Galaxy S24 Ultra Cameras Vs. Iphone 15 Pro Max Cameras Compare
I’ve taken hundreds of photos on Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. Each has succeeded in some situations and struggled in others.
Premium phones from Apple and Samsung have different approaches to photography. The glossy, titanium-plated $1,300 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has four rear cameras, including two dedicated zoom cameras and a 200-megapixel sensor. Apple’s $1,200 titanium-plated iPhone 15 Pro Max has three rear cameras: one for zoom and one main with a 48-megapixel sensor.
Let me be clear: Both take some of the best photos you can take with any phone today, especially in challenging environments with high-contrast scenes (like a sunset) or dimly lit locations (like a restaurant).
Before I took a single shot, I wished the S24’s zoom cameras would handle distant subjects better. And yet I knew Apple wasn’t far behind and could bury Samsung’s best efforts with the iPhone’s efficient photo processing and video quality. How do they fit together?
I took them around San Francisco to find out.
After I took hundreds of photos and videos with both phones and compared them, a more complex reality emerged: The iPhone and Ultra excel in some situations and struggle in others.
Cutting-edge camera hardware, apps
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has three lenses: wide, ultra-wide and telephoto. The main camera has a 48-megapixel sensor, the other two have a resolution of 12 megapixels. There is a slight difference in zoom between the main camera at 1x zoom and the telephoto lens at 5x zoom. This is where the differences between the two phones start to emerge.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a similar triple lens, but a second telephoto lens with 3x zoom. Think of it as if Apple took the 15 Pro Max and added the iPhone 15 Pro’s dedicated 3x telephoto lens to the back, thus creating a virtually non-existent iPhone 15 Ultra with both 3x and 5x cameras.
Camera | Zoom Level | Resolution | Aperture | Lens Full-Frame Equivalent |
15 Pro Max Ultrawide | 0.5x | 12 Megapixel | f/2.2 | 13 millimiters |
15 Pro Max Wide | 1x | 48 Megapixel | f/1.78 | 24 millimiters |
15 Pro Max Telephoto | 5x | 12 Megapixel | f/2.8 | 120 millimiters |
S24 Ultra Ultrawide | 0.6x | 12 Megapixel | f/2.2 | 13 millimiters |
S24 Ultra Ultra Wide | 1x | 200 Megapixel | f/1.7 | 23 millimiters |
S24 Ultra Telephoto No. 1 | 3x | 10 Megapixel | f/2.4 | 69 millimiters |
S24 Ultra Telephoto No. 2 | 5x | 50 Megapixel | f/3.4 | 115 millimiters |
That’s a hell of a lot of cameras. Remember the days when there was only one phone on the phone?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max are two of the most advanced smartphones in terms of camera technology. Here’s a detailed comparison of their camera performance across various scenarios:
Daylight Photography
Image Quality And Sharpness
Both the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max excel at daylight photography, producing sharp images with intricate detail and wide dynamic range. The S24 Ultra has a 200MP main camera, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 48MP main sensor. Despite the difference in megapixels, both phones use pixel binning technology to produce clear and detailed images at 12MP resolution.
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: S24 Ultra delivers images with high sharpness and contrast. Cooler tonal processing helps preserve fine detail, especially in areas exposed to direct sunlight, making images look crisp and vibrant. However, some users may find the colors a bit too saturated.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max produces slightly brighter images with warmer tones that many users find more natural and pleasant. Color accuracy and the way shadows and highlights are handled are commendable, providing a balanced and realistic representation of the scene.
Color Rendering
The two phones have different color rendering methods:
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: Samsung’s processing focuses on cooler tones, resulting in images with a slightly bluish tint. This can be especially noticeable in bright daylight. Photos taken with the S24 Ultra often look vibrant and dynamic, which some users love for their vivid and eye-catching results.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Apple Color Technology supports warm tones, making images look more realistic and natural. iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers consistent color accuracy in different lighting conditions, making your photos look more realistic and balanced.
Dynamic Range
Dynamic range refers to a camera’s ability to capture detail in both the bright and dark parts of an image. Both phones perform well in this regard, but there are slight differences:
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra effectively controls dynamic range, preserving detail in highlights and shadows. HDR processing ensures that even the brightest parts of the image, such as skies and reflections, retain texture and detail without being washed out.
- Iphone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has a higher dynamic range, thanks to Smart HDR technology that balances exposure throughout the image. It manages to bring out detail from the shadows while controlling the highlights, resulting in a well-exposed image that looks natural and evenly lit.
Contrast And Exposure
Both smartphones manage contrast and exposure efficiently, although they follow different principles:
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: Samsung strives to create images with higher contrast, so photos can look more dramatic and visually vibrant. Exposure levels are generally well balanced, ensuring that images are neither too dark nor too bright.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes a more balanced approach with slightly less contrast than the S24 Ultra. The result is images that are softer and more subtle, capturing the nuances of a scene without being overly dramatic.
At the user’s convenience
Ultimately, choosing between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max for daylight photography comes down to personal preference. If you like images with vibrant colors, high contrast and cool tones, the Galaxy S24 Ultra could be a good choice. On the other hand, if you prefer natural photos with warm tones and balanced exposure, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will suit your needs better.
Ultrawide Shots
The ultra-wide cameras on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max are designed to offer photography enthusiasts a wide field of view and creative options. Here's a detailed comparison of their ultra-wide capabilities:
Camera Specifications
Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Resolution: 12 MP.
- Aperture: f/2.2
- Field of View: 120 degrees
- Pixel size:4 µm
- Features: Super Steady Mode, Night Mode, Scene Optimization using Artificial Intelligence.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Resolution: 12 MP.
- Aperture: f/2.4
- Field of View: 120 degrees
- Pixel size:0 µm
- Features: Night Mode, Photonic Engine, ProRAW and ProRes support.
Image Value
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s ultra-wide-angle camera delivers sharper images with 1.4µm pixels for better light absorption and less noise in low-light environments. Super Steady mode ensures stable video recording even during movement, while AI-powered scene optimization automatically adjusts settings for the best results in different situations.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ultra-wide camera features Apple’s advanced Photonic Engine image processing, which improves low-light performance and overall image quality. Support for ProRAW and ProRes formats gives users more flexibility in post-processing, making it the preferred choice of professional photographers and videographers.
Low Light Performance
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra’s larger pixel size and night mode work together to deliver bright, clear images in low-light conditions. Night mode is particularly effective because it uses multi-frame processing to reduce noise and increase detail.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max also performs great in low-light conditions thanks to Night Mode, which uses advanced algorithms to brighten images and preserve detail. The Photonic Engine enhances low-light shots by combining multiple exposures for optimal results.
Video Features
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: With Super Steady mode, the S24 Ultra’s ultra-wide-angle camera is ideal for shooting smooth, stable video. It supports 4K video recording at 60fps, providing high-definition video with a wide field of view.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ultra-wide camera supports 4K recording at up to 60fps, with the added dynamic range and more vibrant colors of Dolby Vision HDR. ProRes video support ensures professional video quality, making it a powerful tool for filmmakers.
Software and AI Improvements
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: Samsung’s AI Scene Optimization adjusts settings in real time to enhance photos based on the detected scene, improving color, contrast and clarity. Additionally, features like Super Steady Mode rely on artificial intelligence to maintain stability while recording video.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Apple Photonic Engine technology powers the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ultra-wide camera, enhancing texture, detail and color accuracy with computational photography. Smart HDR 4 optimizes every part of the image, ensuring balanced exposure and vibrant colors.
Creative Potential
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra offers a variety of creative modes including Super Slow Motion, Hyperlapse and various Pro modes that give users the ability to manually control camera settings. These features allow for greater creative expression and flexibility.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ultra-wide camera supports macro photography, allowing users to capture detailed close-ups with a focal length of just 2cm.This feature, combined with iPhone’s powerful ProRAW capabilities, allows you to create stunning, creative photos.
Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max have powerful ultra-wide cameras with distinct advantages. The S24 Ultra stands out for its large pixel size and advanced stabilization features, making it ideal for low-light photography and smooth video recording. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out with its Photonic Engine, ProRAW and ProRes support, and unique macro capabilities designed for professional photographers and videographers.
Choosing between them will largely depend on personal preference and specific use cases, such as whether you prioritize video stabilization, low-light performance, or advanced post-processing capabilities.
Telephoto Zoom
The telephoto capabilities of the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max are key features that cater to users who want to clearly capture distant subjects. Here is a detailed comparison of their telephoto lens features:
Camera Specifications
Galaxy S24 Ultra:
- Resolution: 10 MP Periscope Telephoto and 10 MP Telephoto.
- Optical Zoom: 10x periscope, 3x standard telephoto lens.
- Digital Zoom: Up to 100x spatial zoom
- Aperture: f/4.9 (periscope), f/2.4 (standard).
- Pixel size:22 µm (Periscope), 1.0 µm (Standard).
- Features: Dual OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), AI Zoom with ultra-high resolution.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
- Resolution: 12 MP telephoto lens.
- Optical Zoom: 5x
- Digital Zoom: Up to 15x
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Pixel size:0 µm
- Features: Touch Shift, OIS with Photon Engine
Scaling Options
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The Galaxy S24 Ultra has two telephoto cameras: a 10MP periscope lens with 10x optical zoom and a standard 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This dual telephoto lens system offers smooth zoom range and incredible versatility. The periscope lens supports up to 100x space zoom, combining optical and digital zoom with artificial intelligence to create extreme close-ups.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, offering a compromise between standard and high zoom. Digital zoom capability extends up to 15x. Apple’s advanced software enhancements ensure quality even at higher zoom levels, though it doesn’t reach the extreme levels of the S24 Ultra.
Image Value
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra’s telephoto lens delivers clear, detailed images throughout the zoom range. 10x optical zoom ensures minimal loss of quality, while super-high-resolution AI zoom digital zoom enhances images by reducing noise and enhancing detail. Dual optical stabilization helps maintain stability and clarity, especially at higher zoom levels.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x optical zoom delivers vibrant, lifelike images thanks to imaging technology like Apple’s Photonic Engine. Although it offers a lower maximum zoom than the S24 Ultra, quality remains high, with effective noise reduction and color accuracy, especially in good lighting conditions.
Low Light Performance
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra’s telephoto lens features larger apertures (f/2.4 and f/4.9) and pixel sizes for better light capture. Combined with night mode, the telephoto lens works well in low light, although zooming too far in very low light can be problematic.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s telephoto lens has an f/2.8 aperture, which captures decent light in low-light conditions. Apple’s Night Mode and Photonic Engine work together to improve image brightness and detail in dark conditions, although higher zoom levels can still be subject to loss of noise and detail.
Fixation
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: Dual optical stabilization on the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s telephoto lens significantly reduces blur caused by handshakes, which is important at high zoom levels. This feature ensures that even at 10x optical zoom or 100x digital zoom, images remain relatively stable and clear.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max uses sensor-shift optical image stabilization, which combats sensor shake. This technology provides effective stabilization, especially effective at 5x optical zoom and beyond, ensuring that enlarged images are clear and stable.
Software and AI Improvements
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: Samsung’s AI Super Zoom Resolution uses artificial intelligence to improve digitally zoomed image quality, reducing artifacts and enhancing detail. Artificial intelligence also helps recognize and adjust scenes, optimizing settings to get the best shot
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Apple Photonic Engine technology dramatically improves image quality by fusing multiple frames for optimal detail, dynamic range and color accuracy. Smart HDR and Deep Fusion enhance photos by balancing exposure and enhancing texture and detail, especially in difficult lighting conditions.
Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max offer impressive telephoto capabilities, each with unique advantages. The S24 Ultra’s dual telephoto system with 100x space zoom and improved stabilization make it a great choice for extreme zoom enthusiasts and those who need versatility across the zoom range. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, while offering a smaller maximum zoom, excels in image processing, stabilization and overall image quality, making it a solid choice for consistent, high-quality zoom photography.
The choice between these two devices will depend on whether you prefer extreme zoom capabilities and versatility (Galaxy S24 Ultra) or superior image processing and stabilization at a more modest zoom range (iPhone 15 Pro Max).
Macro Photography
Macro photography allows users to take detailed, close-up pictures of small objects. The Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max both offer macro capabilities, but they approach the feature differently. Here is a detailed comparison:
Macro Features
Galaxy S24 Ultra:
- Main Macro Lens: Uses an ultra-wide-angle camera.
- Resolution: 12 MP.
- Aperture: f/2.2
- Minimum focusing distance: 3 cm.
- Features: AI-based focusing enhancement, Super Steady mode.
iPhone 15 Pro Max:
- Main Macro Lens: Uses an ultra-wide-angle camera.
- Resolution: 12 MP.
- Aperture: f/2.4
- Minimum focusing distance: 2 cm.
- Features: Photonic engine, ProRAW support.
Image Value
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra’s macro mode uses a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera to capture detailed close-ups. AI-powered focusing enhancement ensures your subject is in sharp focus, while the large f/2.2 aperture lets in more light for bright, detailed macro images. Super Steady mode helps reduce handshake, which is important for macro photography.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max uses a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera for macro photography, delivering excellent detail and color accuracy. The short minimum focusing distance (2cm) lets you shoot extreme close-ups while capturing intricate details. The Photonic Engine combines multiple exposures, improving texture and dynamic range, improving quality especially in difficult lighting conditions.
Focus and Clarity
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: AI-powered focusing enhancements on the S24 Ultra help maintain sharpness and clarity even when shooting close up. The system quickly adjusts focus on the subject, providing a detailed and clear image. The Super Steady mode additionally ensures that the slightest movement does not blur the image, which is very important when shooting macro.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max features superior focusing accuracy thanks to a photonic processor that uses advanced computational photography techniques to deliver clarity and detail. A minimum focusing distance of 2cm allows you to take close-up photos, capturing fine textures and details that might otherwise be missed at longer focusing distances. ProRAW support provides additional post-processing flexibility, allowing photographers to further enhance focus and detail.
Lighting and Exposure
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra’s ultra-wide-angle camera’s f/2.2 aperture lets in plenty of light, providing well-lit macro shots even in low-light conditions. The camera’s AI can automatically optimize exposure settings, balancing the light to prevent overexposure or underexposure.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max’s photonic processor dramatically improves lighting and exposure in macro photography. By combining multiple frames, it ensures well-exposed images with balanced highlights and shadows The f/2.4 aperture, although slightly smaller than the S24 Ultra, still performs well in a variety of lighting conditions thanks to Apple’s advanced image processing.
Software and AI Improvements
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: Samsung’s AI-based focus enhancement and scene optimization play an important role in macro photography. The software detects macro situations and automatically adjusts focus and exposure to optimize the shot. Additionally, Super Steady mode uses artificial intelligence to ensure stable and clear images.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Apple Photonic Engine and Smart HDR work together to enhance macro photos by optimizing focus, exposure and color balance. The Photonic Engine stitches together multiple frames to bring out the best details and textures, while Smart HDR ensures images have balanced lighting and vibrant colors.
Creative Potential
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: The S24 Ultra offers a variety of creative modes and filters that can be applied to macro photos, allowing users to artistically enhance their photos. Pro mode gives you manual control over settings like ISO, shutter speed and white balance, providing more flexibility for creative macro photography.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ProRAW feature offers a wealth of creative possibilities, allowing photographers to capture limitless images that can be extensively edited. ProRAW macro integration lets you adjust focus, exposure and color for professional-quality macro photos.
Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max offer strong macro capabilities, each with unique advantages. The S24 Ultra features AI-powered Advanced Focusing, Super Steady Mode and versatile Creative Mode, making it a great choice for stable, detailed macro shots. iPhone 15 Pro Max’s Photonic Engine, 2cm minimum focusing distance, and ProRAW support, deliver superior image quality, detail and creative control.
Deciding between the two depends on whether you prefer the stability and AI enhancements of the S24 Ultra or the advanced image processing and creative flexibility of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Both devices are capable of producing stunning macro photographs, perfect for both casual users and professional photographers.
Portrait And Selfies
When comparing the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max when it comes to portrait and selfie features, both smartphones showcase advanced capabilities designed to capture stunning portraits and high-quality selfies.
Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Front Camera: Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 40MP front-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture, designed to capture detailed and vivid selfies. The high resolution produces crisp images, while the wide aperture helps create a nice bokeh effect when shooting in portrait mode.
- Rear Camera for Portrait Mode: At the back, the S24 Ultra has a powerful camera setup that includes a 200MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens (3x), and a 10MP periscope lens (10x). This versatile set of lenses offers versatile portrait photography, offering different zoom levels for different compositions and styles.
- Special Features: Samsung integrates AI-powered enhancements to optimize portrait shots, delivering accurate edge detection and natural-looking skin tones. Super Steady Mode helps you take steady photos and videos while reducing blur even in motion.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Front Camera: iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 12MP front-facing TrueDepth camera with f/1.9 aperture. Although it has a lower resolution than the S24 Ultra, it excels in low-light situations thanks to its larger aperture, allowing you to take bright, detailed selfies.
- Rear Camera for Portrait Mode: The rear camera consists of a 48MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 12MP telephoto lens (5x optical zoom). The integration of Apple Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR4 Portrait mode enhances image processing to deliver exceptional detail and dynamic range in photos.
- Special Features: iPhone 15 Pro Max supports ProRAW and ProRes formats for professional post-processing flexibility and quality. This capability extends to both rear and front camera shots, allowing users to refine details and adjust settings to achieve their desired look.
Comparison
- Portrait Mode Quality: Both phones excel in portrait mode, with the S24 Ultra emphasizing versatility with multiple rear lenses and AI enhancements, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max focuses on detail processing and low-light performance with advanced imaging technology.
- Selfie: The Galaxy S24 Ultra offers higher resolution selfies, ideal for those who value detail and clarity. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers superior low-light performance and improved image processing for those who value dynamic range and color accuracy.
- For user convenience: The choice between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max for portraits and selfies largely comes down to personal preference. Samsung’s approach emphasizes resolution and versatility, while Apple emphasizes image processing and software integration for professional-quality results.
In last, both smartphones offer impressive portrait and selfie photography capabilities, each catering to different aspects of image quality and user preferences.
Low Light And Night Mode
When comparing the low-light and night mode features of the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, both smartphones display improved capabilities aimed at delivering clear, bright photos even in difficult lighting conditions.
Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Low Light Performance: The Galaxy S24 Ultra uses a variety of technologies to help you excel in low-light photography. Its 200MP primary sensor, combined with an f/1.8 aperture and large pixel size, improves light sensitivity, allowing you to capture bright, detailed images in low-light conditions. This setting ensures minimal noise and excellent dynamic range, maintaining detail even in dark areas.
- Night Mode: Samsung Night Mode on the S24 Ultra uses multi-frame processing to significantly improve image quality in low-light conditions. By combining multiple exposures, you can increase brightness, reduce noise, and improve overall sharpness. Artificial intelligence-based algorithms dynamically optimize settings to ensure the best results without manual intervention.
- Special Features: The S24 Ultra features Dual Pixel Pro autofocus, which improves focusing accuracy in low light, ensuring clear images even in difficult conditions. Additionally, Super Steady mode stabilizes handheld shots to reduce low-light blur, making it ideal for capturing still night scenes or moving subjects.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Low Light Performance: iPhone 15 Pro Max is known for its exceptional low-light capabilities thanks to its larger sensor and larger aperture. The 48MP main sensor paired with an f/1.5 aperture captures more light for brighter, clearer photos with less noise. This setup is complemented by Apple’s Deep Fusion technology, which optimizes texture and detail in every part of the image.
- Night Mode: Apple’s night mode on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is very sophisticated: it automatically activates when the camera detects low-light conditions. It uses computational photography to combine multiple exposures, increasing brightness while maintaining a balance between highlights and shadows. The Photonic Engine further enhances images by analyzing and processing details to ensure natural colors and sharpness.
- Special Features: iPhone 15 Pro Max supports ProRAW and ProRes formats, allowing photographers to capture and edit high-quality images and videos in low-light conditions. This professional-grade flexibility allows for extensive post-processing adjustments while maintaining image integrity.
Comparison
- Low Light Photography: Both phones offer impressive low-light performance, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra, with its larger sensor and advanced AI processing, delivers excellent detail and minimal noise. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max uses its wide aperture and computational photography capabilities to create vivid images with superior texture and color accuracy.
- Night Mode Skills: Apple’s Night Mode on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is particularly notable for its comprehensive approach to enhancing low-light images, delivering balanced exposure and rich colors. Samsung’s Night Mode on the S24 Ultra delivers competitive performance, focusing on clarity and sharpness thanks to AI-driven optimizations.
User Experience
The choice between Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max for low-light and night mode photography depends on user preference. Samsung’s offering emphasizes detail processing and stability, while Apple’s solution prioritizes dynamic range and color accuracy to meet different photography styles and preferences.
In last, both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max have impressive low-light and night mode capabilities, using advanced technology to achieve exceptional results in challenging lighting conditions.