Design and Build: Titanium Arrives
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s most immediate physical change is its new titanium frame, a material that has become a buzzword in the smartphone industry. This isn’t just a marketing gimmick; the switch from the Armor Aluminum of the S23 Ultra offers a tangible, albeit subtle, improvement. The device feels more dense and premium in the hand, with a satisfying heft that conveys durability. Crucially, despite the material being stronger, the weight saving is minimal—the S24 Ultra is only one gram lighter than its predecessor. The real benefit is the enhanced scratch and dent resistance of the frame, promising a more pristine look over time.
Samsung has also made a monumental design decision by finally flattening the screen. The beloved curved edges of the Ultra lineage are gone, replaced by a completely flat Gorilla Glass Victus 2 display. This is a win for practicality. It eliminates accidental touches, makes screen protectors infinitely easier to apply, and provides a superior experience for using the S Pen near the edges. The overall design language remains distinctly Galaxy Ultra, with the iconic camera array and squared-off corners, but this shift to a flat screen is the most significant ergonomic refinement in years.
Display: Peak Smartphone Screen Gets Smarter
The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display remains, on paper, largely unchanged from the S23 Ultra. It features the same stunning QHD+ resolution, adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (1-120Hz), and incredible peak brightness levels that make it easily viewable in direct sunlight. In daily use, it is as flawless as ever, with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and buttery-smooth scrolling.
The true evolution here is not in the hardware but in the software, with the new Anti-Reflection Screen Coating. This is a game-changer for usability. By drastically cutting down on glare, the screen becomes significantly more readable outdoors and in brightly lit indoor environments. It makes watching videos or reading articles a more immersive experience, as you see more of the content and less of your own reflection. This, combined with a new Vividness slider in the settings that allows you to customize the color profile, shows Samsung is listening to power users and refining an already best-in-class viewing experience.
Performance and Software: An AI Powerhouse
At its core, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset provides a predictable but blistering performance uplift. Everyday tasks, intensive multitasking, and demanding gaming are handled with absolute ease. This level of power has become table stakes for flagship phones, but the S24 Ultra’s thermal management ensures sustained performance during long sessions without significant throttling.
The real headline, however, is Galaxy AI. This suite of on-device and cloud-based AI tools is woven throughout the user experience.
- Circle to Search with Google: A long-press on the home button or navigation bar lets you circle, highlight, or tap anything on the screen for instant Google search results. It’s incredibly fast and eliminates the need for screenshotting and switching apps.
- Live Translate: This feature breaks down language barriers in real-time during phone calls, providing two-way audio and text translation. It works completely on-device, ensuring privacy.
- Chat Assist: It can help you refine the tone of your messages in various apps, making them sound more professional, casual, or polite.
- Note Assist & Transcript Assist: These are productivity powerhouses. Note Assist can automatically format and summarize your notes in Samsung Notes, while Transcript Assist can transcribe and even summarize audio recordings, distinguishing between different speakers.
While some of these features may feel like gimmicks at first, their practical utility quickly becomes apparent, especially for students and professionals. Samsung’s commitment to seven years of major OS and security updates future-proofs this investment significantly.
Camera System: Refined, Not Revolutionized
The camera hardware sees a headline-grabbing change: the 10x optical periscope telephoto lens (with 10x optical zoom) has been replaced by a new 50MP 5x optical periscope telephoto lens. On paper, this seems like a downgrade for long-range zoom purists. In practice, it’s a strategic trade-off that results in superior image quality in the vast majority of shooting scenarios.
The 5x lens captures significantly more detail and light than the old 10x lens. This means photos at 5x and even 10x (which is now a high-resolution crop) are sharper, with less noise. The 10x digital zoom quality is now comparable to the old 10x optical zoom, while anything beyond that benefits from the higher megapixel sensor. The S24 Ultra now excels in the 3x to 10x zoom range, which is far more commonly used than extreme distances.
The 200MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and 10x 3x telephoto remain, all producing excellent results. The major improvements are computational. Super HDR allows you to see a preview of your final photo’s dynamic range in the viewfinder before you even hit the shutter. Low-light performance sees incremental gains, with better color accuracy and noise reduction. The new ProVisual Engine enhances portrait mode with better edge detection and more natural bokeh, and it powers a suite of generative AI editing tools that let you intelligently erase, move, or resize objects in your photos after the fact. Video recording also gets a boost with enhanced digital stabilization and high-resolution 4K/120fps recording on all lenses.
Battery Life and S Pen
Battery life is a cornerstone of the Ultra experience, and the S24 Ultra does not disappoint. The 5,000 mAh cell, combined with the efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, comfortably delivers a full day of heavy use, with many users achieving a day and a half with moderate usage. It’s a workhorse that eliminates battery anxiety. While the 45W wired charging speed hasn’t changed, it feels adequate rather than class-leading, especially when compared to competitors.
The S Pen continues to be the Ultra’s unique differentiator. The latency and precision are top-tier, making it an indispensable tool for note-takers, artists, and anyone who prefers precise input. Its integration with Galaxy AI for instant translation and summarization in Samsung Notes adds a new layer of functionality, reinforcing its value beyond mere navigation.
Verdict: Who Should Upgrade?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most refined, intelligent, and capable Android smartphone on the market. It is a iterative masterpiece that polishes every aspect of its predecessor to a mirror shine. The combination of a flat screen, titanium build, industry-leading software support, and the transformative potential of Galaxy AI creates a formidable package.
- For S23 Ultra Users: The upgrade is harder to justify. The core experience is very similar. The compelling reasons would be a strong desire for the flat screen, the anti-reflective coating, the new 5x telephoto camera for your shooting style, or a deep need for the Galaxy AI features. For most, the S23 Ultra remains exceptionally powerful.
- For S22 Ultra and Older Users: This is a significant and worthy upgrade. You will notice massive improvements in battery life, performance, thermal management, camera versatility and quality, and the overall software experience. The jump in value is substantial.
- For Note Users or Power Users New to Samsung: The S24 Ultra is the ultimate embodiment of the Note philosophy. It is the definitive productivity powerhouse and creative canvas, now supercharged with AI. It is an easy recommendation for anyone seeking the absolute best and most complete large-screen Android experience, with a long-term update promise that matches its premium price tag.