iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 ultra, which is best for gaming?

It’s that time of year again, where we get to experience the best of Apple and Samsung, with their latest products at hand. Today we’ll make an iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comparison.

The brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max with its Apple A18 Pro chip is here to take on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip. We’ll be diving deep into every aspect of these two powerhouses, including app opening, RAM management, animations, AI performance benchmarks, gaming, rendering, and much more. So, sit back, relax, and let’s begin this comprehensive comparison.

Performance Showdown: A18 Pro vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

The iPhone 16 Pro Max debuts with Apple’s latest A18 Pro chip, while the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features the equally impressive Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. From the get-go, we wanted to test the raw power of these devices, and what better way to kick things off than with a benchmark comparison?

We began with Geekbench 6, focusing on CPU performance. 

However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max with its A18 Pro chip finished first, scoring an impressive 3,312 for single-core performance and a whopping 8,000 in multi-core. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, while powerful, lagged slightly behind. It’s evident that Apple has continued to push the envelope in terms of sheer processing power, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra is no slouch either.

Does this difference translate into real-world usage? That’s what we want to explore next.

Speed Tests: App Opening and RAM Management

Booting up both phones side by side, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra were neck-to-neck. Although the S24 Ultra seemed to reach the lock screen first, the iPhone quickly caught up, making it difficult to declare a clear winner in the boot test. However, as we moved into app launching and general performance, the differences became clearer.

Starting with system apps, such as the phone dialer and settings, both phones displayed incredibly smooth animations. There was no noticeable lag, and each app opened without hesitation. But things got interesting when we moved to third-party apps.

Launching Spotify showed how close these devices are, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra just a hair ahead. However, when it came to scrolling within the app, the S24 Ultra felt smoother and allowed for more seamless movement. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, while smooth, showed minor stutters during heavy scrolling, giving the Galaxy S24 Ultra the edge here.

In contrast, the iPhone regained its ground with apps like YouTube and Asphalt 9, where it demonstrated faster loading times and better in-game performance. In TikTok, the iPhone 16 Pro Max loaded faster, and during AI tasks like ChatGPT prompts, it again edged out the Galaxy S24 Ultra

Gaming Performance: A Clear Winner?

One of the highlights of this comparison is undoubtedly gaming. The iPhone 16 Pro Max with its A18 Pro chip is built for performance, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, is a true contender. Both devices handled Asphalt 9 with ease, running at ultra-graphics settings with 60 frames per second.

However, the iPhone managed to load the game faster, and in most cases, its performance was just a touch smoother, especially in demanding environments. In PUBG Mobile, the iPhone again displayed superior loading speeds and offered smoother gameplay, particularly in high frame rate modes.

Still, both phones are excellent for gaming. The differences, while present, are often hard to notice unless you’re extremely picky about frame rates and loading times.

AI and Image Generation: Pushing the Limits

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are becoming increasingly important, and both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra have impressive capabilities in this department. To test this, we used ChatGPT and prompted both phones to generate a complex image of a snake inside a train in the sky.

While both phones performed admirably, the iPhone 16 Pro Max finished the task slightly faster.

Interestingly, the image generated on the iPhone looked more polished and realistic, which could be attributed to Apple’s optimizations in machine learning.

Multitasking and RAM Management: Keeping Apps in Memory

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has long been praised for its excellent RAM management, and this showdown was no exception. Both phones kept most apps open in memory without issue, but when we put them to the test with heavy tasks like video rendering, the differences became more pronounced.

We loaded a Sony A7S III 4K video clip into Adobe Premiere Rush and applied multiple edits, including color corrections and text overlays. Both phones tackled this task impressively, but the iPhone rendered the video significantly faster, finishing almost 20% quicker than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

This performance advantage might come down to the A18 Pro chip’s ability to handle intensive tasks more efficiently, allowing the iPhone 16 Pro Max to retain better RAM management throughout the process.

Display and Design: Dynamic Island vs Infinity-O

The iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a stunning OLED display with the Dynamic Island, which now features slimmer bezels and an almost edge-to-edge design. However, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra counters with its Infinity-O display, offering a cleaner, uninterrupted viewing experience, particularly when consuming media or playing games.

When it comes to brightness, both phones are exceptional. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra are nearly identical in outdoor visibility, making both excellent for everyday use. However, the iPhone’s Dynamic Island does take up a small portion of the screen, which some users might find distracting compared to the clean punch-hole design of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Battery Life and Power Efficiency

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is known for its impressive battery optimization, and with the A18 Pro chip, it continues to deliver excellent power efficiency. During regular use, the iPhone consistently offered slightly better battery life compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, especially during tasks like video playback and gaming.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers more flexibility when it comes to battery options, thanks to its fast-charging capabilities and reverse wireless charging. Both phones support fast charging, but with Samsung’s higher 100W fast charging support, it has a slight edge in terms of speed.

Conclusion: Which of them Reigns Supreme?

In the battle between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, both phones offer extraordinary performance, stunning displays, and powerful AI capabilities. The iPhone 16 Pro Max excels in raw power, multitasking, and efficiency, particularly with its superior A18 Pro chip. Its gaming performance, image generation, and multitasking are top-notch, making it the go-to device for power users.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, offers a more versatile experience, with a slightly smoother display for scrolling, more intuitive software features, and better integration of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. For those who prioritize customization and flexibility, the Galaxy S24 Ultra remains an incredible choice.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference. If you value raw power, better optimization for intensive tasks, and the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the phone to beat. If you prefer a more customizable experience with equally powerful hardware, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is your winner.