Apple vs. Samsung: the ultimate head-to-head showdown (2024)

Robert Triggs / Android authority

Apple's iPhone enSamsung's Galaxy seriesare juggernauts in the smartphone industry. Apple is supreme in the US, he claims52%of the local smartphone market in the first quarter of 2023, compared to Samsung, which came in second place with 27%. But of course, quantity doesn't always mean quality, and this guide compares the two companies in every area, from performance and design to ecosystem and safety. Ready for the ultimate showdown? Here's how Apple's iPhones compare to Samsung's Galaxy series.

iPhone versus Samsung: assortiment

Robert Triggs / Android authority

Apple and Samsung compete in many of the same areas of consumer electronics (phones, laptops, wearables, and so on), but their core customer bases can be very different. This has to do with differences in design, price, compatibility, functionality and perhaps a little loyalty bias, which we want to dispel here.

Samsung has many more phones on offer than Apple.

Samsung offers different phone lineups. The Galaxy A and M series are affordable options with respectable specs for those who just want the basics. Galaxy S models represent Samsung's flagships with some of the fastest chips and smartest cameras on the market. The newer Galaxy Z series are foldable models, which are still quite expensive.

Apple's iPhone range is relatively small. Four variants ofiPhone 15currently it's leading, and only two of them – the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max – feature the company's best technology with high price tags to match. The 'Budget' options are limited to the company's older models, including the iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and iPhone SE. SE should get a renewal later this year.

We have divided the Apple and Samsung series into three categories: entry-level, mid-range and high-end. Of course, great phone deals can always cause problems, but we stick to standard retail prices to keep things fair.

Entry level

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Galaxy A14 5G

Samsung has one of the best reputations when it comes to budget phones. The Galaxy A series offers an affordable range that does not give you the feeling that you have (seriously) compromised on quality.

$ 200Galaxy A14 5G($199.99 at Samsung) has a sharp FHD Plus display and almost two days of battery life, while still delivering reasonable performance. Notably, it's one of the few new phones with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The cheapest Samsung phone we recommend isGalaxy A03s($124.99 at Samsung). Sure, it's a fairly basic device, but for well over $200 you get a hefty battery, a reliable fingerprint reader, and two OS updates with four years of security updates.

Samsung sells its products in India, Great Britain and several other European countriesGalaxy M-seriefrom budget phones with high-capacity batteries and multi-lens camera setups. It sits below the more streamlined Galaxy A series, although the newer, more expensive models (relatively speaking) are derived from the A series with several changes. For example, there are a lot of phones in this lineup houseMediaTek-processors.

As for Apple, you won't find an iPhone for less than $429 unless it's a very old model (likely involving outdated hardware and software) or purchased second-hand. That's just how it is at Apple.

Middle class

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

I have a SamsungGalaxy A54 5G($449.99 at Samsung) features a completely redesigned design compared to its predecessor, including a more robust construction and a brighter, higher resolution screen. It also comes with some future-proof communications tools, like support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, for under $500. Perhaps more importantly, you get solid battery life and a long update commitment.

That is the other notable mid-range from SamsungGalaxy S23FE($599.99 at Amazon). It's essentially a scaled-down version of the regular S23, but still features a powerful processor, a 120Hz display, wireless charging, and a 50MP main camera with optical stabilization, among other things.

The cheapest "new" iPhone on offer is the 2022 oneiPhone SE($429 at Amazon). Despite the old exterior design that hasn't changed since the iPhone 8, the inside of the SE houses Apple's powerful A15 Bionic chip, the same as in the iPhone 13 series and iPhone 14/14 Plus. The main things holding it back are the small 4.7-inch LCD screen, the exceptional 12MP wide-angle camera and the lack of MagSafe, although you can still charge wirelessly if you don't want to use Lightning.

Apple's only other mid-range offerings are the iPhone 14/14 Plus and the iPhone 13. Some may question whether the iPhone 14 qualifies, as it starts at $699 but now falls below the iPhone 15 in the pecking order.

High-quality

Zarif Ali / Android Authority

Phones in this category often cost close to or over $1,000, which for most people is exactly what the best high-end Samsung phone is. The best option in this regard isGalaxy S24 Plus($1119.99 at Amazon). Between upgraded processors that now power AI smarts, all-day battery life, a reliable triple camera setup, and a promise of seven years of software support, no one should have any complaints.

If you want Samsung's absolute top, the Galaxy S24 Ultra ($1419.99 at Amazon) is every experienced user's dream. It has a dazzling 6.8-inch AMOLED screen and the cameras are arguably the best in the industry. It is of course also one of the most expensive phones, but you do get one integratedS-pen.

Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority

OfiPhone 15 Pro($999 at Amazon) in ProMax ($1199 for Amazon) is Apple's current top offering. The 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro has a titanium frame, camera upgrades, a multi-function button, Apple's ultra-fast A17 Pro processor, and a USB 3.1 port that finally breaks iPhones away from sluggish Lightning technology. The Pro Max is largely the same, but upgrades to a 6.7-inch screen and offers 5x optical zoom instead of 3x, although it still falls short of the S23 Ultra's 10x.

For iPhone 15 ($829.99 at Amazon) is cheaper than its siblings. It features the A16 Bionic processor originally used in the iPhone 14 Pro and lacks any form of telephoto lens, putting it at a disadvantage against comparable Android phones, including the standard S24. It's also stuck with an outdated 60Hz refresh rate, and while it has a USB-C port, it's limited to low USB 2.0 speeds. Overall, it's actually a good phone, but Apple really wants you to spend an extra $200 on a Pro. If all you care about is screen size and battery life, you can spend $100 more and get the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus ($899 for Apple).

Samsung is the only of the two companies with foldable models, at least at the moment. ThatGalaxy Z Flip 5($999.99 at Samsung) evolves a classic clamshell design for the modern age, with plenty of power, solid rear cameras, and more for $1,000. If you want a tablet replacement, you shouldGalaxy Z Fold 5($1799.99 at Samsung) is ready to satisfy even if you have to buy your own S Pen on top of the phone's whopping $1,800 base price. At that level, you spend as much as possible on a desktop gaming PC.

Al from rest

Ryan McLeod / Android Authority

Both companies have a huge range of non-phone consumer electronics, including laptops, earphones, notebooks, tablets and smart home devices. Apple is generally dominant in these categories. MacBooks are generally much more popular than SamsungsGalaxy Books, and iPads, for example, are more popular than Galaxy Tabs.AirPodsand Apple Watches could easily outsellGalaxy buttonsofGalaxy ure.

A lot of this can be attributed to the fact that Apple's ecosystem is tightly integrated, so the more Apple products you have, the better your experience. Some products (such as the Apple Watch) immediately require another Apple device to work. Samsung has tried to emulate this, but the ecosystem is a bit looser, which at least means you're not stuck if you want to mix and match brands - feel free to pair your Galaxy Watch 6 with a Google Pixel.

Samsung has a footprint in areas that Apple may never touch, such as TVs, refrigerators and washing machines. You can even unite them with your other devices viaSmart things, which is Samsung's responseHomeKitand Find My.

iPhone vs Samsung: Hardware and Technology

Robert Triggs / Android authority

Depending on what you're looking for in a phone, this section could be the deciding factor in deciding what's best for you. Here are some quick comparisons of the important technology of Apple and Samsung phones.

Apple does not engage in this practice. It typically offers two chipsets worldwide, determined by the model itself. The base iPhone models usually get last year's chipset, while the Pro models use soft-edge silicon. This is the case with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.

OfA16 Bionischethe chip in the iPhone 15 appears to beat the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in terms of CPU performance. The A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is even better, although phones like the S23 Ultraedge in GPU score. The base Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 puts amuch tougher battle, beating the A17 Pro in multi-core performance. We'll soon know how the "for Galaxy" version of this chipset in the Galaxy S24 series will fare against Apple's silicon in the coming weeks.

The bottom line is that the iPhone tends to offer better CPU performance, while Samsung tends to offer better GPU performance. So if you're going to play a lot of 3D games, choose Samsung. If you want to quickly switch between a wide range of applications, an iPhone may be better - although the overall speed between high-end devices is negligible. If you don't really care about all these factors and just want something cheap, Samsung has plenty of budget options that Apple doesn't.

Camera's

Robert Triggs / Android authority

Camera technology is still more important to the average person than processors, as as of 2024 only professionals and hobbyists will use standalone cameras. Most Samsung phones have very versatile camera setups, with budget options offering at least three rear cameras, including a primary (wide), macro and ultrawide. Telephotos are making their way into Samsung's budget space. With iPhones, you're stuck with a wide and an ultrawide, unless you're willing to make the big leap for a Pro model.

In terms of pure power, there is one clear winner in the camera field: Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra. The megapixels on both the front and back, combined with depth control, were enough for us to declare this the bestbest phone camera availablethat we have tested so far. It has a quad-camera system, including a stunning 200MP shooter, along with a 10MP periscope camera, a 10MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens. We expect the Galaxy S24 Ultra to push this threshold even further with its improved zoom lens and additional AI capabilities.

If that's the case, Apple's latest high-end model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, is an admirable runner-up. You get a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide angle and a 5x telephoto, combined with Apple's usual sensor and processing guide that allows the company to beat the paper specs. In fact, most true professionals would probably prefer to shoot video on a Pro Max to take advantage of things like ProRes files, log recording, and support for the Academy Color Encoding System, even though they may need custom lenses.

Screen

Robert Triggs / Android authority

In terms of display, Apple and Samsung's flagships have sharp HDR displays with similar maximum brightness values, although Apple wins by a margin over the iPhone 15 series. If you look at budget models, Samsung tends to win. Even cheaper Galaxy A-series phones have decent-sized AMOLED panels, while Apple's iPhone SE is frozen in time with a 4.7-inch LCD screen that can never go completely black.

Samsung relies on Gorilla Glass protection for most of its phones, the strength of which usually exceeds the device's price tag, with Victus being the strongest material. Apple has usedCeramic shielda new type of glass developed by Corning, the same company behind Gorilla Glass, for its phones since the iPhone 12 series. Every non-SE iPhone gets the same Ceramic Shield protection regardless of price, which is generally good, although you'll still need to buy a case to prevent cracking.

The biggest difference between the two companies in terms of screen specs is Samsung's commitment to fasterrefresh rates. As mentioned, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus still have 60Hz panels, while cheaper Galaxy phones reach 120Hz. If you want ultra-smooth motion on an iPhone, pay for a Pro. Ditto if you want always-on display technology, which is very common in the Android world.

Bacteria

Dhruv Bhutani / Android-autoriteit

Based on our testing, Samsung batteries typically last longer than iPhones, sometimes well over a day, which is what you'd expect based on the specs. Several Samsung devices have battery packs of 5,000 mAh, while even the iPhone 15 Pro Max excels with 4,441. Apple is doing its best to optimize energy consumption, but it can only go so far. Neither company releases anything that lasts longer than two days, although longer life is a common public demand.

Samsung often triumphs when it comes to charging speeds, at least on high-end models. The S24 Ultra supports 45W wired charging, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max can't do better than 27W. Even the older S23 reaches 25W, compared to the iPhone 15's 20W (or less).

S24 models also offer faster Qi charging at 15W, double what iPhones normally do. Apple users can achieve these speeds while using itMagSafe, and the iPhone 15 series is up for grabsQi2, which is actually based on Apple technology.

Reverse wireless charging is available on a number of Samsung phones, while the iPhone 15s only offers reverse wired charging. In both cases, the technology is limited to 4.5W, so don't expect to charge your AirPods or Galaxy Watch quickly.

iPhone vs. Samsung: Software and Ecosystem

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Her classAndroid Authority, we can't help but be a little biased towards Google's operating system. Android is an open platform that offers more choice, versatility and customization, to name a few benefits. From SamsungA user interfaceadds a lot of bloatware on top of stock Android, making it easy to get lost in all the icons, endless settings, and pre-installed apps you'll probably never use. On the other hand, it allows even more customization options with exclusive apps like GoodLock.

There are a few things even we admitiOS does better. For starters, iOS tends to be a simpler, smoother experience. This is partly due to Apple's highly optimized hardware, but the user interface is an example of the adage 'less is more'. There are no app drawers to hide things and the controls are often more intuitive.

Samsung typically offers four OS updates and five years of security updates for many of its models, while Apple offers an average of six OS updates.

In terms of software support, Samsung offers up to four OS updates and five years of security updates for many of its models, including the older Galaxy S series, Z series andselect A-series devices. Previous devices such as the Galaxy S20 and Note series received three years of OS updates and four years of security updates. From the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung's flagships now receive software updates for seven years: patches and full Android versions.

By comparison, Apple offers an average of up to six OS updates. iPhone owners can also download these as soon as they launch, while Samsung will have to get an Android update from Google, optimize it for specific products and then see it. The process can take months.

Robert Triggs / Android authority

Because iOS is Apple's proprietary software, it gives the company more control over the end-user experience. This means better memory management, software integration and user security. The downside is that this puts users in Apple's walled garden, unlike Android, which is open source. You can only get iPhone apps from the Apple App Store unless you are a hacker or developer, and some features are reserved for Apple apps, accessories and services, evenGarminThe most expensive fitness watches can't be used to reply to iPhone messages like an Apple Watch can.

iOS is simpler and more flexible to use, but the complexity of One UI allows for much more customization.

Many apps are available on both operating systems. There's higher volume on the Android side, but iPhone apps tend to be higher quality because Apple has a strict testing system and developers know they're more likely to make money. You have to be doing pretty well financially to be able to afford an iPhone 15 Pro.

We'll talk more about specific features here, but Apple, Samsung, and Google are in a constant arms race, so things that were once a benefit to Apple's ecosystem could quickly become available to Samsung users, and vice versa. SmartThings Find, for example, is Samsung's version of Apple's Find My, and a growth of audio products (including Apple-madeBeats Studio Buds Plus) supports Google's Fast Pair and Audio Switch.

iPhone vs Samsung: Value for Money

Adam Molina / Android Authority

Ultimately, the value you get from a phone depends on what you're looking for and how you want to use it. While Samsung sometimes has better raw specs, most consumers should be happy with an iPhone 15 or S24, and even the companies' cheaper models should work well for everyday use. Anyone who gets an iPhone 14 or S23 as their first smartphone will probably be happy.

With Samsung you generally get better hardware and specs for the price, but the phones can depreciate faster than an iPhone.

That said, Android phones tend to depreciate more quickly. Samsung holds its value better than some competitors, but you'll typically get a higher trade-in value for an iPhone when it's time to upgrade. Plus, you can usually sell them for more and faster, given how popular Apple products are.

On the other hand, iPhones are more expensive to repair than Samsung devices. Apple Stores are known for charging high fees, especially since only Apple and authorized repair shops have the tools to open and repair iPhones. There is a self-repair service, but it requires skills that most people would rather pay someone for. Conversely, you can usually take Samsung phones to a trusted technician for repair, and their latest iFixit program looks like a promising, efficient repair solution.

iPhone vs Samsung: Data Security and Privacy

Robert Triggs / Android authority

iPhone versus Samsung: how to win?

Robert Triggs / Android authority

Which brand is the best? If you expected this article to settle the iOS vs. Android debate forever, sorry. This question is asked annually; the answer remains the same: it depends. Apple and Samsung phones are some of the best in the industry, but what's best for you depends on what you want to use the phone for, what ecosystem you want to be part of, and what operating system you prefer.

By highlighting all the pros and cons of iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices, we hope you have enough information to decide which side best suits your needs. For the most part, Samsung Galaxy phones have better cameras, battery life, and display technology for the money than the iPhone offers. Nevertheless, a Samsung phone can depreciate more quickly, and Apple's optimization counts for a lot.

Samsung phones have better cameras, battery life and screen technology for the price, but iPhones have better software support, security and a proven ecosystem.

iPhones also tend to offer better security, more frequent updates, and a more integrated ecosystem, although Samsung is quickly catching up. Of course, this all comes at the expense of staying within Apple's own universe. If you want to customize your phone to look exactly the way you want and have all the options of where to buy apps, Samsung is the way to go. And if you're shopping on a budget, Samsung has some great options in the mid-to-low range, while most iPhones will cost you a pretty penny, even if they're two or three years old.

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