Apple iPhone 16 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24
Compact smartphones are scarce these days, and if you narrow your search only to the premium segment, the choice becomes even more limited. Still, Apple and Samsung have the Apple iPhone 16 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 that fit the criteria. One could argue that these phones don't check all the boxes of a flagship device, but they are close enough.
The two contenders are also relatively cheaper than their more premium siblings, hitting the sweet spot for some potential buyers. And after all, the Samsung vs. Apple dilemma is still a thing in some markets, even though the vanilla iPhone 16 isn't off to a great start as it asks about â¬250 more than its direct rival in Europe and the gap gets even wider in the US.
Table of Contents:
For starters, you can compare the complete specs sheets or directly continue with our editor's assessment in the following text.
Size comparison
Even though the iPhone 16 and the Galaxy S24 are built by two very different companies, you'd be surprised by how many similarities you can find.
The two handsets are very similar size-wise, with the Galaxy S24 having a slight edge over the iPhone 16 because it's a tad narrower, shorter and thinner, while offering a bigger display with larger screen real estate. In short, you are getting more display in the same footprint.
The vanilla iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 also share similar design language. The side frames and front and back panels are flat with the camera lenses sticking out. Build quality is, for all intents and purposes, comparable. Both devices use Corning-made glass panels for the front and back, joined by an aluminum side frame. The two bodies are IP68-rated too, though Apple promises a resistance up to bigger depth (1m vs. 6m).
Display comparison
The iPhone 16 and the Galaxy S24 make no compromise when it comes to display quality. Both panels support the same HDR standards and both can get pretty bright. According to our tests, the iPhone has a slight edge with 300 nits more.
However, the S24 wins this round by having a 120Hz LTPO OLED. The iPhone 16's display settles for a less-than-ideal 60Hz refresh rate in 2024.