Every yr, it looks like telephone bulletins — notably within the U.S. — get much less and fewer thrilling. We’ve begun to see diminishing returns in {hardware} innovation of normal slab telephones, and even large processing or software program developments now not maintain the load of pleasure they as soon as had. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 sequence suits fairly completely into this description, as my colleague Harish Jonnalagadda wrote shortly after the telephone sequence’ announcement.
But there’s magnificence within the pursuit of perfection. Radical innovation or revolution is not all the time crucial, notably when a product is nearly as good because the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It hardly ever does something new, but it surely does virtually all the things extraordinarily properly. In a nutshell, Samsung took a number of the finest options of a Google Pixel and put them within the extra dependable {hardware} of a Samsung Galaxy telephone with out eradicating any of the options Samsung followers know and love.
I definitely have my nitpicks — the sq. corners are uncomfortable, too many AI options are reliant on cloud connectivity, and the PWM fee nonetheless bothers my eyes when there’s not sufficient ambient mild — however what Samsung delivered within the Galaxy S24 Ultra is nothing wanting pure excellence. It exhibits an organization keen to innovate the place it’s a necessity and unwilling to maneuver when it is not.
More than that, it exhibits that Samsung listens to its clients and makes adjustments when requested. This is the flagship telephone that has one thing for everybody, as long as you may afford it.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Price and availability
The Galaxy S24 Ultra ships with a base of 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM for $1,299. Samsung is now not providing the cheaper mannequin with diminished RAM this yr because it did with earlier Ultra fashions, though one of the best Galaxy S24 Ultra offers can get you upgraded to 512GB or 1TB of storage for lower than you would possibly anticipate.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra ships in Titanium Grey, Titanium Black, Titanium Yellow, and Titanium Violet colorways at your favourite retailer or provider. Buying from Samsung.com grants entry to Titanium Orange, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Green colorways.
All Galaxy S24 telephones include seven years of OS and safety updates, a primary for Samsung telephones.
For my remaining review, I spent six weeks with an unlocked Galaxy S24 Ultra offered by Samsung operating One UI 6.1. The telephone noticed a number of updates and enhancements throughout that point, together with instantly addressing requests from its most loyal customers.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Display and design
The show on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the best show Samsung has ever created for considered one of its telephones, but it surely hasn’t been with out issues. The elephant within the room is, undoubtedly, the “scandal” brought on by the extra pure tone of the S24 Ultra’s show.
I far favor a extra natural-looking show, and it is objectively a greater show due to it, however that does not imply some customers had been proud of the change. A late February patch added a “vividness” slider that clearly happy followers, guaranteeing that the Samsung mantra of “one thing for everybody” was current all over the place on this telephone.
Unfortunately, some items have a show defect we have not seen in years. The AMOLED show panel on the telephone displays what’s referred to as mura, which means that the individually lit pixels on an OLED panel do not get to the identical degree of brightness as adjoining ones. This can result in the show trying grainy. Here’s a sequence of close-up pictures I took for instance the distinction between in style telephones with OLED shows.
Image 1 of 5
The first picture is the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it is readily obvious how inconsistently lit the show is in comparison with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Google Pixel 8 Pro, OnePlus 12, and Honor Magic 6 Pro.
We’re nonetheless undecided how widespread this defect is however our review unit is affected and lots of customers on social media have complained of the identical issues. Samsung urges clients to achieve out to technical assist to obtain a guaranty alternative of their telephone if it bothers them.
Now, whereas the S24 Ultra’s launch was fraught with just a few show points, one change has been universally constructive: the brand new anti-glare display screen coating. The picture above exhibits the Galaxy S24 Ultra with a tempered glass protector on the left — which represents what the glass would appear like with out this anti-glare coating — whereas the Galaxy S24 Ultra on the best is how the telephone appears to be like out of the field.
To say this makes an enormous distinction in readability in all lighting circumstances is an understatement.
The show is less complicated to see, has a greater PWM fee, and options extra pure colours out of the field.
This is likely one of the finest enhancements Samsung has ever added to its shows, and it makes seeing the Galaxy S24 Ultra simpler in any mild. If extra shows applied this form of anti-glare filter, we would not be seeing the obnoxious brightness race elevate a lot.
Unfortunately, this implies display screen protectors will damage one of the best a part of the show. Furthermore, Samsung’s continued use of ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensors implies that most tempered glass display screen protectors will intervene with the efficiency of the fingerprint sensor. I’ve tried a number of and all of them make it very irritating to unlock the telephone by way of fingerprint.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.8-inch AMOLED (2,600 nits) |
| Resolution | QHD+ |
| Refresh fee | 120Hz (1-120); 240Hz contact sampling |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| Memory | 12GB RAM, 256GB/512GB/1TB storage |
| Camera 1 (Main) | 200MP (OIS), Laser Auto Focus (LAF), f1.7 |
| Camera 2 (Ultrawide) | 12MP, f2.2, 120-degree FoV |
| Camera 3 (Telephoto) | 10MP (OIS), f2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Camera 4 (Telephoto) | 50MP (OIS) 2PD, f3.4, 5x optical zoom |
| Selfie Camera | 12 MP (2PD AF), f2.2 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh |
| Charging | 45W; 15W (wi-fi) |
| Protection | IP68; Gorilla Armor Glass; Titanium body |
| Connectivity | Sub-6/ mmWave 5G; Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.3; UWB |
| Dimensions & weight | 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 in, 8.22oz |
| Colors | Titanium Grey, Titanium Black, Titanium Yellow, and Titanium Violet, Titanium Orange, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green |
The Galaxy Note’s DNA runs as deeply by means of the Galaxy S24 Ultra because it has for the previous few years, and also you’re both going to like or hate Samsung’s boxy design right here. I discover a big telephone with sq. corners very uncomfortable, but it surely additionally implies that few telephones look fairly like a Galaxy S Ultra.
Samsung’s addition of a titanium body this yr is basically gimmicky, but it surely implies that the Galaxy S24 Ultra feels much more premium than any earlier Galaxy S Ultra. There’s one thing palpably extra high quality feeling about titanium over aluminum, and the matte texture means it is each simpler to grip and would not entice fingerprints like Armor Aluminum on the S22/S23 Ultra.
Beyond simply the body, Samsung has flattened the show for the primary time within the historical past of the sequence, even when the precise glass itself remains to be barely curved on the edges.
Image 1 of 4
The titanium body feels splendidly premium, and the anti-glare layer on the flat show is nothing wanting perfection.
While digital camera islands are nonetheless off-center and raised fairly a bit — resulting in wobble when positioned on a desk — one of the best Galaxy S24 Ultra instances all clear up this drawback. If you are like me and usually do not like utilizing instances, slapping a Thinborne case on it’s going to make it really feel nearly caseless.
But it’s important to watch out about which instances you employ on the telephone, notably if you wish to use one of the best MagSafe equipment. As is the case with the S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra, instances that do not use correct magnetic shielding will trigger interference with the S Pen. Thankfully, this solely occurs with some instances and with some MagSafe equipment.
While there is no threat of long-term injury in case you use the unsuitable MagSafe case, you will not be capable to use the S Pen correctly whereas utilizing the unsuitable case/accent combo.
PWM measurements
As anticipated, the Galaxy S24 Ultra makes use of PWM dimming in any respect brightness ranges, and there is no choice to allow DC-like dimming of the show at excessive brightness ranges, as is the case with another new telephones just like the OnePlus 12.
However, Samsung did one thing utterly sudden this yr: they elevated the PWM frequency to 480Hz, up from 240Hz. This is the form of development we have wanted to see from Samsung for years, and it implies that they’ve lastly matched the PWM fee Apple makes use of for its OLED telephones.
That means I can use the Galaxy S24 Ultra for substantial quantities of time with out having to put on my astigmatism-correcting glasses throughout the day. At evening or on cloudy days, the flickering show nonetheless negatively impacts me but it surely takes so much longer than when I attempt to use a Galaxy S23 Ultra — a telephone that provides me eye aches and
a headache inside seconds.
It’s extremely refreshing to see Samsung make these adjustments, making me eager for the way forward for AMOLED-powered telephones.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra software program, efficiency, and battery life
With the Galaxy S24 household, Samsung has firmly declared 2024 to be the yr of AI. Thankfully, for anybody who purchased a 2023 Galaxy telephone, these options are additionally coming to your machine. Galaxy AI encompasses a collection of a dozen instruments – some new, some repackaged present ones – that goal to create a extra useful expertise.
Most experiences require cloud connectivity to work, although. Worse, Samsung might cost for these cloud-connected experiences in two years except the phrases change. But, will you actually care a lot about these cloud-connected experiences exterior of some area of interest eventualities?
My guess is, no.
Here’s an inventory of the options that work with none web connectivity in any respect:
- Edit solutions for pictures
- Photo Ambient Wallpaper
- Translation options (Calls, Interpreter, Messages)
- Instant Slow-Mo
Funny sufficient, these had been the one options I discovered myself utilizing on any sort of common foundation. It’s not that the opposite cloud-connected options are ineffective, it is simply that they are not one thing I care a lot about. These are the options that you must be linked to the web to make use of.
- Auto Format
- Circle to Search
- Generate Cover
- Generative Edit
- Generative Wallpaper
- Magic Compose Texting
- Summary (Samsung Internet, Samsung Notes, Voice Recorder)
- Writing Assist
The lone exception was Google Circle to Search, a function that is not even unique to the Galaxy S24 household within the first place. In quick, the entire above options work fairly properly and are extraordinarily useful whenever you want them. I’m glad Samsung added them, and I believe these types of instruments will considerably improve the smartphone expertise going ahead.
You’re simply not going to seek out your self utilizing them each day, and that is in all probability simply fantastic.
Ray-tracing on a telephone is a gimmick. Thankfully, battery life and efficiency right here will not be.
On the efficiency entrance, I can not ask for far more of a smartphone. While the Galaxy S24 helps ray-tracing options, it is largely a gimmick that you just will not see most video games implementing in any approach for a really very long time.
It’s a type of bullet factors on a spec sheet that appears good however has little or no actual worth. The actual use of ray-tracing capabilities on a GPU is one thing like DLSS, which makes use of AI processing to reinforce graphics and efficiency over what pure silicon enhancements can. Samsung is not utilizing this however a spokesperson advised me that the corporate is trying into this and different extra sensible makes use of of ray-tracing {hardware}.
The battery lifetime of the Galaxy S24 Ultra is nothing wanting stupendous in each regard. I used to be capable of pull round two days out of a single cost all through the whole review interval (10 days, as of this writing), and that is pushing 100% brightness the whole time due to my sensitivity to PWM-dimmed shows.
Samsung has lengthy lagged behind opponents on charging pace, and whereas I utterly agree with my colleague Namerah about Samsung’s want to extend charging speeds, having two-day battery life helps me neglect about this plea even just a bit bit.
A 30W charger (the S24 Ultra helps as much as 45W) was ready so as to add 36% battery in 20 minutes (30% to 66%), which is greater than sufficient cost to get me by means of one other 24 hours of use. Still, it is arduous to seek out this acceptable when the OnePlus 12 goes from below 15% to 100% battery in the identical time-frame.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Cameras
Cameras have lengthy been considered one of my favourite elements of the smartphone expertise, however Samsung telephones have hardly ever graced my record of favourite smartphone cameras. That adjustments with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which now does a significantly better job than any earlier Samsung telephone in most classes.
In my Galaxy S24 Ultra digital camera review revealed shortly after the telephone debuted, I famous that the telephone’s general high quality was marred by its incapability to seize shifting topics. Since then, Samsung has issued a patch that irons out this drawback fairly a bit. It’s nonetheless not excellent, although, as many rivals like Google, Vivo, and Honor do a greater job of capturing shifting children or pets, but it surely’s an enchancment over how the telephone dealt with these conditions at launch.
Below, you will discover a comparability. The first two photos had been taken on two totally different days earlier than the replace, whereas the second two photos had been taken after the February replace.
Image 1 of 4
Samsung has improved all the things from zoom element to extra pure processing, higher movement seize, and much more strong video recording efficiency.
The distinction right here is sort of exceptional, and it helps to largely resolve one of many solely adverse factors of the digital camera. Motion seize remains to be not fairly nearly as good as you will discover on a Google Pixel 8 Pro, Honor Magic 6 Pro, or another competing telephones, but it surely’s greater than ok and may fulfill nearly everybody.
And, fortunately, the remainder of the expertise does beat most competing telephones, particularly within the U.S. the place there aren’t as many choices for smartphones as you will discover worldwide.
Image 1 of 8
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s telephoto cameras win in each lighting situation I examined them in. The result’s a clearer, extra detailed picture that appears higher from each angle. We apprehensive concerning the change from a 10x optical lens to a 5x optical lens when the telephone was introduced, however the brand new 50MP sensor behind the optics greater than makes up for the distinction.
The remainder of the digital camera expertise is fairly just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, although, which is basically an excellent factor. Samsung improved the processing on the primary sensor so it appears to be like extra prefer it got here from a correct digital camera as a substitute of a smartphone, and video seize is nearly as good as you’d anticipate from a Galaxy S Ultra telephone.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Competition
At this value degree, the one actual competitors for the Galaxy S24 Ultra within the U.S. is the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s an unbelievable telephone with an incredible digital camera, Apple’s long-term software program assist (that Samsung lastly matches), and that ecosystem that folks particularly swap to Apple for.
On the Android facet, almost all one of the best Android telephones price a lot lower than a Galaxy S24 Ultra. The OnePlus 12 launched for $799 with the identical quantity of RAM and storage as Samsung gives at $1,299. Its digital camera would not match Samsung’s usually — portrait mode being the most important exception — however OxygenOS is a implausible expertise and a UI that I favor over Samsung’s One UI.
Worldwide, telephones just like the Honor Magic 6 Pro and Xiaomi 14 sequence problem Samsung in substantial methods. Most provide higher pricing, even higher cameras, and much better shows — minus the superb anti-glare coating on the S24 Ultra. The downsides are that these firms do not provide the identical replace promise, aren’t as broadly obtainable, and infrequently have UI designs which are much less acquainted to Android lovers.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Should you purchase it?
You can purchase this if…
- You need one of the best Android telephone within the U.S.
- A high-quality digital camera is vital to you.
- You like to carry on to your telephone for years.
You should not purchase this if…
- You have children or pets that do not maintain nonetheless for pictures.
- You’re extraordinarily PWM-sensitive.
- You’re not comfy with spending $1,300 or extra on a telephone.
Anyone utilizing a Galaxy S23 Ultra proper now should not trouble upgrading. The new anti-glare filter is unbelievable, and I hope to see it on extra Samsung telephones sooner or later, however S23 Ultra house owners can at the least partly replicate the impact with an anti-glare display screen protector in the meanwhile.
The upgraded PWM fee on the S24 Ultra is an enormous deal for the long run and makes it attainable for some flicker-sensitive of us to make use of a Samsung telephone — one thing that hasn’t been attainable for a very long time. You could also be okay with out it if the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s display screen would not offer you eye aches or complications.
But there’s one thing to be mentioned about Samsung’s worth right here, regardless of the worth. A $1,300 beginning value is tough to abdomen, but it surely’s additionally the primary time Samsung has promised to maintain the telephone up to date and related for seven years. That, alone, could be definitely worth the improve for anybody who likes to carry on to their telephones for some time.
S23 Ultra house owners should not trouble upgrading, however everybody else ought to significantly take into account this as one of the best new premium choose.
On a extra private observe, I’ve been so pleasantly stunned with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It’s the primary non-folding Samsung telephone I’ve loved utilizing in a very long time. Last yr, I used to be prepared to maneuver on from the newest Samsung machine due to how its shows made me really feel sick, and now I can lastly use one once more with out ache. During the day, at the least.
Samsung’s glorious developments in digital camera high quality be certain that I’ll now not attain for the Pixel 8 Pro simply to take an incredible image. That’s really implausible information for Samsung customers because it means the corporate’s telephones now not play second fiddle to Google’s flagships.
But Samsung’s reliance on cloud-based AI is problematic, particularly in mild of firms like Honor and Oppo placing a lot emphasis on locally-computed AI. Aside from taking even higher pictures, these telephones will not must go to the web even for advanced AI-based duties.
Galaxy AI is nice and exhibits that Samsung is keen to regulate and evolve rapidly with the altering market — even when it means extra reliance on Google and fewer on Samsung’s personal in-house software program options — however MWC confirmed us that different firms are pushing tougher and quicker towards an AI-run future with out requiring the cloud, and I believe that is a much more vital purpose than what Samsung is doing right here.