At a glanceExpert’s Rating
ProsTop-tier efficiency Excellent, versatile cameras Very good battery life Clever AI options Seven years of updatesConsExpensive Big and ponderous Charging nonetheless solely 45W Our VerdictThe S24 Ultra is the final word Android smartphone, delivering a top-tier person expertise with no actual weaknesses. But that doesn’t imply it’s best for you, particularly at this dimension and value.
Price When ReviewedFrom $1,299.99
Best Prices Today: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
$1,129.99
$1299.99
$1419.99
Samsung releases dozens of telephones each single yr however until you desire a high-end foldable, it’s the Galaxy S sequence that will get many of the consideration.
And inside that vary, the Ultra mannequin is the one Samsung actually needs you to purchase. This is a Samsung smartphone at full throttle, providing virtually each conceivable characteristic persons are searching for in a handset.
That’s actually true of the S24 Ultra, which provides a brand new chipset, titanium construct and a number of other AI options to the combo, to not point out a brand new and improved dedication to software program updates.
But is that sufficient to make it definitely worth the eye-watering price ticket? For some individuals, the reply will likely be a powerful sure. And from utilizing it as my primary telephone for every week, I can perceive why.
Design & Build
Large, heavy construct
New titanium body
Integrated S Pen
Samsung has modified the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s design in a few main methods, however you wouldn’t realize it from wanting behind the telephone. Aesthetically, it’s virtually equivalent to final yr’s S23 Ultra, which itself was a near-carbon copy of the S22 Ultra.
While this can be irritating to some, I’m happy to see Samsung persist with this tried-and-tested design. Provided you don’t thoughts an enormous 6.8-inch telephone, it’s nonetheless snug to make use of.
A matt coating on the glass again helps the telephone keep away from choosing up seen fingerprint smudges and different dust. But it nonetheless seems to be and feels very premium, even on the muted gray mannequin I examined. Black (proven beneath), violet and yellow variations are additionally extensively accessible, plus blue, inexperienced and orange when you go direct to Samsung.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
All seven colors are prefixed with the phrase ‘titanium’, hinting on the body of the system. The Ultra is the one S24 telephone to incorporate titanium, although you may be conscious that it’s not the primary smartphone: Apple launched it on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max in 2023 to a lot fanfare.
Titanium is heavier than the standard aluminium, however its power means you must use much less of it. That ought to permit the telephone to be lighter, however at 233g, there’s no important distinction in comparison with the 234g S23 Ultra. Both are among the many heaviest non-foldable telephones you should purchase.
So, is the titanium value it? Not on first impressions however it ought to assist with sturdiness over time, one thing which seems to be a prime precedence.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The S24 Ultra is exceptionally properly made, with Corning’s robust Gorilla Glass on each the back and front. Industry commonplace Victus 2 ensures wonderful drop and scratch safety, however Gorilla Armor on the entrance is a brand new top-of-the-line model that guarantees even higher sturdiness and lowered reflections. At the time of writing, it’s unique to this telephone.
Alongside an IP68 ranking (water-proof as much as 1.5m, absolutely protected in opposition to mud), the S24 Ultra is clearly constructed to final.
Is the titanium value it? Not on first impressions
However, I’d nonetheless advocate utilizing the S24 Ultra with a case. There isn’t one included within the field, and I used to be nonetheless frightened about it sliding off a desk or out of my pocket at instances.
You don’t have to fret about shedding the S Pen stylus, although. It’s securely docked into the underside of the telephone, and requires a agency click on to be launched. The design of the S Pen is unchanged, however it’s nonetheless snug to make use of and nice for issues like handwritten notes or digital signatures.
Next to it is the trio of USB-C port, speaker grille and SIM tray, with clicky energy and quantity controls of their standard positions on the best aspect.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s additionally value mentioning the vibration motor, which is the perfect I’ve used on any telephone. The refined haptic suggestions makes all the pieces from calls and notifications to alarms and even typing really feel richer and extra satisfying.
Screen & Speakers
New flat show
Excellent 6.8-inch 120Hz display
Impressive stereo audio system
After years of experimenting with curved screens on its top-of-the-line telephones, the S24 Ultra has a very flat show. I didn’t have a selected downside with the refined curves of the S23 Ultra, however this new panel seems to be improbable.
There are not any adjustments to its core specs however there didn’t must be. The 6.8-inch AMOLED show continues to be among the best you’ll discover on any smartphone. Its default 1080p decision already affords wonderful element, however the Quad HD+ (3120 x 1440) setting takes readability to the following stage.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
As an OLED display, you may as well count on wealthy, vibrant colors and deep blacks, making it very best for content material consumption. If you watch a number of movies in your telephone, that is the system to get.
It’s additionally an LTPO show, that means the refresh fee can routinely modify from 1-120Hz relying on what you’re doing, serving to to preserve battery life. It feels as clean and fluid as ever, although a hard and fast 60Hz is your solely various to this adaptive setting. I’d have appreciated the choice to manually set it at 90- or 120Hz.
With the ‘Game Booster’ mode activated, contact sampling can even attain 240Hz. This makes the show much more attentive to your contact, which makes an actual distinction in some cell video games.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Samsung says the S24 Ultra can attain an unbelievable peak brightness of 2600 nits, through an ‘Extra brightness’ toggle in Settings when you flip off auto brightness. But even with out it, I had no downside utilizing the telephone open air – even on a shiny sunny day. The lowered reflectivity of the brand new Gorilla Armor glass actually helps right here.
With its new flat design, the S24 Ultra’s show is the perfect it’s ever been. And with a fair smaller digital camera cut-out and a slimmer bezel, the entrance of the system is now just about all display.
With its new flat design, the S24 Ultra’s show is the perfect it’s ever been
Within the show, you’ll nonetheless discover a fingerprint scanner. While most telephones use optical sensors, the ultrasonic one on the S24 Ultra is impressively quick and dependable. My solely grievance is that the goal space to your finger is kind of small.
For the perfect audio expertise, you’ll wish to join earbuds or headphones. But the built-in audio system are surprisingly good.
A downward-firing grille combines with the earpiece for a stereo setup, which delivers a full-bodied sound with a pleasant hit of bass. Even at max quantity, there’s no audible distortion.
Specs & Performance
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset
Superb all-round efficiency
At least 256GB non-expandable storage
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by what’s often called the ‘Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy’. Essentially, that is an overclocked model of Qualcomm’s newest flagship chip that’s been particularly designed for Samsung telephones.
In the UK and most different markets, it’s the one S24 telephone to get this chip; the common and Plus fashions use Samsung’s personal Exynos 2400 for Galaxy as a substitute. But within the US, Canada, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is present in all three.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
We haven’t run benchmarks on the opposite S24 telephones but, so can’t provide direct comparisons by way of efficiency. But there’s no doubting that the 8 Gen 3 is an immensely succesful chipset, and alongside 12GB of RAM on all configurations, efficiency is just elegant.
My testing included a number of net shopping, messaging and electronic mail, plus taking a number of photographs and the occasional name. As anticipated, the telephone dealt with all of it with ease, even when shortly switching between duties.
Performance is just elegant
The sturdy efficiency extends to cell gaming, the place the telephone the likes of Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 had been all a pleasure to play. However, this is likely one of the few instances the place you’ll discover the again of the telephone getting heat to the contact – basically, the cooling system could be very efficient.
The base S24 Ultra mannequin I examined has 256GB of storage, which is a lot for most individuals however 512GB and 1TB variations are additionally accessible, although there’s no assist for expandable storage.
The telephone is properly future proofed by way of connectivity. Alongside the standard 5G, you additionally get the newest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 requirements, plus NFC for cell funds.
Samsung Galaxy S24 benchmarks
As you possibly can see from these benchmarks, the S24 Ultra is a contender for probably the most highly effective Android telephone you should purchase. But it does have sturdy competitors.
Cameras
Great quad rear cameras
5x telephoto replaces 10x
Solid selfie digital camera
Samsung has made one important change to the digital camera {hardware} on the S24 Ultra. The 10Mp 10x telephoto lens is gone, changed by a brand new 50Mp sensor that solely affords 5x optical zoom.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
While that is technically a downgrade, it makes much more sense in the true world. Previously, transferring between 3x zoom (utilizing the 10Mp telephoto, which remains to be right here) and 10x left you counting on an inferior digital zoom, which has a noticeable decline in high quality.
Now, photographs as much as 5x can reap the benefits of optical zoom, whereas even at 10x the standard remains to be superb. This new setup makes me more likely to take photographs at as much as 10x. The 100x ‘Space Zoom’ remains to be right here, however solely helpful if you must see textual content that’s miles away.
Samsung calls the brand new setup ‘Quad Telephoto’. Here are among the zoom photographs I took, starting from 0.6x to 100x:
The primary digital camera remains to be right here, however it doesn’t take 200Mp photographs by default. Instead, a course of known as pixel binning (the place 16 pixels are mixed into one) produces 12.5Mp stills, however I’d advocate most individuals depart it like this. A 200Mp picture takes up far more storage in change for less than a tiny enchancment to picture high quality.
In good lighting, stills from this lens are superb. There’s an excellent stage of element and dynamic vary is superb. As standard for Samsung, the colourful colors aren’t fairly true to life, however they do pop in a means meaning enhancing usually isn’t required. Even a dreary winter morning within the UK appeared far more inviting than it truly was so it comes all the way down to style.
Is this the perfect digital camera setup of any smartphone? Almost, however not fairly
The primary sensor is equally properly suited to structure and panorama photographs, however I loved switching to the 12Mp ultrawide for the latter. Its 120˚ discipline of view lets you seize far more within the picture, and there’s solely a slight drop-off in high quality vs the principle digital camera.
Like most telephones nowadays, the S24 Ultra is reliant on software program for the portrait mode. But it does a reasonably good job with edge detection, and with the ability to modify the extent of background blur later is a pleasant contact.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The evening mode routinely activates in low-light environments, rising the publicity time to seize extra mild. I’m impressed with the way in which it might brighten key areas of a picture with out introducing an excessive amount of noise or making it look synthetic.
A macro mode can also be enabled once you get very near a topic. It’s a bit hit-and-miss, however actually no worse than the photographs you get from these 2Mp macro lenses which might be usually added to telephones to bump digital camera rely.
On the entrance, the 12Mp digital camera can nonetheless take superb selfies, dealing with the publicity of topics and backgrounds properly.
Here’s a collection of digital camera samples I took:
In phrases of video, the S24 Ultra can file at as much as 8K. But the default 1080p at 30fps nonetheless delivers clear, crisp footage, whereas OIS (optical picture stabilisation) throughout the principle and each telephoto lenses means video stays clean whilst you’re transferring round.
So, is that this the perfect digital camera setup of any smartphone? Almost, however not fairly. The S24 Ultra is undoubtedly among the best digital camera telephones you should purchase, however I’d nonetheless belief the Pixel 8 Pro to take nice level and shoot photographs extra usually. It’s actually up there, although.
Battery Life & Charging
5000mAh battery
Excellent battery life
Slow 45W charging
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 5000mAh battery doesn’t sound like something particular, particularly with a big 6.8-inch show to energy. But battery life is one thing you received’t want to fret about.
On the times the place I used to be principally at residence, I used to be in a position to get virtually three full days on a single cost. That was with solely round two hours of utilization per day, however it was refreshing to not must cost the telephone each evening.
Battery life is one thing you received’t want to fret about
However, even on these demanding days the place you’re utilizing a number of cell knowledge, excessive brightness and site knowledge, the S24 Ultra will nonetheless comfortably final a full day. The solely exception to that’s when you spent a number of hours enjoying video games.
For most of my testing time, I used the telephone on the default FHD+ decision and adaptive 120Hz refresh fee. But even when bumping it as much as QHD+ for the PCMark battery take a look at (which simulates real-world utilization), a rating of 14 hours and 14 minutes ranks it as one of many longest-lasting telephones we’ve tried.
However, charging stays one of the disappointing issues in regards to the S24 Ultra. It’s nonetheless caught at 45W, regardless of many Android rivals providing greater than double that, and there’s no cable or energy brick included within the field.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Using one I had at residence, it reached 30% in quarter-hour and 63% after half an hour. A full cost took round 70 minutes, which appears like an age once you’re used to true quick charging.
The telephone helps 15W Qi wi-fi charging, however it’s unusual to see no assist for the brand new Qi 2 commonplace. 4.5W reverse wi-fi charging remains to be right here, permitting you to cost another person’s telephone.
Software & Apps
One UI 6.1 over Android 14
Clever Galaxy AI options
Seven years of updates
There’s rather a lot to speak about in relation to software program, however let’s begin with the principle query: are these new Galaxy AI options any good?
The brief reply is sure. AI doesn’t rework the person expertise on the S24 Ultra, however it introduces a number of small however important high quality of life enhancements that I’m glad to have the ability to name upon.
Circle to Search is my favorite, bringing the facility of Google Lens to any display in your telephone. Rather than having to make use of your digital camera or take a screenshot, you possibly can simply circle one thing (together with your finger or the S Pen) and immediately seek for it on Google.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
AI additionally helps take translation to the following stage. I’m genuinely impressed with the Live Translate characteristic inside calls, which interprets between languages in actual time and offers a transcript alongside it.
It works no matter which telephone the opposite particular person is utilizing, although I can’t confirm the accuracy of its translations. Just be sure you allow it in settings first.
Elsewhere, Transcript Assist makes audio recordings far more helpful, permitting you to create summaries, translate into considered one of 35 languages and export to Samsung Notes, the place a variety of Note Assist instruments may also help with computerized formatting.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Photo enhancing additionally will get an enormous enhance. The S24 telephones get Pixel 8-style talents to take away, transfer and resize objects, plus fill within the lacking components of a picture once you straighten it with out cropping in. Not all the pieces works completely, however when it does, it’s mightily spectacular.
I actually just like the video slow-mo characteristic too, which lets you play any video taken with the telephone in sluggish movement just by holding on the display whereas it’s enjoying. Saving a replica is somewhat trickier as you must faucet the pencil icon after which modify the pace.
None of the AI options are groundbreaking, however they mix to make an actual distinction day-to-day.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The large concern is that Samsung is simply guaranteeing free use of those options till the tip of 2025 (based on its phrases and situations), after which you could have to pay for AI. Hopefully Samsung decides in opposition to this however it’s doable.
That’d be an actual disgrace, particularly now the S24 Ultra will likely be supported with seven main OS updates and 7 years of software program updates. This class-leading promise matches Google’s Pixel 8 and eight Pro and means the telephone will likely be supported till at the very least 2031.
None of the AI options are groundbreaking, however they mix to make an actual distinction day-to-day
As for the remainder of the software program expertise, it’s principally extra of the identical. Samsung’s One UI 6.1 pores and skin (working on the S24 Ultra at launch) is kind of totally different to the model of Android 14 you’ll discover on Pixel telephones, however I truly desire it.
Quick settings and notifications are properly thought out and provide in depth customisation, whereas all of Samsung’s personal apps are designed to profit from the big show. I simply want among the ones I didn’t wish to use might be uninstalled.
The S24 Ultra additionally has a pair extra software program methods up its sleeve. One is full assist for the S Pen stylus, together with the power to create notes from the lock display and convert them into textual content through Samsung Notes.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The different is Samsung DeX, which turns the telephone right into a desktop-style interface when linked to a suitable monitor. It’s not fairly as useful as Windows 11, however might exchange a laptop computer for some individuals.
Price & Availability
As anticipated, the Galaxy S24 Ultra doesn’t come low-cost. It begins at £1,249/$1,299.99 for the 256GB mannequin I examined, however 512GB (£1,349/$1,419.99) and 1TB (£1,549/$1,659.99) variations are additionally accessible.
It’s in the stores direct from Samsung UK and Samsung US, but additionally through a wide range of third-party retailers and carriers. See the complete vary of choices our separate article on the perfect Galaxy S24 offers.
Here are the perfect contract offers within the UK and US proper now:
When shopping for outright, the S24 Ultra is likely one of the most costly non-foldable telephones you should purchase. The iPhone 15 Pro Max (from £1,199/$1,199) is the obvious various, whereas the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro (from £1,099/$1,199.99) is equally costly.
But most of the finest smartphones you should purchase are considerably extra inexpensive. That consists of the common S24 and S24+, however loads of options are unique to the Ultra.
Should you purchase the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The Galaxy S24 Ultra would possibly look rather a lot just like the S23 Ultra, however it’s a big improve in additional methods than one.
Rather than being gimmicks, the brand new Galaxy AI options truly make it simpler to speak or get issues achieved. Alongside a brand new dedication to seven years of updates, the entire software program expertise is the perfect it’s ever been on a Samsung telephone.
Hardware is top-drawer too, with excellent Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 efficiency, 5 superb cameras and a beautiful show. S Pen assist and nice battery life are the icing on the cake, even when charging remains to be frustratingly slowly.
The S24 Ultra is probably the most full handset you should purchase, so that you received’t be disenchanted when you can afford to take action.
Specs
6.8-inch, 120Hz, WQHD+, LTPO AMOLED show
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset
12GB RAM
256/512GB/1TB storage
5000mAh battery
45W wired charging
15W wi-fi charging
200Mp f/1.7 primary digital camera
12Mp f/2.2 120˚ ultrawide digital camera
50Mp f/3.4 5x optical telephoto digital camera
10Mp f/2.4 3x optical telephoto digital camera
12Mp f/2.2 entrance going through digital camera
5G
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth 5.3
IP68
Gorilla Glass Armor (entrance), Gorilla Glass (again), titanium body
S Pen (built-in)
162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm
233g
Android 14 with One UI 6.1 and Galaxy AI
Seven years of software program updates
https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2219205/samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-review.html
