The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the latest flagship smartphone from Samsung, designed to push the boundaries of technology and redefine the premium smartphone experience. Released in early 2024, it combines cutting-edge hardware with advanced software features to deliver exceptional performance, a stunning display, and an impressive camera system. With its sleek titanium frame and flat design, the S24 Ultra not only looks modern but also feels comfortable in hand. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, ensuring lightning-fast speed and responsiveness, while the expansive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display offers breathtaking visuals with vibrant colors and deep contrast. Additionally, the introduction of AI-driven tools enhances photography and productivity, making the S24 Ultra a versatile device for both casual users and professionals. In this review, we will explore its specifications and features in detail, highlighting what makes the Galaxy S24 Ultra a standout choice in 2024’s competitive smartphone market.
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a continuation of Samsung’s sleek and sophisticated design language. One of the standout features of the device is its titanium frame, which not only reduces weight compared to traditional aluminum but also enhances durability. This is a direct response to the competition from other premium smartphones that have adopted similar materials, like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The flat design of the display, combined with narrow bezels and almost flat sides, provides a modern, industrial look that feels comfortable in hand, especially when using the S Pen.
The back of the device features a matte finish that is resistant to fingerprints, and the camera array, while still prominent, blends more seamlessly into the overall design. The device measures 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm and weighs around 233 grams, making it a relatively large phone but still manageable for everyday use. The flat sides also improve grip, making it easier to hold the phone for extended periods without discomfort.
Display
One of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s most impressive features is its 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which boasts a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels (WQHD+) and supports a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The display can adjust between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the content being viewed, providing a perfect balance between smoothness and battery efficiency. With HDR10+ support and a peak brightness of up to 2500 nits, the S24 Ultra’s display excels in both indoor and outdoor conditions, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast.
Samsung’s always-on display feature also returns, allowing users to quickly glance at the time, notifications, or calendar events without fully waking the device. The flat design of the display is a notable shift from the curved edges of previous models, offering more usable screen space, especially for tasks that involve the S Pen, such as note-taking and drawing.
Performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB. This combination ensures that the device can handle anything from gaming and multitasking to video editing and AI-driven applications with ease. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers improved performance over its predecessor, particularly in GPU-intensive tasks, making it ideal for mobile gaming and resource-heavy applications.
The device also supports 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring fast and reliable connections whether you’re browsing the web, streaming content, or gaming online. Samsung’s One UI 6, based on Android 14, runs smoothly on the S24 Ultra, offering a clean and intuitive user experience. One UI continues to be one of the most feature-rich Android skins, with extensive customization options and a host of useful features, such as DeX mode, which allows users to connect the phone to a monitor and use it as a desktop PC.
Cameras
The camera system on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of its most talked-about features. At the heart of the setup is a 200MP wide-angle camera with an f/1.7 aperture and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). This sensor captures incredibly detailed images with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range. The high-resolution sensor allows for significant flexibility in post-processing, enabling users to crop in on images without losing much detail.
In addition to the primary sensor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra includes a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 10MP periscope telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, and a new 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The 50MP telephoto lens replaces the 10MP sensor from the previous model, providing sharper zoomed-in shots while maintaining Samsung’s signature vibrant color processing. Samsung has also enhanced its Night Mode, making the S24 Ultra one of the best performers in low-light photography, competing closely with Google’s Night Sight.
On the video front, the Galaxy S24 Ultra can record 8K video at 30fps and 4K at 60fps, providing professional-level video quality. Samsung’s Super Steady mode ensures smooth video even when recording in challenging conditions, while the AI-powered auto-framing feature helps keep subjects in focus during group shots or moving scenes.
AI-Powered Features
Samsung has placed a significant emphasis on AI with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, introducing several new AI-driven features that enhance both the photography experience and general usability. One of the most notable features is the AI-powered remastering tool, which allows users to improve the quality of their photos with a single tap. This feature automatically adjusts brightness, contrast, and sharpness to produce more balanced and visually appealing images.
The AI also plays a significant role in Samsung’s image editing tools. Users can remove unwanted objects, reflections, or shadows from their photos without the need for third-party software. Additionally, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s AI can suggest framing adjustments and even generate slow-motion clips from regular videos by creating additional frames based on the video’s original frame rate.
In terms of text-based features, Samsung’s AI enhances the productivity experience with features like live translation, text summarization, and Chat Assist. The voice recorder app, for instance, now includes AI-driven transcription, making it easier to capture and review conversations or interviews.
S Pen Integration
The S Pen remains a key feature of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and while the hardware itself hasn’t changed much, Samsung has introduced new software enhancements powered by AI. Users can now take advantage of features like automatic note summarization, grammar and tone adjustments, and live translation. These improvements make the S Pen even more versatile for productivity tasks, whether you’re jotting down notes, sketching, or editing documents on the go.
The S Pen’s low latency and precision make it ideal for drawing and graphic design, and Samsung’s Notes app continues to offer one of the best note-taking experiences on a mobile device. Additionally, the S Pen can be used to control the camera remotely or navigate through presentations, adding another layer of functionality.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which is standard for a device of this size. Thanks to the efficiency improvements of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and the adaptive refresh rate of the display, the S24 Ultra offers excellent battery life. In most cases, users can expect a full day of moderate to heavy use, with the battery lasting around 10-12 hours of screen-on time.
The device supports 45W wired fast charging, which can charge the battery to 50% in just over 30 minutes. Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are also supported, making it convenient for users who prefer cable-free charging solutions.
Software and One UI 6
Samsung’s One UI 6, built on top of Android 14, provides a polished and feature-rich experience. One UI is known for its extensive customization options, allowing users to personalize everything from the home screen layout to the appearance of the notification shade. Samsung’s DeX mode, which turns the Galaxy S24 Ultra into a desktop-like experience when connected to a monitor, continues to be one of the most unique features in the Android ecosystem.
New in One UI 6 is an enhanced focus on AI and machine learning, with features like Smart Widgets, which adapt based on usage patterns, and improved privacy controls. Samsung has also streamlined the interface, making it more intuitive and user-friendly, with cleaner icons, smoother animations, and improved multitasking capabilities.
Security and Updates
Samsung continues to prioritize security with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, offering an in-display fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for biometric authentication. The device also comes with Samsung Knox, a suite of security features designed to protect personal data and safeguard against malware and phishing attacks. Samsung has committed to providing four years of major Android updates and five years of security patches, ensuring the S24 Ultra remains up-to-date for years to come.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a powerhouse smartphone that excels in almost every area. Its combination of a stunning display, top-tier performance, versatile cameras, and innovative AI features makes it one of the best flagship devices of 2024. While it faces stiff competition from other premium smartphones, such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Google Pixel 8 Pro, the S24 Ultra holds its own with its unique blend of hardware and software features, making it an excellent choice for power users, creatives, and productivity-focused individuals alike.