Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: What's Ultra In It?

Galaxy S24 Ultra: Quick Review

If I made a list of everything I want in the best phone, it would look like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung seems to have worked from the same list, creating a phone that will please hardcore fans and tech enthusiasts alike. In many ways, including some I didn’t expect, the Galaxy S24 Ultra proves it’s worth the exorbitant price.

Battery Life: The Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts the best battery life among Galaxy phones, easily lasting more than a day with heavy use, outperforming even the latest iPhones.

Cameras: The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s cameras are better than its predecessor’s, regardless of specs. It remains the most versatile camera phone I’ve ever used. While my artistic friends prefer the iPhone 15 Pro, I get better shots of everything with the S24 Ultra.

Gaming and Work: The Galaxy S24 Ultra excels as a gaming phone, outperforming top Android gaming phones and even the iPhone 15 Pro Max. For work, the S24 Ultra offers professional features, with Samsung DeX transforming it into a virtual laptop with windows and an application dock.

However, the S24 Ultra is not without its flaws. Samsung’s software is a cluttered mess of settings and hidden features, which detracts from the overall user experience. New AI features are buried beneath layers of menus, causing performance delays despite the phone’s otherwise impressive speed.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is still one of the best AI phones available. Despite software frustrations and some underwhelming AI features, the weekend-long battery life, reliable cameras, and versatile S Pen make it a standout device. I often use this phone instead of my laptop or tablet because of its power and convenience.

While the hardware continues to improve, the software issues are significant enough to make me consider alternatives in the future. The iPhone 15 Pro with iOS 17 is not only simpler but also more enjoyable, with features like Name Drop and Check In that enhance the user experience.

Galaxy S24 Ultra: Price and Value

Launch price: $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199
Lowest price on Amazon: $1,049.99 / £949 / AU$2,199

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is more expensive than last year’s model, and the difference is noticeable. While the Galaxy S23 Ultra was feature-packed, the S24 Ultra offers incremental improvements rather than groundbreaking changes.

The true value may lie in Samsung’s promise of seven years of major Android and security updates. This unprecedented long-term support could enhance the phone’s value over time, though only time will tell if Samsung delivers on this promise. Apple has consistently provided long-term support for its devices, whereas Samsung and Google have yet to prove themselves in this regard.

There are reasons to be skeptical. Samsung’s latest terms of service include a notice that current AI features may only remain free for a limited time. This ambiguity raises concerns about Samsung’s commitment to long-term support.

Trade-in deals and launch offers for the S24 Ultra are not as enticing as last year. If you’re upgrading from the S23 Ultra, expect to pay a significant amount over your trade-in value. However, it might still be worth the upgrade, as older phones will likely miss out on new AI features with future updates, potentially reducing their value.

In recent months, we’ve seen some Amazon deals lowering the S24 Ultra’s price by about $150 / £200. Despite being one of the most expensive phones, we don’t expect significant price drops, even with the upcoming Galaxy Z foldable phones.

Is the S24 Ultra Worth the Price?

If you’re questioning the price, consider the Galaxy S24 Plus instead. The Ultra is designed to be the ultimate phone, offering features unmatched by any other device. You can’t put a standard price tag on Ultra; it’s in a league of its own.

Performance Tests

In the performance tests, the Galaxy S24 Ultra outperformed the iPhone 15 Pro in nearly every test, including multi-core, graphics rendering, and battery rundown. This marks a significant achievement, as it’s been a while since an Android device topped cross-platform benchmarks. However, benchmarks are just one aspect, and they don’t influence my final review score.

Specifications

Dimensions: 162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6mm
Weight: 232g
Screen: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2,600-nit peak brightness
Resolution: QHD+
Refresh rate: 1Hz-120Hz variable
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
OS; Expected Upgrades: Android 14 / One UI 6; 7 years of upgrades
Rear Cameras: 200MP f/1.7 wide, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 50MP f/3.4 periscope (5x), 10MP f/2.4 telephoto (3x)
Front Camera: 12MP f/2.2
Battery: 5,000mAh
Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless
Colors: Titanium Violet, Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, and Titanium Orange

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: Design

A big ol’ slab of smartphone

Titanium hasn’t made it lighter
Polished and classy, but unchanged

The Galaxy S24 Ultra looks almost identical to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. While there are minor changes like different speaker grills and microphone placement, the overall design remains the same. This similarity is a bit disappointing, as Samsung’s Ultra phones, while refined, aren’t very eye-catching at first glance.

However, a closer look reveals impressive details. The back glass features layers of metallic paint, giving the phone a unique depth, especially in the natural grey titanium finish. The violet finish is particularly striking, providing a great contrast against the polished metal.

Samsung excels in color, materials, and finish. Each color variant has a subtly hued frame that complements the new Gorilla Glass Armor back. The titanium black version is entirely black, while other colors have warmer frame tones.

Apple fans often highlight their phone’s symmetry as a design strength. In contrast, Samsung prioritizes functionality over symmetry. I prefer having the Power and Volume buttons on the same side, as it prevents accidental screenshots when handling the phone.

This year, Samsung also adopted titanium for the frame, similar to Apple. However, unlike the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which shed considerable weight, the Galaxy Ultra is only marginally lighter, by just one gram.

If you’ve never used an Ultra, you need to experience the S Pen. It has a satisfying clicky top, although it could simply be spring-loaded. This minor detail adds to the overall user experience. The S Pen is not only fun but also a highly capable accessory. It’s precise, like a professional drawing tool, unlike the big, clumsy, rubber-tipped styluses for iPhones. It also features Bluetooth, allowing the side button to act as a remote control, especially useful for the camera. Essentially, the Galaxy S24 Ultra includes a remote camera shutter release, an accessory I bought separately for my Nikon DSLR.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s design is now flat, ending the era of curved screens that began with the Galaxy Note Edge. While the Galaxy S23 Ultra had gently-rounded curves making it comfortable to hold, the S24 Ultra feels noticeably larger and sharper, though not uncomfortable.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: Display

Fantastic display in bright light or a very dim room

Huge and sharp, among the best you’ll find
Lack of Dolby Vision support still stings

The display on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is excellent, meeting the high expectations for a premium smartphone. It’s large, bright, and colorful, especially with the Vivid color tone option.

The display adapts well to various lighting conditions, with features like adaptive brightness and color tones that adjust based on ambient light. In bright outdoor settings, the display can boost to an impressive 2,600 nits, which is more than sufficient.

The Extra Dim option is also noteworthy, maintaining good color fidelity even at one nit of brightness. This setting is dim enough to check messages in a movie theater without being disruptive, though it would be impolite to do so.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra includes an always-on display mode. Additionally, Samsung continues to offer its unique S-View cases, which provide a small window for time, weather, and notifications through a wallet cover case. This feature, though not new, remains a cool and practical addition.

While the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s display is outstanding, it could be improved. Some phones offer a 144Hz refresh rate, though this may be more than the human eye can perceive. Additionally, Samsung’s resistance to adopting Dolby Vision for its displays and TV sets is puzzling. Dolby Vision enhances the viewing experience, especially for Netflix content, making its omission on Samsung devices seem unnecessary, especially since Samsung supports Dolby Audio.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: Software

Terrible software hides all new features under ‘Settings’

New AI features are occasionally magical, but mostly useless
Seven-year update promise already has an asterisk

It has become abundantly clear that Samsung is focused entirely on hardware and has little interest in improving its software. The software on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is disappointing, with One UI becoming increasingly unusable. Even the simplest features are bogged down with options and menus, and Samsung seems unable to make decisive choices for its users.

The software issues in previous Samsung devices have only worsened, affecting every new addition like a disease.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is packed with features, but finding them is a challenge. The new AI translation tools, AI text message rewrites, AI photo editing, and AI web page summaries are all buried in Settings. The path to these features is convoluted: within the 22 options in the Settings menu, you’ll find “Advanced Features” under option 16. Tapping on this reveals “Advanced Intelligence,” where all the new AI features are hidden.

Features are hidden, and everything is buried in Settings, a place where one wouldn’t expect to find such disparate features as wireless power sharing, parental controls, and always-on display widgets.

In an attempt to inform users about the phone’s capabilities, the Galaxy S24 Ultra occasionally displays messages and suggestions. Unfortunately, Samsung phones are notorious for bombarding users with messages and advertisements, even imploring you to buy a new Galaxy phone on your brand-new Galaxy phone.

This is not an effective way to educate users. As a former high school teacher, I know that simply informing users about a feature once does not teach them to use it. Samsung needs to reevaluate its approach, encouraging users to try enjoyable features and removing or hiding the ones that aren’t being used.

The new AI features are a mixed bag. AI translation on phone calls feels like science fiction, reminiscent of a Babel fish from “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Samsung could even inscribe ‘Don’t Panic’ on the phone and include a towel. Other AI features, like the AI writing style tool, are less impressive. It promises to adapt text messages to various styles but often falls short. Samsung even over-promised, claiming the phone would convert text to Shakespearean style, which I haven’t seen.

These AI features are integrated into the Samsung Keyboard, working across multiple apps. Unfortunately, the keyboard itself is problematic. Autocorrect and general functionality are among the worst I’ve experienced. The keyboard often capitalizes words randomly and inserts nonsensical phrases. It struggles with contractions, inserting incorrect words. When correcting errors, the keyboard is uncooperative, unlike the Apple iPhone keyboard, which recognizes a backspace after autocorrect as a correction.

If I were diligent in correcting the Samsung Keyboard’s errors, it might eventually learn to write properly, but I don’t have the time. Samsung needs to address these issues immediately.

Some AI features borrowed from the Google Pixel 8 series are also disappointing. Samsung’s Voice Recorder app, which was supposed to offer transcripts and summaries like the Google Pixel’s app, is slower, less accurate, and lacks live transcription. The image editing features, such as the Generative Edit tool, fall short compared to the Pixel’s Magic Editor. The Samsung phone lacks tools like Photo Unblur and Best Take, which are available on the Pixel.

Despite these complaints, there are unique features on the Galaxy S24 Ultra that set it apart. Samsung’s DeX mode, which turns your phone into a desktop-like experience when connected to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, is particularly useful. It allows seamless switching between work and personal accounts, eliminating the need for a work laptop when traveling.

Samsung promises software updates and security patches for the Galaxy S24 family for the next seven years. However, the rapid advancement of AI technology raises doubts about the viability of this promise. Samsung’s terms of service include a clause that allows for the possibility of subscription-based advanced intelligence features and rate limiting, which could undermine the seven-year update promise.

Until clarified, Samsung’s promise of seven years of updates remains uncertain. Users expect Samsung to follow Apple’s example, ensuring that non-hardware-dependent features are available on all eligible phones. Just as the iPhone XR received new features with iOS 17, we expect the Galaxy S24 Ultra to receive comprehensive updates, even in 2031.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: Cameras

Better Image Quality, Even if the Specs are Suspicious

The Galaxy S24 Ultra has garnered attention for its camera capabilities, with some changes sparking curiosity and concern. Notably, Samsung has reduced the optical zoom from 10x to 5x, a move that initially worried fans who loved the standout zoom feature of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, this change is more of a strategic shift rather than a step backward.

5x Zoom Lens: A Sideways Step, Not Backward

Despite the drop to a 5x zoom lens, the Galaxy S24 Ultra still holds the title for the best zoom camera on a smartphone. It surpasses the 10x zoom quality of the Galaxy S23 Ultra and easily outperforms the 5x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. At maximum zoom levels like 10x and 100x, the S24 Ultra excels in color accuracy and dynamic range, providing richer and more vibrant images compared to the flat and noisy outputs of its predecessor.

Trade-Offs for Better Quality

Samsung’s decision to prioritize overall image quality over fine details has proven beneficial. The 10x and 100x zoom images from the S23 Ultra often suffered from noise and blur, while the S24 Ultra offers more visually appealing photos, albeit with slightly less detail. This improvement means photos are more shareable and look less like surveillance footage.

Comparisons and Color Accuracy

In direct comparisons, the iPhone 15 Pro Max might edge out the S24 Ultra at 5x zoom. However, the Galaxy S24 Ultra shines when digital zoom is applied. For instance, at 25x zoom, the S24 Ultra captures more detail and better color than the iPhone, demonstrating its superior zoom capabilities.

Samsung has also made strides in color accuracy, addressing past criticisms of unnatural hues. The S24 Ultra’s photos now feature more natural and sometimes cooler tones, avoiding the over-warm and yellowish tint common in iPhone images. The reduced digital sharpening ensures a nice amount of detail without the blurriness seen in some iPhone shots.

Low Light Performance and Night Photography

While the S24 Ultra excels in many areas, low light performance remains a challenge. Competing phones like the Google Pixel 8 Pro and OnePlus 12 handle night scenes and mixed-light conditions better. Samsung’s advancements in other areas make the S24 Ultra a versatile camera phone, but it still has room for improvement in low light scenarios.

Overall Camera Performance

The Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out as the best camera phone of the past year, offering consistent performance across various photography needs. Whether you’re capturing macro shots, selfies, or portraits, the S24 Ultra delivers excellent results. The camera handles skin tones accurately and captures enough detail to make subjects look natural and appealing.

Photo Editing Capabilities

Samsung has enhanced its photo editing features, introducing Generative Edit AI in the Gallery app. This tool can resize and move objects in images or change backgrounds based on the shot’s context. However, some might argue that these AI features lean more towards mixed-media collage rather than pure photography. The Galaxy Enhance-X photo editor in the Galaxy App Store offers advanced editing tools, though they may not match the effectiveness of Google Photos on a Pixel 8 Pro.

For more advanced photo editing, apps like Adobe Lightroom and SnapSeed run smoothly on the S24 Ultra, with the S Pen providing a precise editing experience.

Future Testing: AI Moon Photography

Unfortunately, due to cloudy weather, I haven’t tested the AI moon photography feature yet. Samsung claims that the AI can recognize and optimize shots of the moon, and I look forward to seeing if the S24 Ultra can match the impressive astrophotography of the S23 Ultra.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: Performance

Benchmark Beating Performance

For the first time in years, an Android phone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, has surpassed Apple’s iPhone in raw performance benchmarks. Powered by Qualcomm and Samsung’s collaboration, the S24 Ultra matches and even exceeds the iPhone 15 Pro Max in speed, making it a formidable competitor in the smartphone market.

Real-World Performance

The performance gains translate to noticeable improvements in everyday use. Gaming experiences are enhanced, with high settings and fluid framerates in demanding games like Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact. The S24 Ultra also excels in productivity tasks, allowing for smooth photo editing in Adobe Lightroom and efficient multitasking.

AI Features and Delays

Ironically, the only features that cause delays on the S24 Ultra are the new AI functionalities. While these features, such as AI-composed text messages and photo edits, are impressive, the waiting time for AI processing can be frustrating. If these AI tools operated in real-time, they would be more appealing and useful.

Battery Life and Charging

Exceptional Battery Life

The Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts one of the longest battery lives among smartphones, lasting an impressive 16 hours and 45 minutes in continuous web browsing tests. This performance surpasses the iPhone 15 Pro Max and other Android phones, demonstrating Samsung’s advancements in power management.

Fast and Adaptive Charging

The S24 Ultra supports 45W fast charging, achieving nearly 40% charge in 15 minutes and a full charge in about 45 minutes. Although other phones, like the OnePlus 12, offer faster charging speeds, the S24 Ultra’s charging performance is respectable. The phone also supports 15W wireless charging and wireless power sharing, though finding these features in the settings menu can be challenging.

Hidden Power Management Features

Samsung’s adaptive power saving features are effective but hidden deep within the settings menu. This oversight can make it difficult for users to take full advantage of the phone’s power-saving capabilities. Samsung should consider making these features more accessible to enhance user experience.

In conclusion, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers significant improvements in camera quality, performance, and battery life, making it a top contender in the smartphone market. While there are areas for improvement, particularly in low light photography and AI processing speeds, the S24 Ultra stands out as a versatile and powerful device.

GadgetsPro99 Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represents the culmination of Samsung’s relentless innovation, redefining what it means to be “Ultra” in the smartphone market. It transcends its predecessors and competitors with superior battery life, faster performance, and enhanced camera capabilities, though these improvements come with a higher price tag.

The S24 Ultra’s new AI features are impressive, but they can occasionally slow down the device. Additionally, Samsung’s aging software design remains a significant drawback, burying its exciting features under a maze of settings and menus. Despite these issues, the Ultra’s performance and features make it a worthy investment, showcasing a blend of practicality and almost magical functionality. However, there’s still plenty of room for improvement at the top tier of the market.

Pros:

Improved performance and battery life: Outperforms its predecessor in both areas.
Excellent camera quality: Significant enhancements over the previous model.
Durable build: Features a titanium frame and Gorilla Armor glass.

Cons:

Large and heavy: The titanium frame does not reduce its bulk.
Complicated software: Many features are hidden beneath complex menus.
AI features cause delays: Often slow down the device and are sometimes ineffective.

Galaxy AI Features Keep Improving

Launch price: $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199
Lowest price on Amazon: $1,049.99 / £949 / AU$2,199

The Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to be our top choice for a camera phone, with its smart scene optimization features securing its position as the best AI camera phone in our latest list of top AI phones. Samsung consistently enhances its Galaxy AI features, and its writing style AI tools are unmatched by any other smartphone. While Apple is gradually entering the AI smartphone market, Samsung and Google currently lead the field.