Camera Comparison: Samsung S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max

[MacRumors]

Samsung came out with its 2024 flagship smartphone lineup in January, with the new devices competing directly with the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Samsung's high-end S24 Ultra adopts some Apple-like features like a titanium chassis and a 5X zoom lens, but it also has standout additions that set it apart. We have an S24 Ultra, and thought we'd see how one main feature compares to the iPhone 15 Pro Max -- the camera.

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The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 200-megapixel wide-angle camera (Apple's Wide lens is 50 megapixels), a 12-megapixel ultra wide camera (equal to Apple's), a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens, and a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens (Apple has a single 12-megapixel Telephoto lens). A higher pixel count equates to a higher resolution for printing and cropping in, but it doesn't necessarily make for better images because the size of the sensor is more important.

In the sample images, you'll see that there's not too much of a difference between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the S24 Ultra. The S24 Ultra is a little bit more saturated and the highlights are brightened, so the S24 images can look brighter in straight from the camera comparisons. The iPhone images tend to be sharper for the most part, but Samsung's algorithm works well for night mode images.

Samsung primarily focused on AI this year, so the S24 Ultra camera is almost identical to the S23 Ultra camera, but the telephoto lens is a major difference. Samsung ditched its 10x telephoto lens and opted instead for a 5x telephoto lens that more closely matches the 5x telephoto lens on the iPhone. Telephoto images are close to the same, but in Portrait mode, Samsung's photos come out crisper.

There are two telephoto lenses in Samsung's smartphone, so it supports up to 10x optical zoom, and Samsung has long had the edge when it comes to digital zoom. The S24 Ultra can zoom in up to 100x, and while the iPhone's digital zoom is good, it's not able to zoom in to that level.

On the topic of AI, Samsung added some AI-supported features for post processing. You can use generative fill to remove objects from images and change the crop, cut down on noise with remastering, add slow motion to any video, and record with both the front and rear-facing cameras at the same time. We may see camera-related AI additions on the iPhone 16 models or in iOS 18, but for now, Samsung has the edge when it comes to fun AI-based tools.

No smartphone is able to measure up to the iPhone when it comes to video quality because of its stabilization and resolution, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the closest competitor, and it has an edge when it comes to microphone quality. The S24 Ultra's microphone has great noise isolation and clarity, and the Cinematic mode looks nice, though Samsung's Cinematic mode overdoes it on the blur. 4K video is supported at 30 and 60fps, but not 24fps, which is problematic for those who want to shoot high-quality 24fps video. On iPhone, there is a setting for recording 4K video at 24fps.

As smartphone cameras get better and better, it gets more difficult to distinguish which smartphone takes superior images. Both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy Ultra S24 take excellent quality pictures, and it's impossible to pick an overall winner. We think these cameras are about on par.

Samsung and Apple are using different algorithms and processing for image capture and to make pictures look sharper in lower light, so you'll see some differences in brightness, white balance, saturation, and similar parameters, and "better" becomes a matter of preference.

Which images do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.

Article Link: Camera Comparison: Samsung S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max

 

[icanhazmac]

When can we stop referring to these devices as phones and start calling them, more accurately, cameras capable of making and receiving calls. iCamera15 Pro is a far more logical name. Camera features seem to be the lion's share of upgrades from year to year besides the processor.

How long till the back of the iCamera has 10 lenses?

 

[Motawa]

These little tiny images are perfect to compare it. Oh and thanks for the frame

 

[ApostolisApo]

When can we stop referring to these devices as phones and start calling them, more accurately, cameras capable of making and receiving calls. iCamera15 Pro is a far more logical name. Camera features seem to be the lion's share of upgrades from year to year besides the processor.

It’s a consequence of our society and culture becoming more and more visual. For better or for worse…

 

[7thson]

The photos of the woman are a stark contrast. They almost don’t look like the same woman but I’ll chalk that up the hair part making the face look longer in the iPhone pic. The left/iPhone has better color and the right/Samsung looks washed out.
I’m sure either phone will take excellent photos for the vast majority of people, so it’ll come down operating system presences most likely.

 

[alexandr]

Teeth look better on the Galaxy. That's about it.

 

[dumastudetto]

Wow the iPhone 15 Pro Max totally blows the Galaxy S24 Ultra out of the water in every shot.

Great work.

 

[hagjohn]

When can we stop referring to these devices as phones and start calling them, more accurately, cameras capable of making and receiving calls. iCamera15 Pro is a far more logical name. Camera features seem to be the lion's share of upgrades from year to year besides the processor.

What would you like to see? It is not like the camera was the only component updated each year.

 

[Orange Bat]

Sometimes I like Samsung, sometimes I like iPhone. You really can’t go wrong with the cameras in either one, especially compared to just a few years ago. Most smart phone users today are carrying around better cameras in their pockets than the point-and-click film cameras everyone used to own.

 

[tridley68]

I phone wins hands down👍

 

[icanhazmac]

What would you like to see? It is not like the camera was the only component updated each year.

Some easy things... better screens, better batteries, faster internals, etc. Which we obviously get but they don't seem to be as celebrated as the latest megapixel counts or zooms.

Harder things... can't say, but things like the addition of the NFC chip and its functionality. Things that add convenience and function to the device versus self serving selfies or the desire to film someone who just fell instead of helping them up.

My point is, as previously stated, the camera and its functionality, seem to be the lion's share of newsworthy announcements when launching these products or comparing them. I may very well be the minority here but I couldn't care less about the camera past taking reasonable quality pictures/video.

 

[ghostface147]

They both are strong in some, less in others. Can’t go wrong with either choice. It’s a preference of OS at this point.

 

[kp98077]

To me the galaxy is kind of ugly ..

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Wow the iPhone 15 Pro Max totally blows the Galaxy S24 Ultra out of the water in every shot.

Great work.

You think so? I think they both look pretty similar, as far as quality goes. I like the Samsung photo better with the building/key, and the photo with the woman looks more natural with the Samsung.

Not interested in either of these, but I don't think there is really much difference.

 

[Vaga8ond]

The Samsung looks more natural, while the iPhone looks like some post-processing things are going on to brighten up those night shots. Most modern cell phones take good pictures, only the most visual elite really care.

 

[carrrrrlos]

Would be great to post another comparison w/out the camera information provided and ask for opinions. Then a few days later share whose photos are whose.

 

[seggy]

Camera features seem to be the lion's share of upgrades from year to year besides the processor.

Mostly because as technology improves, there's always been scope to improve the readout / processing / sensor features of the crappy tiny sensor that they basically have to use.

 

[coffeemilktea]

I feel like I'm comparing Coke and Pepsi at this point.

 

[contacos]

Here I am actually missing my 12 Pro Max camera.

- sent from iPhone 15 Plus

 

[darngooddesign]

I know it's subjective, but in most cases the S24 has more natural auto white balance while the iPhone always seems too blue.

 

[seggy]

I feel like I'm comparing Coke and Pepsi at this point.

...and it will always be thus, until they start imagining different ways to either stick a much bigger sensor in there without compromises, or aggregate the output of multiple physically separated sensors (something Nokia/Foxconn tried for example) again without compromises.

Then, and only then, can I actually dump the camera I always carry when outside, even though I care enough about my carry weight to actually weigh everything I EDC on at least a yearly basis...

 

[fel10]

Galaxy looks better. Take the fanboy glasses off, and you can also see it.

 

[SebCohen]

Colors om the Smamgsung looks much cleaner/better to me. More honest…not so damn “warm”

 

[DaveN]

Mixed bag. Some Samsung pics look better and some iPhone pics look better. In both cases the differences are user preference and can be adjusted later to suit the user’s preference.

 

[timber]

I wouldn't say there's a clean winner, sometimes one looks better, other times the other.

I would say i tend to prefer the iPhone in "buildings" pictures and the Samsung on the portrait. The Samsung colours do look more natural.