Two years old, three S-series generations of updates left, and priced well below the S26 Ultra. It introduced the template the Ultra still uses The S24 Ultra brought the titanium frame, the flat anti-reflective Gorilla Armor display and the 5x periscope that the S26 Ultra still carries. Two years on it is fast, bright, well-supported and, crucially, cheap. What you miss versus the S26 Ultra A newer, cooler chip, the 200MP f/1.4 sensor (the S24 Ultra’s is f/1.7), and Gorilla Armor 2. For most people, day to day, those are small gaps. Who it’s for Buy it if you want the Ultra experience, big bright screen, S Pen, huge zoom, without the Ultra price. Skip it if you want the longest possible software runway or the newest silicon. Alternatives worth a look Galaxy S25 Ultra, a year newer, splits the difference on price. The verdict: The value flagship to beat until the discounts dry up. Sources GSMArena specifications
Two 200MP-and-5x versus 48MP-and-5x systems, two very different philosophies. Samsung's S24 Ultra leans on resolution and reach: the 200MP main bins to bright, detailed 12MP shots, and the dedicated 5x periscope plus a 3x lens covers portrait ranges cleanly. Apple's 16 Pro Max shoots flatter, more color-accurate files and pulls ahead on video, where Dolby Vision, ProRes and log recording are still a category of their own. In daylight it is a wash and comes down to whether you like Samsung's contrastier processing or Apple's neutral look. At night the iPhone holds highlights better; the S24 Ultra brightens shadows more aggressively. For zoom past 10x, Samsung wins outright. For anyone who records more than they photograph, the iPhone is still the safer pick.
Three phones, three clear use cases. Buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max if you record video, want the longest software support paired with the widest app and accessory ecosystem, or simply already own AirPods and a Mac. It is the most predictable, most resold, least surprising choice, and that is a feature. Buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you want the most versatile camera hardware, the biggest bright display, an S Pen, and Samsung's seven-year update commitment on Android. Buy the Pixel 9 Pro if you want the cleanest Android, the best point-and-shoot photography, and the most useful on-device AI features shipping today, in a body that is finally comfortable to hold. You cannot go wrong; you can only pick the ecosystem you want to live in.
