| 6.8" AMOLED display | 120Hz dynmaic refresh rate | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip | 12GB RAM/Up to 1TB storage |
| One UI 6.1, Android 14 | 5,000 mAh battery | 45W wired charging support | Titanium Gray colour |
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most premium phone in Samsung's S24 series, and if I’m being completely honest, it isn't exactly a huge departure from last year's Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Samsung hasn’t made any major visual changes here and apart from the new AI features grabbing headlines, there aren’t many other significant updates.
So, the big questions are: does it make sense to buy the new Ultra, and is it worth upgrading if you already own an S23 Ultra? Keep on reading our Samsung Galaxy 24 Ultra review to find out.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra price in India for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant is available for Rs 1,29,999.
For those needing more space, the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage model is offered at Rs 1,39,999, and the top-tier option with 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage is priced at Rs 1,59,999.
Upon opening the box, you'll find the Galaxy S24 Ultra elegantly presented in its stunning Titanium Grey color, resting flat.
Alongside, there's the customary charging cable and a selection of documentation. As is the norm, a charging brick is not provided in the package.
It's no secret that Samsung's spotlight this year is firmly on AI-powered enhancements, and that's precisely where I'll kick off this review.
My personal favourite has to be Circle to Search, which is actually a Google feature but comes first on the S24 series. Let’s say you’re scrolling through your phone, and something catches your eye.
Just long press on the home button (or the gesture bar) to activate it. Then, simply circle whatever’s piqued your interest, and bam, you’ve got an instant Google search on your hands.
It’s surprisingly quick and pulls up the info you’re after in no time. Sure, reverse image search isn’t new to the game, and Google Lens has been there for some time, but Circle to Search feels like a significant step up.
Whether it’s spotting something interesting on a website or identifying a landmark in a photo, this feature streamlines how you gather information, making it both seamless and intuitive.
Obviously, the most straightforward application for Circle to Search is going to be for shopping — spot something you like, circle it, and you’re swiftly taken to where you can buy it.
In addition to Circle to Search, there are several other AI-powered tools. For instance, the Samsung Notes app now can convert your notes into bullet points with full-on headers and provide summaries.
This functionality extends to the Samsung web browser, where it can summarize the content of websites. I’ve found this to be incredibly helpful, especially when researching for my scripts. You can also translate full web pages into a different language if you need to.
The voice recorder app gets a boost from AI as well, offering features that fully transcribe your recordings and even summarize them.
While it didn’t always understand my accent right, leading to some incorrect words here and there, it’s a solid first attempt at making recordings more accessible and easier to navigate.
One of the more standout AI features on the S24 Ultra has to be Live Translate, found within the Phone app. So, imagine you’re on a call, and the person on the other end speaks Hindi, but you only understand English.
Well, Live Translate does exactly what you’d hope – it audibly translates what the other person is saying into your language, while also displaying a text transcript right on the phone's screen.
Whats more, the person you're speaking to hears your responses in their native language, and they don't even need to have live translation installed on their phone.
I did notice that there’s a bit of latency during conversation, and some grammatical mistakes, which might take some getting used to for both you and the person you’re talking to.
But I do feel that for anyone who travels frequently, or conducts international business often, then this feature could prove to be very helpful.
Another good thing is that all this translation happens in real time, directly on the phone, keeping your conversations private.
Live Translate also supports 13 languages at the moment, and it’s not just for phone calls – it works for text messages too.
Plus, there’s a "chat assist” feature added to Samsungs keyboard, allowing you to adjust the tone of your written messages from casual to professional.
The gallery app gets a smart AI overhaul as well. If you tap the info button after taking a photo, you unlock several quick edit options like adding background blur, colour grading and remastering shots for automatic lighting adjustments.
It’s also possible to completely remove shadows from an image, which I think works incredibly well. Then there’s all the generative AI stuff that can be accessed in the editor mode.
Here you can circle a person or object to either reposition them or lift them out of the photo entirely. It’s a lot like Google’s magic editor on the Pixel 8 series, and when it works, it’s fantastic, but it doesn’t always hit the mark.
Sometimes it won’t process images at all, or it’ll produce bizarre results, especially when trying to remove a closer subject from the shot.
It's also unclear if Samsung's efforts to flag what its AI has touched will satisfy sceptics. Images modified using Galaxy AI get a visible watermark and extra info in their metadata, but you can easily crop out the former.
Anyway, the one editing tool that I’m genuinely impressed by is the ability to convert standard videos into slow-motion clips post-filming.
All you need to do is head to your phone’s gallery, press and hold on any video, and it instantly slows down the playback speed, maintaining a smooth flow.
This is done through real-time frame interpolation, which analyzes the motion in your video and creates extra frames in between to ensure a seamless slow-motion effect.
Now, I think this is really great for content creators because it offers the flexibility to change your mind after the fact, making it a versatile tool for dynamic video editing. And the best part is that this feature works with videos shot in both 4K 30 FPS and 4K 60 FPS.
I also like the new Creative Wallpaper option, where you can make some cool AI-generated wallpapers using a few keywords. It can churn out some really amazing artwork.
Look, honestly, I’ve got to say, I found myself liking most of the AI features on the S24 Ultra, and they seemed useful in my day-to-day use.
But, at the same time – what I see as useful, someone else might brush off as just gimmicks. At the end of the day, all this AI tech does make the phone smarter, but how much that smartness appeals to you is really up to personal taste.
So, it does raise the question: Are all these bells and whistles compelling enough to convince someone to shell out 1,30,000 Rupees for a smartphone? Definitely, something to think about.
Also Read: OnePlus 12 Review
Ok, so by now, it should be clear that AI is taking centre stage on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it's also worth highlighting Samsung's implementation of its updated software in the form of OneUI 6.1 based on Android 14.
It brings a lot more to the table than I expected, packed with fresh features. They've completely revamped the drop-down menu, making it more organized and visually appealing.
The animations when closing apps are smoother, and the lock screen offers extensive customization options without needing to dive into the main settings.
The always-on display gets a makeover, along with dynamic widgets like live animated weather and a handy camera widget for quick access to your preferred shooting mode.
All these additions make for a really smooth user experience. However, One UI still leans towards a maximalist approach, with its extensive menus and submenus that can be overwhelming.
And then there's Samsung's own ecosystem of apps, virtual assistant, and web browser, sitting alongside Google's versions – it's a lot to take in.
But one universally appealing aspect of Samsung's software is its support policy. You're looking at seven years of OS upgrades and 7 years of security updates.
This on par with what Google offers for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, making it one of the most generous support policies among Android manufacturers.
(To view camera samples, please refer to the video provided)
The most controversial change with the Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung’s move from the S23 Ultra’s 10x optical zoom to a 5x optical zoom. This shift might lead some to view the new camera setup as a step back.
But it’s important to note that Samsung compensates for the reduced optical range with a bump in sensor resolution — upgrading to a 50MP telephoto-sensor from the previous 10MP.
This new camera can still achieve 10x zoom shots by capturing a high-res photo and then cropping in. Samsung says this method on the S24 Ultra matches the optical-quality zoom of its predecessor.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t directly compare it to an S23 Ultra myself, but playing around with the zoom range on the S24 Ultra, from 0.6X all the way to 10X, I was pretty happy with how consistent and detailed the shots were.
Plus, this 5X optical zoom is perfect for those crisp and natural-looking portrait mode shots – something you couldn’t really get with the older 10X zoom. I do like the warmer looking skin tones in portraits, along with its color saturation and how the background blur isn't over the top.
Samsung is also making a big deal about how its 100X space zoom is better than before due to a bigger sensor, better stabilization, and smarter AI.
From what I saw, yeah, you can zoom in super close, but these ultra-zoomed shots aren’t exactly Instagram worthy in terms of detail and clarity.
But, on a brighter note, a big thumbs up to the improved camera app on this phone – it’s probably the smoothest I’ve seen on any Samsung device.
You can literally glide from 0.5X all the way up to 10X zoom without the phone breaking a sweat. And I think that’s really amazing.
Apart from the 50MP telephoto lens, the camera setup here remains mostly unchanged from last year. You still get that generous 200MP main sensor which now boasts 60% larger pixels for, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens with a 3X optical zoom.
I managed to capture some top-notch shots with the main camera. It deals with both bright and mixed lighting conditions like a champ.
The dynamic range is solid too, and I was pleased to see the color reproduction looking way more natural compared to past models.
This improvement is apparently because of a new AI model that’s been trained on millions of photos, which then helps the phone to understand what things should look like, significantly boosting its color accuracy.
Another thing worth pointing out is that the S24 Ultra takes and displays pictures in Ultra HDR, ensuring your photos are going to really pop off the screen, looking more vibrant and lively.
Low light photography sees a slight improvement as well, thanks to the larger size of the pixels, which means that the S24 Ultra's sensor can absorb more light.
The 12MP ultrawide camera on this phone offers a 120-degree field of view, matching what you'd find on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so it's capable of capturing a wide expanse of the scene.
I was pleased to notice that its color profile closely matches the main camera, keeping the photos consistent.
I won't go into great detail about video recording, but the Ultra remains a solid option for that. I mean it still doesn't quite match the iPhone's video capabilities.
One notable improvement is the ability to seamlessly switch between all the lenses while recording at 4K 60FPS. This wasn't possible with the S23 Ultra, where you had to stop recording to switch lenses.
Moving to the front camera, it features the same 12MP sensor capable of capturing detailed selfies and portraits. It also records stable selfie videos at up to 4K 60fps, although I did find them a bit over sharpened at times.
Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the S24 Ultra's camera system. It's tough to declare it the absolute best without more side-by-side comparisons with other top smartphone cameras, but it's safe to say it now faces stiff competition for that top spot.
The S24 Ultra keeps the same boxy shape and camera layout we saw on the S23 Ultra and even the S22 Ultra.
There are some subtle differences though, but honestly, it’s not a long list. It’s now slightly slimmer, and the side rails have been upgraded to titanium from aluminum, just like the iPhone 15 Pro series.
It’s a nice update, and Samsung claims that this change was made to make the phone more durable, but I was hoping for a more noticeable impact.
You see, Apples titanium iPhones reduced their weight by nearly 20 grams, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is still pretty hefty at 232 grams, shaving off just a gram from its predecessor.
The display has seen a more significant change, now sporting a completely flat surface. I actually prefer this to the S23 Ultra’s curved edges because this flat design allows the display to reach right to the edges, resulting in much thinner bezels.
On top of that, the S24 Ultra's screen is crafted from Gorilla Armor, Corning's latest and toughest material that offers better scratch resistance.
The Gorilla Armor also boasts reduced surface reflection, by "up to 75%", which significantly improves screen visibility in harsh lighting conditions.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra colors in India include Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, and Titanium Violet. I have the gray model, and I like how its appearance shifts with the lighting – it adds a unique touch to the color.
Sadly, it doesn’t come in the vibrant Yellow color in India that caught my eye at the Galaxy Unpacked event in California.
However, for those looking for brighter options, Samsung’s website features additional colors like Titanium Blue and Titanium Green.
Also, a neat little detail – the S Pen on the titanium Gray variant comes in the same colour as the device, which is pretty cool.
Beyond the latest changes, the S24 Ultra packs all the essentials you’d expect from a high-end smartphone.
There’s a robust IP68 rating ensuring water and dust resistance, stereo speakers that deliver excellent sound quality, and a quick in-display fingerprint sensor.
You also get comprehensive 5G support across all bands, wireless charging and reverse wireless charging for added convenience, and a generous minimum of 256GB built-in storage.
Samsung hasn’t overhauled the S24 Ultra’s display specs significantly. You’re still getting that fantastic 6.8-inch 120Hz QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x screen, known for its sharp detail, excellent viewing angles, and vibrant colors.
The one notable improvement is the screen brightness, now boasting 2,600 nits, up from the S23 Ultra’s 1,750 nits. It’s not quite as bright as the OnePlus 12’s 4,500-nit peak but, honestly, in daily use, whether indoors or out in the sun, I didn’t find visibility to be an issue at all.
The move to a flat screen is also a welcome change, especially for those who use the dedicated S Pen. It offers more writing surface area and eliminates the issue present in the S23 Ultra, where the stylus could easily slip off the curved edges.
However, there aren’t any major updates to the S Pen itself, though it does support the Circle to Search feature, while the flat screen design just makes it more practical for writing and drawing.
Also Read: iPhone 15 Pro Review
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specifications boast the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset from Qualcomm, firing up not just the clever AI stuff I spoke about earlier, but also giving the phone its raw power.
Seriously, flipping through apps and multitasking is so smooth it’s almost too fast. And with a solid 12 GB of RAM as the standard setup, there’s pretty much nothing in daily use that can slow it down.
Benchmark results further highlight the S24 Ultra’s prowess. In CPU tests like Geekbench 6, it scores impressively high, with 6995 in multi-core and 2269 in single-core tests.
When it comes to graphics, the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark sheds light on how the S24 Ultra stacks up against the iQOO 12 and OnePlus 12, which are also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. (Check the video for 3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark results).
The S24 Ultra nudges ahead in raw performance, but the iQOO 12 and OnePlus 12 show off better stability during the tests.
It looks like the S24 Ultra has the upper hand in peak performance, while the other two might deliver a smoother gaming experience thanks to more consistent performance.
That being said, gaming on the S24 Ultra was smooth sailing for me, without any noticeable hiccups.
Also, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 running a bit cooler than its predecessor and an advanced cooling system, the phone manages to stay only mildly warm even during extended gaming sessions, avoiding any throttling issues.
In my brief time with S24 Ultra, I have found it challenging to deplete its 5,000 mAh battery.
Even on days of heavy use where I binged watched shows and played a couple of games, the battery didn’t drop below 30%, with about seven hours of screen-on time on Wi-Fi.
The S24 Ultra should easily last over a day for most people, and this is a huge plus, considering Samsung hasn’t improved its charging speeds significantly.
The phone still supports 45W fast charging, achieving about 50% battery in 30 minutes, which is decent but not as fast as the ultra-fast charging options like those on the OnePlus 12 and iQOO 12.
Pros:
AI-Powered Features: The Galaxy S24 Ultra introduces new AI features like Circle to Search, which enhances the user experience by making information gathering seamless and intuitive. Other AI tools include advanced note-taking and summarization in Samsung Notes, live translation in calls supporting 13 languages, and AI-enhanced camera functionalities.
Software Updates and Support: The device will receive seven years of OS upgrades and security updates, one of the most generous policies among Android manufacturers.
Camera Improvements: Despite moving from a 10x optical zoom to a 5x optical zoom, the new 50MP telephoto sensor maintains high-quality zoom shots, and the 200MP main sensor offers improved color accuracy and dynamic range.
Design and Build: The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a slightly slimmer design with titanium side rails for increased durability. The display now has a completely flat surface with thinner bezels and improved scratch resistance thanks to Gorilla Armor.
Display Enhancements: The 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x display now boasts a brightness of 2,600 nits, improving visibility even in harsh lighting conditions. The move to a flat screen also enhances the usability of the S Pen.
Performance: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and equipped with 12 GB of RAM, the S24 Ultra delivers top-notch performance and smooth multitasking capabilities. Benchmark results indicate strong CPU and GPU performance.
Battery Life: The 5,000 mAh battery provides excellent endurance, easily lasting over a day even with heavy usage. The device supports 45W fast charging.
Cons:
Incremental Upgrade: The Galaxy S24 Ultra does not represent a significant leap over its predecessor, especially in terms of design and some hardware aspects. This might not justify an upgrade for S23 Ultra owners.
Charging Speeds: While the battery life is impressive, the charging speed has not seen significant improvement, remaining at 45W. This is slower compared to some competitors offering ultra-fast charging options.
Price: With a significant cost, the value proposition of the Galaxy S24 Ultra could be questioned, especially considering the incremental nature of the upgrade and the fact that many of its AI features will also be available on the S23 series.
After using the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for a couple of weeks, it's clear to me that it's not just for someone who'll use every feature.
It's more for those who want a phone without limits, a device that offers every possibility, whether you use them all or not.
The S Pen, the enhanced telephoto camera, and the AI-powered features might not be your everyday tools, but just knowing they're there, can be reassuring.
However, as an upgrade, it's not a game-changer, especially since these AI features will also be on the Galaxy S23 series soon.
If you're upgrading from an older model or seeking a new Android flagship, the S24 Ultra makes sense. Otherwise, the Galaxy S23 Ultra or even the Galaxy S4+ offer a similar experience for less money.
Also Read: iQOO 12 Review