The debate between the iPhone and Galaxy ecosystems continues, and at the heart of this rivalry are two compact yet powerful flagships: the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S24. For users prioritizing pocketability and one-handed use without sacrificing top-tier features, size is a critical factor. This in-depth comparison, drawing on PhoneArena’s expertise in device analysis, delves into the size and design nuances of these two contenders to help you decide which compact champion fits your needs best.
Design and Dimensions: Compactness Redefined
Ergonomics and Portability Showdown
This year’s flagship contenders in a size and design comparison, highlighting their compact form factors.
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 embrace flat, modern design aesthetics, but subtle differences in dimensions and materials significantly impact their feel in hand and overall portability. The iPhone 16 Pro, while maintaining a familiar design language, introduces a titanium build, similar to its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Pro. However, it’s slightly taller and wider, a consequence of Apple’s push to maximize screen real estate by minimizing bezels.
This bezel reduction is a key design achievement, increasing the display size from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches within a remarkably similar physical footprint. This “win-win” scenario provides users with a more immersive viewing experience without drastically increasing the phone’s overall size. Apple also retains the Action Button introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and adds a new Camera Control button. While innovative, the Camera Control button’s placement might feel less ergonomic for some users in both landscape and portrait orientations.
Visual comparison of design elements between iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24, emphasizing shared flat design language.
The Samsung Galaxy S24, in contrast, opts for an aluminum frame and maintains a similarly flat and contemporary design. As Samsung’s most compact flagship, excluding foldable devices like the Galaxy Z Flip series, the S24 prioritizes ultimate portability. Based on leaked dimensions and PhoneArena’s side-by-side comparisons, the Galaxy S24 emerges as the more compact device overall. It is demonstrably thinner, lighter, shorter, and narrower than the iPhone 16 Pro.
The verdict is clear: the Galaxy S24 is the more pocket-friendly and easily handled device. The weight difference is particularly noticeable – a significant 31 grams lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro. This difference translates directly to everyday comfort, especially when carrying your phone in your pocket for extended periods.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of their size and weight specifications:
| Feature | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 149.6mm | 147mm |
| Width | 71.5mm | 70.6mm |
| Depth | 8.25mm | 7.6mm |
| Weight | 199gr | 168gr |
Both phones achieve an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, ensuring durability against environmental elements, and both feature modern USB-C ports for charging and data transfer.
Color options also contribute to the overall aesthetic and user preference. The iPhone 16 Pro offers sophisticated “Titanium” finishes: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium. The Galaxy S24 presents a more vibrant palette: Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, and Amber Yellow, with exclusive colors like Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange available directly from Samsung’s website.
Display Size and Bezels: Maximizing Screen Real Estate
Display comparison highlighting OLED technology and bezel differences between the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24.
As mentioned, the iPhone 16 Pro boasts a larger 6.3-inch display, primarily achieved through remarkable bezel reduction. Apple has shaved down the bezels to a mere 1.2mm, a significant decrease from the iPhone 15 Pro’s 1.71mm bezels. The Galaxy S24 also features slim bezels, measuring slightly thicker at 1.5mm.
Beyond bezel size, the core display technology remains consistent with previous generations. The iPhone 16 Pro features a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, maintaining the 2,000-nit peak brightness and Dynamic Island cutout. New enhancements include a sturdier Ceramic Shield front glass and improved low-brightness performance, reaching a minimum of a single nit for comfortable night-time viewing.
The Galaxy S24 features a slightly smaller 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, also with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate and high peak brightness. It’s a high-quality OLED panel, consistent with Samsung’s flagship display standards.
Display benchmark tests conducted by PhoneArena reveal that both phones exhibit excellent display performance overall. While color temperature, gamma, and color accuracy are comparable, the Galaxy S24 achieves a higher maximum brightness. It’s important to note that PhoneArena’s brightness measurements utilize a 100% APL (Average Picture Level) white screen, representing real-world maximum brightness, which may differ from manufacturer-reported figures often measured with smaller lit areas.
| Display Measurement | Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Bright max (100% APL) | 1039 nits | 1345 nits |
| Bright min | 0.97 nits | 0.9 nits |
| Color temperature | 6722K | 6726K |
| Gamma | 2.21 | 1.99 |
| Delta E rgbcmy (Color Accuracy) | 1.84 (Excellent) | 2.55 (Good) |
| Delta E grayscale (Grayscale Accuracy) | 4.92 (Average) | 5.58 (Average) |
View all PhoneArena display benchmarks
(Insert Gamut and Color/Grayscale accuracy charts as in the original article, ensuring correct image URLs and creating new alt texts optimized for SEO and accessibility, e.g., “iPhone 16 Pro Color Gamut Chart PhoneArena Benchmark”, “Galaxy S24 Color Accuracy Chart PhoneArena Display Test”, “iPhone 16 Pro Grayscale Accuracy PhoneArena Display Analysis”, “Samsung Galaxy S24 Grayscale Performance PhoneArena Benchmark”).
The Galaxy S24 uses a small punch-hole cutout for its front camera, while the iPhone 16 Pro retains the Dynamic Island. Biometric authentication differs as well: the Galaxy S24 uses an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner embedded in the display, while the iPhone 16 Pro relies on Face ID facial recognition. Both methods are known for their speed and accuracy.
Performance, Software, and Other Features: Size Considerations
While this comparison primarily focuses on size and design, it’s worth briefly touching upon other key aspects where size can indirectly play a role.
Performance chipsets comparison in iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24, highlighting processing power in compact devices.
The iPhone 16 Pro is powered by the cutting-edge A18 Pro chip, while the Galaxy S24 utilizes the customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. While performance benchmarks, as tested by PhoneArena, show the iPhone 16 Pro leading in CPU-intensive tasks, the Galaxy S24 demonstrates more sustained graphics performance due to potentially better thermal management in its slightly larger body.
| Performance Benchmark | Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 3330 | 2119 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | 8044 | 6820 |
| 3DMark Extreme (High Score) | 4479 | 4246 |
| 3DMark Extreme (Low Score) | 2383 | 2588 |
View all PhoneArena performance benchmarks
Software experiences also differ significantly. The iPhone 16 Pro launches with iOS 18, featuring Apple Intelligence enhancements. The Galaxy S24 runs One UI 6.1 based on Android 14, with a promise of seven years of software updates, matching Apple’s long-term support. The choice between iOS and Android is a matter of personal preference, but both platforms are highly optimized for their respective devices.
Camera and Battery: Does Size Matter?
While not directly tied to size, camera systems and battery capacity are often influenced by device dimensions. The iPhone 16 Pro features an upgraded camera system, including a 5X tetraprism telephoto lens, similar to the Pro Max model. The Galaxy S24 maintains a versatile camera setup, relying heavily on software optimization.
Battery life tests conducted by PhoneArena show the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 achieving comparable battery performance, despite the Galaxy S24 having a larger battery capacity (4000mAh vs 3582mAh). Charging speeds are also similar, with both phones supporting around 25W wired charging.
| Feature | Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life Estimate | 6h 35min | 6h 37min |
| Browsing Time | 16h 35min | 16h 18min |
| Video Playback Time | 8h 29min | 8h 20min |
View all PhoneArena battery benchmarks
Specs Comparison Table
| Specs | Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Size, weight | 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25mm, 199gr | 147 x 70.6 x 7.6mm, 168gr |
| Screen | 6.27″ OLED HDR 120Hz ProMotion, Ceramic Shield | 6.2″ OLED HDR 120Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Processor | A18 Pro 3nm | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy 4nm |
| RAM, Storage | 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 8GB/512GB, 8GB/1TB | 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB |
| Cameras | 48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 12MP 5X telephoto, 12MP front | 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3X telephoto, 12MP front |
| Battery | 3,582mAh | 4,000mAh |
| Charging | USB-C 25W wired, 25W MagSafe | USB-C 20W wired, 15W Fast Wireless |
Conclusion: Size Matters – Choose Your Compact Champion
Concluding image showcasing iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 as top compact phones within their ecosystems.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 are both exceptional compact flagship smartphones. The iPhone 16 Pro offers a slightly larger display in a marginally bigger body, boasting the power of the A18 Pro chip and the allure of Apple Intelligence. The Galaxy S24 prioritizes ultimate compactness and lightweight design, delivering excellent performance and a vibrant Android experience.
Ultimately, the “better” phone in terms of size depends on your personal priorities. If a slightly larger screen is paramount and pocketability is secondary, the iPhone 16 Pro is a compelling choice. However, if you prioritize the most compact and lightweight flagship Android experience, the Samsung Galaxy S24 stands out as the clear winner in this size comparison.
For a more detailed side-by-side specification comparison and to explore other phone models, be sure to utilize PhoneArena’s comprehensive phone comparison tool to make an informed decision tailored to your specific needs.
