Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: The Everything Android Phone

Worth When Reviewed

From $1,299.99

Finest Costs Immediately: Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely

Samsung releases dozens of telephones each single 12 months however until you need a high-end foldable, it’s the Galaxy S collection that will get a lot of the consideration. 

And inside that vary, the Extremely mannequin is the one Samsung actually desires you to purchase. This can be a Samsung smartphone at full throttle, providing nearly each conceivable characteristic individuals are searching for in a handset. 

That’s actually true of the S24 Extremely, which provides a brand new chipset, titanium construct and a number of other AI options to the combination, to not point out a brand new and improved dedication to software program updates.  

However is that sufficient to make it definitely worth the eye-watering price ticket? For some folks, the reply might be a convincing sure. And from utilizing it as my major telephone for every week, I can perceive why. 

Design & Construct

• Massive, heavy construct
• New titanium body
• Built-in S Pen

Samsung has modified the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s design in a few main methods, however you wouldn’t understand it from trying behind the telephone. Aesthetically, it’s nearly similar to final 12 months’s S23 Extremely, which itself was a near-carbon copy of the S22 Extremely. 

Whereas this can be irritating to some, I’m happy to see Samsung follow this tried-and-tested design. Offered you don’t thoughts an enormous 6.8-inch telephone, it’s nonetheless snug to make use of. 

A matt coating on the glass again helps the telephone keep away from selecting up seen fingerprint smudges and different filth. But it surely nonetheless seems to be and feels very premium, even on the muted gray mannequin I examined. Black (proven beneath), violet and yellow variations are additionally broadly out there, plus blue, inexperienced and orange if you happen to go direct to Samsung. 

All seven colors are prefixed with the phrase ‘titanium’, hinting on the body of the gadget. The Extremely is the one S24 telephone to incorporate titanium, although you could be conscious that it’s not the primary smartphone: Apple launched it on the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max in 2023 to a lot fanfare.  

Titanium is heavier than the standard aluminium, however its power means it is advisable use much less of it. That ought to permit the telephone to be lighter, however at 233g, there’s no vital distinction in comparison with the 234g S23 Extremely. Each are among the many heaviest non-foldable telephones you should purchase. 

So, is the titanium price it? Not on first impressions however it ought to assist with sturdiness over time, one thing which seems to be a high precedence. 

The S24 Extremely is exceptionally properly made, with Corning’s robust Gorilla Glass on each the back and front. Trade commonplace Victus 2 ensures wonderful drop and scratch safety, however Gorilla Armor on the entrance is a brand new top-of-the-line model that guarantees even higher sturdiness and decreased reflections. On the time of writing, it’s unique to this telephone. 

Alongside an IP68 ranking (water-resistant as much as 1.5m, totally protected in opposition to mud), the S24 Extremely is clearly constructed to final.  

Is the titanium price it? Not on first impressions

Nonetheless, I’d nonetheless suggest utilizing the S24 Extremely with a case. There isn’t one included within the field, and I used to be nonetheless fearful about it sliding off a desk or out of my pocket at occasions. 

You don’t have to fret about dropping the S Pen stylus, although. It’s securely docked into the underside of the telephone, and requires a agency click on to be launched. The design of the S Pen is unchanged, however it’s nonetheless snug to make use of and nice for issues like handwritten notes or digital signatures. 

Subsequent to it is the trio of USB-C port, speaker grille and SIM tray, with clicky energy and quantity controls of their standard positions on the appropriate aspect. 

It’s additionally price mentioning the vibration motor, which is one of the best I’ve used on any telephone. The refined haptic suggestions makes every thing from calls and notifications to alarms and even typing really feel richer and extra satisfying. 

Display & Audio system

• New flat show
• Wonderful 6.8-inch 120Hz display screen
• Spectacular stereo audio system

After years of experimenting with curved screens on its top-of-the-line telephones, the S24 Extremely has a very flat show. I didn’t have a selected drawback with the refined curves of the S23 Extremely, however this new panel seems to be implausible. 

There are not any modifications to its core specs however there didn’t have to be. The 6.8-inch AMOLED show continues to be the most effective you’ll discover on any smartphone. Its default 1080p decision already gives wonderful element, however the Quad HD+ (3120 x 1440) setting takes readability to the subsequent degree. 

As an OLED display screen, you too can anticipate wealthy, vibrant colors and deep blacks, making it superb for content material consumption. In the event you watch a variety of movies in your telephone, that is the gadget to get. 

It’s additionally an LTPO show, which means the refresh fee can routinely regulate from 1-120Hz relying on what you’re doing, serving to to preserve battery life. It feels as easy and fluid as ever, although a set 60Hz is your solely different to this adaptive setting. I’d have appreciated the choice to manually set it at 90- or 120Hz. 

With the ‘Recreation Booster’ mode activated, contact sampling may attain 240Hz. This makes the show much more conscious of your contact, which makes an actual distinction in some cell video games. 

Samsung says the S24 Extremely can attain an unbelievable peak brightness of 2600 nits, through an ‘Further brightness’ toggle in Settings when you flip off auto brightness. However even with out it, I had no drawback utilizing the telephone outside – even on a vibrant sunny day. The decreased reflectivity of the brand new Gorilla Armor glass actually helps right here. 

With its new flat design, the S24 Extremely’s show is one of the best it’s ever been. And with a fair smaller digital camera cut-out and a slimmer bezel, the entrance of the gadget is now just about all display screen. 

With its new flat design, the S24 Extremely’s show is one of the best it’s ever been

For one of the best audio expertise, you’ll wish to join earbuds or headphones. However the built-in audio system are surprisingly good.  

A downward-firing grille combines with the earpiece for a stereo setup, which delivers a full-bodied sound with a pleasant hit of bass. Even at max quantity, there’s no audible distortion. 

Specs & Efficiency

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset
• Very good all-round efficiency
• Not less than 256GB non-expandable storage

The Galaxy S24 Extremely is powered by what’s often called the ‘Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy’. Basically, that is an overclocked model of Qualcomm’s newest flagship chip that’s been particularly designed for Samsung telephones. 

Within the UK and most different markets, it’s the one S24 telephone to get this chip; the common and Plus fashions use Samsung’s personal Exynos 2400 for Galaxy as a substitute. However within the US, Canada, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is present in all three. 

We haven’t run benchmarks on the opposite S24 telephones but, so can’t provide direct comparisons when it comes to efficiency. However there’s no doubting that the 8 Gen 3 is an immensely succesful chipset, and alongside 12GB of RAM on all configurations, efficiency is just elegant. 

My testing included a variety of net searching, messaging and electronic mail, plus taking a variety of photographs and the occasional name. As anticipated, the telephone dealt with all of it with ease, even when shortly switching between duties. 

Efficiency is just elegant

The robust efficiency extends to cell gaming, the place the telephone the likes of Name of Obligation: Cellular, PUBG Cellular and Asphalt 9 have been all a pleasure to play. Nonetheless, this is likely one of the few occasions the place you’ll discover the again of the telephone getting heat to the contact – generally, the cooling system may be very efficient. 

The bottom S24 Extremely mannequin I examined has 256GB of storage, which is lots for most individuals however 512GB and 1TB variations are additionally out there, although there’s no help for expandable storage. 

The telephone is properly future proofed when it comes to connectivity. Alongside the standard 5G, you additionally get the most recent Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 requirements, plus NFC for cell funds.  

Samsung Galaxy S24 benchmarks

As you possibly can see from these benchmarks, the S24 Extremely is a contender for essentially the most highly effective Android telephone you should purchase. But it surely does have robust competitors. 

Cameras

• Nice quad rear cameras
• 5x telephoto replaces 10x
• Stable selfie digital camera

Samsung has made one vital change to the digital camera {hardware} on the S24 Extremely. The 10Mp 10x telephoto lens is gone, changed by a brand new 50Mp sensor that solely gives 5x optical zoom. 

Whereas that is technically a downgrade, it makes much more sense in the true world. Beforehand, transferring between 3x zoom (utilizing the 10Mp telephoto, which continues to be right here) and 10x left you counting on an inferior digital zoom, which has a noticeable decline in high quality. 

Now, photographs as much as 5x can reap the benefits of optical zoom, whereas even at 10x the standard continues to be superb. This new setup makes me more likely to take photographs at as much as 10x. The 100x ‘House Zoom’ continues to be right here, however solely helpful if it is advisable see textual content that’s miles away. 

Samsung calls the brand new setup ‘Quad Telephoto’. Listed here are a few of the zoom photographs I took, starting from 0.6x to 100x: 

The principle digital camera continues to be right here, however it doesn’t take 200Mp photographs by default. As a substitute, a course of known as pixel binning (the place 16 pixels are mixed into one) produces 12.5Mp stills, however I’d suggest most individuals go away it like this. A 200Mp photograph takes up rather more storage in trade for less than a tiny enchancment to picture high quality. 

In good lighting, stills from this lens are superb. There’s an outstanding degree of element and dynamic vary is great. As standard for Samsung, the colourful colors aren’t fairly true to life, however they do pop in a manner meaning modifying usually isn’t required. Even a dreary winter morning within the UK appeared rather more inviting than it truly was so it comes all the way down to style. 

Is that this one of the best digital camera setup of any smartphone? Nearly, however not fairly

The principle sensor is equally properly suited to structure and panorama photographs, however I loved switching to the 12Mp ultrawide for the latter. Its 120˚ discipline of view lets you seize rather more within the picture, and there’s solely a slight drop-off in high quality vs the primary digital camera. 

Like most telephones today, the S24 Extremely is reliant on software program for the portrait mode. But it surely does a fairly good job with edge detection, and having the ability to regulate the extent of background blur later is a pleasant contact. 

The evening mode routinely activates in low-light environments, rising the publicity time to seize extra mild. I’m impressed with the way in which it might probably brighten key areas of a picture with out introducing an excessive amount of noise or making it look synthetic. 

A macro mode can also be enabled once you get very near a topic. It’s a bit hit-and-miss, however actually no worse than the photographs you get from these 2Mp macro lenses which might be usually added to telephones to bump digital camera depend.  

On the entrance, the 12Mp digital camera can nonetheless take superb selfies, dealing with the publicity of topics and backgrounds properly.  

Right here’s a choice of digital camera samples I took: 

By way of video, the S24 Extremely can file at as much as 8K. However the default 1080p at 30fps nonetheless delivers clear, crisp footage, whereas OIS (optical picture stabilisation) throughout the primary and each telephoto lenses means video stays easy whilst you’re transferring round. 

So, is that this one of the best digital camera setup of any smartphone? Nearly, however not fairly. The S24 Extremely is undoubtedly the most effective digital camera telephones you should purchase, however I’d nonetheless belief the Pixel 8 Professional to take nice level and shoot photographs extra usually. It’s actually up there, although.  

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• Wonderful battery life
• Gradual 45W charging

The Galaxy S24 Extremely’s 5000mAh battery doesn’t sound like something particular, particularly with a big 6.8-inch show to energy. However battery life is one thing you received’t want to fret about. 

On the times the place I used to be principally at house, I used to be in a position to get nearly three full days on a single cost. That was with solely round two hours of utilization per day, however it was refreshing to not must cost the telephone each evening.  

Battery life is one thing you received’t want to fret about

Nonetheless, even on these demanding days the place you’re utilizing a variety of cell knowledge, excessive brightness and site knowledge, the S24 Extremely will nonetheless comfortably final a full day. The one exception to that’s if you happen to spent a number of hours enjoying video games. 

For many of my testing time, I used the telephone on the default FHD+ decision and adaptive 120Hz refresh fee. However even when bumping it as much as QHD+ for the PCMark battery check (which simulates real-world utilization), a rating of 14 hours and 14 minutes ranks it as one of many longest-lasting telephones we’ve tried. 

Nonetheless, charging stays one of the vital disappointing issues concerning the S24 Extremely. It’s nonetheless caught at 45W, regardless of many Android rivals providing greater than double that, and there’s no cable or energy brick included within the field.  

Utilizing one I had at house, it reached 30% in quarter-hour and 63% after half an hour. A full cost took round 70 minutes, which seems like an age once you’re used to true quick charging. 

The telephone helps 15W Qi wi-fi charging, however it’s unusual to see no help for the brand new Qi 2 commonplace. 4.5W reverse wi-fi charging continues to be right here, permitting you to cost another person’s telephone. 

Software program & Apps

• One UI 6.1 over Android 14
• Intelligent Galaxy AI options
• Seven years of updates

There’s loads to speak about in terms of software program, however let’s begin with the primary query: are these new Galaxy AI options any good? 

The quick reply is sure. AI doesn’t remodel the consumer expertise on the S24 Extremely, however it introduces a number of small however vital high quality of life enhancements that I’m glad to have the ability to name upon. 

Circle to Search is my favorite, bringing the ability of Google Lens to any display screen in your telephone. Fairly than having to make use of your digital camera or take a screenshot, you possibly can simply circle one thing (together with your finger or the S Pen) and immediately seek for it on Google. 

AI additionally helps take translation to the subsequent degree. I’m genuinely impressed with the Dwell Translate characteristic inside calls, which interprets between languages in actual time and supplies a transcript alongside it.  

It really works no matter which telephone the opposite individual is utilizing, although I can’t confirm the accuracy of its translations. Simply be sure to allow it in settings first.  

Elsewhere, Transcript Help makes audio recordings rather more helpful, permitting you to create summaries, translate into considered one of 35 languages and export to Samsung Notes, the place a variety of Observe Help instruments can assist with automated formatting. 

Photograph modifying additionally will get a giant enhance. The S24 telephones get Pixel 8-style skills to take away, transfer and resize objects, plus fill within the lacking components of a picture once you straighten it with out cropping in. Not every thing works completely, however when it does, it’s mightily spectacular. 

I actually just like the video slow-mo characteristic too, which lets you play any video taken with the telephone in gradual movement just by holding on the display screen whereas it’s enjoying. Saving a replica is a bit trickier as it is advisable faucet the pencil icon after which regulate the velocity. 

Not one of the AI options are groundbreaking, however they mix to make an actual distinction day-to-day.  

The large concern is that Samsung is just guaranteeing free use of those options till the top of 2025 (in line with its phrases and situations), after which you could have to pay for AI. Hopefully Samsung decides in opposition to this however it’s doable. 

That’d be an actual disgrace, particularly now the S24 Extremely might be supported with seven main OS updates and 7 years of software program updates. This class-leading promise matches Google’s Pixel 8 and eight Professional and means the telephone might be supported till at the least 2031. 

Not one of the AI options are groundbreaking, however they mix to make an actual distinction day-to-day

As for the remainder of the software program expertise, it’s principally extra of the identical. Samsung’s One UI 6.1 pores and skin (working on the S24 Extremely at launch) is sort of completely different to the model of Android 14 you’ll discover on Pixel telephones, however I truly desire it. 

Fast settings and notifications are properly thought out and provide in depth customisation, whereas all of Samsung’s personal apps are designed to profit from the massive show. I simply want a few of the ones I didn’t wish to use may very well be uninstalled. 

The S24 Extremely additionally has a pair extra software program methods up its sleeve. One is full help for the S Pen stylus, together with the flexibility to create notes from the lock display screen and convert them into textual content through Samsung Notes.  

The opposite is Samsung DeX, which turns the telephone right into a desktop-style interface when linked to a suitable monitor. It’s not fairly as purposeful as Home windows 11, however might change a laptop computer for some folks. 

Worth & Availability

As anticipated, the Galaxy S24 Extremely doesn’t come low-cost. It begins at £1,249/$1,299.99 for the 256GB mannequin I examined, however 512GB (£1,349/$1,419.99) and 1TB (£1,549/$1,659.99) variations are additionally out there.  

It’s out there to pre-order direct from Samsung UK and Samsung US, but in addition through a wide range of third-party retailers and carriers. Most are providing double the storage for a similar value if you happen to purchase one earlier than the 31 January launch date.

See the complete vary of choices our separate article on the place to pre-order. Listed here are one of the best contract offers within the UK and US proper now:

When shopping for outright, the S24 Extremely is likely one of the costliest non-foldable telephones you should purchase. The iPhone 15 Professional Max (from £1,199/$1,199) is the obvious different, whereas the Asus ROG Cellphone 8 Professional (from £1,099/$1,199.99) is equally costly. 

However most of the finest smartphones you should purchase are considerably extra inexpensive. That features the common S24 and S24+, however loads of options are unique to the Extremely.

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely?

The Galaxy S24 Extremely would possibly look loads just like the S23 Extremely, however it’s a big improve in additional methods than one.  

Fairly than being gimmicks, the brand new Galaxy AI options truly make it simpler to speak or get issues carried out. Alongside a brand new dedication to seven years of updates, the entire software program expertise is one of the best it’s ever been on a Samsung telephone. 

{Hardware} is top-drawer too, with very good Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 efficiency, 5 superb cameras and a beautiful show. S Pen help and nice battery life are the icing on the cake, even when charging continues to be frustratingly slowly.  

The S24 Extremely is essentially the most full handset you should purchase, so that you received’t be disillusioned if you happen to can afford to take action. 

Specs

• 6.8-inch, 120Hz, WQHD+, LTPO AMOLED show 
• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset 
• 12GB RAM 
• 256/512GB/1TB storage 
• 5000mAh battery 
• 45W wired charging 
• 15W wi-fi charging 
• 200Mp f/1.7 major digital camera 
• 12Mp f/2.2 120˚  ultrawide digital camera 
• 50Mp f/3.4 5x optical telephoto digital camera 
• 10Mp f/2.4 3x optical telephoto digital camera 
• 12Mp f/2.2 entrance going through digital camera 
• 5G 
• Wi-Fi 7 
• Bluetooth 5.3 
• IP68 
• Gorilla Glass Armor (entrance), Gorilla Glass (again), titanium body 
• S Pen (built-in) 
• 162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm 
• 233g 
• Android 14 with One UI 6.1 and Galaxy AI 
• Seven years of software program updates