Technologies
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Specs vs. S23 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: Premium Phones Compared
Samsung just dropped its Galaxy S24 Ultra phone. How does it compare to last year’s S23 Ultra? Or Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Samsung unveiled the brand new Galaxy S24 Ultra at its Unpacked event. If you’re a Galaxy owner thinking of upgrading, you may wonder how this new flagship phone compares to last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra (especially since you can find the S23 Ultra for less now that the S24 Ultra is available). Or, if you’re trying to decide between Samsung and Apple, you may be curious how the top-of-the-line S24 Ultra compares to the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max. Let’s break down the specs so you can get a better idea of which phone is right for you.
Last year’s S23 Ultra had a starting price of $1,200 after its release in the US and now starts at $875, while the new S24 Ultra starts at $1,300. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, starts at $1,200. So the base S24 Ultra is $100 more than the base 15 Pro Max, and $100 more than its predecessor was upon its release. (See the chart below for UK and Australian pricing.)
Read more: Best Phone to Buy for 2024
The S24 Ultra has Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which is designed to support on-device AI processing. More specifically, the S24 Ultra has a suite of generative artificial intelligence features, which the company calls “Galaxy AI.” You can, for example, live-translate calls, turn videos shot at normal speed into slow-motion videos or remove unwanted shadows from your photos. CNET’s experts will evaluate all of these AI features in our testing.Â
We also saw AI photo editing tools in Google’s Pixel 8 series. There’s a Best Take feature, for example, that allows you to swap your favorite facial expression from a sequence of pictures into another photo from the same sequence where you perhaps don’t like your expression as much.
Read more:Â Google Pixel 8’s ‘Best Take’ Levels Up AI-Enhanced Photos
The S23 Ultra uses last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It doesn’t have Galaxy AI yet, but is expected to get it eventually. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has Apple’s latest A17 Pro chip but doesn’t currently have any generative AI photo editing tools like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Google Pixel 8 line. I’m interested to see if the iPhone will ever get features like these, especially because AI is such a buzzword right now.Â
The S23 Ultra runs on Android 13 which will get four years of software and security updates. The S24 Ultra runs on Android 14 which will support 7 years of these updates. The 15 Pro Max runs on iOS 17, and while Apple doesn’t disclose how long it will support its phones with software updates, iOS 17 currently works on models dating back to the 2018 iPhone XS and XR.Â
The base S23 Ultra comes with 256GB of storage and either 8 or 12GB of RAM. You can also upgrade to 512GB or 1TB storage options, both with 12GB of RAM. The S24 Ultra comes with the same storage options, but all of them have 12GB of RAM. So Samsung has eliminated the 8GB RAM option on its base S24 Ultra model. While Apple doesn’t disclose the RAM on its iPhones, the 15 Pro Max comes with the same storage options as the S23 and S24 Ultra: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.Â
All three of these phones have a USB-C port, which is a big deal because all iPhones before the iPhone 15 series either had Lightning ports or 30-pin connectors. The S23 and S24 Ultra support 45-watt fast charging, while the 15 Pro Max supports 27W fast charging. All three phones offer wireless charging, but the Ultras also support reverse wireless charging so you can juice up other devices from the back of these phones. All three phones come with charging cables, but none of them include a charger brick in the box.
The S23 and S24 Ultra have a 5,000-mAh battery. In her S23 Ultra review, CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco found that after 12 hours of use (using the phone to take photos and videos, check her email and socials and stream music), her battery was at 66%. The new model is supposed to have a stronger battery because of its new chip, so we look forward to putting the S24 Ultra’s battery to the test. Apple doesn’t disclose battery capacity, but says the 15 Pro Max has an “all-day battery life” with “up to 29 hours of video playback.” In his 15 Pro Max review, CNET’s Patrick Holland found that after 15 hours of use, the phone usually had 20% to 25% battery left.Â
The S23 and S24 Ultra both come with the S Pen stylus that you can store inside the phone. I’d love to see something like this for the iPhone, but it doesn’t exist at the moment. Maybe one day. (Tim Cook, I hope you’re reading this.)
The S23 and S24 Ultra both have a 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a 1 to 120Hz variable refresh rate that changes based on how you’re using your phone. So if you’re doing something with lots of screen movement, like playing a video game, the refresh rate will increase. But if you switch to an activity that doesn’t take a lot of movement, like reading an article, the refresh rate will go down. The 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch OLED display and also has a variable refresh rate of 1 to 120Hz.Â
The S23 and S24 Ultra phones don’t have a notch. They just have a hole-punch camera at the top of the screen. The 15 Pro Max does have a notch in the form of the Dynamic Island, a shape-shifting cutout that allows you to view updates from apps like Maps without needing to have them open.
As for how these phones will feel in-hand, the S23 Ultra is 8.9 millimeters thick, the S24 Ultra is 8.6 millimeters thick and the 15 Pro Max is 8.25-millimeters thick. The S23 Ultra has an aluminum frame and weighs 234 grams. The S24 Ultra and 15 Pro Max have titanium frames and weigh 233 grams and 221 grams, respectively. So the 23 Ultra is slightly thicker and heavier than the S24 Ultra and 15 Pro Max, and it has an aluminum frame (rather than titanium).
The S23 and S24 Ultra cameras are similar. Both phones have a four-camera system with identical selfie, ultrawide, wide and 3x telephoto cameras. Each phone also has another telephoto camera for extreme distance shots. The one on the S23 Ultra is 10 megapixels with a 10x optical zoom, while the one on the S24 Ultra is 50 megapixels with a 5x optical zoom. So the S23 and S24 Ultra cameras are basically the same except for that new 50-megapixel, 5x telephoto camera, which is supposed to take sharper zoom photos.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, has a three camera system. There’s a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. And for your selfies, there’s a 12-megapixel front camera. So both the S24 Ultra and the 15 Pro Max have a 5x optical zoom, but the sensor on the S24 Ultra has a higher resolution. Stay tuned for our camera tests to see how the S24 Ultra camera performs in real life, especially against the 15 Pro Max.Â
For more on how the Galaxy S23 and S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max compare, check out our specs chart below.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specs vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness | 6.8-inch AMOLED; QHD+ resolution; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,088×1,440 pixels; 120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 6.7-inch OLED; 2,796×1,290 pixels; 120Hz adaptive refresh rate |
| Pixel density | TBD | 500 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 in | 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in | 6.29 x 3.02 x 0.32 in |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 163 x 79 x 8.6 mm | 163.3 x 78 x 8.9 mm | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 233 g (8.22 oz) | 234 g (8.25 oz) | 221 g (7.81 oz) |
| Mobile software | Android 14 | Android 13 | iOS 17 |
| Camera | 200-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) 10-megapixel (3x telephoto) 50-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 200-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) 10-megapixel (3x telephoto) 10-megapixel (10x telephoto) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (5x telephoto) |
| Front-facing camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video capture | TBD | 8K | 4K |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Apple A17 Pro |
| Storage and RAM | 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 8GB RAM + 256GB; 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (RAM undisclosed) |
| Expandable storage | None | None | None |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 29 hours of video playback (25 hours streamed) |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under display | Under display | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None |
| Special features | Titanium frame, 2,600-nit screen; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7 | 5G (Sub6, mmWave); IP68 water resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; 100x Space Zoom; 10x optical zoom; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging | 5G (Sub6, mmWave); Action Button, Always-On display, IP68 water resistance, MagSafe, Dynamic Island, 5x optical zoom (120mm equivalent), satellite connectivity, eSIM, thread networking technology |
| US price starts at | $1,300 (256GB) | $1,200 (256GB) | $1,199 (256GB) |
| UK price starts at | ÂŁ1,249 (256GB) | ÂŁ1,249 (256GB) | ÂŁ1,199 (256GB) |
| Australia price starts at | AU$2,199 (256GB) | AU$1,949 (256GB) | AU$2,199 (256GB) |
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
Technologies
Bessent tells Russia no economic relief will come until Ukraine war ends as Europe isolates Moscow at G20
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that no economic relief or new agreements can be made while the war in Ukraine continues, during a rare G20 meeting in Asheville, North Carolina.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that no sanctions relief or new agreements with Moscow were possible, as long as the war in Ukraine continues.
The two officials met on the sidelines of a Group of 20 finance leaders gathering in Asheville, North Carolina.
Bessent’s remarks came as Siluanov’s first in-person appearance at the summit since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 drew objections from other European leaders. European governments have planned to expand sanctions to further squeeze Moscow’s economy and finances.
The rare meeting underscored Washington’s willingness to reopen high-level diplomatic channels with Moscow, even as European allies have intended to keep the nation isolated while the war continues.
Bessent made it clear to Siluanov that “nothing is possible until the war is over,” when the Russian minister brought up other areas of mutual interest, Reuters reported.
The meeting centered on President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine and economic growth, according to Axios, while Russia’s finance ministry described the discussions as covering financial cooperation between the two nations within the G20 framework.
Russia’s surprise return to the table sparked dismay among European officials, who opposed appearing with Siluanov in the traditional G20 photo, which was ultimately taken without the Russian minister.
Technologies
Venezuela grants U.S.-backed oil firm NABEP 100-year concessions for 17 oil fields, White House says
Venezuelan interim authorities have granted North American Blue Energy Partners 100-year concessions for 17 oil fields, White House says.
Venezuelan interim authorities have granted U.S.-backed North American Blue Energy Partners, or NABEP, 100-year concessions for 17 oil fields, with proven reserves of about 65 billion barrels, the White House said on Monday.
NABEP is the second-largest private oil producer in Venezuela. The company has granted the U.S. Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital an equity stake of 35% in its corporate parent, according to the White House, representing up to “hundreds of billions in value and dividends for the United States.”
President Donald Trump announced Friday a deal with Caracas that would give the U.S. majority control over 65 billion barrels, or about 20% of the South American nation’s massive oil reserves. The U.S. had about 46 billion barrels in proven oil reserves as of end-2024, according to official figures.
In a fact sheet published Monday evening stateside, the U.S. government said it would enjoy the right to purchase, at production cost, a guaranteed 20% of the off-take from all current and future fields NABEP will operate, as part of an effort to facilitate refilling the U.S. strategic petroleum reserves.
The U.S. government also has the “right of first refusal” to purchase the remaining 80% of NABEP’s production, making Washington the prioritized buyer for its energy reserves.
Analysts, however, remained skeptical that the landmark oil deal could meaningfully boost the U.S. energy production and bring down gas prices for Americans in the near term. Huge investments are needed to extract the rich resources in Venezuela, whose oil output remains at a fraction of its capacity due to decades of mismanagement, lack of investment and sanctions.
NABEP also planned to invest up to $100 billion in new oil infrastructure in Venezuela to scale production, the White House said. Under the agreement, the company is expected to pay $200 billion in royalty and tax payments to Venezuelan governments over the first 25 years.
Technologies
Tanker hit in Strait of Hormuz, sparking escalation fears as Trump pledges severe response to Iran
A tanker was struck by three unidentified projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, raising concerns about a potential escalation in the Middle East conflict, as President Trump vowed a severe response to Iran.
A tanker was struck by three unidentified projectiles while navigating the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, raising concerns that the Middle East conflict could flare up again.
The vessel was traveling in the southern shipping lane near the Omani coast, according to a Tuesday statement from the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, posted in Asia time. No injuries were reported.
Iran launched an attack on two U.S. bases in Jordan on Monday in retaliation for America’s strike on its Larak Island. U.S. forces targeted two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, reportedly killing three, claiming that Tehran intended to fire rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
The small island, situated in the Strait of Hormuz, has been a critical military and shipping control point for Iranian forces, enabling them to maintain tight control over vessel traffic through one of the world’s most vital maritime routes.
The tit-for-tat hostilities marked the first time in over a month that the U.S. and Iran have exchanged strikes.
While neither side appears to be seeking a return to full-scale war, both have signaled readiness to respond to further attacks. “We are going to hit them hard,” President Donald Trump told Fox News on Monday, stating that “there will be a response” to Iran’s attacks on U.S. military bases in the region.
Analysts largely view the U.S. attack on Larak Island as an attempt to break a deadlock rather than a shift in strategy. “By targeting the launchers rather than broader Iranian military infrastructure, the U.S. seems to be punishing a specific behavior rather than, at least for now, expanding its war aims,” said Ali Vaez, deputy program director at International Crisis Group.
“It is enforcing the blockade,” said Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran, adding that the Trump administration’s goal is to further degrade Tehran’s ability to mine the Strait of Hormuz, while focusing on economic coercive measures as the midterm elections approach.
Washington has intensified pressure to squeeze Iran’s already weakened economy with “secondary sanctions” that penalize nations and businesses buying Iranian crude. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, on the sidelines of the Group of 20 finance ministers’ gathering, that Iran was “lashing out kinetically” because the new sanctions were taking a toll on its economy.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump reportedly said that Iran’s financial systems, armed forces, and governing body have largely degraded. “It doesn’t mean we won’t smack them to see what happens,” the president said.
The war, now entering its seventh month, has disrupted global energy supplies and sent shockwaves through global financial markets. International oil benchmark Brent surged past $90 a barrel amid renewed hostilities and last traded at $91.08 on Tuesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures added less than 1% to $86.65 per barrel.
“This is fundamentally an endurance contest,” said Brodsky, as Trump has demonstrated an “unpredictability” that should concern the Iranians, and Tehran may lash out more aggressively militarily as economic pressure mounts.
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