The next generation of Apple’s iPhones — the iPhone 16 series is expected to launch in just under 5 months from now. Of course, the centre of most attention will be the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the high-end model that has been the subject of numerous leaks and extensive speculation by notable analysts.
When comparing the iPhone 16 Pro Max to Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, it’s important to note that Apple’s device has yet to be released. Thus, this comparison is speculative and based on a combination of rumors and leaked information. With that out of the way, iPhone 16 Pro Max versus Galaxy S24 Ultra — who will reign supreme in the high-end smartphone segment from the two smartphone giants?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra are two super-premium handsets set to go head-to-head
Design and Dimensions
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is likely to carry on with a now familiar design – titanium frame, flat edges, Dynamic Island similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, it is rumoured that the bezels could get even slimmer this year with the screen size going up to 6.9 inches. This would make the iPhone 16 Pro Max marginally larger than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which has a 6.8-inch display.
Additionally, multiple rumors continue to suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be slightly taller and narrower, measuring 163mm x 77.58mm, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is 162.3 x 79mm, with a marginally wider frame that is better optimised for S Pen usage.
Could the iPhone 16 Pro Max be the largest-screened iPhone yet?
The much anticipated return of the Action button — first introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models as a replacement for the mute switch — is also likely, and it could be programmable to perform various functions. Rumours also hint at the possible addition of another button – a Camera button. These alleged new physical buttons are said to feature capacitive touch recognition that can allow users to quickly access or control the camera. However, this information has yet to be corroborated, so buyers should proceed with caution and wait for more reliable information.
In contrast, Samsung has opted against any additional physical buttons apart from the standard power and volume buttons. It does, however, have a dedicated S Pen housed within the bottom of the device. Both devices will have a USB Type-C port at the bottom, with support for USB 3 speeds.
The four rumoured colour options for the iPhone 16 Pro Max are White, Grey, Pink, and Space Black
In terms of colours, Apple is reportedly researching a different finishing technique that will give a glossier look and feel instead of the scratch-prone titanium finish of the 15 Pro series. The four rumoured colour options for the iPhone 16 Pro Max are White, Grey, Pink, and Space Black.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to come in a wide range of colours – Gray, Black, Purple, and Yellow, along with three more exclusive colours from Samsung’s online store – Green, Blue, and Red.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra will have more colour options
Display
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to feature the largest display ever on an iPhone — a 6.9-inch panel. It will most likely be an OLED panel (produced by either Samsung or LG). Supply chain rumours suggest that the panels destined for the iPhone 16 Pro Max and its siblings will be more power efficient.
This is because the OLED material is expected to switch from blue fluorescent to blue phosphorescent technology. Additionally, there is speculation that Apple could integrate the Face ID sensors under the display on the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. That would reduce the necessary cutout to a single circle for the selfie camera, instead of the pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout.
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra uses an in-house manufactured AMOLED panel, which also has a variable refresh rate of 1Hz – 120Hz. Both handsets have a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera on the front. However, the punch-hole on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra is considerably smaller, as it is simply a tiny circle for a single camera. Apple, on the other hand, has an entire Face ID array in there, and the resulting cutout is a large pill-shaped Dynamic Island.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s display is set to receive a major upgrade
Performance and Software
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to make another generational leap with its 3nm process chipset – likely to be called the Apple A18 Pro. The new chip is expected to be even more powerful than the A17 Pro which was already known for its impressive performance. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the Galaxy S24 Ultra is also quite advanced and is likely to rival Apple’s silicon.
Furthermore, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will also reportedly get Wi-Fi 7 support, which is touted to deliver data speeds four times faster than the current Wi-Fi 6E. The Galaxy S24 Ultra already supports Wi-Fi 7.
The upcoming A18 Pro chipset has enthusiasts excited
On the software side of things, Apple’s iOS and
