Samsung has released its new phone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and many are wondering if it’s worth upgrading from the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The premium Android market has many options, and the Galaxy S series has consistently delivered high-performance phones with great features. The new Galaxy S24 Ultra follows in this tradition, but is it a significant improvement over its predecessor?
Samsung’s design philosophy has been consistent over the years, with minimal changes from one flagship to another. The Galaxy S24 Ultra continues this trend, with only minor design adjustments. The most notable change is the new titanium frame, replacing the aluminum alloy used in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung claims this change enhances the device’s longevity, but there’s no concrete evidence supporting this.
Another design change is the shift to a flatter display, reducing the curvature of the edges. Samsung suggests that this adjustment improves readability and productivity. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also introduces Gorilla Glass Armor for durability, claiming to be four times more resistant to scratches and with a 75% reduction in reflection.
Despite these changes, the overall dimensions of the phone are slightly altered, making it taller and less broad. The Galaxy S24 Ultra maintains its weight despite the shift to titanium, showcasing a commitment to a lightweight design. Additional color options, including yellow, gray, and violet, are introduced alongside the existing black variants.
The display sees significant improvements, with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 1,750 nits. This enhanced brightness is especially beneficial for viewing HDR content. The Galaxy S24 Ultra maintains its 5,000mAh battery, now with 50% recycled cobalt. However, real-life improvements to battery life may not be substantial.
The phone continues to support 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Reverse power sharing allows the Galaxy S24 Ultra to charge accessories like Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watch at 3W. The charging capabilities remain similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
One of the most significant changes comes in the hardware department, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra being powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This makes it the first phone globally to launch with this chip. The new chipset promises a 30% performance boost and a 25% improvement in graphics performance over its predecessor. Samsung also collaborates with game studios to mainstream ray tracing in Android games.
The camera setup sees notable improvements, featuring a 200MP sensor that is 60% larger than the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s ISOCELL HP2. The larger sensor allows for more light, enhancing low-light photography. Samsung emphasizes the improved optical image stabilization (OIS) for smoother images. The AI capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 enhance the camera’s performance, providing features like the “ProVisual Engine” and “Generative Edit.”
The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with the latest One UI 6 update based on Android 14, offering visual enhancements to Samsung’s custom Android interface. Samsung assures seven years of Android generation and security updates, ensuring prolonged software support for the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
