Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra best Review: Performance, Camera, and More

Samsung’s latest oversized smartphone is widely available, accessible through various channels including major retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Samsung’s official online store, as well as through numerous carriers ranging from nationwide giants like Verizon and AT&T to smaller MVNOs like Google Fi. For international consumers, the device can likely be found in the electronics stores of their respective countries. Notably, the S24 Ultra is the only model in the S24 series that does not utilize Exynos chips.

However, potential buyers should be prepared for a hefty price tag associated with the upgrade to titanium. The Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $1,300, with costs escalating for higher storage capacities, which unfortunately are non-expandable. While preorders may offer free storage upgrades, the 1TB variant of the phone can reach a staggering $1,660. It’s worth noting that, at the time of writing, the 512GB Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available at Best Buy for just $80 more, indicating that competitive deals for foldable devices may emerge over time. With prices reaching such heights, consumers may find themselves tempted by the allure of foldable smartphones. For those considering purchasing the Galaxy S24, here are the top deals currently available.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra:Design and display

If you’ve seen any of the new Galaxy Note phones or similar ones in the past few years, you’ll recognize this phone. Samsung keeps making small changes to their phones without really changing how they look. Other companies do this too, but I think Samsung might be playing it too safe.

Now, let’s talk about what’s different about the new S24 Ultra. The back of the phone looks almost the same as the last one, with a bunch of camera lenses in one corner. But this time, they’re using titanium for part of the phone instead of aluminum. I’m not sure if it’s much better, though, because the phone still feels as heavy as last year’s model.

The other big change is that the screen isn’t curved anymore. Samsung used to make curved screens for their phones, but now they’ve stopped. Some other phones still have curved screens, but it seems like it’s not so popular anymore.

The flat screen on the S24 Ultra feels nice to hold and makes it easier to use the S Pen all the way to the edges. It’s interesting that Samsung got rid of the curved screens on their smaller phones first.

If you compare the S24 Ultra to the S23 Ultra, you’ll notice a few more changes like a new speaker grill at the bottom and a flatter cap for the S Pen. But overall, the design isn’t much different, even for people upgrading from older phones. It’s good to have consistency, but I think Samsung’s style lacks character. The iPhone’s notch and the Pixel’s big camera bar make them stand out, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s lenses don’t have the same impact.

The highlight of the S24 Ultra is its screen, which is now even brighter than before. Samsung’s 6.8-inch AMOLED display offers everything you could want, with a resolution of 1440p and a refresh rate ranging from 1 to 120Hz. It can reach up to 2,600 nits, making it competitive with other phones like the Pixel 8 Pro that have very bright displays. additionally the S24 Ultra is the first phone to use Corning’s Gorilla Armor, which helps reduce reflections on the screen without distorting the display.

It’s hard to quantify exactly how much of a difference this makes, but it’s noticeable; when I was using the phone on the treadmill at my gym, the overhead lights reflected less compared to other phones using Victus 2 glass. It’s likely that many other smartphone makers will start using this glass on their top-of-the-line models in the future.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra:Hardware

 

At $1,300, this phone should outshine cheaper models like the Galaxy A15 5G. It’s frustrating to discover that the SIM card tray protrudes slightly from the bottom, which is noticeable when holding the phone. While I understand maintaining quality control is challenging, this issue seems unacceptable given the price. Pros include Samsung’s consistent haptics, speaker quality, and button feel, which remain unchanged and reliable. However, the speaker can sound somewhat tinny at high volumes. The S Pen remains unchanged except for a slightly flatter cap, still easy to remove. In the box, you get the phone, a short charging cable, and a SIM tool. I believe Samsung should include a charger at no extra cost, considering the specific charger needed for optimal performance.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra:Software and performance

This year’s big feature is Galaxy AI, a platform that seems broad but not very deep in its initial version. Samsung is experimenting with various “AI-powered” features, similar to other companies, to see what sticks.

Among these features, those resembling Google’s offerings appear the most useful. For instance, Circle to Search, although not entirely branded as an AI application, mimics Google’s Lens and Now on Tap functionalities. Despite the awkward gesture activation, Circle to Search proves handy for searching specific text or addresses. However, its image search could be more robust; currently, it only retrieves more images instead of relevant information.

Many of these AI features fall into two categories: those I might use occasionally (like Live Translate, Interpreter) or never (such as Browsing Assist, Chat Assist). Additionally, since several features are limited to Samsung’s own apps, it doesn’t incentivize their use. For instance, I’m unlikely to utilize Writing Assist due to my preference for other keyboard options.

While features like Note Assist, capable of straightening handwriting or converting it to text, function adequately, the question arises: are they truly AI-powered, and would users be willing to pay for them in the future when Samsung potentially monetizes Galaxy AI? Samsung needs to demonstrate the platform’s value beyond just hardware enhancements.

Regarding One UI 6.1, it’s acceptable, but I’m not entirely satisfied with it. The absence of a vertical app drawer is disappointing, and the new always-on display and lock screen widgets aren’t as practical as expected. Moreover, the software feels somewhat buggy, with issues ranging from missing cloud backup settings to random lock screen backdrop changes.

On the performance front, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 impresses, delivering similar performance to its predecessor. The S24 Ultra handles Play Store games without any hiccups, only warming up on a few occasions during my initial week of usage.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Camera