Two of the strongest refurbished flagships The Tech Gadgets sells sit right next to each other in price, and both get asked about constantly: the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Both are titanium-framed, both are refurbished and unlocked, and both are genuinely current flagship hardware rather than an ageing model dressed up as a bargain. The decision between them mostly comes down to ecosystem (iOS vs Android), stylus support, and how you use zoom — not raw capability, since both are excellent phones. This guide compares them spec for spec, using each phone's own product listing at The Tech Gadgets, so you can decide with real numbers rather than marketing language.
See it in action: titanium build, A18 Pro, 48MP main camera — see today's refurbished iPhone 16 Pro Max price on the product page.
Titanium build, S Pen included, Galaxy AI and a longer zoom camera system — see today's refurbished Galaxy S24 Ultra price on the product page.
Quick Verdict
If you're already invested in Apple's ecosystem — Mac, iPad, AirPods, iMessage — or you specifically want iOS, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the obvious choice and there's little reason to switch platforms just for this comparison. If you're Android-based, or you want the S Pen, a longer effective zoom range, and a lower entry price for broadly comparable flagship hardware, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the stronger refurbished buy. Neither phone is a compromise pick; this is a genuine ecosystem-and-preference decision rather than one phone being objectively better than the other.
Display
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the larger screen on paper: Apple specifies a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion adaptive refresh up to 120Hz. The Galaxy S24 Ultra runs a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, also adaptive up to 120Hz, with Samsung's Gorilla Armor glass, which Samsung markets as more scratch-resistant and better at cutting glare in bright sunlight than standard Gorilla Glass. Both are genuinely excellent, class-leading OLED panels — the 0.1-inch size difference is not something most buyers will notice day to day, and neither manufacturer's display technology is meaningfully behind the other's here.
Camera: where the real difference is
This is the section worth reading closely, because the two phones take different approaches rather than one simply outperforming the other across the board.
Apple specifies a triple rear system on the iPhone 16 Pro Max: a 48MP Fusion main camera, a 48MP Ultra Wide, and a 12MP 5x telephoto (tetraprism) lens, plus a 12MP TrueDepth front camera. Samsung specifies a quad rear system on the Galaxy S24 Ultra: a 200MP wide main camera, a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultra-wide, plus a 12MP front camera.
Both phones offer the same 5x optical multiplier on their primary telephoto lens, but the S24 Ultra's periscope sensor is much higher resolution (50MP versus the iPhone's 12MP), which gives it more cropping headroom for hybrid zoom beyond 5x, and its 200MP main sensor offers more detail and cropping flexibility in good light than the iPhone's 48MP main sensor. The S24 Ultra also has a second, dedicated 3x telephoto that the iPhone doesn't have an equivalent for — the iPhone relies on its single 5x tetraprism lens plus digital crop for anything between 1x and 5x. If you photograph distant subjects often — wildlife, sports, stage or concert shots — the S24 Ultra's camera system gives you more reach and more resolution to crop into.
Apple's advantage is consistency and video: Apple's computational pipeline (Photographic Styles, Smart HDR, ProRes and Dolby Vision HDR video) is widely regarded as producing very consistent, true-to-life results with minimal user adjustment, and iPhones have a long-standing reputation specifically for video capture quality. Samsung's camera output tends to be more configurable and can be tuned more aggressively (sharpening, colour saturation) depending on personal taste. Neither is objectively "better" here — it's a genuine style and workflow preference, but the S24 Ultra has the clearer numerical zoom advantage.
Performance and chipset
The iPhone 16 Pro Max runs Apple's A18 Pro chip. The Galaxy S24 Ultra runs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, a variant tuned specifically for Samsung's flagship line. Both chips are top-tier, current-generation silicon at the time of the phones' original launch, and both comfortably handle everyday use, multitasking and demanding games without compromise. Neither phone will feel like the slower option in this comparison — the practical difference between them shows up more in software behaviour (iOS vs One UI) than in raw speed for typical use.
Battery and charging
Apple specifies up to 33 hours of video playback for the iPhone 16 Pro Max — among the longest battery life Apple has quoted for any iPhone — with charging over USB-C and support for MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging. Samsung specifies a 5,000mAh battery for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, with 45W wired charging plus wireless and reverse wireless charging (useful for topping up earbuds or a smartwatch from the phone itself, a feature the iPhone doesn't offer). Apple doesn't publish a raw mAh figure for comparison, so battery capacity itself isn't directly comparable between the two — what we can compare is charging flexibility, and the S24 Ultra's reverse wireless charging is a genuine functional difference the iPhone lacks.
Build quality and durability
Both phones use a titanium frame — Apple's Ceramic Shield front glass on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and Samsung's Gorilla Armor glass on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Both are rated IP68 for dust and water resistance: Apple specifies IP68 up to 6 metres for 30 minutes for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, while Samsung specifies IP68 up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes for the Galaxy S24 Ultra — a real difference in depth rating on paper, though both figures describe controlled test conditions rather than a guarantee for real-world submersion, and this is the manufacturer's original new-device specification rather than something re-verified on refurbished stock by The Tech Gadgets for either phone. Treat both as "rated as new, not re-tested" rather than assuming full protection on a used unit.
Software, AI features and update support
The iPhone 16 Pro Max meets and exceeds Apple's minimum hardware requirement for Apple Intelligence, Apple's on-device and cloud AI feature set, and ships with the full range of Apple Intelligence features as they roll out. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was Samsung's launch device for Galaxy AI, and gets the complete Galaxy AI feature set as standard, including Circle to Search and live translation.
On long-term software support: Samsung committed to 7 years of OS and security updates for the S24 series, putting its supported life out to roughly 2031. Apple doesn't publish a fixed number of years upfront, but iPhones have historically received major iOS updates for around 5-plus years after launch, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, having launched in September 2024, is well inside that window with several years of updates still realistically ahead of it. Both phones are safe long-term software bets — neither is close to end-of-support.
The S Pen: a genuine functional difference, not a gimmick
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a built-in S Pen stylus, stored in a silo inside the phone's chassis — confirmed on The Tech Gadgets' own listing. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has no equivalent; Apple doesn't offer stylus input on any iPhone. If you take handwritten notes, sketch, or want precise on-screen annotation without buying a separate accessory, this is a real, unreproducible functional advantage for the S24 Ultra, not a marketing footnote.
Storage options
The Tech Gadgets currently lists the iPhone 16 Pro Max in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB configurations, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB. If you specifically need 2TB of storage, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the only one of the two that offers it.
Price comparison at The Tech Gadgets
Prices at The Tech Gadgets vary by storage size and condition grade: Like New costs the most, then Excellent, then Very Good, and Fair is the cheapest. Check the variant selector on each product page for today's price before choosing a storage tier — always check the live price for your exact configuration rather than assuming a pattern.
At their respective entry prices, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is meaningfully cheaper than the iPhone 16 Pro Max for broadly comparable flagship-tier hardware. That price gap is one of the more concrete, non-subjective reasons to lean Samsung if ecosystem doesn't already have you locked into iOS.
Full comparison table
| Spec | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9" Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion up to 120Hz | 6.8" QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, up to 120Hz, Gorilla Armor |
| Chipset | A18 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| Rear camera | 48MP Fusion + 48MP Ultra Wide + 12MP 5x telephoto | 200MP wide + 50MP 5x periscope tele + 10MP 3x tele + 12MP ultra-wide |
| Stylus | Not available | Built-in S Pen |
| Battery / charging | Up to 33h video playback; USB-C; MagSafe/Qi2 wireless | 5,000mAh; 45W wired; wireless + reverse wireless |
| Water resistance | IP68, 6m / 30 min (as new) | IP68, 1.5m / 30 min (as new) |
| AI features | Apple Intelligence | Galaxy AI (full feature set) |
| Software support | Historically 5+ years of major iOS updates | 7 years OS + security updates (to ~2031) |
| Storage options | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Price (The Tech Gadgets) | See today's price | See today's price |
| Warranty / returns | 12 months, 30-day returns | 12 months, 30-day returns |
| Product link | View iPhone 16 Pro Max | View Galaxy S24 Ultra |
See it in action: the Galaxy S24 Ultra refurbished, with S Pen included and a longer effective zoom.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max refurbished, for buyers staying inside Apple's ecosystem.
Who should buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Choose the iPhone 16 Pro Max if you're already using a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch or AirPods and want the seamless handoff and iMessage/FaceTime integration that comes with staying on iOS, if you specifically value Apple's video recording quality and colour consistency, or if you want the largest storage option available (2TB) between the two phones.
Who should buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra
Choose the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you're Android-based or have no existing ecosystem lock-in, if you want the S Pen for notes or sketching, if long-distance zoom photography matters to you, if reverse wireless charging for earbuds or a watch is useful to your routine, or if you want comparable flagship hardware at a meaningfully lower refurbished price.
Who should look elsewhere
If your absolute priority is the lowest possible price on a refurbished flagship-tier phone, both of these sit at the upper end of what The Tech Gadgets stocks — our Best Refurbished Samsung Phones to Buy in the UK in 2026 guide and our Best Refurbished iPhone to Buy in 2026 guide both cover lower-cost alternatives from each brand if budget is the deciding factor rather than having the newest hardware.
Buying checklist
- Decide on ecosystem first — iOS versus Android is a bigger practical factor day to day than any single spec in this comparison.
- If stylus input matters to you, that decides it: only the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a built-in S Pen.
- Check current live pricing for your chosen storage tier on both listings — don't assume more storage always follows a fixed price pattern.
- If you need 2TB of storage, only the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers it.
- Confirm your preferred condition grade and colour are in stock before ordering — availability varies by configuration on both listings.
- Remember both phones' 12-month warranty excludes battery, physical and water damage — factor a case into your budget regardless of which you choose.
- Treat both phones' IP68 depth ratings as the original manufacturer specification, not independently re-verified on the refurbished unit you receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Neither is objectively better — it depends on ecosystem and priorities. The iPhone 16 Pro Max suits buyers already inside Apple's ecosystem or who prioritise video quality. The Galaxy S24 Ultra suits Android users, S Pen users, and anyone who wants a longer effective zoom camera or a lower entry price.
Which has the better camera?
It depends what you shoot. Both offer a 5x optical telephoto, but the S24 Ultra's 50MP periscope sensor and 200MP main camera give it more resolution and cropping headroom for zoom shots, plus a dedicated second 3x telephoto lens the iPhone doesn't have an equivalent for. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is widely regarded as more consistent for video and general point-and-shoot colour accuracy.
Does the iPhone 16 Pro Max have a stylus like the S Pen?
No. Apple doesn't offer stylus input on any iPhone. The S Pen is exclusive to the Galaxy S24 Ultra in this comparison.
Which phone is cheaper refurbished?
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, meaningfully so — it has the lower entry price of the two at The Tech Gadgets; check today's price for each on the product pages.
Which phone will get software updates for longer?
Samsung has explicitly committed to 7 years of OS and security updates for the Galaxy S24 series (to roughly 2031). Apple doesn't publish a fixed number of years upfront, but iPhones have historically received major iOS updates for 5-plus years after launch — both are safe long-term bets.
Do both phones support Apple Intelligence or Galaxy AI?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max meets Apple's requirements for the full Apple Intelligence feature set. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was Samsung's Galaxy AI launch device and gets the complete Galaxy AI feature set as standard.
Are both phones water resistant?
Both are rated IP68 as new devices. Apple specifies up to 6 metres for 30 minutes for the iPhone 16 Pro Max; Samsung specifies up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Neither rating has been independently re-verified on the specific refurbished unit you'd receive.
What storage sizes are available?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB at The Tech Gadgets. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.
Do both come with a warranty?
Yes — both carry The Tech Gadgets' standard 12-month warranty covering manufacturing defects and functional faults (excluding battery, physical and water damage), plus a 30-day return window from delivery.
Which phone charges faster or has better battery life?
Apple specifies up to 33 hours of video playback for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Samsung specifies a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, plus wireless and reverse wireless charging, which the iPhone doesn't offer. Apple doesn't publish a raw battery capacity figure, so direct capacity comparison isn't possible — charging flexibility is where the S24 Ultra has a clear, comparable edge.
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