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Samsung is taking an aggressive approach to its products and offerings. It is constantly working on improving its technology to better compete with others in the smartphone industry. The company is said to be contemplating a new branding strategy that could mark a significant evolution from its classic approach. It is said to be considering moving away from the Galaxy branding for its flagship phones, which has been there since 2009, in an attempt to create a distinct identity.
Samsung might drop its Galaxy branding for its premium phones and is aiming to revamp the brand identity
When it comes to Samsung’s Galaxy lineup, the company is best known for its flagship models. However, the past year has seen the competition intensify. This year, the lineup of products did not manage to leave a lasting impression on users, who were rather left dismayed by the lack of innovation for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 models that rolled out in July.
The South Korean tech giant did not hold back from accepting their shortcomings. It even extended an apology and started developing other products to make up for it. It seems that the company will not stop here when it comes to rebuilding the brand, as a report by E-Today shared by a South Korean publication mentioned that Samsung is considering dropping the Galaxy branding for its top-of-the-line smartphones and most likely would include the S-series as well as Z-series.
Samsung’s shift in branding approach is to build a more premium image for its top-tier devices and put them in a better position to compete with Apple and Google’s flagship models. It is not just Samsung that is putting more head on its high-end products to appear more premium. This seems to be an overall trend in the industry where the focus is on building a strong brand identity that resonates with users, especially for the premium models.
The report points towards the discussions regarding a pivoting in a new direction that has been ongoing in the company for a year now. The Head of Global Marketing at Samsung, Lee Young-hee, at CES 2024 said:
Galaxy has so many lineups that I understand people are expecting a new name when there is an innovative turning point.
Given that the Galaxy branding has an array of devices under it, this move does seem important for the premium devices to truly stand out. While many factors would need to be considered before undergoing this change, it could be a game changer for the company.
Samsung has now presented the W25 and W25 Flip, which line up as the company’s fourth and fifth foldable smartphones of the year. While the W25 Flip is a new version of the Galaxy Z Flip6, the W25 is the long-awaited stablemate of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.
Samsung has now officially introduced its new W series foldables, shortly after the pair were both seen in a handful of leaked render images. As expected, the W25 is the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition by another name. By contrast, the W25 Flip effectively serves as a more luxurious version of the Galaxy Z Flip6.
Please note that the W25 and W25 Flip have only been presented in China, where they will also likely remain. Incidentally, Samsung already sells its other current generation foldables in China with which these new models share plenty of hardware. For example, the W25 and W25 Flip contain Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipsets and the same underlying hardware as the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition and Galaxy Z Flip6, respectively.
With that being said, the W25’s quoted weight of 255 g is almost 20 g heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. However, it seems that no technical differences exist between the two devices. By contrast, it appears that the W25 Flip shares all its hardware with the existing Galaxy Z Flip6. Thus, Samsung has distinguished the W25 and W25 Flip from their regular counterparts with their black and gold finishes, which mirror those of their predecessors. While Samsung has not confirmed pricing for either model yet, we imagine that it will do so in the next few days.
These are the best foldable phones you can buy right now
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to the best foldable there’s a lot to look at, but all our favorites share something that makes them special. Whether it’s the overall fantastic quality of the OnePlus Open, the wealth of features in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the value of the Motorola Razr 2024. Meanwhile, other devices impressed us due to more specific reasons like the overwhelming brightness of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the cameras on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 or the style of the Motorola Razr Plus 2024. Each of these phones has something to love about them and all offer a generally great user experience.
I got my first foldable relatively recently, and frankly, I love it. While it might have taken some getting used to, it is undoubtedly the best in-between for a phone and a tablet. Honestly, I barely watch YouTube or Disney+ on my other standard phone as the experience on a foldable phone’s screen is just so much better. Not to mention the experience of using one to play games from the Xbox library and more.
We have compiled all our reviews and thoughts about all the foldable phones available to help you figure out which is the best for you.
(Image credit: Future) 1. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Best foldable camera phone Specifications Main screen size: 6.7 inches (2640 x 1080) Secondary screen size: 3.4 inches (720 x 748)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 RAM/Storage: 12GB/ 256GB, 512GB Size, opened: 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches
Size, closed: 3.4 x 2.8 x 0.58 inches Weight: 6.6 ounces Reasons to buy +Durable design +Excellent Galaxy AI features +Excellent low light camera performance Reasons to avoid -Rise in price -Battery life could be better
Samsung makes a second appearance in this guide, this time for the Galaxy Z Flip 6. There is a lot to love about this little device, firstly just the size of it. The Z Flip 6 looks like any other phone normally, but it folds horizontally across the middle, making it tiny when folded. That alone might make it a slam dunk for you, but there’s a bit more to be excited about.
In our review, we praised the overall durable design and the excellent low-light camera performance, not to mention the overall speed of the phone. Our biggest praise was easily for the upgrade from a 12MP main camera to a new 50MP main sensor. It offers brighter visuals, and the ability to simulate a 2x zoom. When we compared it in our 200 photo shoot out between the Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Motorola Razr Plus (2024) it pulled ahead with ease.
Obviously, we also need to mention the Galaxy AI features which, while missing some of the Fold’s AI abilities, are still pretty impressive. Finally, this is easily the flip foldable with the best camera options, and with the added AI, it’s a dream to shoot and edit images and videos. However, all this does come at something of a premium, that’s because it’s more expensive than the previous Galaxy Z Flip 5 and MOTOROLA Razr 2024.
2. OnePlus Open The best foldable phone you can buy Specifications Main screen size: 7.8 inches (2440 x 2268) Secondary screen size: 6.3 inches (2484 x 1116)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 RAM/Storage: 16GB/512GB Size, opened: 6.03 x 5.63 x 0.22 inches
Size, closed: 6.03 x 2.88 x 0.46 inches Weight: 8.4 ounces Reasons to buy +Outstanding thin and light design +Long-lasting battery with fast charging +Cheaper than comparable foldables Reasons to avoid -Low-light photos are subpar -No wireless charging As our best overall foldable there is a lot to love about the OnePlus Open, which we hope to see recreated in the OnePlus Open 2. When Phones Editor reviewed the OnePlus Open he stated that the phone should be “a wakeup call for everyone.” And I can only agree that the phone comes with so many amazing design choices that it should be the baseline for any future foldable phone.
OnePlus tried to put in as much as it could in this device, including some impressive cameras. If you want to go even further then you could grab the OnePlus Open Apex Edition. Compared to the base model the Apex Edition boosts the storage and adds pretty cool AI cutout features to make stickers from any photo you take. It also features a VIP mode that lets you turn off the camera and microphone for a little extra privacy.
Regardless of which model you pick the phone comes with everything you could want. Both models feature the same thin and light design, the Dynamic Open Canvas multitasking or the frankly amazing battery life (which is great when watching series on some of the best streaming services) and the chance for a pretty good trade-in deal. However, no phone is perfect as the lack of wireless charging might be a turn-off for some and the camera isn’t amazing in low light.
Most feature rich foldable phone Specifications Main screen size: 7.6 inches (2160 x 1856) Secondary screen size: 6.3 inches (2376 x 968)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB, 512GB, 1TB Size, opened: 6 x 5.2 x 0.22 inches
Size, closed: 6 x 2.7 x 0.48 inches Weight: 8.4 ounces Reasons to buy +Thinner and lighter design +Impressive AI features +Great Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance Reasons to avoid -Battery life gains not as big as we hoped -Price rise
Samsung is probably the most well-known phone maker when it comes to foldable phones and it knows what it is doing. This is no more obvious than with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which builds and improves upon the prior Galaxy Z Fold 5 and stands as our most feature-rich foldable phone. When TG global editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer reviewed the phone, he had a lot of positive things to say, especially about the new design, durability and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
While there might be some disappointment about the cameras, as they are basically the same as the prior model, there’s a noticeable difference in actual image quality. If we look at the difference in quality during our 200 photo shoot out with the Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 4 we can see a marked improvement. While you might not buy a foldable for the camera, it’s certainly an addition that you want to see.
We also can’t talk about a new Samsung phone without mentioning the Galaxy AI features, including the Sketch To Image feature. This allows you to draw anything you want into the Samsung Notes app and then the Galaxy AI will turn it into anything from water art to a 3D cartoon. The results are, as Mark says, “pretty frickin’ impressive.”
Best foldable phone value
4. Motorola Razr 2024
Best flip phone-style foldable Specifications Main screen size: 6.9 inches (2640 x 1080) Secondary screen size: 3.6 inches (1066 x 1056)
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 7300X RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB Size, opened: 6.74 x 2.91 x 0.28 inches
Size, closed: 3.46 x 2.91 x 0.62 inches Weight: 6.63 ounces
Reasons to buy +Long lasting battery life +Larger, more usable outer screen +Affordable close Reasons to avoid -Camera struggles under low light -Short 3 years of software support Motorola might not be the dominant force it was in the past, but it can still create a great phone for good value. This is obvious in the Motorola Razr 2024, which is upgraded in all the right areas compared to the prior Razr and is easily our best-value phone. In our review, we noted that the bigger screen offered far more functionality than before, while also being brighter.
Now, it should be noted that there are two variations of the Motorola Razr 2024, and both appear in this guide. What puts this foldable ahead of its larger cousin is the balance it strikes between features and cost. Everything from the design to the 50MP camera and 13MP ultrawide for as little as $699 is a real steal.
If that was the only change then it would be more than enough for a value phone, but there’s even more thanks to the outstanding battery life and surprisingly snappy performance. When Technical personnel reviewed it he stated that even the Galaxy Z Fold 6 “faces a tough competitor.” However, there are some issues as there is no ultrawide camera, which might be a turnoff for some, as well as shorter software support compared to other Samsung devices.
Best display in a foldable
5. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Brightest foldable screen Specifications Main screen size: 8 inches (2076 x 2152) Secondary screen size: 6.3 inches (1080 x 2424)
CPU: Tensor G4 RAM/Storage: 16GB/ 256GB, 512GB Size, opened: 6.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
Size, closed: 6.1 x 3.0 x 0.4 inches Weight: 9.1 ounces Reasons to buy +Smart AI features +Thinner, lighter design +Longer battery life Reasons to avoid -Underwhelming Tensor G4 performance -Camera upgrades are minimal Google’s foldable game has made a massive leap in quality with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold after the Pixel Fold — despite Google’s new awkward naming conventions. There’s a lot to love about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, especially the much bigger and brighter 8-inch main display which is the main reason why it’s managed to snag a spot on this list. When we tested the phone in the TG lab, the display was easily the best of any of the foldables we tested. However, that isn’t the only thing to love about the phone.
In his review, John Velasco mentioned that he loved the longer battery life, durable redesign and the host of AI features that help the phone to stand out from the competition. While it is a pretty great phone, there are a few issues namely the lackluster Tensor G4, although honestly, the average user wouldn’t notice that issue in everyday use.
Having used the Pixel 9 Pro Fold myself a little, I really can’t emphasize just how bright the screen is. When we tested it the screen reached as high as 2,319 nits. Now, normally I would expect this level of brightness to mean that the phone would have a pittiable battery life. However, when we tested the phone it reached 11 hours and 36 minutes, which is more than enough time to watch or play anything you please.
Best flip-style phone
6. Motorola Razr Plus 2024 The best flip-style phone Specifications Main screen size: 6.9 inches (2640 x 1080) Secondary screen size: 4 inches (1272 x 1080)
CPU: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB Size, opened: 6.74 x 2.91 x 0.27 inches
Size, closed: 3.46 x 2.91 x 0.6 inches Weight: 6.66 ounces Reasons to buy +The least expensive foldable ever made +Excellent design +Long-lasting battery Reasons to avoid -Tiny cover display -Older Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip While the base Motorola Razr 2024 might have been our best-valued phone, its larger cousin easily has the best style compared to the other phones here. Like other flip phones the Razr Plus folds into a compact little square, but where it stands apart is the outer screen, which is much larger than other devices. Not only is it larger, but it also offers way more functionality since you can run any app you like on it rather than simple widgets like the Galaxy Z Flip series. Plus you can even customize the screen to mimic the iPhone’s StandBy Mode with different images and backgrounds when the Razr is set to a tent position.
It’s not just the screens where the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 excels. It offers an improved camera array featuring a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and a 50MP main camera. This meant that when we compared it to its smaller brother in our 200 photo shoot out between the Razr Plus (2024) vs. Razr (2024) it blew it out of the water.
The design also has a smaller hinge, meaning that the crease in the phone is much less noticeable than on other foldable phones (primarily Samsung) and the performance is nothing to sneeze at. However, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 has some of the same issues as the other Motorola Razr, including no ultrawide camera and a shorter-than-average software support window.
Least expensive foldable phone
7. Nubia Flip 5G Least expensive flip phone Specifications Main screen size: 6.9 inches (2790 x 1188) Secondary screen size: 1.4 inches (466 x 466)
CPU: Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 RAM/Storage: 8GB, 12GB/256GB, 512GB Size, opened: 6.69 x 2.97 x 0.28 inches
Size, closed: 3.45 x 2.97 x 0.59 inches Weight: 7.3 ounces Reasons to buy +Incredible value for a foldable +Fast charging +Attractive and unique design Reasons to avoid -Photography is limited in scope and quality -Lacks performance power the Nubia Flip 5G is a bit of a surprise model from a lesser-known company, but it stands as easily the cheapest foldable you can currently grab for a staggering $499. It’s a great starter device for anyone who doesn’t want to drop hundreds.
When Technical personnel reviewed the device he praised the stylish design and smudge-resistant matte texture. The overall look of the phone suggests you paid a lot more for this flip phone-style device than you did. You’ll also appreciate the 6.9-inch display that’s available when you open up the Nubia Flip 5G.
Battery life seemed so-so in our everyday use, but at least the Nubia Flip 5G offers peppy 33W charging that can top off the phone’s battery quickly. If you want a foldable phone, but can’t afford a more premium model, you certainly won’t feel short-changed by this option.
While the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra offers plenty to be excited about, a new report indicates it will fall short in one particular area.
In the past, Samsung was known for shipping the Galaxy series with some of the best and brightest displays. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series shipped with the M13 OLED panel which was, at the time, one of the best available. However, both the iPhone 16 Pro and the Google Pixel 9 were later released with Samsung’s M14 OLED panel, which offers a higher brightness and better power efficiency. We would expect the Samsung Galaxy S25 series to come with the same option, but a recent report indicates this may not be the case.
According to ET News (via Android Police) Samsung will continue to use panels based on the M13 for the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The report suggests Samsung intends to upgrade its displays every two generations from now. This is reportedly due to the current performance of OLED and the saturation of the smartphone market. A suggestion seemingly backed up in a post on X by Ross Young, the CEO of Display Chain Consultants.
(Image credit: OnLeaks / SmartPrix / MacRumors)
In our tests, we found the M13 OLED on the Galaxy S24 Ultra managed a max brightness of 1,363 nits, while the iPhone 16 Pro with the new display hit a peak of 1,553 while the Pixel 9 Pro hit as high as 1,938 nits. However, most average users won’t really notice that kind of difference in day-to-day use. The reality is that, as speculated, this is a cost-cutting measure to help keep the Galaxy S25 series affordable. Part of the issue is that the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips will reportedly increase the phone’s price. However, the power of the chip could help the S25 to stand against the iPhone 16 Pro, with leaked benchmark scores exceeding Apple’s latest iPhone in the multicore score.
For the time being, we can only wait for the official release of the Galaxy S25 series. At that point, we will be able to test it ourselves to see if this is a major downgrade, or if the phones will still find a place in our best phones list.
Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition in South Korea, and the W25 Fold, based on the same foldable phone, is expected to launch soon in China alongside the W25 Flip. A new leak has now revealed the design of both smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy W25 Flip and W25 Fold will have gold accents like their predecessors (Image source: Evan Blass on X – edited)
Initially launched in July, the Samsung Z Fold 6 now has a refreshed Special Edition in South Korea. It’s the same phone but with some noticeable upgrades. Among the improvements is an upgraded 200 MP primary camera on the rear and a slightly thinner and lighter form factor.
Samsung is expected to launch the same phone in China as the W25 Fold, and a new leak has revealed the Chinese variant alongside the W25 Flip, which will reportedly debut at the same time. In the leak, the new W25 Fold is shown to feature a black and gold design similar to its predecessor.
As the W25 Fold is said to be based on the Z Fold 6 Special Edition, its specs will be slightly better than the regular edition. Besides the better form factor and camera, the foldable phone will have larger internal and cover displays, measuring 8.0-inch and 6.5-inch, respectively. However, it won’t reportedly have S Pen support, which is something that the normal version has.
Moving to the W25 Flip, it’s not expected to see any major changes compared to the Z Flip 6 as Samsung hasn’t refreshed it as a new fancy Special Edition yet. However, just like the W25 Fold, it will launch in China with a sleek black and gold design.
The leaked images show that the packaging of both the foldable phones will include a charger and a protective case, which is another difference from the regular versions. However, it’s worth noting that a W-series foldable tends to be more expensive than its regular Z-series counterpart in China .
More support for Samsung’s “Flex Window,” after it was clear that it needed to be more flexible.
What you need to know
A discovery in the YouTube Music app’s code suggests the company is working on bringing “Flex Window” support to Samsung’s clamshell foldable, the Flip.
The widget will likely give users quick playback controls like play/pause and skip forward/back buttons.
When Samsung debuted “Flex Window” in 2023, it was clear that it needed some work as users were limited through this “curated, optimized experience.”
YouTube Music could be working on support for clamshell foldable phones to refine its user experience.
According to Android Authority, the YouTube Music mobile app’s latest version (v7.24.51) holds clues that point toward a “FlipWidgetProvider.” The publication conducted an APK teardown of the app and found a string that directly mentions a widget for a “flip” device, which is reportedly confirmed to be Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series.
The post states the app’s code shows that the “music player” widget can be enabled via Settings > Cover Screen > Widgets once YouTube rolls it out. Users may find this useful as such a widget isn’t supported on the Flip series. However, it is on your standard slab phone like the Galaxy S24 series for the home screen. The widget gives options like play/pause, skip forward/back, and thumbs up/down options. With its expected arrival on the Flip series’ cover display, users can have enhanced access to their music without opening the phone. Considering the size of the Galaxy Z Flip cover display, this widget will give users more mileage. Speaking of, it’s unclear which devices will grab YouTube Music’s widget support.
The widget will likely debut on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Flip 5; however, it’s unclear how far back Samsung is willing to go.
Samsung dubbed the larger screen of its Flip series the “Flex Window” when the Flip 5 launched in 2023. It was clear from the beginning that the “window” needed to be more flexible. Users couldn’t open any app they wanted on the cover display. Samsung implemented a “curated, optimized experience,” limiting your options. Originally, the Flip 5’s cover screen supported the following apps: Google Messages, Samsung Messages, WhatsApp, YouTube, Netflix, and Google Maps.
The ability to open more apps was tucked behind Samsung’s Good Lock app launcher. The launcher gave users control over almost every app they had. This YouTube Music widget with Flex Window support will likely give users a more refined music control experience. In other news, YouTube Music was busy rolling out a Gemini Extension for desktop and Android users. Users will find a series of suggested commands for the AI for music lookup, album discovery, or specific radio genre. After Gemini locates the song, users are thrown into YouTube Music for the playback or continuous radio stream.
Samsung is gearing up to expand its foldable lineup with a new tri-fold smartphone, potentially launching in 2025. The device, featuring a screen that folds twice, has already seen its components developed, indicating readiness for commercialization. However, the final decision rests with Samsung’s Mobile eXperience division led by TM Roh.
Samsung’s tri-fold could be the first tri-fold for global market
Currently, Huawei’s Mate XT is the only tri-fold on the market, currently limited to China. If Samsung releases this model globally, it could be the first tri-fold available worldwide. The new form factor would transform from a tablet-sized display to a compact phone, providing versatile usage for various scenarios.
There’s no word yet on specifications, but industry patents suggest innovative hinge mechanisms and sensor integration, hinting at a device designed for flexible use cases.
Recommended：EB-BF741ABE Battery for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Based on Samsung’s track record of foldable phones, the premium tri-fold will also likely use the latest Qualcomm flagship, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
For those curious about the multitasking capabilities, key advancements in the Snapdragon 8 Elite include a 40% boost in GPU performance and a 35% enhancement in ray tracing capabilities as compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 of the existing Galaxy Z Fold 6. These improvements, coupled with a 44% increase in power efficiency, make the chipset ideal for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking, ensuring a reasonable performance upgrade for the upcoming Samsung tri-fold.
The chipset features an upgraded NPU (45% improvement in AI capabilities), ensuring more complex Galaxy AI features for the tri-fold phone.
However, the tri-fold will also likely need to be slimmer than the existing Galaxy Z Fold 6, so no larger camera sensors are expected inside as well. Readers should expect a camera setup similar to the company’s existing book-style foldable. For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera setup is noted below:
Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition for South Korea today. It’s the company’s more premium version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the thinnest fully foldable Galaxy device yet, featuring wider displays and a bigger 200 MP primary camera.
The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition has the same boxy shape in an armor aluminum chassis as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (review) but is significantly thinner and only measures 4.9 mm on its side when unfolded or 10.6 mm when closed. That’s a few hairlines thinner than the new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold but is still thicker than the new Honor Magic V3.
It’s also slightly taller and wider to accommodate the wider displays of a 6.5-inch OLED at the front surrounded by a nearly non-existent bezel and an 8-inch main OLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 2,600 nits peak brightness. However, the foldable Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition ditches S Pen support, which is a tradeoff by going for a thinner build and new displays.
Thinnest dust and waterproof Samsung foldable Despite sporting larger displays, Samsung shaved the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition’s weight down to 236 grams from 239 grams. The device is still IP48 certified for dust and water resistance, which makes it more impressive given the foldable devices from the competition from other brands that lack complete ingress protection.
Powering the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Edition is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset, offering a few extra horsepower on the CPU and GPU compared to the vanilla version of the flagship SoC. The single memory configuration consists of 512 GB storage and 16 GB RAM. A 4,400 mAh battery supports 25 watts of wired charging, but we’ve yet to confirm if wireless charging is included.
The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition boots on Android 14 with a One UI 6 skin. As with current Samsung foldable phones, you will get a suite of AI features through Galaxy AI such as Live Interpreter, Photo Assist, and Circle to Search, among others.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition price and availability Samsung’s South Korean website currently lists the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition to be available for preorder for KRW 2,789,600 (Nz $3,341), but it didn’t specifiy when shipping will begin. There’s no word on whether the company will release it to global markets, though we’ve recently seen leaks tof the same device certified in China.
Each phone has its strengths, depending on what you’re looking for.
It’s always an interesting challenge to see how the two best smartphone cameras fit together. I spent a week shooting photos with an iPhone 16 Pro Max and a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, comparing everything from sharpness and color contrast to zoom ability. Both phones come into their own, but both have their moments when they steal the spotlight.
Let’s start off with some specs. The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 48-megapixel main camera with a wide-angle lens, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. It also has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. The iPhone 16 Pro Max can shoot up to 4K video at 120fps.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, meanwhile, sports a 200-megapixel wide camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, 10-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom and 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. It also has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, and can shoot up to 8K video.
It’s important to note that more megapixels doesn’t automatically mean better photos, as a phone’s software plays an important role, too. The best way to get the full picture is to test out the cameras in the real world. Also, while I’m comparing photos taken at the default setting on each phone, customization is becoming a bigger focus through tools like the new Photographic Styles feature and tone mapping on the iPhone. That way, you can bump up saturation or contrast however you’d like.
Price-wise, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at NZ$2,399 for 256GB of internal storage, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra will cost you 100 more for the same storage amount.
What’s new on this year’s iPhone lineup is the Camera Control button, which sits on the right side of the phone and lets you trigger the camera, snap photos and swipe to change settings like exposure, aperture and zoom. I’ve enjoyed using it as a shortcut to summon the camera, but don’t yet see the appeal of doing much else with it, especially when using the touchscreen (the old fashioned way) works just fine. Thankfully, iPhone case makers like Speck and Otterbox have quickly developed cases to make that new button easily accessible, if, like me, you’re trying to warm up to the concept while keeping your phone protected.
The photos showed slightly higher overall brightness in iPhone 16 Pro Max photos, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra photos showed higher shades of each color. But both are very beautiful and striking, and I’m impressed by how little difference there is between them.
My favorite way to test portrait mode is by photographing a plant to see whether the camera picks up on any stray leaves of flowers and keeps them focused in the foreground. In this comparison, each phone does a comparable job in that regard, but I like how the S24 Ultra brightens the overall image and reduces a lot of those harsh shadows.
The iPhone 16 Pro lineup introduces 4K slow-motion recording at 120fps, while the S24 Ultra has a UHD slow-motion setting at 120fps. That 4K setting on the iPhone brings a crispness and higher level of detail that makes these videos pop — even if you don’t really find yourself recording in slow motion all that often.
In other, more everyday instances, I still prefer video on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, as footage looks sharper and colors are more true-to-life. But you’ll get smooth shots, especially when set to 60fps, on both devices.
Final thoughts Given the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are some of the best camera phones you can get your hands on today, which images are “better” often comes down to personal preference.
I’ve always admired the vibrancy of photos captured on Galaxy phones; the higher saturation and brightness can offer richer-looking images, especially out in nature and with photos of people. But I also admire the sharpness of photos and videos on the iPhone, and how images tend to appear more true to real-life colors.
Night mode used to be something that clearly set the Galaxy apart from the iPhone, but Apple has upped its game in recent years, and images shot at night on both devices are almost indistinguishable in terms of quality. Portrait mode is also matching up more on both devices, as the iPhone used to be leagues ahead of its competitors in that regard. Both devices offer impressive zoom capabilities, though the S24 Ultra still takes the cake with that 10x optical zoom. And selfies are equally flattering, despite minor color differences, on both devices.
All this to say, no matter which phone you choose to spend your hard-earned money on, you hopefully won’t be let down.
Samsung came out swinging for the fence with the launch of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, largely propelled by the slew of Galaxy AI features included on the device. It’s been the top contender in our best Android phones list since then, but Apple’s new flagship is the matchup we’ve been waiting for. That’s why an iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra face-off is necessary to once and for all have a definitive winner as our best phone.
Given how things turned out in our Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max comparison, it inherently gives the newer iPhone 16 Pro Max an edge edge heading into this matchup. That’s because there’s an 8-month gap between the arrival of these two devices, giving Apple the advantage of having the newer handset.
We’ll look at all aspects surrounding the two phones, including their battery life, software, displays, AL features and much more to tell you exactly which one offers more value. These phones don’t come cheap and they’re the epitome of the ultra premium segment that come with extra features you don’t find in other phones.
In this iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra showdown, there can only be one that comes out on top. Let’s get started!
For now, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is enjoying the time it has left before sailing into the sunset at the start of 2025. Despite offering the richer software, its age is beginning to show and this comparison proves that. Unless you can find Samsung’s phone at a good discount somewhere, you might hold off and save your money on the Galaxy S25 Ultra next year. It’ll be a decent wait for it, but we anticipate bigger upgrades that will make it a more formidable challenger.
(Image credit: Future) To be fair, both phones make slight alterations with their designs, but they mostly follow the same design language as previous phones. While both phones have flat edges that let them stay upright on their own, that’s about where their similarities end.
Samsung’s design is boxier looking, evident in the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s hard angled corner. You could argue that Samsung’s design looks like the more boring of the two, but it’s much harder to comfortably use one-handed because it’s larger and heavier. While the S24’s titanium frame gives it a premium look, the overall look can’t compare to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
(Image credit: Future) But to be fair, Apple’s design is mostly recycled too. Still, its rounded corners, lighter weight, and slimmer frame make it feel much more manageable. It’s still massive in size, but it helps that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is accompanied by a more solid construction that makes its design feel polished.
Another difference worth pointing out is that the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with the S Pen, which discreetly tucks into the lower left corner of the phone when it’s not being used. Not only does it help in giving off that paper meets pen experience, but it’s also a handy tool for other functions — such as acting as a remote control for the camera.
Meanwhile, Apple introduces the Camera Control button to give users better access to the most popular settings and tools to take better photos. It’s unique in the sense that it can sense swiping gestures in addition to pressure sensitivity, which frees up the Action Button to do other things.
(Image credit: Future) In the past, Samsung has historically featured the bigger display, but that changes with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This is a shakeup because the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a larger 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra packs a 6.8-inch Super AMOLED panel.
There’s a lot to like about both OLED displays because they’re perfect for just about everything, from reading an ebook with ease thanks to their high resolutions, all the way to catching up on your favorite streaming shows because of their exceptional viewing angles and rich colors. Believe us when we say you’ll be enchanted by just looking at them. They’re that good!
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Delta-E color accuracy (lower is better)
0.24
0.25
DCI-P3 color gamut coverage (%)
80.4
98.5
Peak brightness
1,553
1,363
However, today’s phones are mainly judged by how bright they get — and in our testing, it’s the iPhone 16 Pro Max that’s brighter. It reaches a peak brightness of 1,553 nits, which makes it more visible to the eyes with direct sunlight. Even though the Galaxy S24 Ultra earns a respectable mark of 1,363 nits, it doesn’t get as bright when compared to the iPhone. For this reason, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is our choice here.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Ultra S24: Cameras
(Image credit: Future) Without spilling the beans on which has the better cameras, it’s worth noting that these two phones have everything for shooting photos and video with unprecedented quality. Apple fashions a familiar triple camera setup as before that consists of a 48MP main shooter, refreshed 48MP ultrawide, and a 12MP telephoto with 5x zoom. On paper it matches the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s setup, which includes a 200MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom, and a 50MP telephoto with 5x zoom.
These cameras are no doubt versatile in covering all the ranges, but each has their own charm with the experience. Take the new Camera Control button with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is a button on the phone’s side that allows you to quickly take photos much like an ordinary shutter button on a mirrorless camera. One unique way Apple makes Camera Control stand out is how it can also sense how hard your pressing; it recognizes swiping gestures, too. That makes it easier to zoom and go through all of the iPhones modes and settings.
But the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera app is more suitable to handle the needs of power users and enthusiasts. That’s because it features proper manual controls for photos and video recording, while also throwing in several others like dual recording. And while it lacks a similar shutter button, the S Pen can be leveraged to take photos as well by pressing down its button.
We’ll briefly touch up on the most important areas with their cameras, but our 2 photos with the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra better dives into the differences.
iPhone 16 Pro Max shooting
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra shooting
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance
It came out to a draw between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max with their performance when we put those two phones to the test, but this time there’s a clear winner. Based on a new 3nm manufacturing process, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s A18 Pro chip proves it has the muscle power to handle whatever we dish out to it.
In Geekbench 6, the iPhone 16 Pro Max widens the divide by posting single and multi-core scores of 3,400 and 8,341 respectively. That’s a much bigger increase from the iPhone 15 Pro Max and it certainly shows when you’re using Apple’s phone and notice the instant response and zippy feel.
(Image credit: Future)
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Geekbench 6 (single-core/multicore)
3,400 / 8,341
2,300 / 7,249
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited (fps)
107.53
121.81
Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (mins:secs)
0:21
0:42
Despite its newer hardware, the iPhone 16 Pro Max still can’t eclipse the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powered Galaxy S24 Ultra when it comes to graphics processing. In 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited test, the Galaxy posts an impressive average frame rate of 121.81 fps, which is smoother than the 107.53 fps rate that the iPhone averages.
And finally, there’s our Adobe Rush Premiere test that times how long it takes a phone to transcode a video. Between them, the iPhone posts a faster time of 0:21, which is nearly half the time it takes the Galaxy S24 Ultra to complete the same task.
Synthetic benchmark tests are great to objectively compare both phones, but the iPhone by and large exhibits smoother responses with normal, everyday tasks such as opening apps and scrolling.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Battery
(Image credit: Future) Even though Apple doesn’t list the battery capacity in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the company does say that it’s bigger than the power pack inside the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But honestly, it really doesn’t matter because the iPhone 16 Pro Max posts an unbelievable time with our battery benchmark test.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s time of 15 hours and 41 minutes was one of the best when it launched, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max exceeds that with a better 18 hours and 6 minutes time. In our best phone battery life list, it places the iPhone in the third position only bested by the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro and OnePlus 12R, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra finds itself in the sixth position.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Battery Life (hours:minutes)
18:06
15:41
Recharge Level in 15 mins
29%
39%
Recharge Level in 30 mins
55%
79%
Over on the recharging side, the Galaxy S24 Ultra easily edges out the iPhone 16 Pro Max thanks to its faster 45W wired charging speed. The S24 Ultra is able to get up to 39% in 15 minutes, then to 79% in 30 minutes. In contrast, the iPhone gets to 29% and 55%, respectively.
Sure, the faster charging speeds of the Ultra are great, but there’s a bigger disparity between their battery life that gives this one to Apple.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Software and AI
Apple’s software has always been intuitive to use, and that’s no different with iOS 18 running on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. On the surface, the latest software update doesn’t shake up the experience as much as previous releases, but it’s nice to see that Apple pays more attention than ever before in giving more customization, personalization, and privacy with its software. We detail everything new and exciting about it in our iOS 18 review.
But the greatest part about the software has nothing to do with iOS 18 at all; instead, the focus is on the features that are unlocked with Apple Intelligence. We’ve been using Apple Intelligence with the iOS 18.1 beta to fully get a grip of what it’s able to do, and for the most part, it elevates the experience to the same level as Samsung’s Galaxy AI. There are handy summarizing tools that gives us oversight to our most important notifications, a new Siri that’s much more conversational, and magic of the Photo Clean Up tool — all of which exists to some degree with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Samsung’s One UI 6.1 goes deeper by offering a slew of features that cater to power users. Not only can we access useful AI-assisted features such as Circle to Search and Google Gemini, but Galaxy AI features enhance the overall experience. Generative AI is clearly well represented in stuff like Generative Edit for removing reflections and unwanted subjects in photos, as well as how Instant Slow-Mo turns any video recording into a slow motion clip.
We also can’t neglect to mention how the S Pen adds to the S24 Ultra experience. It’s a valuable tool with many purposes with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, including the ability to instantly take notes without unlocking the phone, signing PDFs, and using it as a remote shutter for the camera. If that’s not enough to convince you how the Galaxy S24 Ultra is meant for power users, the phone also packs one of the most underrated phone features you’ll find — Samsung DeX. This allows the Galaxy S24 Ultra to mimic the experience of a traditional desktop PC, which is still something you won’t get with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
All of these are reasons why the Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to have the more compelling software.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Verdict
After putting the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra through the seven categories we’re grading them in, the final tally gives a clear win to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This shouldn’t be too much of a shock given how their releases are spaced significantly apart from one another, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max getting the upper hand in many areas. Most notable, it has a brighter display, better cameras, and longer battery life.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Price (15 points)
13
11
Design (10 points)
9
9
Display (15 points)
14
12
Cameras (20 points)
20
18
Performance (15 points)
15
14
Battery and charging (10 points)
9
8
Software and special features (15 points)
14
15
Total (out of 100)
94
87
For now, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is enjoying the time it has left before sailing into the sunset at the start of 2025. Despite offering the richer software, its age is beginning to show and this comparison proves that. Unless you can find Samsung’s phone at a good discount somewhere, you might hold off and save your money on the Galaxy S25 Ultra next year. It’ll be a decent wait for it, but we anticipate bigger upgrades that will make it a more formidable challenger.
