Introducing the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra — a true game-changer in the world of smartphones! Packed with the revolutionary Galaxy AI, this device brings a perfect blend of innovation and intelligence. In this review, we’ll take you through the exciting features of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, from its stellar camera capabilities to its sleek design. Join us on a journey to discover why the Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out, not just in hardware prowess, but also in the transformative power of advanced artificial intelligence. Let’s dive into the details that make this smartphone a true standout!
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Specs
- 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (1Hz-120Hz)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor for Galaxy
- 12GB RAM
- Cameras:
- 12MP ultra-wide + 200MP main + 10MP 3x telephoto + 50MP 5x telephoto
- 12MP front camera
- 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired Super Fast Charging 2.0
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- Colors: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Samsung.com exclusive colors — Titanium Green, Titanium Orange, and Titanium Blue
- One UI 6.1 based on Android 14
- Pricing
- 1TB: RM7,799
- 512GB: RM6,799
- 256GB: RM6,299
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra maintains a similar appearance to its predecessor, albeit with some subtle tweaks. Notably, the S24 Ultra features a titanium frame, although it doesn’t exhibit a substantial weight reduction compared to the S23 Ultra, given the latter’s lightweight aluminum frame. The titanium frame is enhanced with a sandblasted finish, contributing to improved resistance against fingerprints when compared to the iPhone 15 Pro.
Moving forward, the Galaxy S24 Ultra introduces a flat screen, while retaining 2.5D edges. The shadow effect caused by the curved screen is now gone too. The flat screen enhances the phone’s comfort in hand, providing a secure grip and minimizing the risk of accidental touches. Interestingly, Samsung has reverted to a flat screen after a decade, showcasing a renewed focus on ergonomic design.
In contrast to its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra showcases a slimmer bottom bezel, potentially making it one of the narrowest bezels in the current market. Despite this enhancement, given its substantial size, the phone may still pose some discomfort when held with one hand. In such instances, the S24+ and S24 could be preferable options, as they are both lighter and more compact.
Display
The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a variable refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor. Interestingly, Samsung did not delve into the screen details during the Galaxy Unpacked event. However, the Corning Gorilla Armor deserves recognition as it effectively reduces reflectance by up to 75%. This reduction enhances display readability and mitigates screen reflections in diverse environments. The result is an improved viewing experience with deeper blacks and cleaner whites, adding an extra dimension to the visual appeal.
The S24 Ultra introduces a new Always On Display feature that now includes the ability to showcase the lock screen wallpaper. While its brightness level closely aligns with the iPhone 15 Pro, the S24 Ultra gains an advantage with deeper blacks, courtesy of the anti-reflective coating. It’s worth noting that utilizing this feature may result in increased battery consumption compared to the default Always On Display. However, it seems that this feature is still not fully optimized with the notification system.
The screen also supports adaptive color tone, which adjusts colors and white balance based on ambient lighting conditions to make colors appear more natural in different environments.
Performance
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor designed for Galaxy, coupled with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and offers storage options of up to 1TB through UFS 4.0 technology. The review unit here is the base model, equipped with 256GB of storage. When it comes to performance, the S24 Ultra stands on par with many flagship devices, showcasing superior thermal management and power consumption.
One UI 6.1 with Galaxy AI
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra runs on One UI 6.1 on top of Android 14, and Galaxy AI is the key focus of the entire S24 series. In case you didn’t know, Galaxy AI is the hub for numerous cloud-based and device-based AI features that seamlessly integrate with various applications, amplifying the overall functionality and user experience.
Circle to Search with Google
Circle to Search with Google is an intelligent search feature, co-developed by Samsung and Google. When you are enjoying something on social media or the web, you can directly search for something by drawing a circle around it without any search terms. Also, it provides follow-up questions and advanced results by understanding your search context.
Interpreter
Samsung has its own Interpreter app that allows live translation on the spot face-to-face with a person who doesn’t speak your language.
Call Assist
If you are making a phone call with a foreigner who doesn’t speak your language, the Live Translation feature provides real-time language translation via live call. This innovative feature offers real-time language translation during live phone calls, eliminating the need for third-party apps. Simply download the necessary language pack in the settings, make a call using the phone app, and activate the translation by pressing the call assist button. With this functionality, effective communication is instantly enabled across diverse languages, making language barriers a thing of the past.
Writing Assist
The same translation feature also works on text. Chat Translation translates incoming messages in real-time across multiple languages. You can also chat like a local when replying the messages without any 3rd party apps needed.
The Style & Grammar feature tailors the tone to your situation, effortless to write professionally, being fun and young on messaging, or having the best hashtag suggestion for your SNS post. AI helps to draft your message/even proper email when you type a few keywords.
These features work on multiple messaging apps — Samsung Messages, Google Message, KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, Instagram (DM), Google Chat, Signal, Line Messenger, Tango, and Instagram.
Note Assist
Note Assist comes with a bunch of features that will only work on the Samsung Notes app. It supports Handwriting Auto Spacing & Alignment, Auto Format, Summarize & Translation, Correct Spelling, and Summary & Classification on Note Cover.
Transcript Assist
Transcript Assist automatically turns your voice recording into text instantly for better information documentation. It also comes with a Speaker Label, which will segregate all speakers while transcribing your recording to text for better structure and tracing. Furthermore, Summarize & Translation will further summarize your recordings or translate them to any supported languages for better understanding.
Browsing Assist
Browsing Assist supports Summarize & Translation, which will summarize important points straight from the webpage or even translate to a different language. However, it only works on the Samsung Internet browser.
Generative Wallpaper
Generative Wallpaper creates your unique wallpaper from themes and prompts via Prompt & sub-design keywords.
Generative Edit
Generative Edit is a photo editing-related feature built into the Gallery app. Background Fill allows you to adjust the angle of images, and generate a new background to fill in the gaps around the edges.
Object Re-composition lets you move, remove, or resize people and objects, then fill in any gaps in the background.
Edit Suggestion suggests what the AI can do on the particular picture. Example: Portrait effect, Remove reflection, Remove shadows, Remove moire, Background effect, Long exposure, Remaster, and Object eraser.
When viewing a video, long press the screen to trigger the Instant Slow-Mo feature for AI to generate additional frames based on movements so that you can smoothly slow down exciting moments.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra maintains its impressive quad-camera system but introduces some noteworthy changes. The setup now comprises a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a substantial 200MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 10MP 3x telephoto lens with OIS, and a new 50MP 5x telephoto lens, also featuring OIS.
Notably, the previous 10MP 10x telephoto lens has been replaced by the 50MP 5x telephoto lens. It’s important to clarify that a decrease in optical zoom from 10x to 5x doesn’t necessarily imply a reduction in quality. In practical terms, the optimal zoom range for most users typically falls within the 1x to 3x range. While a higher zoom capacity can be beneficial for specific niche scenarios, such as concerts or fan meetups, the transition from 10x to 5x may not significantly impact the everyday usage experience for the majority of users. The key takeaway is that more zoom doesn’t always equate to better performance, and the adjustment in optical zoom should be evaluated based on practical needs rather than just numerical specifications.
In terms of camera performance, the 5x telephoto lens on the S24 Ultra demonstrates comparable results to the S23 Ultra in the 10x zoom range. Notably, the S24 Ultra outperforms its predecessor by a significant margin in the zoom range between 5x to 10x. In low-light conditions, the S24 Ultra excels, thanks to its larger aperture and enhanced sensor, delivering noticeably superior results compared to its predecessor. This improvement in low-light performance contributes to an overall enhanced photography experience on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. As for other cameras, the S24 Ultra performs more of the same compared to its predecessor if not better.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S24 Ultra packs a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired Super Fast Charging 2.0, the same as the S23 Ultra. Overall, battery life is better thanks to the more power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor for Galaxy. I was able to get two days of battery life easily without needing to worry when the battery would turn red.
Final Words
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is now available in four colors — Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow. There are also three Samsung.com exclusive colors — Titanium Green, Titanium Orange, and Titanium Blue. Pricing as below:
- 1TB: RM7,799
- 512GB: RM6,799
- 256GB: RM6,299
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has left an indelible mark as a standout smartphone, impressing on multiple fronts. The incorporation of a titanium frame not only enhances the device’s premium feel but also contributes to its overall durability. The introduction of a sleek flat screen with thin bezels, complemented by the anti-reflective properties of Corning Gorilla Armor, delivers an immersive visual experience with enhanced readability in various environments.
The Galaxy AI features take center stage, showcasing Samsung’s commitment to innovative technology. From the Live Translation feature making real-time language conversations seamless to the practicality of Galaxy AI in various applications, the phone demonstrates a keen focus on user-centric advancements.
Moreover, the S24 Ultra’s remarkable battery life, paired with the power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor for Galaxy, ensures extended usage without compromising performance. This longevity allows users to navigate through their daily tasks with confidence, free from the constant concern of a dwindling battery. Oh! Samsung even offers software updates for seven years as part of the company’s environmental sustainability efforts.
In essence, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out not only for its powerful hardware and cutting-edge features but also for its thoughtful design choices, making it a compelling choice for users seeking a premium, intelligent, and enduring smartphone experience.
Yay
- Titanium frame
- Top-class display
- Great performance
- Impressive battery life
Nay
- Sharp edges design
- No 1-inch camera sensor for its main camera
- The starting price is a huge leap over its predecessor