Review of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A comprehensive offering.

Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands as a strong contender for the title of the best Android phone currently available.

The Galaxy S Ultra has consistently held a reputation as one of the top, if not the absolute best, Android devices, featuring high-end specifications, cutting-edge camera technology, and impressive displays. Initially appearing similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the latest iteration, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, reveals itself upon closer inspection to introduce a plethora of new features, with the standout being the innovative Galaxy AI.

However, a great phone requires more than just AI. The device must also excel in the fundamental aspects. Fortunately, there is minimal doubt that a Galaxy S Ultra device would fall short in these areas. Yet, when evaluating the overall package, how does the Galaxy S24 Ultra fare in performance? I’ve spent the past few weeks using it to uncover the answer.

Specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Design of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The design of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra doesn’t introduce a radical departure. Similar to previous years, the Ultra variant exhibits a distinct appearance compared to the standard Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+, featuring a more blocky aesthetic reminiscent of the Note series rather than the S series. While the familiarity with the S23 Ultra might deter some, I appreciate the continuity in the overall design.

The device boasts slightly rounded sides, coupled with a flat top and bottom. Positioned on the right side are the power button and volume rocker, while the bottom houses the USB-C port and the slot for the S Pen.

The rear of the Galaxy S24 Ultra exhibits a similar appearance. Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the device doesn’t feature a raised camera module. Instead, it presents five individual cameras protruding from the back of the phone. It’s a distinct and characteristic design, typical of Samsung, and not at all unappealing.

While the phone’s design may closely resemble the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the build has undergone a change. Samsung has transitioned to a matte titanium frame for the sides, providing a fantastic look and feel. Regardless of who implemented it first, in this case, Apple, the outcome is a phone with an impressive build. The device is available in various colors, and the model under review is the Titanium Black variant.

In general, I appreciate the aesthetic and tactile experience offered by the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While a more significant design overhaul in the coming year or two could be welcomed, at present, it remains one of the most premium-feeling Android phones.

Display of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung consistently delivers top-notch displays on its smartphones, and the S24 Ultra upholds this tradition. Boasting a 6.8-inch panel with a resolution of 1440 x 3120, the phone features a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display in line with Samsung’s standards in 2024. Impressively, it can adjust its refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, optimizing battery usage. The display also achieves a substantial brightness of 2600 nits.

Collectively, these features contribute to creating one of the finest displays ever seen on a phone. The clarity of text is remarkable, and the colors are vivid and vibrant. The high refresh rate ensures smooth animations, making the overall viewing experience a delight. The only potential drawback I could find is that, similar to other Samsung products, it lacks support for Dolby Vision. However, it does support HDR10+.

Performance of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The performance of the Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t just about aesthetics; it stands out as a top-performing device. It pioneers the use of the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, accompanied by 12GB of RAM and storage options reaching up to 1TB. While certain regions may feature a Samsung Exynos chip instead of a Snapdragon chip in previous generations, our review model is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

This implies that it currently ranks among the top-performing Android phones. In everyday usage, it effortlessly managed all tasks, swiftly loading demanding games like Genshin Impact and seamlessly handling multitasking. Below, you’ll find the benchmark results we obtained with the phone.

• GeekBench 6 scores: Single-core 2294, Multi-core 7108.
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme score: 5031.

These scores are impressive and indicate that the device can readily outshine nearly every other Android phone available. While the iPhone 15 Pro still edges out slightly in performance, at least in these specific tests, it’s a trend that has persisted.

Conclusions

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands as another exceptional addition to the S series of Android phones. It could be argued that this device currently holds the title of the best Android phone, given its outstanding camera, top-notch performance, convenient S Pen functionality, and breathtaking display. Admittedly, obtaining the best Android phone comes at a cost, and it may not be the ideal choice for everyone. For instance, my current preferred Android phone is still the OnePlus Open. Nevertheless, if you seek a reliable workhorse and appreciate Samsung’s ecosystem of devices and software, the Galaxy S24 Ultra currently stands as the top choice.