Apple has finally launched the highly anticipated iPhone 16 Pro Max, which comes with some notable upgrades like a larger display, a more powerful A18 Pro chipset, and the introduction of Apple Intelligence features. And, this new Pro Max model costs the same as last year, starting at $1,299.
As we dive into this comparison, we’ll see how the iPhone 16 Pro Max stacks up against its main rivals, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, both of which are the latest flagship devices from Samsung and Google, respectively. Let’s dive in.
Design and Display
The iPhone 16 Pro Max features the largest screen at 6.9” with a crisp 3200 x 1440 resolution. The Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL both have slightly smaller 6.8” displays, with resolutions of 3120 x 1440 and 2992 x 1344, respectively. Oh, all three offer OLED displays with a 120 Hz refresh rate.
In terms of build, Apple sticks with a titanium frame and Ceramic Shield, making it both sleek and durable. Samsung mirrors this with its own titanium frame but opts for Corning Gorilla Glass Armor for extra toughness and anti-glare. Google, meanwhile, uses an aluminum frame, coupled with Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The iPhone sticks to these colors: Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, Black Titanium, and White Titanium.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra offers the widest variety, with colors like Titanium Gray, Black, Violet, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Orange. The Pixel 9 Pro XL keeps it simple with Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, and Obsidian.
In terms of weight, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the heaviest among the three, coming in at 232 grams. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is slightly lighter at 225 grams, making it a bit more manageable despite its larger display. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the lightest, weighing 221 grams.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
Runner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Biometrics
When it comes to biometrics, the iPhone 16 Pro Max relies solely on Face ID, which, don’t get me wrong, is fast and secure. However, the iPhone does not include a fingerprint scanner, which might be a drawback for some people.
In contrast, both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL give you two biometric options. They come with both 2D face unlock for quick access and an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, that’s both fast and secure.
Hardware
Now, let’s compare the hardware specs of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by Apple’s new A18 Pro SoC, a hexa-core chip built on a 3nm process. The Galaxy S24 Ultra uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, an octa-core chip with 4nm process.
Finally, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL features the Tensor G4 SoC, another octa-core chip, but with a focus on AI and machine learning tasks. It’s also built on a 4nm process. Among the three, Apple’s chip is the most powerful, followed by Samsung’s and finally Google’s.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max offers 8 GB of RAM, which is less than its competitors but is typically well-optimized with iOS for smooth performance. The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with 12 GB of RAM across all storage options, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with some hefty 16 GB of RAM.
All three devices offer storage options up to 1 TB. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and then Galaxy S24 Ultra start at 256 GB, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at 128 GB. Plus, the Google device comes with just UFS 3.1, which is twice as slow when compared to the UFS 4.0 on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Oh, and the iPhone uses NVMe storage and we don’t know which version, yet.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a new thermal management system aimed at reducing overheating. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also includes an advanced Vapor Chamber cooling system. Similarly, the Pixel 9 Pro XL also has vapor cooling, ensuring it remains cool under heavy workloads.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
Runner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Software and AI
The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with iOS 18 and some cool new Apple Intelligence (AI) features that will be rolled out next month. Till then, you’ll have to wait for the features to arrive. Usually, Apple offers 5 years of software updates and that should be the case with the iPhone 16 Pro Max as well.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra runs on One UI 6.1 on top of Android 14. The company has promised 7 years of software support for the device, meaning it’ll get updates till Android 21. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also comes with a suite of AI features called Galaxy AI, which is similar to what you’ll find on the Apple’s side.
Speaking of AI, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL also comes with a ton of AI features including Magic Editor, Reimagine, Magic Eraser, Audio Eraser, Add Me, and a lot more. Oh, and the device runs on Android 14 out of the box (unfortunately) but you can expect 7 years of updates, though.
Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Runner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
Cameras
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a 48 MP f/1.8 main camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12 MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. On the front is a 12 MP camera for selfies. It offers ProRes video recording, Cinematic Mode, 4K recording at 60 fps, and 4K at 120 fps.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a 200 MP f/1.7 main camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and a dual telephoto setup with a 10 MP lens with 3x optical zoom and a 50 MP periscope lens providing 5x optical zoom. On the front is a 12 MP camera for selfies. It supports 8K video recording at 30 fps and 4K at up to 60 fps, with Super Steady and HDR10+ features.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL features a 50 MP f/1.7 main camera, a 48 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 48 MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. On the front is a 42 MP camera for selfies. For video, it supports 8K recording at 30 fps and 4K at up to 60 fps, with HDR.
If you’re after the highest resolution and zoom flexibility, the S24 Ultra is the standout with its 200 MP main sensor and dual telephoto lenses. The Pixel 9 Pro XL and the iPhone 16 Pro Max provide a strong all-around camera experience.
Battery & Charging
The iPhone 16 Pro Max offers “all-day battery life” and supports 30W wired fast charging and 15W MagSafe wireless charging. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 45W wired charging, and 15W wireless charging.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5,060 mAh battery, and it supports 37W wired charging with a Google 45W USB-C charger, and 23W wireless charging with the Pixel Stand (2nd gen), or up to 12W with standard Qi-certified chargers.
Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Runner: iPhone 16 Pro Max/Pixel 9 Pro XL
Pricing
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL in the US starts at $1,099 for the 128 GB variant and $1,199 for the 256 GB variant. The Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max both start at $1,199 for the 256 GB variant.
In India, the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Pixel 9 Pro XL are priced at ₹1,24,999, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is significantly more expensive at ₹1,44,990. This makes the iPhone 16 Pro Max the most expensive of the three devices in India.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9″ OLED, 3200 x 1440, 120 Hz | 6.8″ OLED, 3120 x 1440, 120 Hz | 6.8″ OLED, 2992 x 1344, 120 Hz |
| Build | Titanium frame, Ceramic Shield | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Colors | Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, Black Titanium, White Titanium | Titanium Gray, Black, Violet, Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian |
| Weight | 225 grams | 232 grams | 221 grams |
| Biometrics | Face ID | 2D face unlock, Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner | 2D face unlock, Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner |
| Chipset | A18 Pro (3nm, Hexa-core) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm, Octa-core) | Tensor G4 (4nm, Octa-core) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage Options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB NVMe | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB UFS 4.0 | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB UFS 3.1 |
| Cooling System | Graphite cooling | Vapor Chamber cooling | Vapor cooling |
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 14 (One UI 6.1) | Android 14 |
| AI Features | Apple Intelligence (coming soon) | Galaxy AI | Magic Editor, Reimagine, Magic Eraser, Audio Eraser, Add Me, etc. |
| Software Updates | 5 years | 7 years | 7 years |
| Main Camera | 48 MP f/1.8 | 200 MP f/1.7 | 50 MP f/1.7 |
| Ultra-wide Camera | 12 MP | 12 MP | 48 MP |
| Telephoto Camera | 12 MP (5x optical zoom) | 10 MP (3x optical zoom), 50 MP (5x optical zoom) | 48 MP (5x optical zoom) |
| Video Recording | ProRes, Cinematic Mode, 4K@60fps, 4K@120fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, Super Steady, HDR10+ | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, HDR |
| Battery | 4,676 mAh | 5,000 mAh | 5,060 mAh |
| Wired Charging | 30W | 45W | 37W |
| Wireless Charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W | 23W (Pixel Stand), 12W (Qi) |
| US Price | $1,199 (256 GB) | $1,299 (256 GB) | $1,099 (128 GB), $1,199 (256 GB) |
| India Price | ₹1,44,990 | ₹1,24,999 | ₹1,24,999 |
Conclusion
If you really want an iOS device, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is your only option. However, if you’re interested in exploring Android, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers top performance and features. The Pixel 9 Pro XL provides a clean Android experience with minimal customization but sacrifices some performance.
All three devices come with AI features, so which AI capabilities matter most to you could influence your choice. In terms of power, the iPhone 16 Pro Max leads, followed by the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Camera-wise, all three are neck to neck, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max might have an edge due to its new ISP. What’s your pick? Let us know in the comments below.
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