The latest iteration of Samsung‘s flagship phone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, arrives with several key changes — including a shift towards AI integration, a revamped design, and an expected performance boost with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.
Build and Design
Perhaps the most noticeable upgrade is the phone’s build. Unlike its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra now features a more-premium titanium frame, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro.
Samsung has used titanium (a heavier metal than aluminum) in a way that improves durability while keeping the phone’s weight about the same as the Galaxy S23 Ultra (232 grams vs 234 grams). And it still has its comfortable curved metallic sides, and the signature S-Pen is neatly tucked away in its dedicated slot.
The other big change is the switch to a 6.8-inch flat screen. This design choice might not appeal to all users accustomed to curved screens on previous S-series phones, but it does offer some practical benefits like better screen protector compatibility and improved stylus use.
Also Samsung is still offering top-notch display features with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The phone retains the Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, QHD resolution, and HDR 10+ goodness. And now it’s also brighter at 2600 nits and is protected by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Armor. Not only Corning’s latest solution offers improved scratch and drop resistance, but it also reflects less light — 70% less, apparently!
AI takes the spotlight
Internally, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip delivers expected improvements in performance and efficiency. But the centerpiece of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is “Galaxy AI,” a suite of features powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s NPU.
One standout feature is Live Translate, which enables real-time conversation between individuals speaking different languages. After downloading supported language packs, users can converse with the recipient in another language while the AI will seamlessly translate voice input and output. The system also offers options for voice gender and original audio playback and protects data privacy through the Knox security platform.
An alternative translation method is the Interpreter app, which displays both languages on screen and translates spoken words for offline use.
The S24 Ultra’s AI features can also provide tailored message composition suggestions in apps like WhatsApp while adapting to different tones and styles. The feature analyses writing style of the user and proposes appropriate adjustments which could improve your communication effectiveness.
Circle to Search is another AI-powered offering which leverages Google Lens for visual recognition. Users can draw a circle around anything on the screen with the S Pen, and the phone identifies it, be it a landmark or an object within an image. Aside from this, there are a bunch of other AI feature stuffed into the latest Galaxy device.
All these things are powered by a 5000mAh battery with support for 45W fast wired charging. Storage options range from 256GB to a whopping 1TB, with 12GB of RAM across all configurations.
Cameras
Samsung has also made some AI improvements on the Galaxy S24 Ultra cameras. But first, let’s talk about the hardware. This year, the telephoto camera got an update with a new 50MP sensor which offers 5x optical zoom instead of the previous 10x.
You can still zoom up to 10x using lossless crop zoom, and Samsung believes the image quality at 10x is actually better than the S23 Ultra. But that’s a matter of debate for now. Nonetheless, you can also zoom out up to 100x for moon shots.
Aside from this, the Galaxy S24 Ultra retains the 200MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 10MP short telephoto lens from its predecessor.
Now, let’s talk about the AI stuff. Samsung has added some neat features with their new ProVision Engine, a collection of AI tools for cameras.
One cool thing is the “Generative Edit” feature, which uses AI to effectively eliminate reflections in photographs taken in front of glass or fill gaps in the background with details that seamlessly blend into the image. There’s also a fun trick for slow-motion videos called “Instant Slow-mo.” You can just press and hold, and it adds extra frames to your video to make it slow and cool.
Samsung’s “Nightography” feature is for taking better pictures in low light. It now has better image stabilization and less noise, thanks to some techy stuff called ISP Blocks. Likewise, a new thing called “Super HDR” lets you see an HDR preview in the camera’s viewfinder before taking a picture.
Price
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in four elegant colors — Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow. Its price starts at $1,300 for the 256 GB model, followed by $1,420 for the 512 GB and $1,660 for the 1TB variant.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, promises a class-leading software update cycle and a versatile camera system. It features AI enhancements aimed at simplifying everyday tasks and boasts a redesigned titanium frame for improved ergonomics.
