In the ever-evolving realm of smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as a beacon of innovation, setting new benchmarks for what we expect from our handheld devices. Crafted with a keen eye for detail, it combines cutting-edge technology with user-centric design, aiming to redefine the smartphone experience. From its robust titanium build and eco-conscious design to its advanced Galaxy AI capabilities, the S24 Ultra is a harmonious blend of style, sustainability, and intelligence. Its camera system, headlined by a groundbreaking 200MP sensor, pushes the boundaries of mobile photography, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform ensures a seamless performance. This is not a complete review. We’re still putting the phone through its paces and this review will fill up with more information over time.
Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s build quality is the best to come out of Samsung’s stables with a focus on putting out exotic new materials. Emphasising a sleek, robust design, the S24 Ultra boasts a titanium body, a first in the Galaxy series. Titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio so you can see how this choice not only gives it a premium feel but also adds to the device’s durability. We haven’t had the device for a long time so we can’t comment on whether the titanium on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra faces discolouration issues but we’ll keep you updated.
The craftsmanship is evident in every detail, from the refined finish to the ergonomic placement of buttons and sensors. The titanium construction ensures the phone is both lightweight and exceptionally strong, a crucial factor for today’s mobile users who demand resilience without sacrificing style.
Sustainability is another key aspect of the S24 Ultra’s design philosophy. Samsung has incorporated recycled materials into the phone’s construction, reflecting a growing industry trend towards environmentally conscious production practices. This approach not only reduces the environmental footprint but also appeals to eco-aware consumers.
Software
Coming to the software aspect, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out with its Galaxy AI suite, enhancing both functionality and user experience. The AI capabilities on the device are a blend of Samsung’s own innovations along with a close collaboration with Google using their Gemini models.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s software prowess is particularly evident in communication enhancements. Features like live call translation and real-time text translation break down language barriers, facilitating seamless global interaction. This is a boon for both business users and travellers, enabling them to communicate effortlessly across different languages. It might be a niche use case for now but that could change soon.
Samsung’s software enhancements extend to productivity and entertainment. The integration with Android Auto stands out, offering a more connected and responsive in-vehicle experience. Additionally, the innovative note-taking and search functionalities are a nod to the needs of modern professionals, streamlining work and information management.
You’ve no doubt seen the circle-to-search functionality on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and that’s just one of the more prominent integrations with a lot more to be spoken about. We’ll update this review as we play around with more of the phone’s features.
Display
The display, one of the most crucial aspects of any smartphone, has been meticulously designed to offer unparalleled clarity, colour accuracy, and responsiveness. At the heart of this display technology is Samsung’s advanced Vision Booster feature which has been there for quite a few generations. This technology adjusts the brightness and contrast of the screen based on ambient lighting conditions, ensuring the display remains clear and vivid, even in bright sunlight. This adaptive feature is particularly beneficial for users who frequently use their phones outdoors or in varying light conditions. This time around, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra can hit 2600 nits peak brightness which is good enough for even a sunny afternoon in the Sahara desert.
Samsung has also focused on the display’s refresh rate, incorporating an adaptive feature that optimises the rate based on the content being viewed. This means smoother scrolling during web browsing and an enhanced gaming experience, with the display intelligently adjusting to provide the best possible performance based on the user’s activity.
Finally, the durability of the display is noteworthy. Samsung has incorporated the latest in scratch-resistant technology in collaboration with Corning to bring out the Gorilla Armour, ensuring that the screen remains pristine even with regular use. This durability, combined with the display’s other high-end features, makes the S24 Ultra’s screen not just a tool for viewing content but a window into a world of vibrant, accurate, and responsive visual experiences. As per Corning, this new glass is shatter-proof from up to 3x the drop height as its predecessors.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s performance is a standout feature, marked by impressive benchmarks that signify its capabilities in handling demanding applications and tasks. With a score of 3731 in the 3DMark Wildlife Extreme, the S24 Ultra demonstrates exceptional graphical performance, making it an ideal device for gamers who’d like to make no compromises.
In the CPU department, the Geekbench scores are equally impressive, with a multi-core score of 6891 and a single-core score of 2201. These figures indicate that the S24 Ultra excels in multitasking and handling complex operations, a crucial factor for users who demand high performance for productivity and entertainment.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, the powerhouse behind these scores, provides the S24 Ultra with the muscle needed for these high levels of performance. This chipset is not only powerful but also efficient, ensuring that the device maintains optimal performance without significant battery drain. This balance of power and efficiency is a key aspect of the S24 Ultra’s appeal to power users. We will share the battery life tests in the coming days.
The advanced cooling system of the S24 Ultra also plays a vital role in maintaining consistent performance. By efficiently managing heat, the device ensures that performance does not throttle even during extended use, which is essential for gaming, video editing, and other intensive tasks. The S24 Ultra packs a much beefier heatsink compared to the S23 Ultra with a much bigger vapour chamber. We will be bringing a more comparative analysis of the performance in the coming days.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera system represents a notable leap forward in mobile photography, blending advanced hardware with sophisticated AI-driven software. The camera setup of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a highlight, anchored by a 200MP f/1.7 Wide Camera as the main sensor. This sensor features Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and an 85-degree field of view (FOV), promising unparalleled photo clarity. It’s complemented by a diverse array of lenses: a 50MP f/3.4 Telephoto Camera with 5x Optical Zoom, OIS, and a 22-degree FOV; a 10MP f/2.4 Telephoto Camera with 3x Optical Zoom, OIS, and a 36-degree FOV; a 12MP f/2.2 Ultra-Wide Camera with a 120-degree FOV; and a 12MP f/2.2 Front Selfie Camera with an 80-degree FOV. This ensemble enables a wide range of photographic capabilities, from detailed close-ups to expansive landscapes, ensuring users can capture every moment with clarity and creativity.
This camera configuration, enhanced by the ProVisual Engine, offers exceptional detail, colour accuracy, and dynamic range. The 50MP adaptive pixel technology is particularly noteworthy, as it allows for incredible detail and clarity in various lighting conditions, making it ideal for both professional and casual photographers.
Night photography has also seen remarkable improvements. The S24 Ultra’s camera system is designed to capture stunning photos even in low-light conditions, reducing noise and enhancing detail, a feature that’s increasingly important in today’s social media-centric world.
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Mithun Mohandas
Mithun Mohandas is an Indian technology journalist with 10 years of experience covering consumer technology. He is currently employed at Digit in the capacity of a Managing Editor. Mithun has a background in Computer Engineering and was an active member of the IEEE during his college days. He has a penchant for digging deep into unravelling what makes a device tick. If there's a transistor in it, Mithun's probably going to rip it apart till he finds it. At Digit, he covers processors, graphics cards, storage media, displays and networking devices aside from anything developer related. As an avid PC gamer, he prefers RTS and FPS titles, and can be quite competitive in a race to the finish line. He only gets consoles for the exclusives. He can be seen playing Valorant, World of Tanks, HITMAN and the occasional Age of Empires or being the voice behind hundreds of Digit videos. View Full Profile
