Explore two compact flagships, the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15, both priced similarly but from different worlds. If you’re in the market for a lightweight flagship smartphone around €800, these two devices are worth considering.

Table of Contents:

To start, you can compare the complete specs sheets or continue reading our editor’s assessment in the detailed review below.

Size comparison

The Galaxy S24 boasts a clean design with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels, an aluminum frame, and IP68 ingress protection. Its camera housing features three simple rings for a minimalistic look.

On the other hand, the iPhone 15 also sports Corning Ceramic Shield glass panels, an aluminum frame, and maintains a consistent design over the years. It also offers IP68-rated water protection for up to 6m. Both devices are almost identical in size and weight, with the iPhone 15 slightly heavier.


Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. Apple iPhone 15

In terms of design and build quality, both smartphones offer equally impressive construction.

Display comparison

The Galaxy S24 features a slightly larger but lower-resolution display compared to the iPhone 15. The iPhone’s screen offers wider HDR video support with HDR10 and Dolby Vision capabilities.

Additionally, the Galaxy S24 boasts a 120Hz refresh rate display, while the iPhone 15 remains at 60Hz. The iPhone’s Face ID technology results in a larger notch, although Apple has integrated clever functionality around it with Dynamic Island.

Although the iPhone offers a slightly brighter display, the Galaxy S24’s 120Hz panel with a smaller cutout makes it a preferred choice for many users.

Battery life

Despite the Galaxy S24 having a larger 4,000mAh battery compared to the iPhone 15’s 3,349mAh, the latter surprisingly provides longer battery life. In testing, the iPhone 15 outperforms the Galaxy S24 in most scenarios, except in call times.

Charging speed

Both devices offer similar charging speeds, with the Galaxy S24 supporting 25W fast charging and the iPhone 15 supporting 20W fast charging. However, the Galaxy S24 also features reversed wireless charging, a feature not available on the iPhone.

In charging tests, the Galaxy S24 recharges its larger battery faster, giving it an edge in this category.

Speakers test

Both the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15 feature hybrid stereo speaker setups. The Galaxy S24 offers louder audio output, but the iPhone 15 delivers richer sound quality with deeper bass and better vocals.

Performance

The Galaxy S24 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2400 chipset, while the iPhone 15 runs on Apple’s A16 Bionic. The newer chip in the Galaxy S24 provides better multi-core CPU performance and GPU power in comparison.

Overall, the Galaxy S24 excels in performance due to its chipset and additional features like optical zoom cameras, faster display, and quicker charging. It is also priced competitively in many markets, giving it a clear advantage over the iPhone 15 in this regard.

Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung

Galaxy S24

Geekbench 6
2,177 single-core

Geekbench 6
6,747 multi-core

3D Mark W.Life
14,351

Apple iPhone 15

Apple

iPhone 15

Geekbench 6
2,606 single-core

Geekbench 6
6,526 multi-core

3D Mark W.Life
9,927

Memory configurations differ between the two devices, with the Galaxy S24 offering 8GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB options, while the iPhone 15 comes with 6GB of RAM and storage options up to 512GB. Software support and updates are also highlighted, with Samsung promising 7 years of major OS updates for the S24 compared to Apple’s 5-6 years of iOS updates.

Ultimately, the choice between the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15 comes down to personal preferences and priorities. Both devices have their strengths and weaknesses, making it a challenging decision for consumers.