Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra redefines what it means to be an “Ultra” smartphone, standing out as more than just a phone. It surpasses its predecessors and competitors by offering unparalleled features. Compared to last year’s model, the Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts enhanced battery life, superior performance, and improved camera capabilities, although these upgrades come with a higher price tag. The new AI features, while innovative, are somewhat hampered by Samsung’s outdated and cumbersome software, which tends to obscure its best attributes under complex settings and menus. Despite these software challenges, the Ultra’s performance and magical features justify its cost, though there’s still considerable potential for refinement at the top tier.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to be our top pick for camera phones, now also recognized as the best AI camera phone thanks to its intelligent scene optimization features. Samsung consistently enhances its Galaxy AI capabilities, and its writing style AI tools are unmatched by any other smartphone. While Apple is gradually entering the AI smartphone market, Samsung and Google currently lead the field.

GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: 2024 SOFTWARE

• Terrible software hides all new features under ‘Settings’
• New AI features are occasionally magical, but mostly useless
• Seven year update promise already has an asterisk

It’s evident that Samsung is heavily focused on hardware innovation, showing little interest in enhancing its software. The software experience on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is subpar, with One UI becoming increasingly difficult to use. Even basic functions are overwhelmed by excessive options and menus, reflecting Samsung’s indecision regarding optimal user experience.

I’m giving Samsung a year to address these software issues, although it might take two years or more to resolve the current complexities. The software problems have worsened over time, affecting every new feature like a spreading illness.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is packed with impressive features, but accessing them is a challenge. How do you find the new AI translation tools or set up the AI text message rewriting feature? How do you enable AI for photo editing or web page summarization? Unfortunately, all these features are hidden in the Settings menu.

There are 22 different options in the Settings menu. The 16th option is “Advanced Features.” By selecting this, you’ll find “Advanced Intelligence,” which is not the most intuitive name for AI features. Nonetheless, this is where Samsung has buried its exciting new functionalities for its flagship smartphone: deep within the 16th setting option, three layers down.

Galaxy S23 Ultra last year,

I upgraded to the Galaxy S23 Ultra last year, trading in my Galaxy S21 Ultra, and unfortunately, trade-in deals and launch discounts are less attractive this year.

If you’re considering upgrading from last year’s model, be prepared to pay several hundred dollars beyond your trade-in value. Despite this, I believe it’s worth the investment this time. Older phones will increasingly miss out on the latest AI features with each new update, potentially causing their value to drop significantly when Samsung eventually phases out support for models like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Since my initial review, we’ve seen some discounts on the Galaxy S24 Ultra on Amazon, reducing the price by around $150 / £200. Nevertheless, it remains one of the priciest phones available, and we don’t expect Samsung to significantly lower the price, even with the upcoming release of the next generation of Galaxy Z foldable phones later this year.

Is the Galaxy S24 Ultra worth its high price tag? If you’re questioning the cost, you’re probably looking for the Galaxy S24 Plus, which offers better value for its price. The Ultra is in a league of its own, offering features and capabilities unmatched by any other phone. It’s not just a phone; it’s an extreme device that defies standard pricing.

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GALAXY S24 ULTRA REVIEW: CAMERAS

• Better image quality, even if the specs are suspicious
• Less detail from the zoom lens, but better color and range
• Still needs help with low light and noise reduction

The Galaxy S23 Ultra was acclaimed as the top camera phone last year, so when rumors surfaced about Samsung reducing the optical zoom from 10x to 5x on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, there was understandable concern. The 10x zoom was a standout feature alongside the phone’s 200MP sensor, dual zoom lenses, 100x digital astrophotography, AI image enhancements, and more. It seemed counterintuitive for Samsung to regress in specifications.

However, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s shift to a 5x zoom lens is more of a lateral move than a step backwards. It still boasts the best zoom camera available on a smartphone today, surpassing both its predecessor’s 10x zoom and the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x zoom in most scenarios, particularly when fully utilizing the zoom capabilities.

Images taken at 10x or even 100x zoom with the Galaxy S24 Ultra exhibit improved color reproduction and significantly enhanced dynamic range compared to its predecessor. Where the older model often produced flat images, the S24 Ultra introduces depth and shadow, albeit with slightly less fine detail sacrificed for overall image quality.

This trade-off proves beneficial. Images at extreme zoom levels on the Galaxy S23 Ultra often suffered from noise and blur, resembling a digital choppy mess. In contrast, the Galaxy S24 Ultra captures images that are more visually appealing and shareable, resembling high-quality photographs rather than evidential snapshots.

In direct comparison at 5x zoom, the iPhone 15 Pro Max initially produces superior images, but as digital zoom is applied, the Galaxy S24 Ultra excels. At 25x zoom, the Galaxy maintains more detail and richer color than the iPhone, showcasing its superior zoom capabilities. Notably, the Galaxy S24 Ultra captured intricate details of the Peck Ledge lighthouse, located a mile off the Connecticut coast, including the steps leading up from the dock.

Samsung has addressed previous criticisms regarding unnatural color reproduction, aligning more closely with iPhone processing techniques. Colors appear more natural overall, often cooler than the iPhone’s occasionally warm-toned photos. Digital sharpening issues have been mitigated, resulting in images from the Galaxy S24 Ultra that exhibit ample detail without the blurriness sometimes seen in iPhone photos.

Despite these advancements, low-light performance remains a challenge for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, where competing phones like the Google Pixel 8 Pro excel in night landscapes and cityscapes. The OnePlus 12 also handles mixed-light scenarios, such as photographing food in dimly lit restaurants, more effectively than Samsung’s flagship.

Overall, the Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as the best camera phone of the past year, offering consistent performance that outshines competitors like the iPhone, Pixel, and even newer OnePlus models with sophisticated Hasselblad processing. Samsung particularly excels in capturing intriguing shots, whether it’s detailed macro photography or appealing portraits with accurate skin tones and crisp detail, ensuring quality across various photography genres.

For photo editing, while Samsung has made strides with features like Generative Edit AI in its Gallery app—enabling object resizing, background changes, and more—it’s advisable to supplement with third-party software for more comprehensive editing capabilities. Additionally, applying AI effects in Samsung’s app will append a small watermark to signify AI processing.

In essence, the Galaxy S24 Ultra sets a new standard in smartphone photography, combining advanced technology with practical usability, though challenges persist in low-light scenarios and advanced editing needs.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)