Is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra just hype or the real deal? I’ve been using the phone as my main smartphone for 7 days, and I have some surprising things to share with you.
Design
Let’s talk about the design of the S24 Ultra. Everything has a flatter and less rounded look, and yes, this includes the S Pen, which has a square design now.
At the back of the phone, there’s a nice matte finish. In fact, the entire S24 series, including the S24 and the S24+, has this matte finish. It is the first for the series, which means we are saying goodbye to glossy finishes and, of course, attracting fingerprints as well.
The sides of the phone are matte and textured as well, which is great for grip, especially considering the phone’s large size. Now, the variant that I have is the Titanium Gray, and it’s not just the name, as the material is also used in the phone’s construction. However, this titanium finish is only unique to the S24 Ultra, as the other two stick with aluminum.
Using it daily, I found that the phone feels great in the hand thanks to its finish, especially the sides. Another plus is that it doesn’t heat up significantly during use, and this is likely due to the titanium material.
For those who love the S Pen, it is here to stay as a key feature of the Ultra variant, where it even matches the phone’s color finish, which is a nice touch.
Display
So, the display for Samsung’s flagship smartphone has always been the strongest feature for so long, and this phone is no different. The screen is completely flat and has perfectly uniform bezels, a first for a Samsung smartphone.
The screen responsiveness is immediately noticeable, especially when using the S Pen. It feels smooth and precise, which is also great for note-taking or even drawing as well.
Now, one of my favorite features is the peak brightness of 2,600 nits because during my weeks of using the phone, I spent a lot of time outdoors, and the screen was always visible even in direct sunlight.
The automatic brightness adjustment has also been flawless, quickly adapting when moving from bright sunlight to shade and even going from the basement parking to outdoors as well.
Watching videos on the phone is an amazing experience. The moment I unboxed the phone, I set the resolution to the maximum QHD+ for an even better viewing experience.
The playback specification on Netflix includes Widevine L1 with HDR10 capabilities. Although it does lack Dolby Vision, the contrast ratio and the overall dynamic range are still top-notch.
A common issue that I had with previous Samsung flagships was that, even though the screen was tough and could withstand cracks, it was very prone to micro-scratches even after a few days of use.
However, I am pleased to tell you that this new Corning Gorilla Glass Armor on the S24 Ultra lives up to its promise. Even after weeks of use, the screen looks as good as new, and the reduction of screen glare is remarkable, significantly better than other phones I have used, which is a real testament to the quality of the glass used.
Hardware
The S24 Ultra has some impressive upgrades in terms of performance and hardware. Now, let’s start with the phone’s base model RAM. It has been upgraded to 12GB from last year’s 8GB, and it is about time because in 2024, this should be standard for every smartphone.
The speakers have seen some physical changes too. They now deliver clearer sound, particularly in the mids and highs. This enhances the experience of listening to music better through the phone speakers.
Connectivity-wise, the phone supports Wi-Fi 7, and even though I do not have a Wi-Fi 7 modem yet, I did notice that app downloads were significantly faster compared to other smartphones I have used.
Next, the powerhouse inside the device is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 For Galaxy. This isn’t just any chip; it is the “For Galaxy” variant, meaning that it is overclocked specifically for this phone, making a very noticeable difference in performance.
During my daily use, everything from downloading apps to the responsiveness of the camera shutter button was top-notch. The phone also manages heat very well, even when I was out in the sun shooting 8K video, and it didn’t overheat.
The battery life really surprised me in a good way, of course. Because I’ve been using the highest QHD+ resolution with dark mode enabled and with heavy usage – watching videos, taking photos, and more – the phone lasted an average of 6 hours of screen-on time at 10% battery with dark mode turned on.
This is quite impressive because just imagine how much more battery life you can get by scaling down the resolution to FHD+. But you know what, just use QHD+, my friends.
Software
The software experience on this new One UI 6.1 based on Android 14 has been lovely. In my opinion, it even surpassed Google’s own stock experience.
The new drop-down menu is nicely organized, and the brightness slider is immediately visible and easy to adjust, which is a small but very appreciated detail.
Another feature I’m really enjoying is the Dynamic Live Widgets. Take the clock widget, for instance. It moves in real-time and allows for customization in terms of the clock type, colors, and even opacity.
There’s even a dedicated camera widget, which is handy if you frequently use the rear portrait mode, for example, where I can set it to open on that mode directly from the widget. And, of course, there’s more customization that you can do with the new One UI, making it the best Android skin that I’ve tested thus far.
Galaxy AI
Next, let’s talk about the Galaxy AI feature that has been a game-changer for me. I’ve been extensively using the Circle To Search with Google and the Note Assist.
Since I’ve been working on my productivity desk setup video, the Circle To Search With Google is brilliant. You don’t even need to take a photo; just circle the item in the camera app’s viewfinder, and you can get accurate search results instantly. It has been right on the mark every time that I’ve used it.
Then there’s the Note Assist, which is fantastic for S Pen users like me. It converts handwritten notes into proper conversations thanks to the writing style feature built inside the keyboard. It has been incredibly useful while scripting this video or even for quickly sending messages on WhatsApp, which saves me a lot of time on typing something longer if I want to grab dinner at a particular place and time.
Another standout feature is the Instant Slow-Mo where it uses AI to create slow-motion effects in videos, even if it wasn’t shot on a high frame rate or in slow-motion mode. The results have been impressive; it’s like watching your videos back in real time but with a cinematic slow-motion effect.
Then the Advanced Photo Editor AI has been great during my one week of use, whether removing or repositioning objects in a photo.
I am planning to do a dedicated video on how to use these Galaxy AI features, especially for things like the Call Assist for real-time translation. I also want to take photos on the streets of KL and demonstrate the real-time edits when using the Advanced Photo Editor AI, so stay tuned for that.
Camera
Finally, let’s look at the camera’s performance.
The camera setup on the S24 Ultra includes the Main, Ultrawide and one of the Telephoto lenses that are the same as last year’s model.
So, if you are a fan of the photos in my previous S23 Ultra review, you will be as pleased with the results from these lenses this year, as they consistently deliver great shots.
Of course, I was really excited to test out this new Quad Tele Zoom Lens, which features a 50MP sensor and offers up to 5x optical zoom. Yes, the results were impressive; whether it’s 4K or 8K, the 5x optical zoom delivers clear and stabilized footage.
Speaking of 8K video, the image stabilization for the main lens is so effective; it’s almost like using a gimbal, even when you’re walking fast.
Then, portrait mode also benefits from this 5x zoom capability, capturing an amazing and detailed image.
Samsung’s Nightography feature is also available in the 5x zoom lenses, producing excellent results in low-light conditions.
And I have to say that when I looked through the camera app’s 5x zoom, it looked dark, but after I took the shot, it was clear as day.
So, yes, all in all, both the front and the rear cameras of the S24 Ultra have been top-notch. The images are well-balanced in color, and the new 5x optical zoom lens significantly improved over last year’s model. It is a better fit for everyday use, as people do prefer using a 5x zoom over an extreme 10x zoom, especially with a bigger 50MP sensor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is not just a phone; it’s a leap forward, blending top-tier technology with user-centric design and overall build quality.
It is definitely a must-have for anyone who values power and performance and is also a productivity king, which I’m sure that Ali Abdaal would also appreciate.
Check out my hands-on video of the S24 and the S24+ over here if you haven’t seen it: https://youtu.be/fDy0L6WbdbM