In the ever-evolving landscape of smartphones, two titans consistently battle for supremacy: Samsung and Apple. Each year brings a fresh iteration of their flagship devices, pushing the boundaries of technology, design, and user experience. For 2024, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro stand as formidable contenders, offering premium experiences that cater to distinct user bases. But which one truly reigns supreme for you? This comprehensive comparison and review, spanning over 3000 words, will dissect every facet of these devices, helping you make an informed decision at Mobihub Electronics or your preferred retailer.
Introduction: The Evolution of Excellence
The smartphone market is more saturated and competitive than ever. Consumers demand not just powerful hardware, but also intelligent software, intuitive interfaces, and cameras that capture life’s moments with unparalleled fidelity. Both Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Plus and Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro aim to deliver on these expectations, albeit through different philosophies.
Samsung, with its Android ecosystem, often emphasizes open customization, cutting-edge display technology, and a feature-rich, AI-powered experience. The Galaxy S24 Plus, positioned as the mid-range flagship in the S24 series, aims to strike a perfect balance between the compact S24 and the ultra-premium S24 Ultra, inheriting many of the latter’s best features without its highest price tag.
Apple, on the other hand, is renowned for its tightly integrated iOS ecosystem, robust privacy features, and a focus on seamless user experience, often delivering power and efficiency through optimized hardware and software. The iPhone 15 Pro, stepping up from the base iPhone 15, introduces significant upgrades, particularly in its build materials, chip, and camera system, setting a high bar for premium compact flagships.
This review will meticulously examine their design and build quality, display prowess, performance capabilities, camera systems, battery life and charging, software experience, and unique features, providing a holistic view of each device’s strengths and weaknesses.
Design and Build Quality: A Study in Contrasts and Refinements
First impressions matter, and both the Galaxy S24 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro make strong statements with their design and build. However, their approaches differ significantly.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: The S24 Plus embraces a refined, modern aesthetic. Samsung has moved towards a flatter design language for the S24 series, with flat edges and a polished Armor Aluminum frame. This gives the phone a sleek, almost industrial look that feels robust in hand. The front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, offering good durability against drops and scratches. The camera lenses protrude individually from the back, a signature Samsung design element. At 196g, it sits comfortably in the hand for a device with a 6.7-inch display, striking a good balance between screen real estate and manageable weight. The symmetrical bezels around the display contribute to a highly immersive viewing experience, making the screen almost entirely fill the front of the device. Samsung has also rounded off the edge where the frame meets the back, enhancing ergonomic comfort.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro marks a significant shift in its build materials, transitioning to a titanium chassis. This change not only gives the phone a premium, matte finish but also contributes to a lighter weight compared to its stainless steel predecessors. The aerospace-grade titanium is touted for its strength-to-weight ratio. The device maintains Apple’s signature flat-edge design, now with slightly more contoured edges for a more comfortable grip than previous generations. Ceramic Shield on the front provides enhanced drop performance, while the back is made of textured matte glass. At 187 grams, the iPhone 15 Pro is notably lighter than the S24 Plus, an impressive feat given its premium materials, though it also features a smaller 6.1-inch display. The Action Button, a new programmable solid-state button, replaces the traditional mute switch, adding a layer of customization.
Verdict on Design and Build: Both phones offer excellent build quality with IP68 dust and water resistance, ensuring durability. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference for aesthetics and materials. The S24 Plus offers a larger screen in a still-manageable form factor with robust aluminum, while the iPhone 15 Pro provides a more compact, exceptionally lightweight, and premium titanium build. The iPhone’s Action Button is a novel addition that enhances utility.
Display: A Battle of Brightness and Immersion
The display is the window to your smartphone experience, and both Samsung and Apple are renowned for their industry-leading panels.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: The S24 Plus boasts a stunning 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a QHD+ resolution (3120 x 1440 pixels). This is a significant upgrade from its predecessor’s FHD+ panel, bringing the “Plus” model’s resolution on par with the Ultra. The LTPO technology enables an adaptive refresh rate ranging from a super-smooth 1Hz to 120Hz, dynamically adjusting to content for power efficiency and fluid scrolling. What truly sets the S24 Plus display apart is its peak brightness, reaching an astonishing 2,600 nits. This makes the screen incredibly vibrant and highly legible even under direct sunlight, enhancing outdoor usability and HDR content viewing. Colors are vibrant, blacks are inky deep, and contrast is exceptional, as expected from Samsung’s AMOLED panels.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: The iPhone 15 Pro features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2556 x 1179 pixels (460 ppi). It also incorporates Apple’s ProMotion technology, offering an adaptive refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, providing smooth visuals and efficient power consumption. The display achieves a typical brightness of 1,000 nits, with a peak HDR brightness of 1,600 nits and an impressive 2,000 nits peak brightness for outdoor use. While slightly less bright than the S24 Plus in peak outdoor scenarios, the iPhone 15 Pro’s display is still exceptionally bright and clear, offering excellent color accuracy and contrast. The Dynamic Island, an innovative pill-shaped cutout at the top, elegantly integrates alerts and activities, adding a unique interactive element.
Verdict on Display: Both displays are top-tier, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth 120Hz refresh rates. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus pulls ahead in terms of sheer size and peak brightness, making it more immersive for content consumption and offering superior visibility in extremely bright conditions. The iPhone 15 Pro’s Dynamic Island offers a unique software-hardware integration, but its smaller size might be a drawback for those who prefer more screen real estate. For pure visual fidelity and brightness, the S24 Plus edges out the iPhone 15 Pro.
Performance: Raw Power Meets Optimized Efficiency
Under the hood, both devices house their respective company’s latest and greatest silicon, promising blazing-fast performance for everything from daily tasks to demanding gaming.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: The S24 Plus’s processor depends on the region. In North America, it features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, a specially optimized version of Qualcomm’s flagship chip. In other international markets, it is powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2400. Both chipsets offer significant generational leaps in CPU, GPU, and NPU performance. The S24 Plus comes with a generous 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and efficient handling of resource-intensive applications. Performance reviews consistently show that both chipsets deliver flagship-level speed, handling graphically demanding games at high settings and complex AI tasks with ease. While the Snapdragon variant might show marginally better benchmark scores, real-world usage often reveals little discernible difference. Heating under sustained heavy load can occur, but it generally remains within acceptable limits.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: The iPhone 15 Pro is equipped with Apple’s A17 Pro chip, the world’s first 3-nanometer smartphone chip. This chip features a new 6-core CPU, a new 6-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. The A17 Pro is renowned for its industry-leading single-core performance and exceptional graphical capabilities, often outperforming Android counterparts in synthetic benchmarks. It also integrates hardware-accelerated ray tracing, promising console-level gaming graphics on a mobile device. The iPhone 15 Pro comes with 8GB of RAM, which, due to Apple’s highly optimized iOS ecosystem, is more than sufficient for incredibly fluid performance and efficient multitasking. While there were initial reports of overheating with the A17 Pro, subsequent software updates largely addressed these concerns.
Verdict on Performance: Both devices offer phenomenal performance that will satisfy even the most demanding users. Apple’s A17 Pro chip generally holds an edge in raw benchmark scores and graphical prowess, particularly for gaming, due to its deep integration with iOS. However, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, whether with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy or the Exynos 2400, delivers a truly flagship Android experience with ample RAM, handling all tasks with remarkable speed and fluidity. For the average user, the performance difference will be negligible in day-to-day use.
Camera System: Capturing Life’s Moments
The camera has become a primary selling point for smartphones, and both Samsung and Apple continuously push the boundaries of mobile photography.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: The S24 Plus retains a similar triple-camera hardware setup to its predecessor, but with significant software enhancements, particularly through its Galaxy AI features.
- Main Camera: 50MP wide-angle lens (f/1.8) with OIS and Dual Pixel PDAF. This sensor is capable of capturing detailed and vibrant photos in various lighting conditions.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 12MP ultra-wide lens (f/2.2) with a 120-degree field of view. It produces consistent colors with the main sensor, though dynamic range can be slightly less.
- Telephoto Camera: 10MP telephoto lens (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom and OIS. Images are often upscaled to 12MP.
- Front Camera: 12MP selfie camera (f/2.2) with Dual Pixel PDAF.
Samsung’s improved image processing on the S24 Plus leads to less aggressive sharpening and more natural-looking results compared to previous generations. Daylight photos are excellent, with pleasing colors and wide dynamic range. Low-light performance on the main camera is strong, with Night Mode further enhancing scenes with complex lighting. Video recording is capable of 8K at 30fps from the main camera and 4K at 60fps across all cameras (front and rear), with excellent stabilization and minimal color shift between lenses. The selfie camera is widely praised for its detail, dynamic range, and accurate autofocus.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: The iPhone 15 Pro also features a versatile triple-camera system, with hardware and software working in tandem for exceptional results.
- Main Camera: 48MP wide-angle lens (f/1.78) with second-generation sensor-shift OIS and 100% Focus Pixels. It defaults to 24MP photos for improved detail and light capture but can shoot 48MP ProRAW for professional editing.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 12MP ultra-wide lens (f/2.2) with a 120-degree field of view. It also supports macro photography.
- Telephoto Camera: 12MP telephoto lens (f/2.8) with 3x optical zoom and OIS.
- Front Camera: 12MP TrueDepth camera (f/1.9) with autofocus.
The iPhone 15 Pro excels in consistency across its lenses, with excellent color science and dynamic range. Photos are generally true-to-life with Apple’s characteristic natural processing. The improved low-light performance across all cameras is a highlight. Portrait mode is now automatic, capturing depth data when a person, cat, or dog is detected without needing to switch modes. Video recording is a major strength of the iPhone, offering 4K at up to 60fps (and 120fps for Action Mode) with superior stabilization, Cinematic mode for shallow depth of field effects, and ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60fps with external recording, including Log video for professional color grading. The front camera delivers superb selfies and video call quality.
Verdict on Camera: Both phones offer exceptional camera experiences, and for most users, either will produce stunning photos and videos. Samsung’s S24 Plus has made significant strides in image processing, especially with its AI capabilities. The iPhone 15 Pro continues to be a video powerhouse, often preferred by content creators for its ProRes and Log video capabilities, and offers incredibly consistent image quality across its lenses. If you prioritize advanced video features and color accuracy, the iPhone might have a slight edge. If you prefer a more vibrant, “ready-to-share” look and enjoy AI editing tools, the S24 Plus is fantastic.
Battery Life and Charging: Endurance and Efficiency
Battery life is a critical factor for any smartphone user, and charging speeds dictate how quickly you can get back to full power.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: The S24 Plus is equipped with a 4,900 mAh battery, a notable increase from its predecessor. Coupled with the efficient LTPO display and optimized chipsets, it delivers excellent all-day battery life, even with heavy usage. Many users report comfortably getting a full day of use, with screen-on-time ranging from 6-8 hours depending on usage patterns (Wi-Fi vs. 5G, gaming intensity, etc.). For charging, the S24 Plus supports 45W wired fast charging, allowing it to reach a significant charge in a short amount of time (e.g., 65% in 30 minutes). It also supports 15W wireless charging (Qi standard) and Wireless PowerShare, allowing it to wirelessly charge other compatible devices.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: The iPhone 15 Pro has a smaller battery capacity compared to the S24 Plus (precise mAh is not officially disclosed by Apple, but teardowns indicate around 3,274 mAh). However, Apple’s highly efficient A17 Pro chip and optimized iOS software typically lead to excellent real-world battery performance. Users generally report comfortable all-day use, though intense gaming or heavy data usage can drain it faster. In benchmarks, it often performs comparably to or slightly less than the S24 Plus in video playback or web Browse tests, but can struggle more with sustained heavy gaming. For charging, the iPhone 15 Pro supports up to around 27W wired fast charging, getting to 50% in about 30 minutes. It supports 15W MagSafe wireless charging and 7.5W Qi wireless charging. The new USB-C port is a welcome change for universal charging.
Verdict on Battery and Charging: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, with its larger battery, generally offers better endurance, particularly for extended mixed usage. Its 45W wired charging is also faster than the iPhone’s. The iPhone 15 Pro, despite its smaller battery, offers competitive all-day battery life due to superior efficiency, though it may require a midday top-up for very heavy users. While both offer wireless charging, the S24 Plus’s PowerShare feature is a convenient addition.
Software Experience: Android Freedom vs. iOS Simplicity
The operating system is arguably the most defining characteristic of a smartphone experience.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: The S24 Plus runs Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 on top. One UI is known for its extensive customization options, feature-rich interface, and integration with Samsung’s ecosystem. Samsung has committed to an impressive seven years of OS updates and security patches for the S24 series, ensuring long-term support. The highlight of the S24 Plus’s software experience is Galaxy AI. This suite of on-device and cloud-based AI features includes:
- Circle to Search with Google: A revolutionary way to search for anything on your screen by simply circling it.
- Live Translate: Real-time two-way voice and text translation during phone calls and in-person conversations.
- Chat Assist: Helps refine your writing style, summarize messages, and translate texts.
- Note Assist: Automatically formats and summarizes notes in the Samsung Notes app.
- Transcript Assist: Transcribes voice recordings, even identifying different speakers.
- Generative Edit: AI-powered photo editing that can resize, reposition, or even remove objects and fill in backgrounds, similar to generative fill features in desktop software.
- Instant Slow-Mo: Generates additional frames to slow down any video.
These AI features are deeply integrated into the OS and Samsung’s apps, offering a truly innovative and productivity-enhancing experience.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: The iPhone 15 Pro runs iOS 17 (with iOS 18 having been announced and in beta testing at the time of this review’s fictional present). iOS is celebrated for its intuitive interface, robust security and privacy features, and seamless integration across Apple’s ecosystem of devices. While generally less customizable than Android, iOS provides a streamlined and reliable user experience. Key features of iOS 17 include StandBy mode, enhanced AirDrop, interactive widgets, and improvements to messaging and calling. The iPhone 15 Pro introduces the Action Button, which is customizable to perform various functions like launching the camera, flashlight, voice memos, Focus modes, Translate, or accessibility features. Apple also offers impressive software update longevity, though not explicitly as long as Samsung’s seven years for the S24 series. The iPhone 15 Pro also benefits from Emergency SOS via Satellite and Roadside Assistance via Satellite, offering crucial connectivity in remote areas.
Verdict on Software: This is where personal preference for ecosystem heavily comes into play. Android enthusiasts will appreciate the Galaxy S24 Plus’s open nature, extensive customization, and the genuinely innovative and useful Galaxy AI features that bring a new level of intelligence to everyday tasks. Samsung’s long-term software support commitment is also a significant advantage. iOS on the iPhone 15 Pro offers unparalleled simplicity, security, and a seamless ecosystem experience. The Action Button provides useful physical customization, and satellite connectivity is a potentially life-saving feature. For cutting-edge AI integration and flexibility, the S24 Plus leads. For stability, privacy, and ease of use within a cohesive ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro is the champion.
Unique Features and Ecosystems: Beyond the Specs
Beyond the core components, both phones offer unique features that enhance their overall appeal.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus:
- Galaxy AI: As detailed above, this is the tentpole feature, transforming everyday interactions with the phone.
- DeX: Samsung DeX allows you to connect your S24 Plus to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse to create a desktop-like experience, boosting productivity.
- UWB Support: Ultra Wideband for precise spatial awareness, useful for finding SmartThings Find-compatible devices.
- Seven Years of Updates: Industry-leading software support commitment.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro:
- Action Button: A customizable physical button for quick access to preferred functions.
- USB-C with USB 3 Speeds: The transition to USB-C brings faster data transfer speeds (up to 10Gbps) compared to previous iPhones, especially useful for ProRes video recording directly to external drives.
- Emergency SOS via Satellite and Roadside Assistance via Satellite: Critical safety features allowing communication in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.
- Spatial Video Capture: Records videos for immersive playback on Apple Vision Pro.
- Face ID: Secure and convenient facial recognition.
Ecosystems:
- Samsung/Android: Offers greater flexibility in app sourcing, deeper customization, and interoperability with a wider range of accessories from various manufacturers. The Google Play Store is vast, and open-source applications abound.
- Apple/iOS: Provides a highly curated and tightly integrated ecosystem with seamless handoff features between Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods). The App Store is known for its rigorous app review process and high-quality applications.
Price and Value: The Investment Decision
Pricing is always a crucial factor in the flagship segment. Both devices are premium offerings, reflecting their advanced technology.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus typically starts at a competitive price point for its base storage (256GB), making it an attractive value proposition, especially considering its upgraded display resolution and abundant RAM.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro also starts at a flagship price, with the base model offering 128GB of storage. While both are in the premium tier, the S24 Plus often provides more storage at its entry-level price, potentially offering better immediate value in that regard. However, long-term resale value for iPhones tends to be very strong.
When considering value, think about the longevity of the device (both in terms of physical durability and software support), the ecosystem you’re invested in, and the specific features that add the most value to your daily life.
Conclusion: Which Flagship Reigns for You?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro are undeniably two of the best smartphones available today. There is no single “winner,” as the ideal choice depends heavily on individual preferences, priorities, and existing ecosystem commitments.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus if:
- You prioritize a larger, brighter display for media consumption and productivity.
- You are an Android enthusiast who values customization and flexibility.
- You are excited by cutting-edge AI features that genuinely simplify tasks and offer innovative editing capabilities.
- You want excellent battery life and faster wired charging.
- You appreciate Samsung’s DeX desktop experience.
- You’re looking for industry-leading long-term software support.
- You want more storage at the entry-level price point.
Choose the Apple iPhone 15 Pro if:
- You prefer a more compact and lightweight phone with a premium titanium build.
- You are deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and value seamless integration across your devices.
- You prioritize industry-leading video recording capabilities and consistent camera performance.
- You prefer the simplicity, security, and polished user experience of iOS.
- You value safety features like Emergency SOS via Satellite.
- You appreciate the customizable Action Button.
Both Mobihub Electronics and other reputable retailers will offer these devices, and it is highly recommended to visit a store to get a hands-on feel for both before making your final decision. Consider their physical size, the feel of their operating systems, and how their unique features might integrate into your daily routine.
In essence, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus pushes the boundaries of Android with its expansive display, powerful AI, and long-term commitment, solidifying its position as a compelling option for those seeking a feature-rich and intelligent smartphone. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, refines Apple’s compact flagship formula with premium materials, an incredibly powerful chip, and a focus on polished performance and crucial safety features, catering to users who value a streamlined, secure, and consistently excellent experience. Whichever you choose, you’ll be acquiring a device that represents the pinnacle of mobile technology. Sources
