For the people that have used the Samsung S24 Ultra phone and among the newest iPhones. I have a question for you

[Fusionjunkie]

My question for you is which one do you prefer and why? I know it's a loaded question. I'm currently on the fence on which phone to buy next.

Right now I own an iPhone 13 Pro.
I'm not deep into the Apple ecosystem either. I have a Windows 11 laptop. I plan on buying an iMac in the future and in the very near future the newest Apple TV 4k device. Whenever it gets announced. I plan on keeping my Windows 11 laptop for a long time by the way.
I like to use all the major tech platforms.

I just want to pick a phone that will make my personal life and work life easier. Also a phone that is very fast. Currently waiting on what Samsung will put in the S25 Ultra phone.

I am also a gig worker. Primarily do DoorDash and Instacart. Also thinking about doing Lyft. Just doing this to pay off my federal student loans and smaller debts.

One thing that really annoys me with my current phone is when I'm dropping off a DoorDash food delivery. The built in maps direction in the DoorDash driver app (which uses Google Maps) tells me I have arrived at my location but the actual customer's house is 5 houses away. This is especially annoying at night. I know the newer flagship phones have better modems with better GPS accuracy.
The houses are not new developments either. This has happened at very old neighborhoods.

Just looking for any good feedback that will help me pick my next phone. Thank you.

 

[lostPod]

If you don’t care about iMessage, I would go with the Samsung.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

I moved to Android from the Iphone Pro Max because I wanted my navigation system to work on the car again. If Car Play still worked (or Honda got their **** together and actually gave me a fix), I would have stayed with the Iphone 15, especially with Apple Intelligence coming. The Ultra is a nice phone and I really enjoy it, but I feel like IOS and the Apple ecosystem is just simpler.

 

[NvidiaIntelPC]

I’ll be honest, I do prefer the S24 Ultra’s design, and especially the amazing S-Pen feature, over the iPhone Pro Max. The only reason I haven’t switched is because of my Apple Watch Ultra (there’s just no comparison between the Galaxy Watch or any other smartwatch and the Apple Watch Ultra) and my reliance on the Notes app between my MacBook and iPhone. I know there are alternatives like OneNote etc that sync with both Mac and Android, but they all suck in my opinion. I’ve switched multiple times over the past years and always end up back with the iPhone after a few months.and by the way I don't use iMesseages at all..

 

[zakarhino]

If you don't mind Android and you're not into the Apple ecosystem I think the S24 Ultra is the better choice and this is coming from a 16 Pro Max user that doesn't like Android too much. The S24 Ultra is the better hardware in two key areas: screen and battery, in particular the screen's anti reflective coating is incredible and will be useful if you're out in the sun a lot. The battery seems to be better than the 16 Pro Max despite Apple's claims around better battery. Cameras between the Samsung and iPhone are within throwing distance depending on the scenario so it's really just personal preference. iOS beats Android on software hands down if you're not part of the 1% that use some of the niche apps on Android. iOS has consistent beautiful design language across the whole OS, everything is scaled right and everything looks like it shares the same core DNA. Android fails at this, if you don't care about that then Android has some nice AI and Google features via Samsung-Google partnership. S pen is not that useful for me personally.

So yeah, this Apple user says Samsung. If you're waiting for the S25 Ultra in a few months it should have even better battery life because of the new Snapdragon chip.

 

[danb1979]

I had the S24U, came from the 15PM (now on a 16PM with a Pixel 9 Pro Fold in between)

For me I want to stick with iOS as everything I have is Apple; plus I have an AWU2 - so in that sense I've no choice. I ran my S24U with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which again I thought was a superb watch; but it's not on par with the AWU

But the S24U was/is a superb phone; but that's if you're ok with One UI and IMO, the cameras weren't all that... My wife's Pixel 8 Pro took better pictures IMO, as did my 15PM - but then again that could be the software

Personally I'd go 15 Pro/Pro Max or 16 Pro/Pro Max, if you can find one. Or consider the Pixel 9 Pro for sure

 

[Shanghaichica]

I have 15 pro Max and the S24 ultra, I'm heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem and I've been a long time iPhone user so I would be lying if I didn't lean towards the iPhone. I will admit my bias. However, I think objectively, if I were to ignore the ecosystem and familiarity, the S24 is the better phone objectively. The screen is better, it is more customisable and has other features such as the s-pen, Dex and spilt screen apps which the iPhone just doesn't have.The file system is so much better on the S24 ultra and notifications and managed better too. So if you aren't invested in the Apple ecosystem and you're open to either then I would go for the S24 ultra as it's better bang for your buck.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

My question for you is which one do you prefer and why? I know it's a loaded question. I'm currently on the fence on which phone to buy next.

Right now I own an iPhone 13 Pro.
I'm not deep into the Apple ecosystem either. I have a Windows 11 laptop. I plan on buying an iMac in the future and in the very near future the newest Apple TV 4k device. Whenever it gets announced. I plan on keeping my Windows 11 laptop for a long time by the way.
I like to use all the major tech platforms.

I just want to pick a phone that will make my personal life and work life easier. Also a phone that is very fast. Currently waiting on what Samsung will put in the S25 Ultra phone.

I am also a gig worker. Primarily do DoorDash and Instacart. Also thinking about doing Lyft. Just doing this to pay off my federal student loans and smaller debts.

One thing that really annoys me with my current phone is when I'm dropping off a DoorDash food delivery. The built in maps direction in the DoorDash driver app (which uses Google Maps) tells me I have arrived at my location but the actual customer's house is 5 houses away. This is especially annoying at night. I know the newer flagship phones have better modems with better GPS accuracy.
The houses are not new developments either. This has happened at very old neighborhoods.

Just looking for any good feedback that will help me pick my next phone. Thank you.

Sounds like Split screen would really help you out. Split your choice of navigation and Doordash.

BTW .. I stopped using Google Maps cause of that same annoyance. I pretty much use Waze most of the time.

 

[MarkX]

I've been between IOS and android for years, probably an equal time between them both. Have literally had all the top end phones from Samsung and Apple. From a phone stand point they both do things equally well and can't say one is better than the other, but a must have for me is an equally good watch and Samsung watches are not even close! As a runner the Samsung Watch ultra isn't very good, not the best GPS accuracy, heart rate monitoring was very erratic and with no ability to connect A HRM without an app it didn't stay long.

Alas my journey is now over, I'm sticking with an iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra 2 Combo. I find that they fit best for me and work flawlessly.

Be happy with whatever you choose, you can't really go wrong.

 

[Fusionjunkie]

Sounds like Split screen would really help you out. Split your choice of navigation and Doordash.

BTW .. I stopped using Google Maps cause of that same annoyance. I pretty much use Waze most of the time.

Thank you for responding to my post. I did not know Waze was more accurate. I will have to try Waze out and see if it's more accurate in my area. I agree with you. I wish iPhones had a split screen option.

 

[dk001]

Using the 15 ProMax - Work
Using the S24 Ultra - Main
Testing the Pixel 9 Pro and 9Pro Fold.

For a device that does pretty much everything and does it well, the S24U is the winner for me. Dependable, consistent, and does whatever I need. It just works.

The only reason I use an iPhone for work is the company apps work better on an iPhone.

That said, in the future I will go with a foldable. They are damn convenient. What stops me at the moment are the apps. Very few apps are designed to take advantage or leverage the inner screen.

For now, I suggest the S24 Ultra.

 

[h.gilbert]

Even though I use a mac I still have a Samsung. What your question mostly comes down to is android vs iOS. Apart from the accuracy of the GPS that is.

For productivity and flexibility there's a lot in android/samsung that makes iOS feel lacking whenever I use an iPhone.

Big things I think will help for you is having a quick access edge panel with whatever apps you want. Also being able to use apps in floating pop up window mode is great. Another big thing is split screen coupled with Samsung allowing you to shrink the contents of apps in this mode making it much more usable on a small device. Best thing to do it go on YT and see these features being used.

Specific to Samsung over pretty much every other android is how much you can change. Like the show more app contents in split screen mentioned above. There's too much to list. A lot of this is done via modules in Samsungs Good Lock app.

I think overall an S24U would be the better choice for you.

On top of that is other general android advantages like downloading apps from outside official stores. Free ad-free youtube, reddit, twitter, Spotify etc all easy to do.

 

[Technerd108]

I am going to be brutally honest.

Get another iPhone. Unless you are NOT ever going to buy another Mac and are staying in Windows ecosystem.

I have tried both ecosystems going so far as to have a Samsung GalaxyBook 4 Pro 360, Samsung s24u, S9 tablet. The ecosystem sucks. It works and even has some features Apple doesn't. The problem is the ecosystem feels clunky and disorganized. You generally have to configure your devices in order to get the full connectivity while with Apple devices everything automatically works.

Certain key features like iMessage, and FaceTime and other features Apple has in connectivity that are superior to alternatives. Google messages is fine in Android ecosystem.

My point is that if you have an iPhone with a Mac or iPad and may get another Mac then you should continue to use an iPhone. If you compare specs the s24u is a better phone if you only consider hardware and even Android might be superior to iOS BUT will it improve your work flow or impede it.

If you buy a iPhone 16 or wait for the se coming out next year the modem, battery life and performance should all be greatly improved.

I have a suggestion. Buy the s24u and don't sell your iPhone. Use the s24u for 10 days and return it. Then evaluate how well it worked in your daily life and work flow. Then once you get your money back buy an iPhone 16 and do the same thing.

Then wait a couple weeks with your iPhone 13 pro Max and see what phone you miss most and why? Then you will know what works best for you.