Introducing Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Flagship Reimagined for Android Royalty
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Pros And Cons :
Pros
Cons
Our Buying Advice For You:
Check out the new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra! It’s got some awesome new stuff added to what was already a top-notch smartphone. And if you’ve been using a phone that’s a couple of years old, this one will blow your mind!
First off, the screen is amazing. It’s got this anti-reflective display that’s the best in its class and super bright, so you can see everything crystal clear even in bright sunlight. Using it feels like a breeze all day long.
The camera is better than ever too. It’s got modes for pretty much every type of photo you could think of, and some cool AI features like Circle to Search and Live Translation that make things even easier.
Plus, if you’re getting it on a monthly payment plan with your carrier, it might only cost you a few bucks more per month than the standard S24 or S24 Plus. So for just a little extra cash each month, you get a whole lot of awesome features that’ll keep your phone feeling advanced for years to come.
Specifications:
How I tested the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra:
I’ve been putting the S24 Ultra through its paces as my trusty work companion for a solid two weeks now, powered by a Google Fi SIM card. It’s been on quite the adventure with me, joining me on two trips and enduring all sorts of weather – from rainy nights to snowy days and everything in between. I’ve snapped photos in various lighting conditions, both indoors and out, capturing memories along the way.
During my travels, it’s also served as a reliable mobile hotspot, keeping me connected wherever I roamed. And when I participated in the MIT Reality Hack event, the S24 Ultra stepped up as my go-to camera, capturing the excitement of the moment with clarity.
To keep track of my usage, I’ve relied on handy apps like Digital Wellbeing for my daily activities, the Google Fi app to monitor data usage, and the Settings app to manage battery life. It’s been a real workhorse, helping me stay organized and productive throughout my busy days.
What are the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s best features?
New anti-reflective, anti-scratch screen and brighter display — Never underestimate the value of improving the display of a smartphone for enhancing the overall pleasure of using the device every day.
To be clear, the Galaxy S Ultra line has always had excellent screens because Samsung’s sister company Samsung Display is one of the world’s leading display makers and so Samsung phones always have access to the latest technologies.
But this year is the biggest leap I’ve ever seen year-to-year in the display for a flagship Samsung phone. And not just about the quality of the image on the display itself, although that’s better with a peak brightness that has jumped from 1,750 nits to 2,600 nits, smoother movements and animations, strong color accuracy and vibrance, and excellent performance outdoors in full sunlight.
Even more impressive is the new anti-reflective, anti-scratch glass that Corning calls “Gorilla Armor.” The anti-reflective properties actually reminded me of Samsung’s S95D OLED TV from CES 2024, which features a very impressive anti-glare screen that doesn’t lose any of its vibrance. The same can be said for the S24 Ultra, and that makes its screen more enjoyable to use than the iPhone 15 Pro Max and other flagship phones.
Regarding anti-scratch properties, during my review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I left it unprotected for just 30 minutes upon receiving the review unit, and it acquired a scratch on the screen that remains visible. In contrast, I utilized the S24 Ultra without a case for three days, and it remained immaculate, devoid of any blemish. Even after extensive use, there’s no discernible scratch anywhere on the screen.
To be clear, the Galaxy S Ultra line has always had excellent screens because Samsung’s sister company Samsung Display is one of the world’s leading display makers and so Samsung phones always have access to the latest technologies.
Enhanced camera system with updated zoom capability — The 10x optical zoom has been a standout feature of the Galaxy S Ultra series since its introduction in the 2020 model. Therefore, I was initially disappointed when Samsung announced that the S24 Ultra would scale back the optical zoom to 5x. I’ve cherished the 10x zoom for years as it consistently delivered sharper, clearer zoom photos compared to anything achievable with an iPhone.
AI integration in collaboration with Google — I won’t delve deeply into the new Galaxy AI features since my colleague June Wan has already extensively covered them in his review of the standard Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. However, I must note that I was pleasantly surprised by the practicality and overall effectiveness of these features (though they’re not flawless), encompassing Circle, Search, Live Translation, Notes summarization, and Generative AI photo editing.
Final Thoughts
While the new Galaxy AI features flaunt a dazzling array of tricks, setting the Galaxy S24 Ultra apart as one of the most advanced smartphones today, they’re not the clincher for purchasing this device. With similar capabilities expected to grace other phones in 2024 thanks to Google’s software prowess, the real allure of the $1,300 investment lies in Samsung’s exclusive hardware features and refinements. This year, more than ever, the camera system stands out as a jack-of-all-trades.
Since its debut in 2020, Samsung’s Galaxy S Ultra series has reigned as the epitome of Android flagship phones. The 2024 rendition, building upon the S-Pen integration and Galaxy Note-esque design from 2022, maintains this prestigious status. While it may resemble its predecessor at first glance, a closer look reveals a plethora of enhancements: from the revamped display and sleeker screen profile to the upgraded cameras and premium titanium construction.
While the standard Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus models adopt rounded edges akin to iPhones, the S24 Ultra boldly retains Samsung’s squareness, distinguishing it among Android flagships and setting it apart from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Despite a marginally larger screen size on paper, the Ultra’s square corners maximize usable space, contrasting with the iPhone’s rounded corners which diminish screen real estate. This practical design choice underscores the Ultra’s superiority in everyday usability and aesthetic distinctiveness.
Indeed, the S24 Ultra embodies a refreshing practicality, seamlessly enhancing everyday usability in myriad unexpected ways. In an era characterized by rapid smartphone evolution, such commendations underscore its exceptional prowess.
