iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro vs S24 Ultra, which should you buy ?

Introduction

As the role of smartphones in our lives continues to grow flagship devices from companies such as google and apple continue to redefine innovation and even how we interact and think about our personal devices.The 16 Pro Max, the 9 pro and the S24 Ultra are the latest entries into the space each offering a new set of features aiming to create unique experiences for their users. This article pits these 3 devices against each other, helping you decide which one you should spend your hard earned money on.

Design & build quality

Starting off with the Iphone 16 Pro Max which as most people would be quick to mention looks the same as its predecessor. Do not let that fool you though, as it comes improved with a new aerospace grade titanium back and ceramic shield front aimed at improving durability and minimizing the impact of drops. 

Moving on to the Galaxy S24 Ultra which impresses with a brave angular design, aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 3 which makes the device quite durable. Its squared-off edges give it somewhat of a corporate aesthetic and it offers a large canvas which, when combined with it’s stylus makes multitasking and creative tasks more enjoyable. 

The Pixel 9 Pro on the other hand sticks to Google’s minimalist design philosophy that is even evident across their other devices and software products. It comes with a matte finish and curved glass back making it feel quite comfortable in the users hand. It’s horizontal camera bar is a defining feature giving it a unique identity making it easily distinguishable from its android counter parts. 

Display

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro comes with a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED with an adaptive refresh rate that can sit as low as 10Hz and goes all the way upto 120Hz prioritizing power efficiency and vibrant colors. 

The Iphone 16 Pro Max features a stunning 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion technology designed to make screens look smoother and more responsive. It also comes with a peak brightness of 2500 nits making the screen easily readable even outdoors. 

The S24 Ultra unsuprisingly takes the lead in size with a massive 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display boasting a resolution of 3200 x 1440 and a peak brightness of 2800 nits making it the most suitable for media consumption. 

Performance

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 which delivers excellent flagship-level performance with great multitasking capabilities and gaming prowess if you’re into that kind of thing.

The Pixel 9 Pro on the other hand houses Google’s own Tensor G3 chipset, which is optimized for AI tasks such as live language translation, enhanced image processing and many more. 

Last but not least is the A18 Bionic chip in the iPhone which offers unmatched efficiency and speed thanks to apples excellent optimization. It easily performs tasks such as gaming, video editing and even AI processing without breaking much of a sweat. 

Camera Systems

Similar to the 15 Pro Max, the 16 Pro Max boasts a triple-camera setup, which includes a 12MP ultrawide, a 48MP main and a periscope telephotot lens allowing users to achieve upto 10x optical zoom. Its ProRAW features not only gives photographers extensive post-processing options but also  allows them to take photos that combine the detail and flexibility of RAW image files thanks to Apple’s advanced image processing

The Pixel 9 Pro emphasizes computational photography with its 50MP primary sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto lens. Fun features like Magic Eraser and Real Tone make it a go-to for AI-enhanced photos and simple but powerful editing tools. 

Samsung’s S24 Ultra pushes boundaries with a quad-camera setup consisiting of a 200MP yes 200MP primary sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and dual telephoto lenses that provide upto 100x zoom which produces amazing photos even for very distant subjects. 

Battery Life &Charging

The Iphone 16 Pro Max offers great allround battery life, thanks to it’s efficient A18 Bionic chip coupled with a 4500mAh battery. It also comes with MagSafe and 35W fast charging. 

The Pixel 9 Pro provides reliable all-day usage with a bigger 5000mAh battery. It’s charging speeds however fall short of the competition as it only supports upto 30W wired fast charging. 

The Galaxy S24 Ultra easily dominates in this category with a 5500mAh battery and impressive 45W fast charging. It’s also worth mentioning that it comes with reverse charging which can be a life saver especially for smart wathces and wireless headphones. 

Software & Ecosystem

The Galaxy S24 Ultra, with One UI 6.0 on top of Android 15, provides a customizable experience and also emphasizes productivity with tools such as the Samsung DeX and S Pen. 

The Pixel emphasizes AI-driven features like live translation and enhanced Google Assistant with Android 15 which comes pre-installed. Its clean UI ensures a bloat-free and simple experience if you are tired of the useless pre installed apps tech companies love to force down our throats. 

The iPhone comes with the simple but reliable iOS 18, which offers  seamless integration across Apple’s devices, a revamp of the tool bar and a promise of a number of AI features through Apple Intelligence. (Which are to be released as updates later on.)

Price & Value

The base model for the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at around UGX 4,900,000 this value of course goes up based on the storage and may vary based on where you buy it ftom.

The S24 Ultra on the other hand is priced at UGX 3,300,000 with higher prices for devices with much larger storage.

The Pixel is priced slightly higher than the Samsung with the base price being around UGX 3,600,000 though variations such as the 9 Pro XL can go as high as UGX 3,900,000 depending on the storage. Obviously buying close to the devices release would lead to higher prices compared to buying towards the end of the device’s lifecycle as new devices are being phased in. So if youre interested in a device but do not quite have the budget it is advisable to wait a little longer until a newer device is released. 

So in conclusion, who should buy which device ? Well to be honset it depends on personal preference. We can mention all the specs and features of each device but at the end of the day everyone is different and which device is best can be quite a divisive argument as they each excel at something different. That being said however we can recommend each device based on the demographic it caters more to. The iPhone with it’s good build quality and simple UI is more suited to proffessionals or people who want a simple UI and smarphone experience without worrying about performance. The S24 Ultra is best suited to pure tech enthusiasts seeking versatility and raw power from their devices. 

The Pixel I would say is good value for money. With its clever AI features and great camera I would recommend the phone to photography lovers and people who spend alot of time on their phones. 

Whatever device you decide to go with, you can rest assured that we can provide it here at gadgetgenesis. We offer great prices and a personalized customer service experience designed to ensure you get the best bang for your buck. Ready to shop ? just click the link below and well sort you out ! 

Still unsure ? Heres a table with each device’s features summarized to make the decision much easier for you.