The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the latest flagship offering from Samsung, setting new standards in smartphone technology. Boasting a stunning 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and an impressive quad-camera system with a massive 200MP sensor, this device is designed to impress.
With a sleek design featuring Corning Gorilla Armor protection and a durable titanium frame, along with advanced features like IP68 water resistance and an integrated Bluetooth stylus, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers a premium experience.
Add to this its long-lasting 5000mAh battery with fast charging support, and you’ve got a smartphone that’s not only feature-packed but also built to last. Join me as I explore the details of this flagship device and explore what makes the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra a top contender in the smartphone market.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Features
Design and Build
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a sleek and premium design with dimensions of 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm and weighing between 232g to 233g, depending on the variant. It features a robust build with a glass front and back protected by Corning Gorilla Armor, along with a durable titanium frame (grade 2). The device is available in a range of striking Titanium colors. Additionally, its IP68 dust and water resistance ensures durability against accidental spills and submersion up to 1.5m for 30 minutes. The inclusion of a stylus with Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, and gyroscopic sensors enhances its usability, especially for note-taking and drawing.
Display
The Galaxy S24 Ultra sports a stunning 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz and HDR10+ support, delivering vibrant colors and sharp contrast. With a peak brightness of 2600 nits, the display remains visible even in bright outdoor conditions. The screen-to-body ratio is an impressive 88.5%, providing an immersive viewing experience. The Always-on display feature is a welcome addition for quick glance notifications.
Performance and Software
Powered by the Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and running on Android 14 with One UI 6.1, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers smooth and lag-free performance. The octa-core CPU, coupled with the Adreno 750 GPU, ensures seamless multitasking and high-end gaming. It comes with generous memory options of 256GB/512GB/1TB paired with 12GB of RAM, utilizing the fast UFS 4.0 storage technology.
Camera
The camera setup on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is nothing short of impressive. The quad-camera system includes a massive 200MP primary sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens with Super Steady video capabilities. These cameras produce stunning photos with rich detail and vibrant colors. On the video front, it supports recording in 8K at 24/30fps, 4K at various frame rates, and HDR10+ for enhanced dynamic range.
Battery Life
Equipped with a 5000mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers impressive battery life. With 45W wired charging, it can reach up to 65% in just 30 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime. Wireless charging is supported at 15W, along with reverse wireless charging at 4.5W, making it versatile for various charging needs.
Audio and Connectivity
The device features stereo speakers tuned by AKG, delivering immersive sound quality with 32-bit/384kHz audio support. While it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, it compensates with Bluetooth 5.3 support and USB Type-C 3.2 connectivity. For wireless connectivity, it offers Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band support, NFC, and a comprehensive suite of positioning systems.
Additional Features
The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes packed with a range of sensors including an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer. It also supports Samsung DeX and Ultra Wideband (UWB), enhancing productivity and connectivity.
Price and Availability
With a price tag of $1,072.00 / €1,152.99 / £1,004.59 / ₹112,890, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers excellent value for its feature-packed offering. It was announced on January 17 and released on January 24, making it readily available to consumers.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| NETWORK | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| LAUNCH | Announced: 2024, January 17 Status: Available. Released 2024, January 24 |
| BODY | Dimensions: 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in) Weight: 232g or 233g (8.18 oz) Build: Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2) SIM: Nano-SIM and eSIM/ Dual eSIM or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) |
| DISPLAY | Type: Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) Size: 6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)<br>Resolution: 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density) Protection: Corning Gorilla Armor Always-on display |
| PLATFORM | OS: Android 14, One UI 6.1 Chipset: Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) CPU: 8-core (1×3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2×2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2×2.2GHz Cortex-A520)<br>GPU: Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
| MEMORY | Card slot: No Internal: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM UFS 4.0 |
| MAIN CAMERA | Quad: 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) Features: LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama Video: 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| SELFIE CAMERA | Single: 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide)<br>Features: Dual video call, Auto-HDR, HDR10+ Video: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| SOUND | Loudspeaker: Yes, with stereo speakers 3.5mm jack: No 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG |
| COMMS | WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth: 5.3, A2DP, LE Positioning: GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS NFC: Yes Radio: No USB: USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| FEATURES | Sensors: Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support)Ultra Wideband (UWB) support |
| BATTERY | Type: Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable<br>Charging: 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min (advertised), 15W wireless (Qi/PMA), 4.5W reverse wireless |
| MISC | Colors: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange<br>Models: SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS SAR: 1.26 W/kg (head), 0.62 W/kg (body), SAR EU: 1.06 W/kg (head), 1.30 W/kg (body) |
| PRICE | $ 1,072.00 / € 1,152.99 / £ 1,004.59 / ₹ 112,890 |
| TESTS | Performance: AnTuTu: 1453497 (v9), 1823822 (v10), GeekBench: 7076 (v6), 3DMark Wild Life: 17931 (offscreen 1440p) Display: Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)Loudspeaker: -24.6 LUFS (Very good) Battery (new): Active use score 13:49h |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Video Gaming
Although I see it as one of the best gaming phones, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is not specifically marketed as a gaming phone, but it does offer several features and specifications that can contribute to a good gaming experience. Let’s break down what makes it suitable and what might hold it back from being a dedicated gaming phone:
What Makes It a Good Gaming Phone:
- Powerful Chipset: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and Adreno 750 GPU provide excellent performance, enabling smooth gameplay even in demanding games.
- High Refresh Rate Display: The 120Hz Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display offers smoother animations and reduced motion blur, enhancing the gaming experience.
- Large Display: The 6.8-inch screen size with a high resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels provides a more immersive gaming experience with detailed graphics.
- Generous RAM: With options for 12GB of RAM, the phone can handle multitasking and memory-intensive games without lag.
- Stereo Speakers: Tuned by AKG, the stereo speakers offer immersive audio, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- Advanced Cooling System: Though not explicitly mentioned, flagship phones usually incorporate efficient cooling systems to prevent overheating during prolonged gaming sessions.
- High Battery Capacity: The 5000mAh battery ensures longer gaming sessions without the need for frequent charging.
What Makes It Not a Dedicated Gaming Phone:
- No Physical Gaming Triggers: Unlike some gaming phones that come with built-in physical triggers or touch-sensitive shoulder buttons, the Galaxy S24 Ultra lacks such dedicated gaming controls.
- No Gaming-specific Software Features: Gaming phones often come with gaming modes or software optimizations to enhance gaming performance, reduce distractions, and block notifications during gameplay. The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s software doesn’t focus on gaming-specific features.
- No RGB Lighting or Gaming Aesthetics: Gaming phones often feature RGB lighting and a design aesthetic geared towards gamers, which the Galaxy S24 Ultra lacks.
- Limited Accessories: Dedicated gaming phones usually have a range of accessories like gaming controllers, cooling fans, or docking stations to enhance the gaming experience, which might not be as readily available for the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
- Lack of Game-centric Customization: Some gaming phones allow users to customize settings like screen touch response rate, display color profiles, and more specifically for gaming, which might be missing in the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s software.
While the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers impressive performance and features that can make it a good choice for gaming, it lacks some of the dedicated gaming-focused hardware and software features found in phones specifically designed for gaming. If you’re a casual gamer or someone who occasionally plays games on their smartphone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra should suffice. However, if you’re a serious mobile gamer looking for a device with gaming-specific features, you might want to consider dedicated gaming phones.
Drawbacks/Disadvantages of the Phone
- No Expandable Storage: The absence of a microSD card slot limits users to the internal storage options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB, which might not be sufficient for some users who prefer additional storage flexibility.
- No 3.5mm Headphone Jack: With the removal of the headphone jack, users will have to rely on wireless headphones or use a USB-C adapter, which could be inconvenient for those who prefer wired audio.
- High Price: Priced at $1,072.00 / €1,152.99 / £1,004.59 / ₹112,890, the Galaxy S24 Ultra falls into the premium price range, making it less accessible for budget-conscious consumers.
- Weight: Weighing between 232g to 233g, the phone is relatively heavy, which might not be comfortable for extended one-handed use for some users.
- SAR Values: The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values for the head and body are relatively high compared to some other smartphones, which might raise concerns for users sensitive to radiation exposure.
- No FM Radio: The absence of an FM radio might disappoint users who enjoy listening to radio broadcasts without using data.
- Limited Color Options: While the phone comes in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, and Titanium Orange, some users might find the color options limited compared to other smartphones offering a broader range of colors or finishes.
- UFS 4.0 Only: While the internal storage uses the fast UFS 4.0 technology, some users might have expected the latest UFS 5.0 for even faster data transfer speeds.
- No IR Blaster: The lack of an IR blaster means users cannot use the phone as a remote control for various electronic devices, which might be missed by some users who found this feature useful in previous models.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a powerhouse smartphone that excels in design, display, performance, and camera capabilities. Its premium build, stunning display, powerful performance, and versatile camera system make it a top contender in the flagship smartphone market. While it comes at a premium price, the feature set and overall user experience justify the investment for those seeking a high-end smartphone.
