The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra arrives as the crown jewel of Samsung’s 2024 lineup, promising a refined experience that pushes the boundaries of smartphone technology. Having spent time with this powerhouse, I’ll dive into a comprehensive breakdown of what to expect of this flagship beast.
Design and Display
The S24 Ultra exudes premium vibes from the first glance. Its titanium frame feels reassuringly solid. While this takes a few grams off its weight, Samsung claims the purpose behind the switch in build material was to enhance the device’s durability. On the bottom sits the S Pen, the speaker, the USB-C charging port and the Sim tray. The right side of the body houses the power button and the volume rocker.
While perhaps not very pocket-friendly for the size, its balanced weight distribution makes it surprisingly comfortable to hold and the matte finish further adds to its allure. This is a phone that whispers “I mean business” without needing to shout.
The 6.8-inch AMOLED panel is a stunner, boasting a blazing 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2600 nits that makes outdoor visibility effortless, even in the blazing Dubai sun. Gorilla Glass Armor adds a layer of scratch resistance, making this phone feel built to last. The new flat display eliminates the curved edges of its predecessor for a more modern and utilitarian look, and while many would argue in favour of a curved display, which might look better aesthetically, I personally prefer the flat display. In fact, with the S Pen, a flat display would let you avoid all the mistouches and accidental commands, which was a bit of a problem with the S23 Ultra. Oh, and with the flat display, the bezels are now even across, thank God!
While the size and resolution stay familiar compared to last year’s model, the visual experience takes a leap forward, promising even better HDR 10+ immersion for movies and games. It’s a premium form factor that screams quality, but be warned: this powerhouse isn’t made for one-handed warriors. Small hands might yearn for more grip, but for video and gaming enthusiasts, the expansive canvas is pure joy. Overall the display is one of the best out there, and reproduces vibrant and punchy colors with super accuracy.
Performance and Software
Performance wise, It’s a no-brainer here really, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM conducts an orchestra with masterful efficiency. Multitasking is a breeze, even with the most demanding apps. Games run like symphonies, with frames flowing smoothly. One UI 6.1 adds a touch of refinement, streamlining the interface and offering more customization options. Overall the S24 Ultra flies through daily tasks, seamlessly juggling apps, social media, and videos—it feels like it can read my mind.
For casual gamers like myself, the Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers a smooth and satisfying experience. Firing up Call of Duty Mobile on this giant, vibrant screen felt like diving into a handheld console – think PSP or Nintendo Switch. Pushing max graphics at 120Hz was effortless, the phone barely breaking a sweat, delivering silky-smooth action. However, compared to rivals like Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is actively courting hardcore gamers with console-quality titles, Samsung seems to be taking a backseat in the gaming arena. But then again, this might not matter for everyone, especially those who prioritize everyday tasks over AAA experiences on their phones.
Samsung has also nearly doubled the size of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Vapor Chamber to improve heat dissipation and deliver a smooth graphics experience with minimum device overheating. From my initial testing, this seems to work as intended, the device did heat up a bit, but nothing close to previous models while firing up games.
Software is where the real magic happens this year, and this is going to be a long one, but worth it.
Think of it this way, the Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t just a phone; it’s a personal AI assistant disguised as a sleek device. From real-time translation to magical photo edits, AI seamlessly weaves itself into your everyday experience. While I explored every corner of this phone’s capabilities, three features really stood out, which I think most people will actually use: Circle to Search and Photo Assist, and Live Translate.
- Circle to Search: Forget tedious typing and app-switching. This feature makes the web your playground. Simply circle any object, word, or even doodle on the screen, and the phone instantly throws up the information you crave. No need to launch Google or navigate through tabs. You can use your S Pen or finger to circle something and get Google Search results instantly.
- Photo Assist: Unleash your inner artist with this mind-bending AI tool. Want to remove that photobomber or reposition your friend in a picture? With a tap and drag, it’s done. But the magic doesn’t stop there. The emptied space seamlessly blends into the surroundings, leaving you with a natural-looking picture, minus the unwanted elements. The example below illustrates this transformative power.
- Live Translate or, Call Assist offers real-time translation, bridging language barriers during phone calls. Simply tap the button, and voilà, the conversation magically flows in both languages. Samsung assures us that all processing happens on-device, keeping your private conversations secure.
These are just a taste of the AI smarts tucked inside the S24 Ultra. Additionally, there are some other cool features like Chat Assist, which reformats your text in more professional tone. Notes also gets AI, and allows you to play around with the format of your text, summary, and more. While browsing on Samsung’s internet app, AI can also instantly summarize / translate the web content your are reading.
Webpages summary by AI
AI & Notes
Samsung has woven AI into the very fabric of this phone, turning it into a tool that anticipates your needs and empowers your creativity. It’s a glimpse into the future of smartphones for sure.
Camera
The camera system is the S24 Ultra’s pièce de résistance. The 200MP main sensor captures stunningly detailed photos with exceptional dynamic range. The improved telephoto lenses provide impressive zoom capabilities, allowing you to capture distant subjects with clarity. The low-light performance is also excellent, thanks to improved sensor technology and AI processing. The selfie camera delivers crisp and natural-looking portraits.
While the S24 Ultra retains the familiar trio of the S23 Ultra’s main, ultrawide, and 3x telephoto lenses, it’s the new kid on the block that steals the show – a 5x f/3.4 50-megapixel telephoto lens replacing the 10x predecessor. This might have some enthusiasts lamenting the lack of extreme zoom, but I personally think this is more of a strategic shift toward better picture quality.
Just look at its this way: instead of stretching an image digitally to reach 10x, the S24 Ultra captures 5x zoom natively with a high-resolution 50-megapixel sensor. This translates to sharper details, brighter images, and overall superior picture quality at the zoom range most people actually use. With the Super HDR upgrade, camera previews display Super HDR just like your final capture. You can immediately see what your super-vivid photos and videos will look like before you even take them.
Photo Samples
Zoomed Samples
...and of course the selfie
As far video goes, the S24 Ultra supports a video recording resolution of UHD 8K (7680 x 4320)@30fps.
Overall, nothing can be said about the camera system of the S24, Samsung has always invested a lot in developing their camera, and this year, the tradition continues. It’s simply a solid performer with great photo output in all situations I tried to shoot in.
Battery and Connectivity
As I described the performance as being an orchestra with masterful efficiency, the 5,000mAh battery is actually the bass drum, providing a steady rhythm of power throughout the day. Even heavy usage won’t drain it before the curtain falls. Fast charging and wireless charging options are the nimble flutes, providing quick energy bursts during intermission, and Wi-Fi 6E joins the ensemble, ensuring a smooth and reliable performance on the digital stage.
The S24 Ultra’s battery life feels like it stretches on. A day of uninterrupted scrolling through Instagram feeds, blasting Spotify playlists, YouTube, sending emails, and light gaming barely made a dent in its 5,000mAh powerhouse. And when it finally dipped, my 45W charger came to the rescue. Plugged in for a quick break, the battery bar climbed steadily, reaching 100% in just 40 minutes. That’s enough time to grab a smoothie and still have it fully charged.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a fantastic phone. It has a gorgeous design, a powerful processor, a long-lasting battery, and a versatile camera system.
So, should you buy it?
If you’re coming from an older phone, especially anything S22 and older, then the S24 Ultra is a no-brainer upgrade. It’s a significant leap forward in almost every way. But if you already have an S23 Ultra, the decision is tougher, unless AI makes you curious. It’s also worth noting, while some AI features require the S24’s top-tier hardware for processing, others live in the cloud, and Samsung said some of these AI features, are coming to older devices like the S23 series in the near future.
Personally, I strongly believe this year’s S24 Ultra is worth it in every way.
