The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (starting at $1,299.99) keeps the Galaxy Note dream alive as the only smartphone in the company's lineup with an S Pen stylus. It's a lot of phone to handle, but you simply won't get this combination of top-class processor, awe-inspiring display, leading cameras, handy AI capabilities, and built-in stylus from any other device. The slightly smaller and more affordable Galaxy S24+ (starting at $999.99) might be a better fit if you don't need the S Pen or the extra camera zoom, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra's sheer lack of compromise earns it our Editors' Choice award for high-end Android phones.
Design: Big, Bold, and Titanium
The $1,299 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the largest and most expensive member of the S24 family, which also includes the $799 Galaxy S24 and the $999 Galaxy S24+. It stands apart from its more affordable stablemates with its squared-off design, built-in S Pen stylus, and farther-reaching cameras.
There's no denying the Ultra is a big phone, measuring 6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 inches (HWD) and weighing 8.22 ounces. While the S24 Ultra comes in just 0.03 ounces under the S23 Ultra, the revamped design makes it feel somehow lighter. But make no mistake—this is a very big device that won't appeal to anyone who likes to easily use their phone with one hand. If you fall into that camp, the S24 (5.79 by 2.78 by 0.30 inches, 5.93 ounces) and the S24+ (6.2 by 3.0 by 0.30, 6.95 ounces) are smaller, lighter, and more rounded.
The S24 Ultra uses Corning Gorilla Armor to protect the display, which Corning says is tougher than any other smartphone glass it makes. The company also says Gorilla Armor is less reflective and can reduce glare by up to 75% depending on lighting conditions. The Ultra indeed shows fewer reflections than other phones I've tested and looks almost paper-like.
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The front glass is completely flat, a departure from the curved panels of older models. Samsung says it made this change based on user feedback. The flat screen makes it easier to use the S Pen since it minimizes the chance of the curved edge registering your palm as an input. It also improves S Pen usability because drawing on curved glass wasn't easy.
Samsung hasn't changed the rear camera design: You get four rear cameras (three larger and one small) and a laser focus module. The back panel of the Ultra uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has a matte finish that resists fingerprints.
As for color options, the Ultra comes in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, or Titanium Yellow. A gray titanium frame surrounds the gray and violet models, while color-matched frames outline the black and yellow models. If those colors don’t do it for you, you can snag Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, or Titanium Orange variants, but only directly from Samsung's website. The blue and green models have a dark gray frame, while the orange has a lighter gray frame. The titanium material is exclusive to the Ultra model. The S24 and S24+ use Samsung’s Armor Aluminum. The color of the included S Pen matches the titanium frame except for the yellow model, which gets a dark gray S Pen.
The phone has an IP68 rating for protection against dust and water. It can survive a 30-minute dunk in up to 1.5 meters of water without worry. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max ($1,199) and the Google Pixel 8 Pro ($899) share this level of protection, while the IP65-rated OnePlus 12 ($799) does not.
A few basic controls accent the frame. The volume rocker and power button on the right provide a satisfying click when you press them. The bottom holds the S Pen, a slot for the speaker, a USB-C port (3.2 Gen 1), and a SIM card tray. As expected, the phone doesn't have a microSD card slot or a headphone jack.
An under-display fingerprint sensor is your best bet for biometric security. It's easy to reach and works reliably. Face unlock is also on board, but it isn't as secure as the fingerprint reader. Samsung has yet to upgrade the security of its facial recognition tech, which is surprising given how prominently it features on Apple’s iPhones and Google’s Pixels. Facial recognition can be more convenient than fingerprints or passcodes for mobile payments and other forms of authentication.
Display: Ultra-Sharp and Fast
The Samsung Galaxy 24 Ultra has one of the best screens you can find on any phone. Its 6.8-inch AMOLED display has a variable 120Hz refresh rate, which helps balance power and performance. The screen can dynamically alter its refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on what you’re doing, which is typical of most modern flagships.
Out of the box, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is set to a resolution of 2,340 by 1,080 pixels. However, you can boost it to the full 3,120 by 1,440 count in Settings, which I did for testing. Images look incredibly crisp and animations are super smooth. The selfie camera is visible at the top of the display, but it's pretty easy to ignore. For comparison, the S24 has a 6.2-inch screen with 2,340 by 1,080 pixels and the S24+ has a 6.7-inch display with the same resolution as the Ultra.
Last year's S23 Ultra reached a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, but this year Samsung has pushed the maximum brightness to 2,600 nits on all three S24 devices. This figure edges out the Pixel 8 Pro's peak of 2,400 nits and the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 2,000 nits. Together, the bright output and reflection-resistant glass make the S24 Ultra easy to see even under the harshest lighting conditions.
S Pen Stylus: Write Away
The S Pen is a core part of Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra phones. It lives in a slot in the left side of the phone. You eject it by pressing the cap in, after which it pops out a little and you can snag it with your fingertips. As always, the phone charges the S Pen while it’s in the slot. The phone will also let you know when you’ve removed the stylus and if you leave it behind.
Writing with the S Pen is like using a flattened golf pencil. It's not super comfortable, but it's fine for basic notes, annotations, and sketching. A side button controls various actions like taking pictures or moving through presentation slides.
You get S Pen-focused software like Smart Select (for grabbing things off of websites), Samsung Notes, and Air Actions, but for the second year in a row, Samsung hasn't given the S Pen new capabilities, which is a bit curious. Still, it’s one of the very few phones on the market that includes a stylus.
Snapdragon Processor: Plenty of Power
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy system on a chip (SoC) powers all three versions of the S24. It's named "for Galaxy" because Qualcomm boosts the output of the CPU, GPU, and NPU for this variant compared with the stock 8 Gen 3. Moreover, Samsung says the processor’s vapor chamber is 92% larger than that of the S23 Ultra. The result is faster performance and more power for AI.
The base model Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ships with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Although 12GB is the upper limit for RAM, you can upgrade the storage to 512GB ($1,419.99) or 1TB ($1,659.99).
On Geekbench 6, a suite of tests that quantifies raw computing power, the S24 Ultra scored 2,273 on the single-core test and 7,056 on the multi-core test. We've tested a couple of other devices with the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and they performed similarly. For example, the $1,499 Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition pulled in 2,236 and 7,000, while the $649 RedMagic 9 Pro reached 2,263 and 7,187 on the same tests. For context, those non-Samsung devices are both gaming phones that have extra cooling features built in to get the best performance possible. Also, the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition packs 24GB of RAM, while the RedMagic 9 Pro we tested has 16GB.
The S24 Ultra reached 18,200 on the PCMark Work 3.0 test, which evaluates general mobile tasks. The ROG Phone 8 scored 20,833 on the same test, while the RedMagic 9 Pro scored 20,782.
On the Basemark Web 3.0 browser test, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra scored 1,017, beating both the ROG Phone 8 (850) and the RedMagic 9 Pro (730).
We rely on the GFXBench Aztec Ruins test to assess graphics performance. The S24 Ultra ran at 66 frames per second (fps) using FHD+ resolution. The S23 Ultra came close at 62fps, with the Asus ROG Phone 8 managing a very impressive 108fps and the RedMagic 9 Pro getting 60fps.
Playing resource-intensive games like Genshin Impact on the highest settings at 60fps posed no problems. I didn't notice any skipped frames or slowdowns. Unsurprisingly, less-intense games like Mario Kart Tour and Alto's Odyssey ran without any hiccups. In addition, the screen felt responsive to input and the back of the phone never became uncomfortably warm.
Battery Life: Better Than Last Gen
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by a 5,000mAh lithium-ion cell, which charges at up to 45W wired or 15W wirelessly. Reverse wireless charging is also available at 7.5W.
In our battery rundown test, in which we stream HD video from YouTube with the screen at full brightness, the S24 Ultra lasted 14 hours and 10 minutes. That's a respectable result for an Android phone and better than last year's S23 Ultra (13 hours and 11 minutes). The OnePlus 12 blows past both Samsung devices with a result of 18 hours and 10 minutes, while the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max breaches the 20-hour mark.
In testing, it took approximately 80 minutes to charge the battery from 0% to 100% with a 45W charger (you have to supply your own). Charging for 15 minutes got the phone up to 24%, while 30 minutes brought it to 51%.
Other Android phones have moved past the 45W rate. For example, the RedMagic 9 Pro manages a full recharge in 45 minutes using its included 80W charger and the OnePlus 12 takes just 38 minutes to get a full charge with its included proprietary 80W adapter. Samsung does a fine job here, but it isn't leading the charge.
Connectivity, Call Quality, and Speakers
For connectivity, the phone supports 5G (including mmWave and C-Band), Wi-Fi 7, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.3. The S24 Ultra is capable of handling one physical SIM card and one eSIM. On Verizon's 5G network in New York City, the S24 Ultra topped out at 810Mbps down and 54.1Mbps up. For comparison, the S23 Ultra reached speeds of 661Mbps down and 25.6Mbps up in the same location.
When I connected the phone to a Wi-Fi 6 access point, it reached peak speeds of 505Mbps down and 17.1Mbps up (the upload speed is more a function of the ISP than the phone). For comparison, the RedMagic 9 Pro hit speeds of 488Mbps down and 16.7Mbps when connected to the same access point. When I took the S24 Ultra as far away as possible from the access point in my apartment, speeds dropped to 90.1Mbps down and 22.0Mbps up.
Call quality is very good. The earpiece speaker reached 89.6dB and the speakerphone hit 70.2dB, so hearing the other party is quite easy. For comparison, the RedMagic 9 Pro's earpiece reached 64.5dB, making it sometimes difficult to hear. The speakerphone on that phone also topped out at a lower 66dB. Generally, anything over 70dB is preferable.
As for the audio quality of the phone's stereo speakers, the bass frequencies in The Knife's "Silent Shout" aren't particularly audible. That said, the speakers reach a maximum volume of 97.0dB, don't distort at top volume levels, and generally produce crisp sound. Still, I recommend Bluetooth headphones to accurately hear all the details of your media.
Cameras: Top-Notch Image Quality
On the rear of the Samsung Galaxy 24 Ultra, you get four cameras. There's a 200MP f/1.7 main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x zoom, and a 50MP f/3.4 telephoto with 5x zoom and OIS. The main camera and 50MP zoom use pixel binning to create detailed 12MP images.
The S24 and S24+ have different arrangements. To start, they have a 50MP main sensor. They also skip the 50MP 5x telephoto camera, which means they can't reach as far with respect to optical zoom.
Last year's Ultra has a largely similar setup but uses a 10MP telephoto with 10x optical zoom instead of the 50MP 5x telephoto. Samsung says the quality of the 10x zoom on the S24 Ultra, while digital, is close in quality to that of the S23 Ultra's 10x optical zoom. Images I captured at 10x zoom with the S24 Ultra look similar to those from the S23 Ultra, though just a bit softer.
Otherwise, camera quality hasn't changed. Photos I took in various environments and lighting conditions look outstanding, with clear details and rich saturation. The picture quality is easily on par with that of flagships from Apple and Google.
Selfies from the 12MP f/2.2 front-facing camera are also clear and detailed with the same slightly oversaturated color. The bokeh effect in Portrait mode seems less aggressive than in previous Galaxy phones, which results in more natural-looking photos.
Like Google’s Pixel phones, the S24 Ultra uses AI to remove and resize items in pictures using the Gallery app. This worked quite well in testing, but generating backgrounds can be hit or miss. For example, I removed a pint glass from an image while keeping the very top of the frame. The AI then generated a wine glass to hold the top of the drink while doing a decent job of recreating the bar top. Like other AI features, you can use these tools on any image, not just those you take with your S24 Ultra.
Nightography is another tool for your photography belt. In particular, the S24 Ultra uses AI to automatically reduce noise and improve the visibility of detail in shots taken at night. In testing, noise reduction was minor but photos still looked plenty rich and colorful.
For video, the phone tops out at 8K30. Video looks clear regardless of resolution and shows excellent detail, true-to-life colors, and generally smooth stabilization. However, the effectiveness of the image stabilization depends on the resolution. HD video is often smoother than 4K video, for instance, especially if you move around. You can shoot 8K video with the 5x telephoto if you want, but I suggest using a tripod since any movement magnifies the shakiness.
The S24 Ultra can slow down recordings using AI. This feature seems to work on video up to 4K60. You select the segment you want to slow down and tap the Adjust Speed button in the Edit function of the Gallery. There, you can choose between 1/8, 1/4, or 1/2 speed. Samsung’s AI generates the missing frames to make the video smooth. Saving the generated video takes several seconds, but the final result looks convincing.
Galaxy AI Is Here
The phone runs Android 14 with Samsung One UI 6.1 atop it, so this isn't the same stock Android you find on the Google Pixel. The S24 line will get seven years of software and security updates, which is two more years than the previous models. With this promise, Samsung matches Google's seven-year commitment to its Pixel 8 series.
With One UI 6.1, you can dock your S24 Ultra to a display via USB-C-to-HDMI cable or by wirelessly connecting to compatible devices like a Roku TV. This lets you use the included Samsung Dex software for a more desktop-like experience. Dex is useful when you want to manage a lot of things at one time.
AI is more than just a buzzword here, it's readily available in features such as Chat Assist, Circle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist, and Generative Edit.
Circle to Search on the S24 Ultra lets you select something on the screen and conduct a search on it. It works well, but it's really just a new way to use Google Lens. Typically, when you want to search for something on your screen, you have to take a screenshot and then use Google Lens to identify what you are looking at. Circle to Search simply allows you to long-press the software home button or gesture area to effectively do the same thing. After this pressing gesture activates the tool, you then circle or tap the item on the screen that you wish to search. This feature may seem just like a neat extra, but it's useful and I quickly missed it when I switched back to another phone.
Note that if you cannot take a screenshot of something (such as DRM-protected content), you cannot use the Circle to Search feature. Attempting to circle something from a movie I was streaming on the Max app, for example, wasn't possible.
I also tested the Live Translate feature, which is available in the Samsung phone app. A Samsung representative spoke Korean while I spoke English during a call. I was able to hear the person talking in Korean, then an automated English voice relayed the translation. When I spoke, the caller heard me in automated Korean. There is a small delay in processing the audio, but this feature could be useful for traveling.
Chat Assist uses AI to analyze what you write and then suggests different tones like Casual, Professional, and #Social. When I was texting my wife the question, "What was your favorite," the Casual version read, "What was your favorite, buddy?" That is definitely casual, but a little off for the relationship. Perhaps in the future, the AI can see relationships from the Contacts app. I found the #Social filter more useful as I generally don’t use emojis or hashtags in my writing. Translating that last sentence using the filter yields: "I found the social filter more useful as I am unlikely to use emoji and hashtags in my usual writings 🤓 #socialfilter #writing."
Note Assist in Samsung Notes helpfully organizes your notes. Samsung's handwriting-to-text software functions well even with my sloppy handwriting. Additionally, Note Assist works with notes you create on other devices. It can automatically add headers and even bullet items in lists.
Then, there's Browsing Assist. It requires Samsung's browser and can give you a summary of a web page you visit.
In the fine print of the S24 Ultra product page, a footnote states that "Galaxy AI features will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices." I reached out to Samsung for clarification on future pricing. I haven't received a response yet, but this murky policy could become an issue over time.
Excellence Across the Board
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best Android phone you can buy right now. It has a superb display, fast performance, long battery life, and top cameras. It also has a built-in S Pen stylus, which is the main reason (along with camera zoom) to choose it over the Galaxy S24+. It's more powerful than the Pixel 8 Pro, and considering it offers the same seven-year support commitment and similarly innovative AI features, it will last you just as long—if not longer. Yes, it's big and expensive, but that's true of just about every other modern flagship. So if you're looking for a top Android phone sure to last you for years to come, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is our Editors' Choice.
With a refined design, tons of power, a built-in stylus, helpful AI tools, and seven years of promised updates, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the best Android phones you can buy for the long haul.
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