Riview : Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max

Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. As these tech titans vie for supremacy, users are left to navigate a sea of features, specifications, and design elements to find the perfect companion for your daily lives. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of each device, comparing and contrasting the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Especially if you want to figure out which of the exorbitantly priced phones is best suited for your needs. Before we begin, however, keep in mind that Xiaomi will bring this handset to select global markets starting with Europe and as such, the prices won’t be too generous to your wallet.

With that out of the way, let’s deep dive into our in-depth comparison of three of the greatest flagship phones of 2024.

Design and Build Quality

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra boasts a sleek and minimalist design, featuring an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass on the front and back. Its aesthetic appeal is heightened by the absence of any visible camera bumps, creating a seamless and sophisticated look. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra showcases a blend of glass and metal, with a refined design that includes a slightly curved display and a prominent camera module. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro Max continues Apple's tradition of premium build quality, employing a surgical-grade stainless steel frame and a ceramic back.

Display

In the realm of displays, each contender brings its unique strengths. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, ensuring vibrant colors and smooth animations. Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a slightly larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 1440 x 3200 resolution and an impressive 160Hz refresh rate. Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max, with its Super Retina XDR display, delivers a 6.7-inch screen with ProMotion technology, offering a 120Hz refresh rate for a fluid user experience.

Camera Systems

The camera systems of these flagship smartphones are undoubtedly one of their most critical aspects. Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a quad-camera setup, including a 108MP main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide lens, a 12MP periscope telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom, and a 2MP macro sensor. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra raises the bar with a penta-camera system, comprising a 108MP main sensor, a 48MP periscope telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. iPhone 15 Pro Max, known for its computational photography prowess, integrates a triple-camera system with a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

Performance and Hardware

Being the cream of the crop of Android smartphones, both the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra feature Qualcomm’s latest 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and run the latest version of Android 14 under their skins. Xiaomi also offers its new HyperOS interface with iOS 17-like customisation features and UI elements whereas Samsung’s One UI 6.1 adds a dollop of generative AI features into its vast galaxy (pun intended) of smart features. Samsung also promises an industry-leading software support cycle of seven years. If you love tweaking your phone and want all possible options at your disposal, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is best suited for your needs. However, none of these phones match the sheer magnificence of the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 3nm A17 Pro chipset, which is currently the most technologically advanced mobile chip in the industry. Along with the highly optimised iOS 17, the iPhone 15 Pro Max can not only outperform any other smartphone in terms of synthetic benchmarks but also scores highly on the efficient quotient. The A17 Pro chip also allows it to run console games like Death Stranding and Resident Evil 4 directly on the device.

Battery Life and Charging

In the marathon of daily smartphone use, battery life becomes a crucial factor. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra houses a substantial 5,000mAh battery, complemented by 120W wired fast charging and 80W wireless charging, ensuring quick top-ups. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 5,000mAh battery as well, supporting 45W wired charging and 30W wireless charging. iPhone 15 Pro Max, while Apple doesn't always disclose battery capacities, is expected to offer all-day battery life, complemented by Apple's proprietary fast charging technology.

Software and Ecosystem

The software experience plays a pivotal role in user satisfaction. Xiaomi 14 Ultra runs on MIUI, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra on One UI, and iPhone 15 Pro Max on iOS. Each operating system comes with its unique set of features and design philosophies, catering to different user preferences. The Xiaomi and Samsung devices embrace the Android ecosystem, providing users with a wide range of customization options, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max adheres to Apple's closed ecosystem, known for its seamless integration across Apple devices.

Price

The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,999 for its base variant with 256GB storage and is, therefore, the most expensive of the lot.

The most affordable of the three is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra which comes with a price of $1,299 for its base variant with 256GB storage.

Lastly, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes with a price tag of $1,699 for the sole variant with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. While it costs slightly more than Samsung’s S24 Ultra and misses out on a Titanium frame, it still offers a lot of bang for your buck.