iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S24 series: Battle of brains, lenses, and next-gen power

✨TL; DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read)

Our comparison gives the Galaxy S24 series a slight overall edge over the iPhone 15 series, mainly because Samsung brings a 120Hz display, stronger battery life, and Galaxy AI to even the base model. Apple still has clear strengths, especially camera performance and tighter ecosystem integration, while the iPhone 15 Pro stands out in the mid-range battle. At the top end, the Galaxy S24 Ultra looks like the more complete productivity phone, with S Pen support and higher storage and RAM. Choose Samsung for features, Apple for photography and ecosystem comfort, and a familiar experience for long-time iPhone ecosystem users.

Verdict: Galaxy S24 series is the winner 🏆

The Galaxy S24 series has a slight advantage over the iPhone 15 series

When it comes to which smartphone series is the better choice, the Galaxy S24 series just slightly wins out over the iPhone 15 series. This is thanks to its high-quality display, impressive battery life, and cutting-edge Galaxy AI features that are present even in its base model, the S24. While the iPhone 15 series is a great choice, AI features and a high-quality display to match the S24’s screen refresh rate of 120Hz aren’t introduced until you reach the mid-range model (iPhone 15 Pro) at a higher price tag. In addition, Samsung’s top-tier model, the S24 Ultra, is a productivity powerhouse with 1TB of storage, 12GB of RAM, and S Pen stylus support. The only tier in which the iPhone 15 series wins out is the mid-range model, as the iPhone 15 Pro is a significant improvement upon the base models, whereas Samsung’s mid-range phone (S24+) seems to be just a bigger version of the base model with only a few more bells and whistles. That said, the S24 series just edges out the iPhone 15 series in our book. However, if you’re prioritising camera performance or you want to stay within the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 15 series may be the better choice. Even though the Samsung S26 has already been released, the S24 is still a top of the range device well worth upgrading to.

Can you trust this comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15  

At Back Market, we live and breathe tech. As a leading global marketplace for refurbished technology, we know the ins and outs of smartphones, including the S24 series and the iPhone 15 series. We work closely with experts in the field to refurbish devices, which go through a rigorous testing process before they’re ever put up for sale on our pages. The processes we follow include comprehensive quality checks, aesthetic checks, repair of any damaged or broken pieces, and final testing to ensure each device is restored to premium functionality. 

The certified refurbishers we work with know these devices inside and out. This valuable knowledge, combined with real user insights, allows us to provide you with trustworthy reviews and comparisons when it comes to not only the iPhone 15 vs the Samsung S24, but to all kinds of tech. That’s why you can trust this comparison. But don’t take it from us — take it from this user: 

"Ordered two Samsung 24+ phones for me and my partner and so far these are fantastic. This is the second lot of phones we have had from Back Market and for a refurbished mobile phone we cannot fault Back Market for quality." 

- Emma C. 

How does the iPhone 15 compare to the Samsung S24?

Both the iPhone 15 and the Samsung Galaxy 24 series are powerful upgrades from their predecessors, with updated designs, better camera systems, and increased performance capabilities. With the S24 series, ​​Samsung has ushered in what it calls “the new era of mobile AI” for better creativity and productivity features. The iPhone 15 series, on the other hand, has finally ditched its Lightning port for USB-C charging and includes a range of features to make the user experience within the Apple ecosystem even more seamless. While both series have much to offer, there are some key differences that may make one series better than the other for some users. Let’s dive in.  

How do the Galaxy S24, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus base models compare?

Winner: Galaxy S24 

✨Thanks to the Galaxy S24’s better display, longer battery life, and added AI features, it takes the cake over the iPhone 15 base models

When it comes to the S24 and iPhone 15 base models, that Galaxy S24 just slightly wins out over the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. This is due to the Galaxy S24’s better display, longer battery life, and innovative AI features. While it comes at a slightly higher price tag, it’s worth it if you’re prioritsiing more bells and whistles in a base model phone. However, the Apple iPhone 15 or 15 Plus may still be better choices for those prioritising camera performance or who don’t want to stray outside the Apple ecosystem.

The base models of the S24 series and the iPhone 15 series are the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 15 Plus is considered a base model here because all its features are the same as the iPhone 15, except for the size and battery life.

These base models offer different features that can make or break the choice between them for some users. The Samsung Galaxy S24, for instance, stands out for its larger AMOLED display and 120Hz screen refresh rate, making swiping and switching between apps silky smooth. The triple-camera lens system at the back beats out the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus’s dual-camera lens setup, offering more diverse photo and video capabilities. The Galaxy S24 also incorporates Galaxy AI features for the first time in the Samsung Galaxy lineup, making common smartphone tasks even quicker and easier with artificial intelligence built into the phone itself. Here’s what one Reddit user had to say about the S24:

“My S24 is great, great size, camera and battery life gives me 1-2 days, depending on time spent away from WiFi - very happy 😊”

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, on the other hand, still offer great photo and video capabilities with better low-light performance than the S24 on both the front and back cameras. The iPhone 15 may offer a slightly smaller display than the S24, but this issue can be solved by opting for the iPhone 15 Plus, which is the largest of the three base models. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are also both powered by the A16 Bionic chip, allowing seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, and support Dynamic Island, a feature that was new at the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup. These iPhone base models are also the first iPhones to support USB-C charging, which is a more common charging standard instead of the unique Lightning cable that only works with Apple products. This makes it easier to have one charger for all your devices but can take some adjusting for Apple enthusiasts.

The Galaxy S24 stands out as a more innovative smartphone thanks to its Galaxy AI features, and it also offers several advantages over the iPhone base models, like faster charging, a higher refresh rate, and its triple-camera system. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, however, offer an even smoother experience within the Apple ecosystem thanks to the A16 Bionic chip, as well as better low-light camera capabilities.

What are the Samsung S24, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus specifications?

✨The iPhone 15 gives the Samsung S24 a good run for its money, but the Samsung wins in display, battery, camera, RAM, and more

What are the features and benefits of the Samsung S24, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus?

✨Samsung comes with Galaxy AI and a smoother experience, while iPhone offers easy integration with other devices and well-known UI

The Samsung Galaxy S24’s main benefit is undeniably the implementation of Galaxy AI, which allows everyday tasks to run even smoother. From Circle to Search to smart photo editing and Live Translate, these AI-powered features are impressive to say the least. These, combined with the adaptive 120Hz screen refresh rate, make for a smooth experience whether you’re gaming, streaming video, or messaging with friends.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, however, offer the benefit of seamless integration with Apple’s famously intuitive and user-oriented ecosystem. The A16 Bionic chip that powers both of these base models make apps run even more smoothly, and the introduction of features like Dynamic Island enhances productivity without interrupting the user experience. The iPhone 15 Plus has all these same features, but in a bigger body. If you’re in the market for an iPhone 15 but you’re frustrated by the small size or battery life, the 15 Plus would be perfect for you.

What are the pros and cons of the Samsung S24, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus?

✨Whether you want brighter display or enhanced productivity features, the S24 and iPhone 15 are excellent choices

How do the Samsung Galaxy S24+ and the iPhone 15 Pro mid-range models compare?  

Winner: iPhone 15 Pro 

✨With the S24+ only having minor improvements over the base models, the big step-up from iPhone 15 to the iPhone 15 Pro means it wins this round.

We think the iPhone 15 Pro has a slight advantage over the Samsung Galaxy S24+. This is because generally, these mid-range models should be a step up from the base models. The S24+, however, only gets minor improvements over the S24 base model with increased RAM. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, makes major jumps in RAM, storage, camera capabilities, and display quality from the base model. Its performance rivals the S24+ in everything but battery life, so the iPhone 15 Pro grabs the title of the better mid-range option.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ and the iPhone 15 Pro both offer a step up from their respective base models in processing power and RAM, making their performance even better. The Samsung Galaxy S24+ gets an upgrade from 8GB to 12GB of RAM, while the iPhone 15 Pro also moves from 6GB up to 8GB of RAM. Both phones have excellent camera capabilities, with the S24+ not being much of a step up from the S24, but with the iPhone 15 Pro receiving the triple-camera system this time. Display-wise, the iPhone 15 Pro joins the Galaxy with its adaptive 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and seamless task management.

The iPhone 15 Pro rivals the Galaxy S24+ in ways that its base model siblings don't: it gets the same high screen refresh rate of 120Hz for smooth scrolling and joins the S24+ with a triple-camera setup.Finally, the 15 Pro incorporates Apple Intelligence, Apple’s answer to Galaxy AI. The Galaxy S24+, however, stands out for its fast charging speeds and impressive battery power. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, is equipped with the A17 Pro Chip, ensuring faster performance and enhanced graphics.

What are the Samsung S24+ and iPhone 15 Pro specifications?

✨With a stronger display and better Wi-Fi capabilities, the iPhone 15 Pro edges out the Samsung S24+

What are the features and benefits of the Samsung S24+ and the iPhone 15 Pro?

✨Grab the Samsung S24+ if you want a larger screen and Galaxy AI features, and the iPhone 15 Pro for a compact powerhouse with macro photography support

The Galaxy S24+ provides the perfect balance between work and pleasure with its large screen size, Galaxy AI features, and excellent battery life. It also contains 12GB of RAM, making switching between apps and gaming even faster. It's available in seven colours, but the main drawback is that its storage options only go up to 512GB, with higher storage capacities reserved for the S24 Ultra.

The iPhone 15 Pro, however, was truly built with the professional in mind. Its fairly compact size makes it easy to carry in your pocket or use one-handed, but the ProMotion display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate makes sure the smaller display doesn’t compromise on quality or speed. Its Pro triple-camera provides a nice upgrade to the already incredible iPhone 15 dual-camera setup, and it includes support for macro photography and Apple ProRAW - so you’re essentially carrying a professional camera in your pocket. It may only be available in four colours, but it has the S24+’s storage capacity beat with a 1TB option.

What are the pros and cons of the Samsung S24+ and the iPhone 15 Pro?

✨Samsung comes with better imagery and larger display, but limited storage, while the iPhone is a better balance between a compact size and professional appeal, with less battery life

How do the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max top-tier models compare?

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 

✨The expanded storage capacity and S Pen support of the Samsung S24 Ultra gives it the edge over the iPhone 15 Pro Max

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra slightly wins out over the iPhone 15 Pro Max when it comes to the top-tier models thanks to its expanded storage capacity, its quad-lens camera upgrade, and its support of the S Pen removable stylus. These improvements combined with the already impressive Galaxy AI features and long battery life make it the perfect top-tier phone for productivity. While the iPhone 15 Pro Max is still impressive, it’s lacking in RAM and stylus support and charges a little more slowly than the S24 Ultra. It’s worth noting, however, that the S24 Ultra’s quad-camera setup may be more versatile, but its lenses still aren’t as high-quality as the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s lenses. As a result, photographers may still prefer the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max serve as the top-of-the-line models of these popular smartphone series. The S24 Ultra gets a major camera upgrade with a quad-lens setup and a 200MP main camera. It also expands its storage capabilities to 1TB and comes with an even bigger display and more powerful battery than the S24+. In addition, the S24 Ultra has something that the rest of the models in the S24 lineup don’t: it supports the S Pen for even better productivity. The S Pen can be used for drawing, taking notes, and other creative activities using the phone as your paper and the S Pen as your pen, pencil, paintbrush, and everything in between. The S24 Ultra is also the only S24 phone to get a titanium build, which means it comes in its own set of colours.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, comes with a much larger display than its Pro sibling and is powered by the same A17 Pro chip, ensuring fast performance and a smooth display experience. Because of its size, it’s also able to fit a larger battery, guaranteeing a much longer battery life than the iPhone 15 Pro (although it’s still a bit shorter than the S24 Ultra). Its charging speed is also a little slower.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is an excellent phone for anyone looking to increase their productivity. Its large screen and S Pen support make everyday tasks even easier, and its 1TB storage option provides relief for those looking to store more photos and files. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is built for efficiency, combining the size and battery life of a large phone with Apple’s seamless efficiency and ecosystem.

What are the Samsung S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max specifications?

✨A closely contested battle ends with the Samsung Galaxy winning the round, unless you have other Apple devices to integrate with

What are the features and benefits of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Samsung S24 Ultra?

✨The Ultra offers the ultimate upgrade with new casing and better features, while the iPhone Pro Max is a more subtle improvement

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in a whole new outfit — it gets titanium casing instead of aluminium like its siblings, and with this titanium casing comes seven new and exclusive colours to choose from. This durable smartphone also has the biggest screen of any of the models mentioned in this article at 6.8 in, so gaming, switching apps, and multitasking is easy, especially with the addition of the S Pen. Its 12GB of RAM also assists in speeding up everyday tasks. The upgraded camera is also notable, as we see a quad-camera setup on the back with a 200MP main camera.

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is just slightly smaller than the S24 Ultra with a 6.7-inch screen size, but as it’s equipped with ProMotion technology and the same adaptable 120Hz refresh rate, the differences in display are minimal. With the same plentiful storage options, durable titanium build, and only one hour less battery life than the S24 Ultra, this phone holds its own next to the Samsung giant. Even though it sticks with the Pro triple-camera setup, it still performs better in low light conditions, and the overall user experience is streamlined within the Apple ecosystem. The only things that are missing here are more RAM and the addition of an external stylus, like the Apple Pencil.

What are the pros and cons of the Samsung S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max?

✨The Samsung capabilities might be outshone by its almost-too-big size, while the iPhone’s smaller RAM might be its only deterrent

What are some shopping tips for Samsung S24 and iPhone 15 series phones?

✨For some of the best deals on the Samsung S24 or the iPhone 15, shop around on Back Market and take advantage of our online deals

If you’re looking for a good deal on a Samsung S24 or an iPhone 15 series phone, there are several ways to accomplish this. First, you can wait for sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, when a lot of retailers put their electronics on sale or offer bundle deals. The other option is to wait until newer models of these smartphones are released, as older models like the S24 and iPhone 15 will then see price markdowns.

Sometimes these timing elements are unreliable, and it’s just impossible to wait. That’s where we at Back Market can step in to help. We sell professionally refurbished S24 and iPhone 15 models at a discount all year round. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, all our devices go through rigorous testing and certification processes before being put up for sale, so you can be sure the device you’re getting has been restored to premium functionality.

Why should you buy refurbished smartphones?  

Buying refurbished smartphones is good for both your wallet and the planet. As we mentioned, we provide all time low prices on S24 and iPhone 15 models all year round, and you can usually save 30% to 50% off the price of new when you buy with us.  

To give you a better idea of how we refurbish our smartphones, you should know that we work with certified third-party refurbishers that have years of industry experience. Each phone is disassembled and inspected for damaged or worn parts, which are then replaced and tested to ensure they function as they should. Once the phone is completely repaired, restored, and cleaned, it goes through another round of testing to be sure it performs up to its original specifications before it’s offered to you. In addition,all our devices come with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee for your peace of mind.  

Buying refurbished electronics is also good for the planet. Whenever you buy a smartphone from us, you reduce the need for new manufacturing and keep another item from ending up in a landfill as e-waste. We pride ourselves on focusing on sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Every time you buy from us, you support these values while doing your part to reduce your personal carbon footprint, so the earth thanks you for that.  

Trade in your old devices for cash

Got old smartphones or even laptops or tablets that you no longer use? Don’t let them sit there collecting dust – trade them in with Back Market’s Trade-in program. The process is simple. First, enter your device’s details into our online form and we’ll give you a quote from one of our refurbishers. If you choose to accept, you’ll then ship your device to us for free and once it’s verified, you get paid.

Prices of new vs. refurbished Samsung S24 models and iPhone 15 models 

*Prices are subject to change.

Final thoughts: Samsung S24 series vs. iPhone 15 series  

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is made for anyone who wants a multitude of customisation options and prioritises display quality over anything else. The S24, the S24+, and the S24 Ultra are three tiers of an excellent smartphone, with even the S24 base model offering innovative Galaxy AI features that take its performance to the next level – the first Galaxy smartphone to do so. The S24+ elevates this even more with 12GB of RAM and an impressively long battery life, while the S24 Ultra takes the cake for productivity with the biggest screen of all and the addition of S Pen support.

The iPhone 15 series, on the other hand, is perfect for those already entrenched in the Apple ecosystem or those looking to switch to a more streamlined user experience across all their electronics. It’s also perfect for photographers and content creators, as even the base model’s camera system outperforms the S24 series cameras with excellent low-light performance. This is taken to the next step with the Pro and Pro Max models, which offer ProRAW support. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are powered by the A16 Bionic chip, a powerful upgrade from the iPhone 14 series, but the Pro and Pro Max models get the A17 Pro chip along with Apple Intelligence features, rivaling Galaxy AI.

Overall, we think the Samsung Galaxy S24 just slightly edges out the iPhone 15 series thanks to its Galaxy AI features and high-quality display that are present even in the base model. The iPhone 15 series only starts to compete with the S24 at the mid-range level, where the iPhone 15 Pro is a huge jump up from the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. When it comes to the top-tier models, the S24 Ultra is the ultimate powerhouse with its expanded RAM, prolonged battery life, and stylus support. As a result, the S24 series offers a better range of high-quality features throughout its three tiers. If your priority, however, is better camera quality or seamless integration with the rest of the Apple ecosystem (we see you, Mac and Apple Watch users), the iPhone 15 series will still be exceptional for your needs.

Even though both of these lineups are slightly older now, especially with the most recent release of the Samsung Galaxy S26, they are still incredibly modern and will be supported by several more years of software updates, making them good investments for the future. The model you buy will ultimately depend on your preferences for the price tag, AI features, camera systems, and customisation capabilities.