Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best Flagship for You?

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Apple iPhone 16 Plus are both excellent flagship smartphones with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Galaxy S24+ offers a more versatile camera system and a higher refresh rate display, while the iPhone 16 Plus excels at motion capture and has a better overall software experience.

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Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  When deciding on your next smartphone, your current device often plays a significant role. If you’re satisfied with what you’re using, upgrading to a newer version within the same ecosystem makes sense, especially if you’re comfortable with the software. This is particularly true for those who are deeply integrated into a specific ecosystem.

However, for more adventurous users, switching between Android and iOS can be a common occurrence. Both platforms offer excellent options for those who enjoy compact devices for one-handed use or larger phones for an expansive display. The Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Apple iPhone 16 Plus are prime examples for users who prefer larger screens.

With impressive displays, long-lasting batteries, and powerful performance, both of these phones have a lot in common. Here’s a closer look to help you decide which one is the better fit for your needs.

 

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  Both the Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Apple iPhone 16 Plus, launched in 2024, are widely available wherever smartphones are sold. You can purchase them directly from their respective stores, as well as through all major carriers, smaller carriers, and retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

The Galaxy S24+ is priced at $1,000 for the 256GB model and $1,120 for the 512GB variant. This year, Samsung opted for more subdued colors, offering Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange, with the last three being exclusive to Samsung’s store.

On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Plus comes in three storage options: 128GB for $899, 256GB for $999, and 512GB for $1,199. Apple introduced vibrant colors for this series, with options including Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs. Apple iPhone 16 Plus

– Chipset:
Galaxy S24+ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, while the iPhone 16 Plus runs on the Apple A18.

– Display:
The Galaxy S24+ features a 6.7″ AMOLED screen with a variable refresh rate of 1-120Hz and a resolution of 3120 × 1440.
The iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7″ Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2796 x 1290.

– RAM and Storage:
The Galaxy S24+ offers 12GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB or 512GB.
The iPhone 16 Plus comes with 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB.

– Battery and Charging:
The Galaxy S24+ has a 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging.
The iPhone 16 Plus has a 4,675mAh battery with 25W charging. It supports USB-C wired charging, MagSafe, and Qi wireless charging.

– Camera:
The Galaxy S24+ has a triple rear camera setup: 50MP main (f/1.8, OIS), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), and 10MP telephoto (f/2.4, 3× zoom).
The iPhone 16 Plus features a dual-camera setup: 48MP main (f/1.6, OIS) and a 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120°).

– Connectivity:
Both devices support 5G, but the Galaxy S24+ offers Wi-Fi 6e and Wi-Fi Direct, while the iPhone 16 Plus supports the newer Wi-Fi 7 standard. Both have Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, UWB, and USB-C ports.

– Dimensions and Weight:
The Galaxy S24+ measures 158.5 × 76.2 × 7.6mm and weighs 197g.
The iPhone 16 Plus is slightly larger at 160.9 × 77.8 × 7.8mm and weighs 199g.

– Water Resistance and Colors:
Both devices are IP68 rated for water and dust resistance.
The Galaxy S24+ is available in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange.
The iPhone 16 Plus comes in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black.

– Price:
The Galaxy S24+ starts at $1,000, while the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899.

 

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best: The Galaxy S24+ and iPhone 16 Plus have very similar designs. They are nearly the same size, differing by just a few millimeters, and weigh almost the same—197g for the Galaxy and 199g for the iPhone.

Both phones feature large displays with slim bezels on the front. The Galaxy S24+ uses a hole-punch design for its selfie camera, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a pill-shaped cutout that incorporates Apple’s Dynamic Island.

Looking at the back and sides, the similarities continue. Both phones have a mostly clean glass back with their cameras located in the top left corner. The Galaxy S24+ has a triple camera system with each lens protruding individually, while the iPhone 16 Plus features a dual camera setup, where both lenses sit on a small raised, color-matched platform.

This year, both Samsung and Apple opted for flat edges again. The Galaxy S24+ has its power and volume buttons on the right, with the SIM tray and USB-C port on the bottom. The iPhone 16 Plus places its action and volume buttons on the left, with the power and new camera buttons on the right, and just a USB-C port on the bottom.

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  The action button on the iPhone is customizable, allowing you to launch apps, toggle the flashlight, or silence the phone. The new camera button serves as both a physical and capacitive button, enabling quick camera launches and shutter control. A vibrating motor simulates a half-press feel, while a full press takes a picture. Swiping the button lets you quickly adjust settings like aperture and shutter speed.

As for unlocking, the Galaxy S24+ offers an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint reader and face unlock, with the fingerprint reader being especially fast and the face unlock working well in good lighting. The iPhone 16 Plus, on the other hand, relies solely on Face ID, which is fast, accurate, and even works in low-light conditions.

 

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  For better or worse, the overall design approach we’re seeing now has quickly become a trend. Samsung’s recent designs, including the Galaxy S24+ and the Galaxy Watch Ultra, are starting to feel somewhat uninspired. With minimal distinctive features, it seems like Samsung is leaning too heavily on designs that resemble Apple’s. While other brands embracing flat sides—like Google with its Pixel 9 Pro XL—retain unique elements, such as the large camera visor, Samsung’s design choices lack the same level of innovation.

It feels as though Samsung’s design department isn’t pushing boundaries as much as it could. While borrowing software ideas from competitors is one thing, it’s disappointing to see devices from different manufacturers converging into a similar design philosophy.

That said, Apple isn’t exactly leading the charge in design innovation either. The iPhone has stuck with the same basic look since the iPhone 12, which itself harkens back to the iPhone 4, and is overdue for a fresh design. To be clear, these designs aren’t bad, but the overall aesthetic feels more “Apple-like,” and coming from Samsung, a company known for pushing design boundaries in the past, more is expected.

 

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  A bright, vibrant display is essential for any flagship device in 2024, and both Samsung and Apple deliver in this area. The Samsung Galaxy S24+ features a 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 3121 x 1440 pixels, an impressive peak brightness of 2600 nits, and a 120Hz refresh rate. This makes it one of the top screens on the market, offering excellent visibility in direct sunlight and a smooth, fluid experience thanks to the high refresh rate. Its Dynamic LTPO technology also allows the refresh rate to drop as low as 1Hz for static content, helping conserve battery life.

Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus also comes with a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, featuring a resolution of 2796 x 1290 and up to 2000 nits of brightness in high-brightness mode. While the display is beautiful, Apple opted for a 60Hz refresh rate, which feels outdated for a premium device in 2024. If you’re used to a 120Hz display, you’ll likely notice the difference in smoothness, making Apple’s choice hard to justify at this price point.

For protection, the Galaxy S24+ uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the iPhone 16 Plus has Apple’s Ceramic Shield glass. Both offer solid durability, but using a screen protector is still recommended to prevent scratches or cracks.

 

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  When choosing a new smartphone, your current device often plays a big role in your decision, unless you’re someone who enjoys switching between Android and iOS, or you’re dissatisfied with your current platform.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ runs on Android 14 with One UI 6.1.1, and Samsung has highlighted its Galaxy AI features. Similar to Google’s Gemini AI, Samsung’s AI offers a range of useful tools, including adjusting the tone of your text, translating conversations in real-time, and generating transcripts in the Samsung Recorder app. It also has “Circle to Search,” which lets you quickly draw a circle around part of your display to look up specific information.

One of Samsung’s key improvements this year is its commitment to software support, promising seven years of Android OS updates and security patches. This extended support ensures you can keep your device for longer without missing out on new features.

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Plus runs iOS 18. With iOS 18, Apple now allows more customization on the home screen, giving you the freedom to place icons and widgets anywhere, rather than being restricted to the top-left corner. You can also lock apps using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, and even hide apps entirely. The Control Center has been redesigned, allowing for more flexibility with controls on the lock screen. The Photos app has also been revamped, now functioning more like Google Photos, and Apple has finally adopted RCS messaging for better communication.

Apple has also introduced “Apple Intelligence,” which improves Siri’s capabilities and integrates ChatGPT. However, this feature will roll out gradually in the months following the device’s launch. As always, Apple continues to lead in software support, offering at least five years of updates, with devices receiving day-one upgrades throughout their lifecycle.

 

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  To keep it simple: both the Galaxy S24+ and iPhone 16 Plus are exceptionally powerful devices, capable of handling everything from basic web browsing to demanding tasks like gaming and video editing with ease.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ comes with either a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor (in the U.S.) or the Exynos 2400 (for international users), with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 being the stronger option. Both versions are paired with 12GB of RAM, ensuring top-tier performance.

Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus, on the other hand, uses its own A18 processor, which consistently ranks at the top in terms of performance. It’s paired with 8GB of RAM, providing a smooth and powerful experience across all tasks.

 

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  Battery life is strong for both the Galaxy S24+ and iPhone 16 Plus. The Galaxy S24+ features a 4900mAh battery that easily lasts a full day of heavy use, or up to two days with lighter usage. It supports 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging at 4.5W. You can charge the Galaxy S24+ to about 65% in 30 minutes.

While Apple doesn’t officially disclose the battery capacity, the iPhone 16 Plus is rumored to have a 4675mAh battery. Like the Galaxy, it offers a full day of heavy usage or two days with lighter use. Charging options include up to 20W wired, 25W with MagSafe, 15W with a Qi2 wireless charger, and 7.5W with Qi wireless charging. With a USB cable, you can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes.

 

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  Camera quality is a key factor when choosing a flagship smartphone, and both the Galaxy S24+ and iPhone 16 Plus deliver excellent performance in this area.

The Galaxy S24+ boasts a versatile triple-camera setup: a 50MP f/1.8 primary lens, a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. It supports video recording in 8K at up to 30fps, 4K at up to 60fps, and 1080p at up to 240fps. The front-facing camera is 12MP f/2.2 and can shoot 4K video at 60fps.

The iPhone 16 Plus, meanwhile, has a dual-camera setup with a 48MP f/1.6 primary lens and a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens. It supports 4K video recording at up to 60fps and 1080p at up to 240fps. The front-facing camera is 12MP f/1.9 and also supports 4K video recording at 60fps.

In well-lit conditions, both phones will produce stunningly detailed photos, and both excel at low-light photography. However, the Galaxy S24+ pulls ahead in terms of versatility, thanks to its additional telephoto lens, which is ideal for zoom shots. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Plus shines when it comes to motion photography—whether capturing kids or pets in action, the iPhone’s superior motion capture capabilities offer a smoother experience compared to Samsung’s struggle with moving subjects.

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  To reiterate a recurring theme in this article, the smartphone you currently own will significantly influence your choice between the Galaxy S24+ and the iPhone 16 Plus. Both devices are quite comparable, making their software the key differentiator.

If you’re using an Android device or considering a platform switch, the Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a slight edge. Its impressive display outperforms the iPhone’s with a higher refresh rate, and it delivers excellent battery life and performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12GB of RAM. While the camera system may have difficulties with motion capture, its versatility is enhanced by the telephoto lens.

Galaxy S24+ vs iPhone 16 Plus: Which is the Best:  For iOS users who are satisfied with their platform, the only choice is to stick with the iPhone. The Apple iPhone 16 Plus provides remarkable performance and battery life. Although its camera system is less versatile, it excels at capturing moving subjects. The large display is also stunning, but Apple needs to adopt faster refresh rates. Additionally, it’s a letdown that Apple Intelligence isn’t available at launch and will take several months to roll out fully.