I have been closely following the latest smartphone releases and there are some clear standouts in the flagship category for 2024. In this in-depth comparison, I will analyze the top contenders across several key factors to determine which smartphone is the best overall for different types of users.
Display
The display is one of the most important features of a smartphone these days. People want big, bright, high-resolution screens for watching videos, gaming, and multitasking. Here is how the latest flagships compare:
Screen Size
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.7 inches
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: 6.9 inches
- Google Pixel 8 Pro: 6.7 inches
The S24 Ultra has the biggest display, followed closely by the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 8 Pro. All three have massive, immersive displays great for media consumption.
Screen Resolution
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 2800 x 1290 pixels
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 3200 x 1440 pixels
- Pixel 8 Pro: 2800 x 1290 pixels
The Galaxy S24 Ultra wins on sheer resolution with a crisp 3K display. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 8 Pro are very close with their 2.5K resolutions.
Screen Refresh Rate
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 120 Hz
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 120 Hz
- Pixel 8 Pro: 120 Hz
All three flagships offer silky smooth 120 Hz refresh rates for fluid scrolling and animations. This is a must-have for a premium smartphone nowadays.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – With the largest display and highest resolution, the S24 Ultra is made for media.
Cameras
Cameras are another vital consideration when choosing a flagship phone. People want versatility with the standard, ultrawide, and tele lenses, along with advanced features like night mode. Here’s how the camera systems compare:
Rear Cameras
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP 3x telephoto
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 10MP 10x periscope
- Pixel 8 Pro: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto
The S24 Ultra dominates for megapixels with its outrageous 200MP main sensor. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 8 Pro are more conservative at 50MP for the main camera. All three offer excellent ultrawide and 3x telephoto zoom lenses. The S24 Ultra also packs a periscope lens with 10x optical zoom.
Front Cameras
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 12MP
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 40MP
- Pixel 8 Pro: 11MP
The Galaxy S24 Ultra wins again with its 40MP selfie camera, compared to 12MP on the iPhone 16 Pro Max and 11MP on the Pixel 8 Pro. More megapixels provide more detail.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – The insanely high-res 200MP main sensor and 10x optical zoom give it the most versatile camera system.
Performance
Flagship buyers expect blazing fast performance whether gaming, multitasking, or using camera features. The chipset and RAM determine overall speed:
Chipset
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: A17 Bionic
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Pixel 8 Pro: Google Tensor G3
The A17 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 represent the cutting edge of smartphone processors. The Google Tensor G3 is competitive but a step behind. Still, all three deliver excellent performance.
RAM
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 8GB
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 12GB
- Pixel 8 Pro: 12GB
Samsung and Google pack a whopping 12GB of RAM compared to 8GB on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. More RAM enables heavier multitasking.
Winner: Tie – The Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 8 Pro have more RAM but the iPhone 16 Pro Max is no slouch with its blazing A17 chip. Any of these flagships will deliver superb speed.
Battery Life and Charging
People depend on their phones for so much these days that battery life is a top concern. Fast charging capabilities are also important for quickly topping up:
Battery Size
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,500 mAh
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 5,000 mAh
- Pixel 8 Pro: 5,000 mAh
Samsung and Google again lead with giant 5,000 mAh batteries compared to 4,500 mAh on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Bigger capacity equals longer runtime.
Charging Speed
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 30W fast charging
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: 45W fast charging
- Pixel 8 Pro: 30W fast charging
The S24 Ultra supports the fastest charging at 45W. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 8 Pro top out at 30W, which is still respectable.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – The huge 5,000 mAh battery and 45W charging let it run long and charge quickly.
Software and Special Features
The software experience and standout features also contribute to making a great flagship smartphone:
Operating System
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: iOS 17
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: Android 13
- Pixel 8 Pro: Android 13
It’s the classic iOS vs Android matchup. iOS offers better optimization while Android provides more customization and control. Both are mature, capable mobile operating systems.
Special Features
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: Dynamic Island, always-on display
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: S Pen stylus, 100x Space Zoom
- Pixel 8 Pro: Magic Eraser, Real Tone
Each flagship offers unique special features. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the Dynamic Island and always-on display, the S24 Ultra has the S Pen and 100x zoom, while the Pixel 8 Pro touts Magic Eraser and Real Tone tech.
Winner: Tie – iOS and Android both have their perks. The special features are quite different but equally useful overall.
Price
Of course, price plays a major role in smartphone purchases. Let’s compare MSRPs for the base flagship models:
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,099
- Galaxy S24 Ultra: $1,199
- Pixel 8 Pro: $899
The Pixel 8 Pro is clearly the most affordable at $899, followed by the iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1,099. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most expensive at $1,199.
Winner: Google Pixel 8 Pro – You get great flagship specs and features for several hundreds less.
Conclusion
Overall, each of these latest 2024 flagships excels in certain areas:
- Display: Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Cameras: Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Performance: Tie
- Battery/Charging: Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Software: Personal preference
- Price: Pixel 8 Pro
For those who want the absolute best display, cameras, and battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is your champion.
However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 8 Pro also offer amazing all-around flagships with great designs and specs. The Pixel 8 Pro gives you the most bang for your buck.
Choose based on your budget and the features most important to you. Any of these latest 2024 flagships will provide an excellent experience and performance. Check them out in person to decide on your perfect match!
