Galaxy S24 Vs iPhone 15 Plus

Galaxy S24
Galaxy S24
Starting at

Refurbished price:£273.00

Versus £817.67 new

See options
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Plus
Starting at

Refurbished price:£344.00

Versus £799.00 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (released in January 2024) and the iPhone 15 Plus (released in September 2023) are both prominent smartphones from their respective manufacturers. While the Galaxy S24 operates on Android with Samsung's One UI, the iPhone 15 Plus runs on Apple's iOS, offering distinct user experiences. Key differentiators include their approach to software longevity and camera versatility.

Scores

Durability

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, both offer substantial software support and robust build quality, though with different approaches.

  • Software Longevity: The Samsung Galaxy S24 is notable for its commitment to providing seven years of operating system and security updates, extending its software support well into the future. The iPhone 15 Plus typically receives major iOS updates for approximately six years from its release, with security updates often continuing beyond that.
  • Physical Durability: Both devices feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing submersion in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes. The iPhone 15 Plus incorporates a Ceramic Shield front cover and a color-infused glass back with an aluminum frame. The Galaxy S24 utilizes Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for its display protection and an Armor Aluminum frame.
  • Expected Lifespan: Users can expect a practical lifespan of several years from both devices, supported by their durable construction and extended software update policies. The Galaxy S24's longer promised software support may appeal to users prioritizing maximum software longevity.

Year of Release

2024

2023

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

iOS

Foldable

No

No

Performance

Both the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 Plus deliver strong performance for daily tasks and demanding applications, though they achieve this through different hardware architectures.

  • Processing Power: The Galaxy S24 is equipped with a powerful processor that handles demanding apps, multitasking, and graphics-intensive games smoothly, ensuring a responsive user experience. The iPhone 15 Plus features a highly capable chip, providing fluid navigation, quick app launches, and efficient handling of complex tasks and gaming.
  • Multitasking and Storage: The Galaxy S24 offers various storage configurations, typically paired with ample memory, allowing for efficient multitasking and storage of numerous files and applications. The iPhone 15 Plus also comes with multiple storage options and sufficient memory to manage multiple applications simultaneously without noticeable slowdowns.
  • Battery Behavior: The iPhone 15 Plus is recognized for its extended battery life, often lasting through a full day of heavy use for many users. The Galaxy S24 provides reliable battery performance, designed to support typical daily usage patterns.

Memory (GB)

8 GB

6 GB

Screen quality

The visual experience on both smartphones is vibrant and clear, with each device offering a high-quality display tailored to different preferences.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: The Samsung Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering vivid colors, deep blacks, and sharp detail with a Full HD+ resolution. The iPhone 15 Plus comes with a larger 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, known for its excellent contrast, color accuracy, and high resolution, resulting in a clear viewing experience.
  • Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both devices offer high peak brightness levels, reaching up to 2000 nits or more for outdoor visibility, ensuring content remains legible even in bright sunlight. The Galaxy S24 features an adaptive refresh rate that can scale from 1Hz to 120Hz, providing smooth scrolling and animations while optimizing power consumption. The iPhone 15 Plus maintains a consistent 60Hz refresh rate.
  • Viewing Experience: The Galaxy S24's slightly smaller screen offers a compact form factor, while the iPhone 15 Plus provides a more expansive display for media consumption and productivity. The iPhone 15 Plus also integrates the Dynamic Island, an interactive area around the front camera that displays alerts and background activities.

Resolution

1080 x 2340

1290 x 2796

Screen type

Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X

Super Retina XDR OLED

Audiovisual

Both the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 Plus offer capable camera systems, excelling in different aspects of photography and videography.

  • Rear Camera System: The Samsung Galaxy S24 features a versatile triple-camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, providing flexibility for various shooting scenarios. The iPhone 15 Plus utilizes an advanced dual-camera system with a 48MP main sensor that can capture detailed 24MP photos by default and offers a 2x optical-quality telephoto option through sensor cropping, alongside a 12MP ultrawide lens.
  • Photography Performance: The Galaxy S24 is known for producing vibrant images with good detail and offers features like enhanced AI editing tools. The iPhone 15 Plus delivers sharp, color-accurate photos, with improvements in low-light performance and next-generation portrait capabilities.
  • Video Recording and Audio: Both devices are capable of recording high-quality video, with the Galaxy S24 supporting up to 8K resolution and the iPhone 15 Plus offering 4K Dolby Vision HDR video recording. Both provide clear audio recording and stereo speaker output for media consumption.

Main camera

50 megapixels

48 megapixels

Front camera

12 megapixels

12 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements differentiate the user experience of these two smartphones.

  • Connectivity and Ports: The Samsung Galaxy S24 supports the latest Wi-Fi 6E/7 standards and Bluetooth 5.3, along with a USB-C 3.2 port for faster data transfer speeds. The iPhone 15 Plus features Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, and has transitioned to a USB-C port, though it operates at USB 2.0 speeds for data transfer.
  • Biometric Security: The Galaxy S24 incorporates an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking. The iPhone 15 Plus relies on Face ID, Apple's facial recognition system, for biometric security.
  • Design and Handling: The Galaxy S24 has dimensions of 70.6 x 147 x 7.6 mm and weighs around 167-168g, offering a compact and lightweight feel. The iPhone 15 Plus measures 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm and weighs 201g, providing a larger screen experience with a slightly more substantial feel. Both feature premium build materials, with the iPhone 15 Plus having a contoured edge for comfortable handling.

Weight

167 g

201 g

Screen size (in)

6.2

6.7

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C

USB-C

User sentiment for the Samsung Galaxy S24 often highlights its comprehensive feature set, particularly the integration of Galaxy AI for enhanced productivity and creative tasks, and its impressive 7-year software update commitment. Users appreciate its vibrant display and versatile camera system with optical zoom. Some criticisms occasionally point to regional processor differences or the base model's battery capacity compared to its larger siblings.

The iPhone 15 Plus receives praise for its exceptional battery life, the intuitive Dynamic Island, and its robust camera performance, especially for everyday photography and video recording. Users also value the seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem. Common feedback sometimes notes the 60Hz refresh rate as a point of comparison with other modern smartphones and the USB 2.0 transfer speeds of its USB-C port.

Users prioritizing extensive software support, a high refresh rate display, and a versatile camera with optical zoom may find the Samsung Galaxy S24 well-suited to their needs. Conversely, users who value a larger display, class-leading battery endurance, and a highly integrated ecosystem with strong video capabilities may lean towards the iPhone 15 Plus. Both devices represent quality-assured options, and considering a refurbished model can be an eco-friendly alternative for making an informed and sustainable choice.

See all articles

Our recent comparisons