDR, Spatial Video

Front camera

2 differences

Front camera specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Selfie camera	12 MP, f/2.2, punch-hole	12 MP TrueDepth (f/1.9, autofocus)
Selfie video	4K 60 fps	4K at 24/25/30/60 fps, Dolby Vision HDR

Battery & charging

leads 1-0

Battery & charging specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Capacity	5,000 mAh (wins this row: higher)	4,674 mAh
Wired chargingNot on the official sheet	45 W (charger sold separately)	Up to 50% in 30 min with 20W+ adapter (up to 27W peak)
Wireless charging	15 W Qi / Fast Wireless	25W MagSafe (with 30W adapter) / 15W Qi2
Reverse wireless	4.5 W Wireless PowerShare	4.5W wired reverse charging via USB-C
Charger in box	No	No

Audio

1 differences

Audio specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Speakers	Stereo tuned by AKG	Stereo speakers
Headphone jack	No	No

Connectivity

5 differences

Connectivity specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Cellular	5G (sub-6 + mmWave, region-dependent)	5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave in US)
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
NFC	Yes (Samsung Pay / Google Wallet)	Yes (Apple Pay)
USB	USB-C 3.2	USB-C 2.0 (up to 480 Mbps)
SIM	Dual nano-SIM + eSIM (region-dependent)	Dual eSIM (US model, no physical SIM tray)

Features

3 differences

Features specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Plus.
Biometrics	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint + face unlock	Face ID (TrueDepth camera)
Extra controls	S Pen button, programmable side key	Action Button, Camera Control button
Standout features	S Pen, Samsung DeX, Galaxy AI, Vision Booster	Camera Control button, Action button, Apple Intelligence, Dynamic Island, Emergency SOS via satellite

Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra source iPhone 16 Plus source

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Android flagship with S Pen, 200MP camera, 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED, and seven years of OS updates.

S Pen built in
200MP main + 5x periscope telephoto
7 years of OS and security updates

What you give up

Larger and heavier than iPhone 16 Pro
No charger in the box
Flat 6.8-inch body is harder one-handed

Full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specs →

Pick this one if

iPhone 16 Plus

6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus with A18 chip, Camera Control, 48MP Fusion camera, and extended battery life.

Outstanding multi-day battery endurance
Large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR screen
A18 chip and Camera Control button

What you give up

60Hz display refresh rate (no ProMotion)
No dedicated optical telephoto camera

Full iPhone 16 Plus specs →

Best for each use

Photos

Camera first: zoom reach, sensors, stabilisation and video

For photos, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Leads 2 of 2 rankable photos specs.
Max optical zoom: 5x optical vs 2x
Main: 200 MP, f/1.7, 24 mm, 1/1.3", OIS,… vs 48 MP
iPhone 16 Plus is $400 cheaper. Pay the difference only if max optical zoom matters to you.

Battery & updates

All-day battery, fast top-ups and years of software support

Too close to call on battery & updates from the spec sheets. Only capacity is rankable here.

Wired charging: 45 W vs Up to 50% in 30 min with 20W+ adapter
Wireless charging: 15 W Qi / Fast Wireless vs 25W MagSafe

Games & video

Games and streaming: chip, refresh rate, brightness, speakers

For games & video, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Leads 4 of 4 rankable games & video specs.
RAM: 12 GB vs 8 GB
Size: 6.8 inches vs 6.7 inches
iPhone 16 Plus is $400 cheaper. Pay the difference only if ram matters to you.

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra spec sheet iPhone 16 Plus spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ↗ · iPhone 16 Plus ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Plus?

iPhone 16 Plus costs $400 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 16 Plus?

iPhone 16 Plus has this deal-breaker: no stylus. No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.

Which is better for photos, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Plus?

For photos, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Leads 2 of 2 rankable photos specs. Max optical zoom: 5x optical vs 2x

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 48 specs tracked here, 36 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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