Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

Trade in Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

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The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra aims to reclaim its position as one of the top phones by introducing features that the iPhone 15 Pro Max lacks. This includes a range of Galaxy AI features capable of tasks like auto-summarizing notes, rearranging subjects in photos, and translating phone conversations in real time.

Being a strong advocate for the potential of AI in our phones, and having experienced the Pixel 8 Pro’s extensive AI-assisted features, it’s evident that AI is poised to lead the next revolution in mobile devices. Not surprisingly, the Galaxy S24 Ultra positions itself as the AI-centric phone to beat in 2024. From the intuitive Circle to Search feature that can identify plants in my backyard to Chat Assist, which automatically refines the tone of my messages, these Galaxy AI features aim to simplify life.

However, the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a $1,299 price tag, $100 more than the Galaxy S23 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max. This accompanies a significant change in Samsung’s phone – the removal of the 10x optical camera in favor of a less powerful but sharper 50MP 5x telephoto lens. Typically, successive devices are expected to offer longer telephoto ranges, so Galaxy AI needs to demonstrate that its software can compensate for the perceived lack of major hardware upgrades.

In my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review, I will delve into the practicality of the phone’s new Galaxy AI features, compare its new cameras to its predecessor and competitors, assess its battery life, and ultimately determine its worthiness of the price tag.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: SPECIFICATIONS

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: RELEASE DATE AND PRICE

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Preorders for the Galaxy S24 Ultra are currently open, and the phone is scheduled for general release on January 31. The base model starts at $1,299, featuring 256GB of storage. Opting for the 512GB or 1TB models will incur additional costs of $1,419 and $1,659, respectively.

While the price tag is substantial, it’s not the highest Samsung has charged for a non-folding phone; for comparison, the Galaxy S20 Ultra launched at $1,399 four years ago. However, this may offer little consolation to those currently debating whether to invest an extra $100 in the Galaxy S24 Ultra over the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

To alleviate the cost, Samsung provides preorder deals for the Galaxy S24, such as a complimentary upgrade to the next storage tier. Additionally, Samsung offers trade-in credits, allowing users to receive a discounted price on the S24 Ultra by trading in their current device.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: DESIGN

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At first glance, the design alterations to the Galaxy S24 Ultra may not immediately catch your eye. The most significant change lies in the shift from the previous model’s armor aluminum frame to a titanium one, enhancing durability and contributing to a lighter overall device. While the difference in weight between the S24 Ultra’s 8.22 ounces and the S23 Ultra’s 8.25 ounces may seem marginal on paper, the new phone feels less dense in hand.

Another noteworthy adjustment marks the end of an era for the series: the departure from a curved screen. The S24 Ultra opts for a flat display that seamlessly integrates with the edges of the titanium frame. The rationale behind this change is linked to the S Pen, as the flatter panel reduces the likelihood of the stylus slipping over the edge. However, it’s worth noting that users often employ cases with older, curvier Galaxy S Ultra models to prevent such occurrences.

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The final subtle alteration involves a claimed 42% reduction in bezel thickness, as per Samsung’s calculations. This change is particularly noticeable in the lower part of the display, while the remaining bezels closely resemble those of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. One somewhat overlooked disappointment lies in the lack of significant enhancements to the S Pen. Given that the S Pen is a standout feature that sets the Ultra apart, many were anticipating new additions to this aspect.

In terms of design, my feelings are neither strongly positive nor negative. However, a notable positive is the array of color options available, such as the titanium violet variant of the reviewed unit. Additionally, the launch includes several cases that add extra utility to the phone, including the S-View Wallet Case with a preview window.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: DISPLAY

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Over the years, my emphasis on the resolution of flagship displays has diminished, as today’s QHD+ resolution is more than satisfactory. The Galaxy S24 Ultra adheres to this standard, featuring a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x display that boasts rich detail, exceptional viewing angles, and vibrant colors, bringing YouTube trailers like Furiosa to life with striking clarity.

Certainly, all those features wouldn’t hold much significance if the new device fails to outshine its predecessor in terms of brightness. Samsung, in the case of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, claims an impressive rated brightness of 2,600 nits. However, I tend to be skeptical of such claims, as they often don’t align with real-world performance. Consequently, I place more emphasis on actual testing.

The intriguing part is that the Galaxy S23 Ultra achieved a peak brightness of 1,225 nits in Tom’s Guide’s display benchmark testing. The Galaxy S24 Ultra surpasses this, reaching an impressive 1,353 nits in our testing when displaying HDR content.

This improvement is noteworthy, as I encountered no issues watching YouTube clips or playing mobile games outdoors, even with direct sunlight. While Samsung has maintained the S24 Ultra’s display refresh rate at 1-120Hz, which is standard for flagship devices today, some may argue that Samsung missed an opportunity to further differentiate itself by increasing the refresh rate to, for example, 144Hz.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: GALAXY AI

I’m well aware of Samsung’s history of introducing novel features into its phones. Do you remember the eye-scrolling feature of the Galaxy S4 or the ticker display with the Samsung Continuum? I wouldn’t blame you if those slipped from memory, emphasizing the point that hyped features don’t always become memorable.

There’s little doubt that AI is becoming integral to various aspects of our lives, including our phones. Samsung is taking a proactive approach to provide users with new capabilities through Galaxy AI. Interestingly, many of these AI-assisted features are developed in collaboration with Google, raising questions about who is truly driving the innovations.

It’s worth noting that these AI features may evolve, as Samsung’s website disclaimer mentions, “Galaxy AI features will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.” I’ve had the opportunity to test all the included Galaxy AI features on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and here are my impressions.

Circle to Search

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Much like everyone else, I find it frustrating to switch between Chrome and, for instance, Instagram when I’m trying to look up a specific type of cat from one of the many cat Instagram accounts I follow.

Circle to Search addresses this inconvenience by eliminating the need to switch between apps. A long press of the home button activates the feature, allowing me to circle the object or subject with my finger. Subsequently, the corresponding search results page appears as an overlay. The best part? I can perform searches without leaving the app I’m using, and it works seamlessly in every app.

For instance, when I came across a photo of an unfamiliar car posted by a friend on Instagram, I used Circle to Search on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. I could select the car within the app, and it instantly showed me search results to identify the vehicle.

In another scenario, I took a photo of a statue at Bryant Park, and Circle to Search not only identified the statue but also provided its location details with Google Maps.

Chat Assist

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Integrated into the Samsung keyboard, Chat Assist is designed to assist you in crafting messages with the appropriate tone. Consider it an assistant capable of tailoring your messages to convey a professional tone when composing emails to your boss or a more playful tone when chatting with close friends.

The feature functions as intended, and I’ve even found myself chuckling at Chat Assist’s professional tone on several occasions because it tends to make me sound overly formal. While I appreciate the range of tone options for messages, I don’t see it as a feature I would use frequently.

Live Translate

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Live Translate stands out as one of the more practical Galaxy AI features I’ve had the opportunity to test. This feature transforms the Galaxy S24 Ultra into a translator during phone calls and supports 13 different languages right from the start.

Live Translate showcases the power of artificial intelligence by providing real-time translations with minimal delay. During my test with a colleague who speaks Spanish, I noticed that the feature works best when the conversation is kept basic or formal, as it can stumble when the tone is too casual. While there is a slight latency that can make the conversation sound a bit confusing, I appreciate how the translated conversation is displayed on the S24 Ultra screen. Speaking too quickly can also be a challenge, as the AI needs time to understand the spoken words and then translate them appropriately for the person on the other end of the line. Despite not being flawless, Live Translate lays a solid foundation for making real-time translation more practical.

It’s worth noting that Live Translate also functions within third-party apps like WhatsApp. The inclusion of real-time translation in third-party apps, a feature previously available only on Google’s Pixel phones, is a welcome addition on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This eliminates the need to copy and paste messages into another translation app, and it even translates outgoing messages.

Notes AI Features

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I struggle with note-taking, so I’m excited about the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s ability to assist me with its new Notes AI features, particularly the formatting and summarization capabilities.

The autoformat feature impressively adds bulleted headlines and concise descriptions to my messy and disorganized notes, resulting in a cleaner and more organized list. I’m amazed at how the AI feature in Notes intelligently gathers all my notes and formats them, creating the illusion that I had a personal secretary compile the information.

I put this feature to the test during a recent Zoom meeting discussing an upcoming product release. Despite struggling to keep up with note-taking, and even with my disorganized and incomplete notes, I was pleasantly surprised at how Galaxy AI organized my notes, complete with bold titles and corresponding bullet points. The availability of various formatting options is another plus, saving me additional time when I need to present the information in an email.

Samsung Voice Recorder

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I’ve also tested another useful Galaxy AI feature, specifically the new AI capabilities integrated into Samsung’s Voice Recorder app. Similar to the Recorder app on Google’s Pixel phones, the Samsung Voice Recorder app can transcribe recordings, identify individual speakers, and even provide a summarized TLDR-style bullet list of the entire recording.

For individuals who often participate in work meetings or conduct interviews, this feature is incredibly valuable as it streamlines the workflow. When using the S24 Ultra’s Voice Recorder, I no longer have to spend time listening to the entire recording and manually typing out verbatim transcripts — I can let Galaxy AI handle it all, and I’m delighted with the time it saves me.

In another virtual meeting with colleagues, Galaxy AI successfully differentiated between the various callers and provided a decent transcription of their words. While some words were not transcribed accurately, I attribute this more to the speakerphone’s quality with its shrill tone.

After completing the recording, I utilized the Summary function to generate a formatted overview, which I then added to Samsung Notes. I find it works quite well, and in my opinion, it offers more functionality than the voice recording app on the Pixel 8 Pro.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: CAMERAS

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Undoubtedly, the most significant point of contention surrounding the Galaxy S24 Ultra revolves around Samsung’s choice to replace the 10x optical zoom camera from the S23 Ultra with a 5x optical zoom camera. While this change might lead some to believe that the new camera setup is technically inferior, it’s crucial to note that Samsung opted for a higher resolution sensor—a 50MP sensor, to be precise—trading off the optical range.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra maintains its status as a powerful camera phone, featuring a primary 200MP camera with 60% larger pixels, a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 10MP telephoto lens with a 3x optical zoom, and the aforementioned new 50MP telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom.

This camera can still achieve 10x zoom by capturing an image and then zooming in, as the resolution decreases to 12MP. Samsung asserts that this approach on the S24 Ultra can deliver the same optical-quality performance as its predecessor, which doesn’t come as a surprise. We’ve seen similar implementations on other phones yielding excellent zooming results, such as the iPhone 15’s 2x telephoto zoom.

Before delving into the details of the new telephoto camera and evaluating whether Samsung’s decision was misguided, let’s explore how the phone’s other cameras perform in various scenarios, including side-by-side comparisons with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

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Camera samples from Galaxy S24 Ultra’s main camera.

Commencing with the main camera, discerning substantial changes from the S23 Ultra is challenging. Abundant details, vivid colors, and adept HDR performance of the S24 Ultra contribute to even out highlights and shadows. While the results are satisfactory, there’s a lingering expectation for a more pronounced departure from last year’s model.

When it comes to video recording, the S24 Ultra’s 5x telephoto camera produces commendable results, effectively matching the level of detail captured by the S23 Ultra’s 10x optical telephoto cameras. The footage of a sign recorded at 20x zoom illustrates similar fine lines in the wood grain in both instances.

Beyond the impressive zoom capabilities, there isn’t a substantial difference in the videos recorded at 4K 30fps. As a videographer, I am considering using the Galaxy S24 Ultra as my backup video camera due to its robust video performance, the utility of its zoom cameras, and the availability of manual controls for fine-tuning settings.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: AI PHOTO & VIDEO FEATURES

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Beyond the camera hardware, the S24 Ultra continues to provide features tailored to photo and video enthusiasts. It stands out as one of the few phones capable of shooting 8K video, and it offers comprehensive manual controls for video. However, the most significant software enhancements for the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s cameras revolve around the innovative Galaxy AI editing tools, which serve as a valuable resource for enhancing and editing photos.

These AI-assisted features create the impression of having a personal photo editor dedicated to enhancing the visual appeal of my photos. Much like the other Galaxy AI features I’ve outlined, these photo editing tools contribute to time-saving. Having tested them, here’s my assessment.

Edit Suggestions

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AI-powered Edit Suggestion takes the images I captured and tweaks them by analyzing the photo, offering suggestions for potential edits. The most noteworthy option is the capability to effortlessly remove reflections from glass surfaces, a task that could be laborious if done manually (assuming one knows how to do it). With Edit Suggestion, I simply tap the option, and after a brief analysis of the photo, the S24 Ultra’s software effectively eliminates the reflections. It does an impressive job of identifying and addressing these reflections.

I tested this feature while leaning against a window that prominently displayed my reflection. With a quick tap, the S24 Ultra automatically removed the reflections. While it performs well, there’s a small strip where it misses, and it’s slightly more defined than the rest of the reflections.

Generative Edit

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Taking inspiration from Google, the S24 Ultra introduces its own set of Magic Editor tools for photo manipulation, with the new feature called Generative Edit.

In this mode, I can choose a subject and then reposition or resize it anywhere in the photo, and the phone fills in the blank spaces using generative AI. This functionality works seamlessly and is convincing in its execution, as the generated elements maintain a realistic appearance in the photo.

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While the Galaxy S24 Ultra takes several seconds to process, the end result of Generative Edit looks outstanding. It’s challenging for me to discern that AI was used to resize the mug in the photo above, especially given how well the background spaces were filled. Knowing how painstaking this task is manually, I find it impressive how easily Galaxy AI achieves this.

Furthermore, Generative Edit can straighten crooked photos, using generative AI to realistically compose blank spaces in the image. It’s worth noting that using these generative edit features will automatically apply a watermark to the photo indicating it’s manipulated with AI, both visibly and in the metadata.

Instant Slow-mo

I’m inclined to use the new Instant Slow-mo feature more than the rest because it can convert any video I record into a slow-motion clip. While there’s technically a dedicated slow-motion mode, this one uses Galaxy AI to throw in additional frames that produce the slow-motion effect. From what I’ve inspected by analyzing each frame, it appears as though AI is blending two frames together to produce the slow-motion effect.

And you know what? It’s almost hard to tell the difference. There are some minor oddities when I inspect the details, like some ghosting/blurring effects to areas of the video that have a lot of motion, but I think Samsung manages to pull it off without the video looking too unrealistic.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

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All versions of the Galaxy S24 Ultra are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the chipset built with AI in mind. It’s technically fresh off the press, and I’ve seen it put up astounding numbers in various benchmark tests in other phones like the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro. But somehow, it’s pulling in better results with our Galaxy S24 Ultra benchmark testing.

Take, for example, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s GeekBench 6 single and multi scores, which at 2,308 and 7,283 respectively, easily exceed the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Meanwhile, the S24 Ultra also beats the A17 Pro chip powering the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the multicore test — the first time we’ve seen an Android device do that to one of Apple’s phones.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s mighty power is on display in just about every interaction I have on the phone. From swiping between the home screen to switching between two apps, there’s always this sense of fluidness with its actions.

Even more impressive is the phone’s graphics processing performance, where the Galaxy S24 Ultra sets records with 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited test. Its 20,627 score is a leap better than the next closest device to match it, the Asus ROG Phone 8, followed by the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra.

I’ve seen the S24 Ultra’s hyper-smooth and intensive graphics processing prowess with games that support ray tracing — like Diablo Immortal. Small details like how shadows change due to lighting conditions show how everything reacts so smoothly on the Galaxy S24 Ultra while these same animations and effects tend to downgrade the frame rate when I play it on the OnePlus Open and its older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 silicon.

Typically, these types of games often cause other phones to heat up, but Samsung redesigned the cooling system on the Galaxy S24 Ultra so that the phone stays cool even after I’ve had extended gaming sessions with Diablo Immortal. The phone’s new optimal thermal control system features a vapor chamber that’s almost double the size of the one on the S23 Ultra.

However, the only oddity we’ve discovered is the new Samsung phone’s slower video rendering time with Adobe Premiere Rush. Even though its time of 42 seconds isn’t too shabby, the Galaxy S24 Ultra trails the faster times put up by its rivals — including last year’s S23 Ultra.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: BATTERY LIFE AND CHARGING

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Not only is the Galaxy S24 Ultra one of the most powerful phones ever created, but it’s leading the way for flagships in the battery department. What’s shocking here is that Samsung keeps the same 5,000 mAh battery as before, which means that the differentiating factor here is in the improved power efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

I consider myself a power user, especially when I put in some decent times throughout the day playing games on my phone. That’s why I’m overjoyed that the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the juice to get me through a solid work day without the need of topping up at some point.

In our battery benchmark testing, the S24 Ultra lasts 16 hours and 45 minutes — which is nearly 3.5 hours longer than the S23 Ultra. The only other flagship rival that comes close to matching its endurance is the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s time of 14 hours and 2 seconds. As of this writing, the Galaxy S24 Ultra finds itself in the top 3 of our best phone battery life list, topped only by two gaming phones specifically geared toward long play sessions.

I’m stoked about the battery life boost because the S24 Ultra’s wired and wireless charging speeds haven’t changed from previous models. We’re still getting 45W wired charging, which manages to charge the phone to 71% in 30 minutes. That’s technically better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 41% with a 20W Apple charger, but it would’ve been better for Samsung to upgrade this feature, and maybe give the 15W wireless charging speed a boost, too.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: SOFTWARE

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Samsung has paid the most attention to Galaxy AI on the new S24 phones, while OneUI 6.1 running on top of Android 14 only gets a few minor visual changes — namely its new AI generated wallpapers. There’s still an incredible set of tools that cater to productivity, but I was hoping to see more improvements directed toward the S Pen and Samsung DeX.

It’s a big missed opportunity in my opinion because these are two features that made the Galaxy Ultra series unique among flagships. I still use the S Pen for navigating around and using its as a hover tool in Chrome, while DeX continues to be my backup when I happen to leave my laptop at work. I would’ve loved to see Galaxy AI features extended to Dex or the S Pen somehow.

Despite this, the One UI software still has everything I need to get work done. It might not be the most elegant looking interface, but at least it has more functionality than the average phone. Samsung also promises seven years of security updates and seven years of OS updates, which matches the same generous support found with the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: VERDICT

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There’s a lot to say about Samsung’s approach to artificial intelligence with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. From my experience, the Galaxy AI capabilities are fairly intuitive to use and save me a lot of time, — exactly what AI’s supposed to do for us. Features such as Circle to Search, Generative Edit, Instant Slow-mo, and Note Assist all feel polished, while others such as Live Translate could benefit from more machine learning. Regardless, the Galaxy S24 Ultra proves that AI is here for the long haul.

Yet, I’m a little disappointed that the S24 Ultra camera performance doesn’t have the same dramatic improvement I’ve seen from past updates. Samsung’s choice to drop the 10x optical camera for a 5x one is the most glaring and controversial change, a downgrade I hope doesn’t happen ever again.

But despite this, the S24 Ultra has marked improvements to its processing power and battery life — two key areas I look at with any phone. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is not just better, it sets the benchmark for all other phone releases in 2024.

Knowing that, the increase in price to $1,299 does complicate matters a bit. Given that I feel the majority of its AI features are practical, combined with its performance and battery gains, it’s still worth getting the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you’re in the market for a super phone or upgrading from a handset that’s a few years older.

Source: Tom’s Guide