iPhone 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S24

Camera quality is the most heavily weighted criterion because the camera is the feature most people use every day on their smartphone. This comparison considers photo quality, video recording, low-light performance and zoom versatility.

The iPhone 15 scores 9/10. Its 48MP main sensor captures excellent detail with natural colour reproduction that requires minimal editing. Where the iPhone truly separates itself is video recording. Cinematic Mode creates professional-looking depth-of-field effects in real time, Action Mode provides stabilisation that rivals dedicated gimbals and the overall video pipeline produces smoother, more colour-accurate footage than any Android phone in this price bracket. Low-light photography is also strong, with Apple's Deep Fusion processing retaining detail without over-sharpening.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 scores 8/10. Its 50MP main sensor captures slightly more detail in still photos than the iPhone, particularly in well-lit conditions. The 3x optical telephoto lens is a meaningful advantage over the iPhone's 2x zoom, producing noticeably sharper images at distance. Samsung's AI-powered photo editing tools, including Generative Edit and Object Eraser, add post-capture versatility. Video recording is very good but does not match the iPhone's consistency in colour science and stabilisation.

Performance is rated critical because processing power directly affects how responsive the phone feels during daily use and how long it remains capable as apps become more demanding.

Both phones score 9/10. The iPhone 15's A16 Bionic and the Galaxy S24's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 are both exceptional processors. In single-core tasks, which affect everyday app responsiveness, the A16 Bionic holds a slight edge. In multi-core and GPU-intensive workloads, such as gaming and video rendering, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is marginally faster. In practical daily use, neither phone feels slow or struggles with any current app or game.

The key differentiator is thermal management. During extended gaming sessions or prolonged video recording, the iPhone 15 maintains its performance level more consistently. The Galaxy S24 occasionally throttles under sustained heavy load, though this is a minor issue that most users will never encounter in typical use.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 scores 8/10 for battery life, edging ahead of the iPhone 15's 7/10. The Galaxy S24 has a larger 4,000 mAh battery compared to the iPhone's 3,349 mAh cell, and its more efficient 120Hz LTPO display can drop to lower refresh rates when static content is displayed.

In real-world use, the Galaxy S24 typically delivers 11 to 13 hours of screen-on time, while the iPhone 15 manages 10 to 12 hours. Both phones last a full day for most users, but the Samsung provides a more comfortable margin for heavy users. Charging speeds are similar, with the Galaxy S24 supporting 25W wired charging and the iPhone 15 supporting 20W wired charging. Both support wireless charging.

The iPhone 15 scores 9/10 for software ecosystem. iOS updates arrive simultaneously worldwide, with Apple typically supporting iPhones for six or more years of major OS updates. The App Store maintains strict quality standards, and Apple's ecosystem of devices (AirPods, Apple Watch, Mac, iPad) communicates seamlessly through features like Handoff, AirDrop and Universal Clipboard.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 scores 8/10. Samsung now promises seven years of OS and security updates, which matches or exceeds Apple's commitment on paper. Galaxy AI brings powerful on-device features including real-time call translation, Circle to Search and AI-generated photo edits. However, Android updates still depend on carrier schedules in some markets, and the Google Play Store's quality control is less consistent than Apple's App Store. Samsung's own device ecosystem has improved significantly but does not yet match Apple's integration depth.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 scores 9/10 for display quality, leading the iPhone 15's 7/10 in this category. Samsung's 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel runs at 120Hz with adaptive refresh rate, producing noticeably smoother scrolling, animations and gaming. Peak brightness reaches approximately 2,600 nits, making the screen clearly legible in direct sunlight.

The iPhone 15's 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display is sharp and colour-accurate but is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate on the standard model. Once you have used a 120Hz display, the difference is immediately apparent when scrolling web pages or social media feeds. The iPhone's peak brightness of approximately 2,000 nits is excellent but lower than the Samsung's. This is the single largest area where the Galaxy S24 clearly surpasses the iPhone 15.

Both phones score 8/10 for value. They launched at identical price points of £699 and have seen similar reductions since launch. The iPhone 15 holds an advantage in total cost of ownership due to its higher resale value. After two years, iPhones typically retain 50 to 60% of their original value, while Samsung devices retain 35 to 45%.

The Galaxy S24 counters with more included features at the same price: a 120Hz display, 3x optical zoom and Galaxy AI tools that the iPhone only matches at the Pro tier. If you plan to keep your phone for its full lifespan rather than selling it, the Samsung arguably offers more hardware for the money.