iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Apple's latest Pro against Samsung's reigning Ultra — compared for South African buyers. ZAR prices, battery life, camera performance, trade-in value and local warranty, in plain language.
Quick Verdict
Buy the iPhone 16 Pro if…
- You shoot a lot of video — best-in-class stabilisation
- You already own a Mac, iPad or Apple Watch
- You want a smaller, lighter phone (199 g)
- MagSafe accessories matter to you
- Resale value in 2–3 years is a priority
Buy the S24 Ultra if…
- You want the longest battery life
- Zoom range matters — safari, sports, wildlife
- The S Pen is useful for notes or sketches
- You want a bigger, brighter display (6.8")
- You'd rather spend R2,000+ less out of pocket
South African Pricing (ZAR)
Averages from major SA retailers, including Nextech Gadgets. Trade-in column shows your effective spend after handing in a recent flagship in good condition.
| Model | Storage | Retail Price | Trade-in From |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Pro | 128 GB | R26,999 | R19,999 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 256 GB | R29,499 | R22,499 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 512 GB | R33,999 | R26,499 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 256 GB | R24,999 | R17,499 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 512 GB | R27,499 | R19,999 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 1 TB | R31,999 | R24,499 |
* Trade-in estimates assume an iPhone 13 Pro or Galaxy S22 Ultra in good working condition. Final value depends on inspection.
Detailed Specs
| Feature | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S24 Ultra | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3" Super Retina XDR, 120 Hz, 2000 nits | 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120 Hz, 2600 nits | |
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | |
| Storage | 128 GB – 1 TB | 256 GB – 1 TB | — |
| Main Camera | 48 MP f/1.78 OIS | 200 MP f/1.7 OIS | |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 5x optical | 50 MP 5x + 10 MP 3x optical | |
| Ultra-wide | 48 MP f/2.2 | 12 MP f/2.2 | |
| Front Camera | 12 MP f/1.9 | 12 MP f/2.2 | |
| Battery | 3,582 mAh | 5,000 mAh | |
| Wired Charging | 27W | 45W | |
| Wireless Charging | 25W MagSafe | 15W Qi | |
| Weight | 199 g | 232 g | |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | IP68 (1.5 m, 30 min) | |
| S Pen | None | Built-in | |
| Software Updates | ~6 years iOS | 7 years One UI | — |
Battery Life in Real-World SA Use
Battery is where the S24 Ultra pulls clearly ahead. Its 5,000 mAh cell comfortably handles a full day of navigation, streaming and camera use — useful on a Joburg-to- Magaliesberg day trip or a long weekend in the Drakensberg without a power bank. Expect 7–8 hours of screen-on time in typical mixed use.
The iPhone 16 Pro's smaller 3,582 mAh battery still lasts a day for most users thanks to the efficient A18 Pro chip, but heavy camera and 5G use will see it hunting for a charger by early evening. The 27W wired top-up is slower than Samsung's 45W; MagSafe at 25W is convenient but not faster.
Camera for South African Conditions
iPhone 16 Pro
Apple's strength is consistency — natural skin tones, accurate white balance in tough Highveld sunlight, and the smoothest 4K video stabilisation you can buy. If you're filming family events, weddings or YouTube content, the iPhone is hard to beat. The new 48 MP ultra-wide is a real step up for landscapes.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The 200 MP main sensor and dual telephoto (3x + 5x optical, up to 100x Space Zoom) make the S24 Ultra the clear winner for safari, wildlife and stadium sports. Night shots of Joburg or the Cape Town waterfront are crisp, and the camera UI gives you far more manual control if you want it.
Verdict: S24 Ultra for stills and zoom, iPhone 16 Pro for video.
Buy in Fourways with confidence
Both phones in stock at Nextech Gadgets, Dainfern Square. Trade-in your old phone for instant credit, get a 90-day in-house warranty, and same-day repairs if anything goes wrong.