Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Exceeding All Expectations

If you want a high-end smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has probably caught your eye. Samsung’s newest Ultra phone, and as you might expect, it comes with a lot of high hopes. But the big question is: Does it live up to all the hype?

After using this phone for weeks, I can say both “yes” and “but” for the first time in a long time. That’s what makes this review interesting. At times, Samsung really shines, but there are some quirks that might make you think twice before giving them your money. Let’s look at what the Galaxy S24 Ultra does well and what it could do better.

Design: Sleek and Recognizable

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is stunningly beautiful from the time you take it out of the box. Samsung hasn’t changed the look too much from the S23 Ultra that came before it. That isn’t always a bad thing, though. It has a high-end look and feel thanks to its frosted glass back, polished aluminum frame, and squared-off sides. People pay attention to this phone because it works well.

But if you’ve touched the S23 Ultra before, you might feel like you’ve seen this before. There aren’t many changes to the style here. The camera section has been streamlined to look better, and the edges are not quite as sharp as they used to be. But it’s easy to miss these changes if you don’t look at them next to each other.

Some people might say that Samsung was smart to stick with a style that has been used before. And to be honest, I don’t totally disagree. The phone is beautiful, but it doesn’t have the “wow” factor of a totally new look. That being said, if you like showing off your new stuff, you might want a more dramatic visual update. But for most people, the design is beautiful enough that they don’t notice how similar it is.

Display: A Work of Art

Let’s talk about that screen now, because Samsung always does a great job here. The dynamic AMOLED 2X screen on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is 6.8 inches, is stunning. This screen has a resolution of 3120 x 1440 and a frame rate of 120Hz, which makes it the best smartphone screen we’ve ever seen.

Everything looks clear, bright, and sharp, whether you’re watching movies, playing games, or just scrolling through social media. Samsung has also turned up the maximum brightness to an amazing 2500 nits, which means that you can see very well outside, even in full sunlight. No longer do you have to squint at your phone when it’s sunny outside.

The screen’s bent edges are a little weak, and I mean just a little. I know that some people love them because they make things feel more expensive, but the fact that they can cause accidental touches can be annoying. It became annoying to open apps or switch screens by accident, which I got tired of promptly. For people who often use their phone with one hand, this might be a small bothersome thing. In general, though, it’s just a small flaw in an otherwise stunning show.

Power: Spare for Performance

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a beast inside. It comes with up to 16GB of RAM and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset (or Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 in some places). One thing is clear: this phone is quick. My speech is very fast. The S24 Ultra is excellent for editing movies, playing games that use a lot of resources, and switching between apps. It never slowed down for me, even when I was doing a lot of things at once.

You will like the speed boost if you are a power user. You can open apps in a flash and switch between them in an instant. Samsung has fine-tuned its software to work perfectly with its hardware, which makes the whole experience smooth and easy.

But it’s important to note that Samsung’s One UI can feel a bit bloated at times, even though it has a lot of features and can be customized. This phone comes with a lot of apps, which might bother some people, especially if they’re used to an easier-to-use Android system. You can get rid of many of these, but the sheer number of them can be too much for some people. Personally, I would have liked a better experience right out of the box, but Samsung fans are probably used to it by now.

Camera: A Photographer’s Dream

The camera is a big reason why people choose the Ultra model, and I can say that the Galaxy S24 Ultra mostly lives up to expectations. This phone is a camera powerhouse. It has a 200MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and two telephoto lenses (10MP 10x optical zoom and 10MP 3x optical zoom).

Now let’s talk about the good stuff: the 200MP camera is awesome. It really does catch a lot of detail, and the colors are very true. Better AI processing on Samsung phones also makes shots taken in low light look better than ever. If you love taking pictures at night, this phone will blow your mind with how clear and detailed the pictures are even when the lighting is bad.

Another advantage is that it has zoom lenses. With almost no degradation of clarity, the results are excellent at all zoom levels, ranging from 3x to 10x. Samsung’s software filters out noise and keeps the picture clear even when you zoom in all the way.

But (and this is the second “but”) the S24 Ultra isn’t perfect in one area: the ultra-wide lens. It works well when there is a lot of light, but not so well when there isn’t much. Detail and sharpness are noticeably less when using the ultra-wide at night or in places with little light. There is a chance that this will upset people who often use the ultra-wide lens.

Samsung’s love for overly harsh post-processing is still there, of course. Photos sometimes look a little too “HDR-ish” for my taste, with colors and contrasts that are a little too strong. Still, this might be good for people who like shots that are bright and clear right from the camera.

Battery Life: Good, But Not Exciting

Another area where the Galaxy S24 Ultra does well, but not great, is its battery life. The phone’s 5000mAh battery makes it last all day with light to heavy use. Even though I used the camera a lot and the 120Hz screen was on, I didn’t have to rush to find a charger during the day.

Samsung has also sped up the charging process. The S24 Ultra can now handle up to 45W of direct charging. This is faster than some competition, but not the fastest in the business. It might take a little longer for Samsung to charge if you’re used to phones like the OnePlus 11 or Xiaomi 14 Ultra that charge very quickly. Also, the fastest wireless charging you can do is 15W, which seems pretty weak in 2024.

To sum up, the battery life is good, but it doesn’t change the game. It won’t blow you away, but it also won’t let you down.

Software: Smooth but Heavy

Samsung’s One UI 6, which is built on Android 14, looks great as always. It has a lot of tools, and many of them are really useful. The software’s best features are the customized lock screen, the advanced multitasking tools, and the always-useful S Pen integration.

But if you don’t like making changes, Samsung’s software can be too much to handle. It can be hard for the normal user to find their way around the settings because there are so many options, toggles, and features hidden away. Some users might have to dig through menus to find a certain function because the interface isn’t the easiest to use.

It’s also my wish that Samsung would cut down on the extra software. Many of the apps that come with the S24 Ultra feel like they are not needed right out of the box. You can get rid of most of them, but that takes away from the clean experience that other Android phones, like the Pixel series, give.

S Pen: Still Doing a Great Job

The S Pen is one of the things that makes the Ultra line unique, and Samsung has once again made it easy to use a stylus. It’s easy to use, accurate, and comes with a lot of cool features, like Air Gestures and Smart Select. The S Pen changes everything for artists, note-takers, and people who just love the feel of a pen.

S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra: What’s the Difference Between?  

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra are both flagship devices, but the S24 Ultra offers several upgrades and improvements over its predecessor. Here’s a detailed comparison highlighting their key differences:

1. Performance

• • S24 Ultra: Equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Exynos 2400 processor (depending on the region), which provides enhanced performance, better energy efficiency, and improved AI capabilities compared to previous models.

  • S23 Ultra: Features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Exynos 2200 processor. While still powerful, it is not as advanced as the S24 Ultra’s chipset.

2. Display

• • S24 Ultra: Continues with a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate, but improvements in brightness and color accuracy may be present, providing an even more immersive viewing experience.

  • S23 Ultra: Also has a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It offers excellent visuals but might lack some of the incremental enhancements seen in the S24 Ultra’s display.

3. Camera System

• • S24 Ultra: Upgraded with a 200MP main camera, improved telephoto lenses (including up to 10x optical zoom), and better overall camera performance. It may also include advancements in software and image processing.

  • S23 Ultra: Features a 200MP main camera with similar telephoto capabilities, but the S24 Ultra’s camera system benefits from enhancements in image quality and new features.

4. Battery and Charging

• • S24 Ultra: Sports a 5000mAh battery with 45W fast charging, similar to the S23 Ultra, but may offer better efficiency and longer battery life due to processor and software improvements.

  • S23 Ultra: Also has a 5000mAh battery and supports 45W fast charging, providing a full day’s use with fast recharge times.

5. S Pen

• • S24 Ultra: The S Pen remains an integral feature, with potential improvements in functionality and latency. It offers precise input for note-taking and drawing.

  • S23 Ultra: Includes the S Pen as well, with solid performance, but the S24 Ultra may feature refinements in response and usability.

6. Build and Design

• • S24 Ultra: Likely to continue with premium materials such as Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Design refinements might be present, offering a more refined or updated look.

  • S23 Ultra: Features a premium build with Gorilla Glass Victus and an IP68 rating, providing excellent durability and protection.

7. Software and Features

• • S24 Ultra: Ships with the latest version of Android and Samsung’s One UI, which includes new features and improvements over previous versions.

  • S23 Ultra: Runs on an earlier version of Android and One UI, which may lack some of the newer features and optimizations found in the S24 Ultra.

8. Price

• • S24 Ultra: As the newer model, it is expected to come with a higher price tag compared to the S23 Ultra.

  • S23 Ultra: May offer a more competitive price as it is an older model, potentially making it a better value if the latest features are not essential.

Is It Worth Buying?

As a flagship smartphone that provides outstanding value in a variety of ways, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sticks out. First and foremost, its advanced display technology is what sets it apart from the competition; it delivers outstanding visuals with vivid colors and high resolution, which is ideal for professional work, gaming, and multimedia consumption.

Another significant benefit is the advanced camera system, which has multiple lenses and sensors that capture photos and movies with remarkable clarity and detailed, even in low-light conditions. In terms of performance, with its powerful processor and generous RAM, the Galaxy S24 Ultra can effortlessly multitask and perform even the most demanding applications.

Beyond its technical strength, the Galaxy S24 Ultra prioritizes user-centered design and sustainability. It’s built to last and can handle normal wear and tear.  If you care about the environment, you will be glad that Samsung is committed to using eco-friendly materials and methods.

The Bottom Line 

In many aspects, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a premium package phone. The screen, camera, performance, and style are the things that matter the most. It’s worth upgrading from an older model because it has enough new features as well. But it does have some problems. The familiar layout, over-processed photos, and software that is a bit too big might make you think twice.

But the Galaxy S24 Ultra is hard to beat if you want a high-end top phone that does almost everything well. It is truly exceeding my expectations. Still not bad, but better than I thought it would be. This one could even rival the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and the iPhone 15 Pro Max XL as the best of the best lineup of smartphones in 2024.

Is it anything you’re interested in buying?  Just take a note of a few things about its uniqueness and features and how it differs from others before you decide.

Please stay tuned for our upcoming side-by-side comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and iPhone Pro Max XL.