Unveiling the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Detailed Review
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as a cutting-edge entry in the mobile world, featuring a robust 6.8" display and an integrated S Pen for seamless navigation and creativity . Engineered with the strength of titanium, this device also introduces improved scratch resistance, marking a significant leap in durability for Samsung Galaxy users. Additionally, it's crafted to withstand the elements, boasting IP68 water and dust resistance . This smartphone isn't just about superior build; it dives deep into personalization with a spectrum of online exclusive colors, including shades like Titanium Blue and Titanium Yellow, allowing users to shop Samsung with a style that truly reflects their personality .
As technology advances, so do the expectations for our devices to be smarter and more intuitive. The Galaxy S24 Ultra doesn't disappoint, presenting Galaxy AI features that include Circle to Search, Live Translate, and Generative Edit, enriching the Samsung mobile experience . These pioneering features are designed not just to enhance daily tasks but also to redefine the way we interact with our devices, making the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra a noteworthy contender in the ever-competitive mobile arena. Whether it's shopping for the latest Samsung Galaxy S accessories or exploring apps that elevate the user experience, this smartphone stands ready to deliver exceptional performance and innovation.
Design and Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra introduces significant advancements in design and build quality that set a new standard in the smartphone industry:
- Material and Durability:
- The frame of the Galaxy S24 Ultra is constructed from titanium, a material known for its superior strength and lightweight properties compared to the aluminum used in previous models . This change not only enhances the phone's durability but also gives it a premium feel.
- For screen protection, Samsung has opted for Corning's latest innovation, Gorilla Glass Armor, ensuring the display is robust against scratches and impacts .
- Design Aesthetics:
- A notable design shift is the flat display, moving away from the curved edges of its predecessor. This not only improves the usability for S Pen navigation but also makes the application of screen protectors more effective.
- The back of the device boasts a smooth satin-like finish, providing a sleek and sophisticated look while also supporting the S Pen storage within the phone .
- The camera setup has been redesigned with separated rings for each lens and squared-off corners, contributing to a more refined and distinctive appearance.
- Innovations in Utility and Sustainability:
- The S24 Ultra features an enhanced cooling system with a larger vapor chamber and additional thermal insulation layers, optimizing performance during intensive tasks .
- Emphasizing sustainability, the device incorporates more recycled materials, including cobalt in the battery and rare earth elements in the speakers .
- It also includes an ultrasonic fingerprint reader for enhanced security and an IP68 rated ingress protection for both the device and the S Pen, ensuring resistance against dust and water submersion .
These improvements not only reflect Samsung's commitment to innovation but also cater to the practical needs and preferences of users, making the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra a remarkable example of modern smartphone design and engineering.
Display and Visual Experience
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's display is a marvel in mobile technology, offering users an unparalleled visual experience. Here's a detailed look at its standout features:
- Screen Specifications:
- Size: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, ensuring vivid and sharp visuals.
- Resolution: QHD+ with 3088 x 1440 pixels, providing a detailed and immersive viewing experience .
- Refresh Rate: An adaptive 120Hz, capable of adjusting to conserve battery life while maintaining smooth visuals .
- Brightness: Peaks at 2,600 nits, making it 40% brighter than its predecessor and ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions.
- Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for up to four times tougher resistance against scratches and impacts, coupled with an anti-glare coating to reduce reflections
- Advanced Display Technologies:
- HDR 10 Plus Support: Enhances video content with more vivid colors and deeper contrasts, applicable while browsing through the gallery or Google Photos.
- LTPO Technology: Allows for a more adaptive refresh rate, dialing down to save energy without compromising on the smoothness of the display.
- User Experience Enhancements:
- The flat display design, as opposed to curved, coupled with even slimmer bezels, offers an expanded and more immersive viewing area.
- An under-display fingerprint reader provides quick and accurate authentication, enhancing both security and convenience .
This combination of advanced display features not only sets the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra apart in terms of visual quality but also contributes to its overall efficiency and user experience.
Camera Capabilities
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's camera system is a powerhouse designed for both professional photographers and photography enthusiasts alike. Its capabilities are broken down as follows:
- Main Camera Features:
- 200-megapixel Wide Camera: Delivers photos with exceptional detail, vibrant colors, and a broad dynamic range, making every shot magazine-worthy .
- Nightography and Low-Light Photography: Enhanced by 1.6x larger pixels and a wider Tele OIS, the Nightography feature optimizes settings for breathtaking low-light captures, including detailed 5x Night Zoom photos.
- Video Recording Excellence: Supports up to 8K at 30 FPS, ensuring high-quality video capture with the versatility of 8K at 24/30fps, 4K at 30/60/120fps, and super HDR preview across various apps .
- Zoom and Telephoto Capabilities:
- 50MP 5x Optical Zoom Camera: Replaces the traditional 10MP telephoto lens, offering superior optical quality zoom at 2x, 3x, 5x, and even up to 10x, ensuring crisp and clear details .
- Stability and Sharpness: The 5x telephoto camera's wider OIS angle correction enhances stability, crucial for nighttime stills and videos, providing more detail and sharpness from dawn to dusk.
- Front Camera and Additional Features:
- 12MP Dual Pixel Selfie Camera: Features a 12MP sensor with a 13mm equivalent f/2.2-aperture lens, ensuring high-quality selfies and front-facing videos
- Dual Recording and AI Technology: The Galaxy S24 Ultra supports Dual Recording for capturing moments simultaneously with front and back cameras, powered by advanced AI for a tailored photography experience
These specifications underscore the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's position as a top contender in mobile photography, offering a versatile and powerful camera system for every occasion.
Performance and Processing Power
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra showcases impressive performance and processing power, driven by its advanced hardware and optimized software capabilities:
- Processor and Memory:
- At its core, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with 12GB of RAM, ensuring swift and seamless multitasking and app performance
- The device alternates between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the Exynos 2400 processor, depending on the region, with the Exynos model built on a more efficient 3nm process technology, promising a 20% and 35% improvement in single-core and multi-core performance, respectively
- Performance Benchmarks:
- In Geekbench 6, the Galaxy S24 Ultra edges out the iPhone 15 Pro in multicore tests, showcasing its superior processing capability
- It shines in graphics performance as well, with a notable lead in 3DMark's Wild Life Unlimited test compared to its Apple counterpart
- However, it shows room for improvement in Adobe Premiere Rush video transcode tests, where it lags behind the iPhone models
- Advanced Features:
- The device's AI engine has seen significant upgrades, being 2.5 times faster than its predecessor, enhancing features like camera AI, app recommendations, and more
- It supports UFS 4.0 flash storage, providing incredibly fast data read and write speeds, beneficial for gaming and high-resolution video playback
- The Galaxy S24 Ultra benefits from a more advanced passive cooling system, featuring a larger vapor chamber to manage heat more effectively during intensive tasks
Battery Life and Charging
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's battery life and charging capabilities are essential aspects for users who prioritize endurance and quick power-ups. Here's a breakdown of its performance:
- Battery Capacity and Life:
- The device houses a 5,000 mAh battery, aligning with its predecessor's capacity, aiming for longevity in usage
- Moderate usage results in an impressive 56 hours of battery life, with autonomy sub-scores highlighting its performance in different scenarios: Home/Office: 121, On the go: 112, and Calibrated: 152
- However, heavier use might see the battery dip to 30% by day's end, indicating variability based on usage intensity
- Charging Speed and Options:
- Wired charging supports up to 45W, although the maximum speed requires a specific adapter and cable not included in the box
- Wireless charging capabilities are rated at 15W, with the addition of reverse wireless charging for powering other devices
- Real-world tests show the 45W charger achieving a full charge in just over 2 minutes faster than the 25W option, demonstrating the benefits of faster charging
- User Experiences:
- Initial reports from users like Billymayn highlighted concerns over short screen-on times; however, battery performance notably improved after a few days of usage
- Some users noted the device heating up with certain third-party chargers, suggesting variability in charging experiences
This segment underscores the Galaxy S24 Ultra's balanced approach to battery life and charging, offering robust capacity, fast charging options, and wireless convenience, albeit with some considerations for optimal performance.
Additional Features and Innovations
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra introduces a suite of additional features and innovations that significantly enhance user experience and productivity:
- Galaxy AI Innovations:
- Circle to Search: Enables users to circle items on their screen to instantly fetch Google Search results, simplifying the process of finding information
- Live Translate: Offers real-time translations during phone calls or texting, breaking down language barriers in communication
- Note Assist: Automatically formats notes into a clear, easy-to-review summary, optimizing note-taking efficiency
- Generative Edit: Employs AI to resize and retouch photos, intelligently filling in empty spaces and offering editing suggestions like object resizing and reflection removal
- Audio and Pen Features:
- Equipped with stereo speakers, the device delivers good loudness and sound quality, enriching multimedia consumption
- The S Pen, seamlessly integrated into the phone's design, enhances productivity and creativity, allowing for precise input and navigation
- Software and Security:
- Running on OneUI 6.1 based on Android 14, the Galaxy S24 Ultra promises up to seven years of OS and security updates, ensuring longevity and up-to-date protection
- This version of OneUI introduces advanced features like real-time two-way call translation, live voice and text translation, conversation transcription, and AI-based chat assist, further enhancing the device's utility in everyday tasks
FAQs
What are the standout features of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts the thinnest bezels that are completely symmetrical, enhancing the device's aesthetic appeal. It features an exceptionally bright display that can reach up to 2600 nits with Vision Booster technology, ensuring easy readability under any lighting conditions. Additionally, its flat edge-to-edge display design allows for the S Pen to be used across the entire screen for the first time.
Should I consider upgrading to the S24 Ultra from the S24?
Opting for the Galaxy S24 Ultra over the standard S24 is a wise decision if your budget allows. The S24 Ultra offers a larger screen, superior battery performance, an advanced camera system, increased storage capacity, and higher build quality. In summary, the Ultra model surpasses its less expensive counterpart in every significant aspect.
How water-resistant is the Samsung S24 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, along with the S24 and S24+, carries an IP68 rating. This indicates that the device has the highest level of dust protection (6) and can withstand water immersion up to 5 feet deep for a maximum of 30 minutes (8).
Does the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra support wireless charging?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series, including the S24 Ultra, is equipped with both wired and wireless charging capabilities. For more information on the variety of Quick charging options available and instructions on how to utilize Wireless Power Sharing, you can refer to the user guide provided with the device.
