Galaxy S24 Ultra review

Everything You Want, Packed Into One Phone — Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung's flagship for 2024 embraces what it means to be an Ultra device, aiming to transcend the typical smartphone category. It offers more than any other phone and improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way, though you'll pay a premium for these advancements. The titanium frame and Gorilla Armor glass are durable, but the phone remains big and heavy at 232g – the new materials didn't help with that.

Many of the best new features are hidden beneath Samsung's confusing software, which buries exciting tools under layers of menus and settings. This phone is seriously tempting, and if you're looking for a device that can handle anything, it's worth exploring other phone reviews to compare your options.

A Display That's Flat, Bright, and Easy to See — Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Its 6.8-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz display works with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy and 12GB of memory. Storage choices are 256GB–1TB, so buyers should leave enough room for apps, photos, and system updates.

Performance and Battery That Last All Day — Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor delivers exceptional performance, matching the best in the industry. While Samsung promises seven years of software and security updates, ensuring the phone will stay current for years, the AI features are a mixed bag. Tools like Circle to Search and Chat Assist are helpful, but some can feel sluggish and cause delays.

The camera system is a mixed bag too: the main 200MP sensor and ultrawide take excellent photos, and the 50MP 5x telephoto is sharp, but it's less detailed than last year's 10x optical zoom. The versatile dual telephoto system is still a highlight, and for most users, the camera improvements over last year are clear. If you want a phone that can do nearly everything, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a highly recommended purchase – just be prepared for some software quirks and a high price.

Cameras That Take Great Pictures – With One Trade-Off — Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to impress with its camera system, which delivers noticeably better photo quality than last year's model. The main 200MP sensor captures rich, detailed images in various lighting conditions, while the ultrawide and dual telephoto lenses give you plenty of framing options. However, Samsung made one controversial change: it swapped the previous 10x optical zoom for a 50MP 5x telephoto sensor. While this new lens produces sharper images at 5x, it lacks the reach of its predecessor.

The AI-powered zoom helps fill the gap, but purists may miss the dedicated long-range optical capability. Still, for most everyday shots, this camera array is hard to beat, and Samsung's scene optimization helps make your photos pop without overdoing it. If you want to see how this camera system compares to other flagships, you can use our phone finder tool.

In the video department, the phone continues to deliver smooth, stable footage. Low-light performance has also seen a bump, meaning you can grab usable shots even when the sun goes down. Overall, the S24 Ultra takes great pictures, though the telephoto change means you might need to rely on digital zoom more than before.

AI Tricks That Can Help, But Sometimes Get in the Way — Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is packed with Galaxy AI features that aim to simplify your day. From Circle to Search, which lets you quickly identify objects by drawing on the screen, to Chat Assist that suggests better tones for your messages, these tools can genuinely save time. Real-time translation during phone calls and auto-summarizing notes are other standout additions. However, the experience isn't always smooth. Many of these useful features are buried deep within Samsung's software, hidden under layers of menus and settings that can be frustrating to navigate.

Additionally, some AI functions cause noticeable performance lags, making the phone feel slower when processing these tasks. It's a mixed bag: the AI works well when you can find it, but the interface often gets in the way of the magic. If you're deciding between this phone and a more streamlined competitor, you can run a side-by-side comparison to see how their software experiences differ.

Over time, Samsung has continued to refine these AI features through updates, making them more useful. Yet, the core issue remains: the software could be much more intuitive. For now, power users who enjoy digging into settings will find plenty to love, while casual users may feel overwhelmed by the clutter.

Is the Galaxy S24 Ultra right for you? — Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: The Best Phone for Power Users

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a phone that truly delivers on its Ultra name. It offers better battery life and faster performance than any previous Galaxy, easily lasting more than a day of heavy use. The 6.8-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display is bright and smooth, and the titanium frame gives it a premium feel, though the phone remains heavy at 232 grams. The S Pen is still a welcome addition for note-taking and precision work.

On the software side, Samsung promises seven years of updates, making this a device you can rely on for years. However, the phone's $1,299 starting price is steep, and the weight plus the cluttered interface are real downsides. The cameras are fantastic overall, but the switch to a 5x telephoto may disappoint zoom lovers. AI features are genuinely helpful, but they're often hidden and can slow things down. For power users who want the most capable Android phone available, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a top choice, provided you can overlook its quirks and its price tag.