Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: 8.9/10 - Flagship Excellence
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At a Glance
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra earns an 8.9 out of 10.
Prices last checked June 2026
Overview
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most complete flagship phone of 2024, blending a titanium frame, a blazing Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip, and the first truly useful suite of on-device AI features under the Galaxy AI banner. Starting at $1,299.99, it competes directly with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Google Pixel 8 Pro, but stands apart with its built-in S Pen, 200MP quad camera, and Samsung’s seven-year software commitment. After extensive testing, this is the Android phone to beat.
Design and Display
Samsung swapped aluminum for a Grade 2 titanium frame, making the S24 Ultra notably more durable while keeping weight nearly identical to the S23 Ultra at 232 grams. The flat 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is a major departure from previous curved screens, and paired with Corning Gorilla Glass Armor it delivers vastly reduced reflections and improved scratch resistance. With QHD+ resolution, a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, and a searing 2600 nit peak brightness, this panel is among the best ever put in a smartphone.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy is an overclocked variant with a prime Cortex-X4 core hitting 3.39GHz, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage across 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations. In benchmark testing, the S24 Ultra delivers class-leading CPU and GPU scores, breezing through 8K video editing, heavy gaming, and multitasking without any throttling concerns. The Adreno 750 GPU handles demanding titles at maximum settings with consistent frame rates.
Camera System
The quad rear camera pairs a 200MP ISOCELL HP2 main sensor with a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a new 50MP 5x periscope telephoto that replaces last year’s 10x lens. The 50MP telephoto uses pixel binning for excellent 5x optical shots and crops convincingly to 10x, while the main sensor captures stunning detail in both daylight and low light. Video recording tops out at 8K 30fps, and the improved stabilization makes handheld 4K 60fps footage look gimbal-smooth.
Battery and Charging
The 5000mAh battery delivers reliable all-day endurance, typically achieving around 56 hours of moderate use per DXOMARK testing, with strong results in video streaming and gaming scenarios. Wired charging at 45W reaches 65 percent in 30 minutes and a full charge in about 1 hour 27 minutes, while 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging add convenient topping-up options. Charging speeds lag behind Chinese rivals like the OnePlus 12, but battery life itself is excellent.
Software and Galaxy AI
One UI 6.1 on top of Android 14 debuts Galaxy AI, a suite of on-device and cloud features that genuinely change how you use the phone. Circle to Search lets you long-press the home button and circle anything on screen for instant Google results, Live Translate provides real-time voice and text translation during calls, and Chat Assist rewrites your messages in different tones. Samsung has committed to seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security patches, matching Google’s support promise.
S Pen and Extras
The built-in S Pen remains a signature Ultra advantage, offering Bluetooth Air Actions for remote camera shutter, media control, and gesture navigation, plus low-latency handwriting and screen-off memo capabilities. The phone carries an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3, and includes an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers tuned by AKG, and UWB for precise location tracking. Every hardware detail feels premium and purposeful.
Pros
- Titanium frame with Gorilla Glass Armor for dramatically reduced reflections
- 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 2600 nit peak brightness is among the best smartphone displays
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy delivers class-leading CPU and GPU performance
- Versatile quad camera with 200MP main, 50MP 5x periscope telephoto, and excellent 10x crop
- Built-in S Pen with Bluetooth Air Actions remains a unique advantage
- Galaxy AI with Circle to Search, Live Translate, and Chat Assist
- Seven years of OS upgrades and security patches
Cons
- 45W charging is relatively slow in a world of 80W+ alternatives
- 5x telephoto replaces last year’s 10x optical - less reach at maximum zoom
- Heavy at 232 grams
- 15W wireless charging lags behind competitors
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra earns an 8.9 out of 10, losing points only for relatively slow 45W charging in a world of 80W+ alternatives and a camera zoom setup that sacrifices some 10x reach for better 5x optical quality. Everything else - the gorgeous flat display, titanium build, versatile quad camera, all-day battery, and genuinely useful Galaxy AI tools - makes this the most capable Android phone money could buy in 2024.
Sources
Where to Buy
Check current pricing on eBay or Amazon.
Prices last checked June 2026. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
📊 Comparison: Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Competitors
| Specification | Galaxy S24 Ultra | Google Pixel 9 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max | OnePlus 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1299 | $999 | $1199 | $799 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (3.39 GHz prime core) | Google Tensor G4 | -- | -- |
| RAM | 12GB LPDDR5X | 16GB | 8GB | 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X |
| Display | 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz LTPO | 6.3" LTPO OLED, 1280x2856, 120Hz | 6.7" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion | 6.82-inch 1440x3168 LTPO AMOLED, 120 Hz, 4500 nits peak |
| Main Camera | 200MP + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x tele + 50MP 5x tele | 50MP f/1.68 + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP 5x telephoto | 48MP f/1.8 + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP 5x tetraprism telephoto | -- |
| Battery | 5000mAh | 4700mAh | 4422mAh | 5400 mAh, 100W wired / 50W wireless |
| Build | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor | -- | Grade 5 titanium, Ceramic Shield, IP68 | -- |
| Software | 7 years OS + security updates | -- | -- | -- |
| Front Camera | -- | 42MP | 12MP TrueDepth | -- |
| Protection | -- | IP68 | -- | -- |
| Chip | -- | -- | Apple A17 Pro (3nm) | -- |
| SoC | -- | -- | -- | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Storage | -- | -- | -- | 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 |
| Camera | -- | -- | -- | 50MP main (LYT-808) + 64MP periscope 3x + 48MP ultrawide |
How We Rate Products
Every product on ComfyTechCheck is scored on a 1 to 10 scale based on a structured evaluation framework. We assess products across five core criteria:
- Performance (30% weight): Speed, responsiveness, and real-world capability in its category.
- Build & Design (20% weight): Material quality, ergonomics, and aesthetic appeal.
- Features (20% weight): Breadth and usefulness of included functionality.
- Value (20% weight): Price-to-performance ratio relative to direct competitors.
- Battery Life or Reliability (10% weight): Endurance testing for portable devices, or long-term dependability for stationary gear.
Scores are assigned by our editorial team after hands-on testing or extensive research using verified user reports, expert analysis, and technical specifications. The weighted average produces the final rating you see on each review. This methodology is inspired by established consumer review standards from organizations such as Consumer Reports and Which?, adapted for the tech product categories we cover.
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