We’re practically at the end of the 2024 smartphone release cycle and the Galaxy S24 Ultra hit the market right at the beginning. With all the other big-name players playing their hands, where does Samsung’s biggest and brightest rank? This is our long-term review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Samsung has had to bat away competition from all comers this year with even more high-quality contenders to contend with. Here’s everything you need to know almost 10 months on from launch.
Table of contents
Hardware and design
Super subtle changes
While there are undoubted improvements year-over-year, the S24 lineup does not feel like a substantial upgrade over the S23 series. In some cases, there are downgrades in key areas – we’ll get to that later.
Samsung made a lot of noise about the move to Titanium with this phone, but to be completely honest it makes no difference to the experience from what I have ascertained. It’s purely an iterative design change over the S23 Ultra that aids the “premium” market positioning in my opinion. Sure, it might be more duable. Heck, I haven’t used a case this year to put that to the test. No damage to the frame and core chassis so far.
That said, I have managed to scuff the back glass. I still don’t know how I did that, but this is a durable phone. My advice is to get a case either way; there are lots of excellent options out there. My pick would be the $17 Ringke Onyx FWIW.
One of the most important changes has been the move back to a flat screen. It’s not even just from a usability standpoint, as the anti-glare glass is a cut above any screen I’ve used for several years. It’s not perfect. It is glorious, though. Viewing from angles or in mixed lighting conditions, you get fewer reflections and annoying distractions.
I have battled smudges and grime aggregation on the S24 Ultra display without a screen protector. That’s not to say I hate the display—far from it; I love it. I just would love not to have to require a wipe every 20 minutes.
That one complaint aside, this is simply the best 6+ inch phone screen out there. If the Pixel 9 Pro XL didn’t have a glossy panel and better Gorilla Glass protection, it would pip the S24 Ultra, but until that happens, Samsung will take the cake for the best display. Period.
I’m torn about the S Pen. Its inclusion is undoubtedly enough of a reason for lots of you to pick the Galaxy S24 Ultra over any other phone—and rightfully so. This is an added tool no other flagship in this category can match. I feel bad for saying that jotting down notes or scribbling on screenshots is about the extent of my usage, and I say that as someone who was a former Galaxy Note fanboy. I just don’t jot things down as much nowadays.
Another thing that struck me is how good the in-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader is. It’s the fastest and most accurate I’ve used, and it works reliably in all lighting conditions.
The speakers, while not particularly bass-heavy, deliver clear and loud audio, making them great for everything from phone calls to watching videos. In tandem with the top tier screen, the sound is good for consuming content and playing games.
Software and performance
Top of the totem
When it comes to performance, we all know that the S24 Ultra is a powerhouse. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, paired with a 240Hz touch response rate and 120Hz screen refresh rate, ensures that everything feels better than ever. It’s not the outright frontrunner anymore, but you won’t be disappointed at any stage.
Whether you’re gaming or multitasking with the 12GB of RAM, this phone handles it all with ease. The larger screen is super practical for productivity, allowing you to comfortably have two windows open side by side while the S Pen is great for adding extra utility. I love that you can go one step further with DeX for true work-productivity possibilities. I need to use it more, because you can genuinely get things done on the S24 Ultra and it blows my mind that Samsung doesn’t scream more about it.
Android 14 in tandem with One UI, is reliable and suitably feature-packed. I’ve forced myself to use the default setup – with gestures – and One UI has really grown on me again. Samsung keeps pushing regular updates, and the 6.1.1 update brings some more AI features, though some of these are tied to Samsung’s own apps, which might not appeal to everyone. They are value-added because the core experience is slick and has fewer frustrations than at any other point in time.
Camera
Disappointing downgrades
The only point of contention I have had with the Galaxy S24 Ultra has been the camera and I say that only as I used the S23 Ultra a ton last year and loved it.
Because the 10x sensor has been replaced with a 5x zoom but at a higher resolution, Samsung relies on digital crop to get the same FOV. This means that images sometimes look softer than the previous generation, especially when you zoom, or crop in. It’s a step-down and an annoying little nitpick I have when using the newer device. Most people would never be aware due to upgrading or never using the S23 or S24 Ultra side-by-side, but it does diminish the so-called “flagship” nature of the latest S-series top tier handset.
Where Samsung might have been the best in all situations just a few years ago, Google, Oppo, OnePlus, and Honor have also delivered impressive camera hardware in their flagship models and can go toe-to-toe.
The S24 Ultra’s dual telephoto lenses—a 3x zoom and a native 5x zoom—are impressive, offering sharp, detailed photos even at longer focal lengths. On the latest software update as of July 2024, the camera performance is excellent, with great dynamic range, color accuracy, and white balance most of the time. Images from the main camera are binned down from 200 to 12 megapixels, improving dynamic range and low-light performance while maintaining a high level of detail. The ultrawide and 3x telephoto cameras also deliver consistent results, with colors and contrast that match well across all the rear cameras.
You can see the full-resolution gallery here.
The 5x optical zoom lens, while sharp at closer distances, reveals some limitations when zooming in further. Although it houses a beefy 50-megapixel sensor, it doesn’t quite match the detail capture of its predecessor at extreme zoom levels. While I personally prefer the older setup, the current configuration still performs admirably for most users.
The auto video mode is solid, with very impressive stabilization. For the best results, I recommend sticking to Ultra HD 4K at 30 or 60 fps, as 8K is more challenging to process and while future proof, isn’t going offer the same flexibility with lens selection and that kind of thing so you’ll have a higher resolution video but it will be less usable.
Given the Ultra’s premium price point, it would have been nice to see more advanced video options, perhaps with a more flexible H.265 codec or a log profile for professional videographers — it also high time we had a LOG profile too, it’s becoming more and more common and Samsung is supposedly the market leader on Android. So next year, Samsung LOG.
Battery and charging
Long-lasting and fairly fast charging
Another one of the standout features of the S24 Ultra is by far its battery life. The 5,000mAh battery easily provides up to seven hours of screen-on time with heavy use, meaning you can go through a full day without needing to recharge. And if you do find yourself running low, the fast charging gets you back up and running quickly.
I think the lack of support for the new Qi2 wireless charging standard is a missed opportunity, as it would have made this already capable device even more future-proof and help elevate the Galaxy S24 Ultra higher up the Android totem.
Final thoughts
Overall, there’s so much to love about this phone. Some of the AI tools like on-the-fly translation, an AI eraser for removing unwanted objects, tap-and-hold for slow-motion video, and the Circle to Search feature make it as AI-stuffed as the Pixel lineup. The screen is, well, I think it’s the best on a smartphone, period. The S Pen is unrivaled. The design is iterative, but it’s fine. However, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is undeniably a comprehensive flagship smartphone.
It’s the embodiment of the Android side of the industry—efficiency, speed, and overall performance. While some might find it lacks a bit of personality or flair, it’s an undeniably powerful tool. Although it was a little expensive at launch, the S24 Ultra has seen lots of discounts throughout the year, making it more accessible and easier to recommend as time progresses.
To cut to the chase: In previous years, the Galaxy S-series has often been the best in the industry. This year, I think a few of the other players, like the OnePlus 12 and even, to some extent, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, are real contenders for the “best” Android device you can buy in 2024 because of the improvements over the previous generation. I would personally recommend the OnePlus 12 if you don’t want to sacrifice power, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a great experience despite its foibles.
Although, when you consider the S24 Ultra was technically the first big Android release of the year, it’s impressive just how Samsung is able to set the stage for every other launch and become the “benchmark” for every other Android that proceeds the lates S-series phone.
So, is the S24 Ultra worth it? I’d say it’s still worth considering, especially if you can get a good deal.
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